Monday, April 8, 2002

The morning was cool 55 degrees.  I slowly packed up my camp, taking the luxury of an extra cup of coffee.  The majority of the camp was still asleep, but a few were already starting their hike out.  I wasn’t in too much of a hurry; it was only a 4.5-mile hike out of the canyon (my third for this trip).  I left Indian Gardens around 6:15 and met hardly anyone on the trail.  It was very peaceful and I would stop a number of times to watch the rising sun and the changing colors of the canyon.   I eventually passed the few hikers that had left before me.  I had almost made it to the top before the mule trains started to head down, but with a mile to go I ran into my first one. 

 I saw a reverse of the clothing situation from the day before.  Here I was hiking up in shorts and a shirt and everyone else coming down from the rim were bundled up.  I realized that I would be at the top before 9.  Hmmmm, I bet Bright Angel Lodge is still serving breakfast.   Yeah I could do another breakfast.  Spurred on by the thoughts of a ham and cheese omelet, I pushed on and made it to the rim by 8:50.  Motivation?