Wednesday 20 April 2004

Another hike out.  I always have this slight feeling of loss on my last night when I have been having a great trip; this one was no different.  As usual it was an early start.  Bright Angel Trail can be clogged with day hikers, tourists, and mule trains as the day wears on…

Getting an early start along this portion is great, I am usually the only one on the trail and the magnificence and peace of the canyon is splendid.  As I approached the lower portion of the Devil’s Corkscrew – I checked again for a clear access to the old portion of the trail.  It appears that there is still an approachable way heading up the crumbly portion – maybe next time.  There were only a few people on the trail that morning .  I zipped along through the lower portion of the hike making it to Indian Gardens in 2 hours.  I took a break at the mule stables and kicked back a while and rest.  The morning was turning out to be wonderful. 

I started my upward hike through the many switchbacks- it never fails to amaze me that even though the various rest stops are only a mile-and-half-apart it seems more like twice that…..

I was leap-frogging with another hiker and we chatted about our time in the canyon. By 1.5-mile rest house I pulled away.  I was actually amazed at this point as to how well I was doing time wise.  Of course there was an increase in day hikers, tourists, and mule trains – quite frankly I would take those wonderful mules over the day-hikers any day.  Here I am hoofing it uphill with a full pack, staying to at least one side of the trail and I still get barreled into by people –the “me first attitude” just drives me nuts. 

I actually made it to the top in 6 hours, which was great.  It was still too early to check into my room so I took an opportunity to go back to Desert View Watchtower and all the points between there and South Rim Village.  By the time I was done with that my feet were ready to go on strike! 

 Until next time……(yeah  bet on it – I’ll be back).