We spent November 1st exploring the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. On the 2nd we went to the Grand Canyon to explore the rim and we also went to Wupatki and Sunset Crater.
On Tuesday the 3rd we began our decent down the South Kaibab Trail. We hiked all the way to Phantom Ranch (the bottom) the first day. It took us ALL day to get there and we were exhausted and sore by the time we made camp. It was worth every single step. I remember thinking, before we began the hike, that our destination would be camp. However, the very first step into the canyon made us all realize that WE HAD ARRIVED!
The next day was spent in the bottom. We hiked a few miles up the North Kaibab Trail which in that part of the canyon runs along one of the river inlets. It was a wonderfully beautiful, sunny day and an easy hike.
Thursday brought our bottom of the canyon camping to a close. We headed up the Bright Angel Trail to Indian Garden for another night of camping. I think we all might agree that this part of our trip was one of the best. Although it isn’t easy hiking, it is absolutely incredible visually. The aspen trees were in fall foliage and BRIGHT yellow! The afternoon sun beaming through the leaves made them look extra bright and wonderful.
That night we discussed whether or not we’d walk out to Plateau Point in the morning to watch the sunrise. It would add another 3 miles to the hike that day and some of us weren’t sure we could handle that on top of the remaining ascent. My dad and brother decided it would be worth it and planned to get up before dawn. My sister, niece and I decided we weren’t sure we could do it.
Friday morning I heard the guys get up and shuffle off in the dark. A bit later I needed to pee so I got up and hiked up to the restrooms. The sky was just starting to lighten and I could see this very pale pink in some wispy clouds. I thought “Oh man… this is going to be an incredible sunrise. I can’t miss this!” Almost frantically I hurried back down to camp and grabbed my tennis shoes and hurried out in the dark to find the trail to the Point.
I wasn’t sure how long the guys had been gone. I wondered if I’d catch them or if I’d make it out to the Point before the sun first hit the top of the canyon walls. I was trying to hurry while looking all around to take in the scenery. It was hard to watch the trail and try not to miss anything at the same time. About halfway out I looked up and the clouds were really beginning to change color. Shortly after that I glanced back up and the change was so incredible it stopped me in my tracks. I gasped in the glory of the beauty and tears filled my eyes. Just the memory of it makes me teary.
I couldn’t have hurried any faster after that. I HAD to get there before the sun! And I made it. When my dad and brother saw me, dad chuckled. I suppose he thought it was pretty great that I couldn’t resist coming out there despite what the day would bring. And let me tell you, pretty great is hardly a good enough description.
It was too beautiful. I still can hardly comprehend what I saw that morning. Sure there are pictures and they do a decent job of reminding me of what I saw that day, but I don’t really need them. I will always remember. It was so powerful it only takes a second of reflection to transport myself back to the edge of the world where the beauty was too great to comprehend. I know I had never seen anything so incredible and I can’t imagine anything ever being more incredible.
After the sunrise we hiked back to camp and prepared for our final ascent. It took us the rest of the day to reach the rim. We got back to the car and drove to a hotel for showers and a real bed. The next day we headed home.
I don’t know about the rest of the crew but I am forever changed from this experience. I really can’t wait to do it again! We’ve got plans to go this fall if our back country pass is approved. However this time, we’re hiking rim to rim. YES!
for more photos, please visit my Flickr set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nadirah/sets/72157622653946771/
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