Regardless of whether you are an avid outdoorsman or just someone looking for a new experience, the Grand Canyon is something you will NEVER forget. There is no other place in the world like it. Not only do you get the pleasure of seeing such beautiful scenery, but that final step out of the canyon greets you with a GREAT sense of accomplishment.

For a better understanding of my GRAND experience, I must first introduce myself and my family. Our party included my mother, father, brother, and myself. When I took this trip, I was 16 yrs old. We went in July. This is the first trip of its kind that my family has ever taken (never hiked/camped before), so my dad made sure we had everything covered before we left home.

We arrived at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon @ about mid-day. We checked into our lodge (Maswick lodge) and took a quick tour of the area. It is really wonderful at the top. The architecture of the buildings resembled what original Native Americans would have built. From a brick, Hopi building to the intricate El Tovar. The dense forest that surrounds the area only adds to the tranquil beauty. There were a decent ammount of people that came mostly just to look over the rim, but it wasn’t “crowded,” depending on your understanding of the word. There were REALLY nice restaurants with great food (El Tovar’s was the BEST). The old railroad was pretty neat. The train still runs after it was restored. As much as everyone seems to believe they are in the desert, the first windy night at the rim will make them think otherwise. My family packed NO WARM CLOTHES. I advise that you pack at least 1 long sleeved shirt or sweater because the temps. can drop pretty quickly at night with the wind.

*****An interesting experience for me was when we were running back to our lodge to escape the cold after dinner on our opening night at the rim. I ran down the steps from El Tovar leading down to the railroad tracks. It was pitch black outside so it was pretty hard to see. I stopped to look back to see my mom and when I turned back around I found a DEER standing about 5 feet from me looking me straight in the eye. It startled me at first, but then I realized I should come to expect out of the ordinary things during my stay here…

DAY 2–the hike down: Part 1–first 1/2

The much awaited day had arrived. My family had everything ready. All that was left was to eat breakfast and then we could set out on our HIKE! Being novice hikers, however we are in good shape, we took the Bright Angel Trail. It is supposed to be the easiest but is a little longer than the steeper Kaibab Trail. At the beginning of the hike it looks like a LONG way down to the bottom and my brother and I began to question whether my mom could make it. We kept going though and the distance traveled began to add up quicker than you would think. As I mentioned earlier, MOST people come to the canyon just to look over the edge and hang out for the day. VERY FEW of the people actually have plans to hike to the bottom. You will notice the number of people on the trail begin to decrease RAPIDLY the closer you get to the bottom. There is a decent ammount of people who hike about 1/4 or 1/2 of the way, but not anywhere near the point that the trails become “crowded.” The mules can be a pain though when you have to move over for them and smell their you know what…OR SO WE THOUGHT! (I will get into this topic a little later!) You must make sure that you pack the NECESSITIES because added weight is just a PAIN. When you are carrying two tents, 4 sleeping mats, food, and water, it all begins to add up quickly. Water is a necessity, and really is never a problem when it comes to filling up. The trail provides ample stops for water and bathroom.

The trails are NARROW and it is VERY easy to slip if you do not wear shoes with good tread. I WILL EXPLAIN NOW!

*****Another UNFORGETABLE experience occured during the first 1/2 way down the canyon. Since I was the younger brother and always felt I could hold my own against my 21 yr. old brother, I felt I could do anything he could…well, I was WRONG. He decided he was going to take a short-cut by walking down the side of the canyon on an uncleared path. It is VERY steep and is easy to pick up speed fast when you go down the side. My brother made the short-cut successfully; I on the other hand had some trouble. As I began going down the side, I found that I could not keep my feet underneath me quick enough due to the incline of the canyon. I began running down the side and as I approached the real trail below where my brother was waiting, I tried to stop but found myself skidding accross the sand/gravel/dirt path all the way to the edge. This was when my brother SAVED MY LIFE, REALLY! He grabbed me by my shirt and pulled me back, saving me from the sure death fall. My face turned white and I began to shake. Eventually I got over it, but my mom never did and kept yelling at me to stay close to the rock wall and far away from the edge.

Back to the hike, the views are really breathtaking from every angle. The vast array of colors never leaves your memory. However, with this great beauty, comes almost scorching temperatures. When you get the the halfway point, there are a few park rangers, bathrooms, water, and benches to break at. There is also a thermometer which read 120 DEGREES. However, when you are in such a beautiful place, things like heat seem almost non-existant. We couldn’t stop for long because we had a steak dinner reservation at the ranch at the bottom of the canyon.

DAY 2–the hike down: Part 2–final 1/2

After the initial 1/2 hike, you will most likely NEVER see anyone else the rest of the way. Only the strongest and most determined make the 12 mile trip to the bottom. I felt that this portion of the hike was the most scenic because part of it ran along the RAGING Colorado River. My paranoid father gave us all a little scare after we left the halfway point. He thought we had gotten on the wrong trail and that we were on the Tanto trail which he says takes forever to reach the bottom. My brother and I were almost certain we had taken the right path because we were leading the pack and we would NEVER make a mistake…We were right. We saw a couple of mule droppings and KNEW we were on the right track. They are always a good way to tell if you are on the right path.

This portion of the path seems to encompass more greenery than the initial 1/2. There are creeks and rivers that you must cross either on bridge or by stepping on a series of stones. Interesting animals abound in the crevaces of the massive rocks. While this portion of the trail may be the most appealing, it is also the most trecherous of the terrain. Instead of hiking on hard dirt/gravel trails, as soon as you reach the stretch along the Colorado River, the trail turns to soft, inclined sand. It definitely makes your legs soar. However, it is all worth it when you reach the bridge that crosses high above the rushing river. It is a sight to behold with the raging waters flowing right beneath your feat as you peer over the edge of the narrow bridge.

**Note: there are considerably LESS places to stop for water in this 1/2. So, make sure you have all of your bottles filled when you leave the halfway point.

You feel you are almost at the end of the hike, but there is just a little bit more to go. An easy hike along a wide creek awaited us as we reached our campsite. It was situated right along the flowing creek and was BEAUTIFUL. We set our stuff down to claim the site and quickly made our way over to the ranch for dinner. We made it JUST IN TIME, thanks to me, I kept us on a tight schedule and wouldn’t let us lag behind (of course I was dubbed the Time Nazi after the trip). The ranch served the food family style with three benches inside. This was quite possibly THE BEST steak I had ever had (it was probably because I was dying for real food).

***Note: One of the most pleasent things about the trip were the abundance of just good people we met. While waiting for the food to be ready, we met many interesting people. Make an effort to meet your fellow hikers at the bottom.

After dinner, my brother and I rushed back to our campsite and immediately jumped into the creek. It was SO REFRESHING. It was like taking a bath at the bottom of the canyon, only better because the water was so fresh and cool. It is a great spot for pictures because of the vast rock wall in the background. I believe they may have had some organized thing to do at night, but we didn’t go. We just set up our tents and laid in the creek. It is a MUST that you get a camp site on the creek if you aren’t staying in a cabin. Eventually, it was time for bed. It was a little tough adjusting to the heat, but eventually you just fall asleep because you are so tired.

DAY 3–the hike up

When we woke up early in the morning, we packed everything up and headed back to the ranch for breakfast. It was a great way to start the day. However, if you chose not to eat breakfast and pay the outrageous price, they offer bagels and other breakfast foods in the ranch for a price. This part of the ranch is called the Cantina, I believe.

The hike back up really wasn’t much different than the hike down. I don’t have any stories to share except for when we were at the final stretch. You know you are so close and your legs are so soar but you just have to keep going. There is no need to rest every 5 minutes. JUST KEEP GOING! The BEST part of the whole trip is when you take that last step onto the rim. You turn around, look down at the Canyon, and just stand in utter amazement at the accomplishment that you just did. It is a feeling that you RARELY feel. It is too good to put into words. You MUST experience it for yourself.

The hike of the Grand Canyon is something you will remember with vivid detail for the rest of your life. You will have stories to tell forever. When you think about how many people actually visit it each year, but very few actually hike it from top to bottom, you realize how great the accomplishment really was.

NOTHING CAN COMPARE TO IT!

Tags: colorado river, El Tovar Hotel, grand canyon national park, hike, hiking shoes, Hopi Point maswik lodge

Regardless of whether you are an avid outdoorsman or just someone looking for a new experience, the Grand Canyon is something you will NEVER forget. There is no other place in the world like it. Not only do you get the pleasure of seeing such beautiful scenery, but that final step out of the canyon greets you with a GREAT sense of accomplishment.

For a better understanding of my GRAND experience, I must first introduce myself and my family. Our party included my mother, father, brother, and myself. When I took this trip, I was 16 yrs old. We went in July. This is the first trip of its kind that my family has ever taken (never hiked/camped before), so my dad made sure we had everything covered before we left home.

We arrived at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon @ about mid-day. We checked into our lodge (Maswick lodge) and took a quick tour of the area. It is really wonderful at the top. The architecture of the buildings resembled what original Native Americans would have built. From a brick, Hopi building to the intricate El Tovar. The dense forest that surrounds the area only adds to the tranquil beauty. There were a decent ammount of people that came mostly just to look over the rim, but it wasn’t “crowded,” depending on your understanding of the word. There were REALLY nice restaurants with great food (El Tovar’s was the BEST). The old railroad was pretty neat. The train still runs after it was restored. As much as everyone seems to believe they are in the desert, the first windy night at the rim will make them think otherwise. My family packed NO WARM CLOTHES. I advise that you pack at least 1 long sleeved shirt or sweater because the temps. can drop pretty quickly at night with the wind.

*****An interesting experience for me was when we were running back to our lodge to escape the cold after dinner on our opening night at the rim. I ran down the steps from El Tovar leading down to the railroad tracks. It was pitch black outside so it was pretty hard to see. I stopped to look back to see my mom and when I turned back around I found a DEER standing about 5 feet from me looking me straight in the eye. It startled me at first, but then I realized I should come to expect out of the ordinary things during my stay here…

DAY 2–the hike down: Part 1–first 1/2

The much awaited day had arrived. My family had everything ready. All that was left was to eat breakfast and then we could set out on our HIKE! Being novice hikers, however we are in good shape, we took the Bright Angel Trail. It is supposed to be the easiest but is a little longer than the steeper Kaibab Trail. At the beginning of the hike it looks like a LONG way down to the bottom and my brother and I began to question whether my mom could make it. We kept going though and the distance traveled began to add up quicker than you would think. As I mentioned earlier, MOST people come to the canyon just to look over the edge and hang out for the day. VERY FEW of the people actually have plans to hike to the bottom. You will notice the number of people on the trail begin to decrease RAPIDLY the closer you get to the bottom. There is a decent ammount of people who hike about 1/4 or 1/2 of the way, but not anywhere near the point that the trails become “crowded.” The mules can be a pain though when you have to move over for them and smell their you know what…OR SO WE THOUGHT! (I will get into this topic a little later!) You must make sure that you pack the NECESSITIES because added weight is just a PAIN. When you are carrying two tents, 4 sleeping mats, food, and water, it all begins to add up quickly. Water is a necessity, and really is never a problem when it comes to filling up. The trail provides ample stops for water and bathroom.

The trails are NARROW and it is VERY easy to slip if you do not wear shoes with good tread. I WILL EXPLAIN NOW!

*****Another UNFORGETABLE experience occured during the first 1/2 way down the canyon. Since I was the younger brother and always felt I could hold my own against my 21 yr. old brother, I felt I could do anything he could…well, I was WRONG. He decided he was going to take a short-cut by walking down the side of the canyon on an uncleared path. It is VERY steep and is easy to pick up speed fast when you go down the side. My brother made the short-cut successfully; I on the other hand had some trouble. As I began going down the side, I found that I could not keep my feet underneath me quick enough due to the incline of the canyon. I began running down the side and as I approached the real trail below where my brother was waiting, I tried to stop but found myself skidding accross the sand/gravel/dirt path all the way to the edge. This was when my brother SAVED MY LIFE, REALLY! He grabbed me by my shirt and pulled me back, saving me from the sure death fall. My face turned white and I began to shake. Eventually I got over it, but my mom never did and kept yelling at me to stay close to the rock wall and far away from the edge.

Back to the hike, the views are really breathtaking from every angle. The vast array of colors never leaves your memory. However, with this great beauty, comes almost scorching temperatures. When you get the the halfway point, there are a few park rangers, bathrooms, water, and benches to break at. There is also a thermometer which read 120 DEGREES. However, when you are in such a beautiful place, things like heat seem almost non-existant. We couldn’t stop for long because we had a steak dinner reservation at the ranch at the bottom of the canyon.

DAY 2–the hike down: Part 2–final 1/2

After the initial 1/2 hike, you will most likely NEVER see anyone else the rest of the way. Only the strongest and most determined make the 12 mile trip to the bottom. I felt that this portion of the hike was the most scenic because part of it ran along the RAGING Colorado River. My paranoid father gave us all a little scare after we left the halfway point. He thought we had gotten on the wrong trail and that we were on the Tanto trail which he says takes forever to reach the bottom. My brother and I were almost certain we had taken the right path because we were leading the pack and we would NEVER make a mistake…We were right. We saw a couple of mule droppings and KNEW we were on the right track. They are always a good way to tell if you are on the right path.

This portion of the path seems to encompass more greenery than the initial 1/2. There are creeks and rivers that you must cross either on bridge or by stepping on a series of stones. Interesting animals abound in the crevaces of the massive rocks. While this portion of the trail may be the most appealing, it is also the most trecherous of the terrain. Instead of hiking on hard dirt/gravel trails, as soon as you reach the stretch along the Colorado River, the trail turns to soft, inclined sand. It definitely makes your legs soar. However, it is all worth it when you reach the bridge that crosses high above the rushing river. It is a sight to behold with the raging waters flowing right beneath your feat as you peer over the edge of the narrow bridge.

**Note: there are considerably LESS places to stop for water in this 1/2. So, make sure you have all of your bottles filled when you leave the halfway point.

You feel you are almost at the end of the hike, but there is just a little bit more to go. An easy hike along a wide creek awaited us as we reached our campsite. It was situated right along the flowing creek and was BEAUTIFUL. We set our stuff down to claim the site and quickly made our way over to the ranch for dinner. We made it JUST IN TIME, thanks to me, I kept us on a tight schedule and wouldn’t let us lag behind (of course I was dubbed the Time Nazi after the trip). The ranch served the food family style with three benches inside. This was quite possibly THE BEST steak I had ever had (it was probably because I was dying for real food).

***Note: One of the most pleasent things about the trip were the abundance of just good people we met. While waiting for the food to be ready, we met many interesting people. Make an effort to meet your fellow hikers at the bottom.

After dinner, my brother and I rushed back to our campsite and immediately jumped into the creek. It was SO REFRESHING. It was like taking a bath at the bottom of the canyon, only better because the water was so fresh and cool. It is a great spot for pictures because of the vast rock wall in the background. I believe they may have had some organized thing to do at night, but we didn’t go. We just set up our tents and laid in the creek. It is a MUST that you get a camp site on the creek if you aren’t staying in a cabin. Eventually, it was time for bed. It was a little tough adjusting to the heat, but eventually you just fall asleep because you are so tired.

DAY 3–the hike up

When we woke up early in the morning, we packed everything up and headed back to the ranch for breakfast. It was a great way to start the day. However, if you chose not to eat breakfast and pay the outrageous price, they offer bagels and other breakfast foods in the ranch for a price. This part of the ranch is called the Cantina, I believe.

The hike back up really wasn’t much different than the hike down. I don’t have any stories to share except for when we were at the final stretch. You know you are so close and your legs are so soar but you just have to keep going. There is no need to rest every 5 minutes. JUST KEEP GOING! The BEST part of the whole trip is when you take that last step onto the rim. You turn around, look down at the Canyon, and just stand in utter amazement at the accomplishment that you just did. It is a feeling that you RARELY feel. It is too good to put into words. You MUST experience it for yourself.

The hike of the Grand Canyon is something you will remember with vivid detail for the rest of your life. You will have stories to tell forever. When you think about how many people actually visit it each year, but very few actually hike it from top to bottom, you realize how great the accomplishment really was.

NOTHING CAN COMPARE TO IT!

Tags: colorado river, El Tovar Hotel, grand canyon national park, hike, hiking shoes, Hopi Point maswik lodge