2012 in Review

 An update from 2012-2013:  Still on the move!

Hello!!  We haven't updated our Travels page for a long time.  In fact, I had a good summary of our 2012 adventures  in the works, but as computers go, it all disappeared in an instant and I gave up on it.  So, here goes the next try!  Keep fingers crossed.

March 2012:  HIKE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE GRAND CANYON

After spending the first part of the year getting in shape, by hiking with packs around our trails etc, we drove to Arizona and spent some time in the Sedona area and then met the Road Scholar group on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  We prepped for the hike down the South Kaibab Trail.  At the bottom, we stayed in Phantom Ranch cabins for two nights, then hiked up the Bright Angel Trail.  We started and ended the hike in snow at the top.  Along the Colorado River the temps. were in the 70's.  The scenery here is eye-poping.  Here are a few pictures from that adventure.

 A Grand Canyon

 The first mile or two near the Rim was covered in snow and ice.

 Part of the South Kaibab Trail, endless switchbacks on the way down.  The river is not even in view!

 The River Trail was cut out of rock by the CCC, travels along the Colorado River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

 The lower part of the Bright Angel Trail.  We hiked along the river then turned up this section, the first of many steep areas in the 9 mile distance and almost 5000 feet gain in elevation on the way up.

 Phantom Ranch is way down there somewhere!!  We liked this hike so much we are going to do it again in September, 2013!  This time we will backpack from the North Rim, down to the bottom, then up the South Rim.  We will spend 5 nights in the canyon.

Ned and I at the start of the hike down into the Canyon.

Ned and I after the hike down to our cabin at Phantom Ranch.  We shared it with 12 others!