Getting Ready

About a month ago, a friend invited me on Grand Canyon hike. Garth and Preston will be on Preston's super activity and the Canyon is always calling me back, so of course I accepted. Since then I have frantically been trying to get in shape, I know it is in vain because I don't think anything can really prepare you to hike that place. In addition, I have also had the challenge of getting new hiking boots - that has almost been harder than getting in shape.


Well, every Saturday I've been hiking Camelback Mountain in preparation. The first week I didn't do so well and was sore for four days afterwards. Since then I haven't been sore but I'm definitely not fast. Last week Raquel decided that she wanted to go to the Canyon as well which thrilled me, but I told her that she need to go hiking with me.


Since school was out and it was rainy and overcast on Friday we decided to go then. It is about 1/2 mile from where you park the car to the trail head and you can see Raquel heading up the street. There are huge, gorgeous homes all along the street and about the only ones in Arizona that haven't lost their value. The small hump in the background is the first hill but not the top of Camelback.
A cloudy view of the Valley from about half way up.

Here is Raquel sitting at the top, she wanted to quit before we got to the top but I wouldn't let her. Ever since I didn't go to the top of the sand dunes on a hike in Colorado one time with my boys, I always go to the top.

We had sprinkles fall on us most of the time and there was a nice breeze but it was hot and we decided that it felt like being back in Texas with all the humidity. You can see that Raquel's hair in all wet.

I was surprised to see that the saguaros were already in bloom. They usually don't bloom until the first of June but we have had the hottest May on record so I guess they are early this year.

I choose the Cholla Trail up Camelback because it is steep and thought it was about the best preparation I could get. I had planned on doing it several times in one day but that hasn't happened yet. With only 5 days left it probably won't.

We won't be hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, just doing a really big loop trail all in one day. It will be almost 14 miles -about 4 miles down, 4 miles across and 4 miles up. Luckily we will stop at Indian Gardens for lunch and to rest and replenish our water. I can't wait to get up there Friday.

On Saturday, keep us in your thoughts and prayers, I'm sure I will need all the positive energy I can get to make it. We figure it will probably take us 8 to 9 hours. In spite of that, the Canyon is one of my most favorite places on Earth and it draws my heart back there and I can't wait to get back into it. I don't think Raquel will have any problem on the hike - she ran the 1/2 back to the car when we were coming down. I just hope I don't hold her back too much.