Random Inspirational Quote

driving cross country to Grand Canyon with Dad. van broke down on interstate - stuck in West Frankfort, IL for the night until repaired. 6mi easy in the small town

still stuck in IL.  van computer fried apparently.  1wk to get part and repair.  we have rented a pimped townand country minivan to complete the trip.  6mi easy again while waiting for rental

Grand Canyon start of Gems hike with Dad from South Bass TH.  This was am epic jounrey to get to the start of the hike.  Dad and I drove through the night to meet our ride out to the Trail Head (TH).  Fully loaded pack hiking starting at 4p.  Counting it as run miles - 2.5 miles in about 90 min. moving time.  We camped at the first flat spot just in time to beat the darkness in time to set up tents and get food cooking.  About 45 ddegrees and dropping down to 35 degrees by morning.

Start hike close to dawn.  Dad tweaks his knee about an hour in to hiking.  I watch his leg shakily limp and lean on his walking sticks.  We are in trouble.  The nearest bail out is not back to the TH - there is nobody there.  We are forced to continue to the planned meeting spot.  My dad rests a bit and the knee seems to restabilize.  We make a good push and get to Serpentine Canyon by 6p.  My dad's pace is frustratingly slow, so I am extra tired and metally drained.  Actually get aome trail running without the pack while dad is resting midday - 4.1 miles run in addition to the hike miles.  Actually turned on the GPS watch for these.Serpentine is cool - we find lots of water and consequently lots more critters.

Day 2.5 of hike - Dad's knee is progressively getting worse.  We make it through several more of the Gems (each of a series of slot canyons is named after a gem) and almost get to our goal destination.  We hike about 10 miles and get to 1.5 miles short of our goal.  Unfortunately this leaves us with 15 miles tomorrow to catch up.  10 miles has been a struggle for my dad.  Jogged up Ruby Canyon without pack in search of water/exporing.  10 minutes for about 0.8 miles is a battle on rocky grade.  I pump/filter more water and carry a heavy load with 8 liters of water on back, since we are uncertain of available water sources in the next days' section of route.   

Today was the breaking point for the hike.  We wake up early and try to get after it to make our goal for the day.  Midday or so, we stop in Turquoise Canyon to try and filter some more water, as we are surprised to even find it here.  To my horror, I find out that the suction of the intake pump and consequently entire device is useless.  We can no longer filter water with primary pump.  In our rush to drive through the night and get to meet our ride out to the TH, we also have discovered that a backup (as well as other needed items) was not brought.

We fill our 2L bladders and bottles with water straight from the pools of water.  They appear to be clean, and relatively bug free...

After an hour more of hiking, it has become clear that dad cannot continue with his knee carrying the weight of his pack down and back up out of the slot canyons.  This is where the fun began today.  We attempt to have me hike ahead quickly, drop pack, and come back to carry Dad's pack.   By the time I have powered thru 4.5 miles and run back 2.5 miles to Dad and we begin discussing our status, we realize that we are so far behind at this point that we will not meet our rendezvous goal point with our other group in time for them to not be very worried about us.  Even with Dad not wearing a pack, his knee is done.  Fortunately we have a SPOT rescue device.  Dad decides to use it and abort the hike.  At this point (After Dad has already pressed the SOS button on the SPOT) we realize my pack is 1 mile away on a difficult path - so about a 30 minute trip for me to run over, repack, and power back with the pack.  Fortunately it takes the rescue helicopter about an hour to get to us after we have pressed the button (would've been unfortunate if it was life threatening), and I make it back in time.  After another 20 minutes of anxious waiting, the helicopter circles and finds a flattish spot on the ridge about 500 yards from us.  We discover that the med evac. helicopter will graciously allow me to ride out as well even though I am not injured.  Dad I discussed the options I would have if I had to hike out... Would've been an adventure!... We ride a helicopter out of the Grand Canyon.  We rise 3000' vertical in about 5 minutes and are back at the helipad at GC Airport in about 15 minutes.

Off - I am exhausted from the GC hike even after a night's sleep in hotel and a shower.  I also spend all day flying back home.  Pheonix to Charlotte to Louisville and picked up by the wife and kid and drive home an hour to Indiana.   This last week was quite a journey!