Grand Canyon Day 4

 3/8/23

Believe it or not, this is the MOON shining and I was amazed how bright it was!  Didn't even need a flashlight to get to the bathroom!

On my second trip from the bathroom (LOL) we were greeted by Elk....they are definitely not afraid of humans!  The second picture was taken from the door of our camper!

       

The Bright Angel Trailhead........we REALLY wanted to try to hike down, at least part of the way down into the Grand Canyon.  However, we DID not have the correct equipment.  Ice shoes are a hot commodity here, and no one had any in stock!  BUT, we finally found some (NOT the really good ones, but better than nothing for sure, plus the ranger said we would be fine using these to hike the Bright Angel Trail...OK, enough said!  If the ranger said we would be good, who am I to argue))

                                                                                                                                                                                 Plus they are quite a fashion statement!         

SO, this was the first sign we came to on the way down, which SHOULD have made us thing about what we were doing.........and the second was a warning to let any mules we might see pass!  Well ok, then!  Thankfully, we did not have to let any mules pass (I sure with I would have seen one coming back, because I would have jumped on his back)!

I kind of thought we were going to start getting out of the snow, but

That was NOT the case!

Hallelujah!  Rest stop!  

At the rest stop, we saw this rock and hiked just a little further, so we could get a picture!

Than decided that Plateau Point was going to have to wait (I circled what we THOUGHT was going to be our goal), because it was another 2 hour hike and I kept thinking, how are we getting back up this trail without going into cardiac arrest!

We THINK this might have been a pueblo that was once used, like a million years ago!

Another tunnel, there were 2 on this part of the hike!

Ok, now for the climb back and I do mean CLIMB!

We agreed that we would rest at each Switchback (that is hiker lingo for when the trail winds back around) OR when I felt my heart beating in my ears (that is never a good sign)!

I didn't have the gumption to take any photos once we reached the top, but we made it and we were ecstatic!

We did go to the Hopi House (which we missed yesterday because they weren't open) and the restroom the we were more than ready to head for the shuttle to take us back to camp, when I realized....CRAP, where is my back pack?  Are you kidding me.....MORE walking to try to find it (and a few prayers) but, I DID find it, thank goodness!

SHUTTLE......take me back (we were serenaded by the shuttle driver although I don't know what she was singing (LISA SIMMEN, you would have been laughing for SURE)!

Dragged ourselves back to camp, took a little rest, ate a little dinner, now we are going to sit by the fire and call it an EARLY night (after I take a massive dose of Aleve)!

NIGHT!