Grand Canyon Day 1
At this point it was only 9:30 a.m. at the heat intensified as we went into the deeper canyon caused by it's oven environment with dark, boxed in walls. As mentioned before, the Bright Angel River proved vital on numerous occasions with a deep soak of our heads and bodies. In this intense heat which must have caused this delirious suggestion, but it was at this point I suggested we up the stakes and complete a rim to rim to rim with a midnight push for the South ram mountaineering style. Seconds later the deal was complete and new quest was set.
Climbing the Grand Canyon is hard enough but the added summer heat makes it twice is difficult. Our plan was to beat the heat and get up around midnight, cook breakfast, and leave for the South ram at 1 a.m. getting asked to the summit at 5:30 a.m., perfect time for a sunrise. The South rim is 6.9 miles from Bright Angel campground with an elevation gain of an approximately 4200 feet. As we strolled into the camp around in we knew we had a long day ahead requiring 28 miles and 13,000 feet elevation gain an extreme heat the last 14 miles. We enjoyed the camp with the river running through it, explored the Colorado River, and went to bed at 930 with the alarm set for midnight. For some reason I had trouble getting to sleep and didn't fall into sleep I would guess until 9:30 p.m.
Grand Canyon Day 2
A point to make here is that modern conveniences have helped the world see the treasures such as the Grand Canyon; however this also removes the sense of solitude from these places. And I know after a sending the Grand Canyon at night only passed by a team of mules delivering supplies to the Phantom Ranch that we did have a treasure tour sells at that moment in time. I know that the time was vital, but nonetheless, this night the Grand Canyon was are his alone.
We rested at the South rim for 20 minutes and decided it was best to keep moving instead of sitting in the dark morning chill. We left the rim at 5:15 a.m., with a few groups below that just got off the bus why we rested about. With this guy slowly illuminating with the coming morning, the views we did not see on the approach opens slowly with each step we talk. There is no question why the South rim is more popular with its instant views. including its shorter approach, as compared to the north side (Add South Rim Descriptions).
We arrived back at camp, nearing 8:30 a.m. and decided to take a nap on the opposite side of our camp across Bright Angel River before heading up the North rim. This however proved useless because the bugs and constant interruptions from the other campers. We decided to keep moving and cleared camp and set off for the final leg or second half of the 14 miles in the searing heat up from 2300 feet to 8600 feet. This was a known the most trying of the day are coming through the box canyon. The previous day, we knew the win and River would be in our favor, but now the route was reversed and the climb would be uphill to cottonwood camp 7 miles away. We arrived there nearing 12:45 p.m. and took a break until 1:15 p.m. was vital for our success to the car. From there, we came to our designated dinner spot of roaring springs at 2 p.m. We had the usual rice and beans and started off at 3 p.m. for the final and most difficult part of the journey. We had been on the move since 1 a.m. and the heat extract energy from your body much different than traveling in colder conditions. The final 4.7 miles up, proved to be a mental endurance challenge, but like all other clients. We push through and made it back at 5:30 p.m. to the car. We jumped in the Jeep, took much needed showers at the camp grounds, and started the drive to Zion national Park and our last stop of the journey. The distant western horizon, as we cross southern Utah included a magnificent lightning storm that would prove just south of our destination.
