To Phantom Ranch and Beyond! (7/13)

As I prepare for my second overnight trip into Grand Canyon later this week, I realize that I have not shared my first trip to the bottom of the canyon yet.  I have been quite busy with work and more National Park adventures, but none the less remiss.  So here goes. 

Our journey began with a day and night at the South Rim Thursday July 12.  Rather than camping, we were able to spend the night in employee housing affectionately known as the "flop house."  Despite slightly shady name, it was a great place to rest before our big adventure into the canyon.  Jay, Laurel and I were guided by our manager Tom.  It was great to spend time as a team hiking into the canyon - talk about really getting to know and trust the people you work with.  As National Park Service employees we did not have to go offsite for outdoor team building, we just had to explore part our work place.  

Our first mule train encounter of the day just after starting
down the South Kaibab Trail from the South Rim.
This train only carried supplies, no passengers, but was still
a sight to see coming up the 2 - 3 foot wide trail.  

Tom, Laurel, myself and Jay towards the beginning of our
16.5 mile journey down and back up the Grand Canyon.

We got a bit of a late start at 9 am considering afternoon temperatures at the bottom of the canyon can be 100 + degrees in July.  Thankfully, we were blessed with amazing shade and cloud cover almost the entire seven mile journey to Phantom Ranch.  On our first trip down the South Kaibab Jay, Laurel and I  stopped 1.5 miles in to turn around at Ooh Ahh Point.  That first trip was quite nerve-racking, but this one was much easier.  Partly due to the security of hiking poles, but also our acclimation to narrow trails and steep drop offs.  On this hike we breezed right on past Ooh Ahh and did not stop until the almost halfway point - Cedar Ridge.  There, we gave our legs a rest, enjoyed snacks, fought squirrels (at least Laurel did) and exercised our right to jump in a beautiful National Park.

After our rest, we continued the journey further from the South Rim and closer to the mighty Colorado River.  As some of the clouds overhead grew darker and we heard some thunder in the distance, we got a little nervous about the possibility of lightning.  Again thankfully, the cooling cloud cover remained and we were not rained on until we arrived at the bunk house at the bottom.  

Delicious children's snack made of fruits
and vegetables - apples and sweet potatoes
I think.  I know I am too old, but it was tasty.

Laurel enjoying a beef jerky snack at our second rest stop.

On the bridge over the Colorado River!

The mighty Colorado, beautiful and green before the
summer monsoons turn it brown.  

We arrived at the employee bunk house just in time for a short rain storm.  It was great to have shelter and not have to figure out where to hide along the trail.  After a short rest, included a much-needed snack, Jay, Laurel, Tom and I met Ranger Jerome for a tour  of the waste water treatment plant at the bottom of the canyon.  I toured a water treatment plant in elementary school for a field trip and have vivid memories of the experience.  I thought/hoped it would be my one and only such tour, but the one in the Grand Canyon turned out to be pretty neat.  We heard about all that goes into treating waste water and providing visitors clean water at the remote desert park, so it was good to see the operation in person.

After the water plant tour, we soaked our feet in Bright Angel creek for a few minutes and the water felt amazing.  Equally amazing, we enjoyed boxed dinners including velvetta shells and cheese mixed with broccoli cheese rice.  It might not sound that good to you, but it really hit the spot after a seven mile hike.  Like the nerd-gamer I am, I brought the card game Martian Flux along and taught the crew how to play.  It is such a weird game, so between us being tired and it being a nerd game, there was some confusion, but also lots of fun!  Although we were tired, we managed to stay awake for the ranger talk about unsolved mysteries of the canyon include a honeymoon couple who died (or maybe didn't...) in the very early years of Colorado river running.  Pretty spooky stuff just before bed!

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