Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim

We're back home and mostly unpacked after a 4-day backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon. Our friends Whitney & Jeff had a permit and invited us, along with their friends Jim and Kiryn. We started at the North Rim (8200') down the North Kaibab Trail to the Colorado River (2450'), and then up to the South Rim (6860'). 14 miles down, 9.5 miles up. Then we caught a shuttle bus back to our vehicles at the trailhead on the North Rim. We camped at the bottom of the canyon, and at midpoints on each side; that made for fairly easy hiking days.

Yes, it was hot! But we managed by hiking early in the morning, soaking our shirts in the creek when we could, and relaxing in the shade during the heat of the day. At Phantom Ranch (the bottom of the canyon) it was 107F in the shade! Maybe that's why I forgot to take any pictures there...

My Picasa web album for the backpacking trip