Final Preparations

Less than a month until my grandson and I descend into the Grand Canyon. This will be his first trek and likely my last. He is excited. I am a bit nervous. The Camelback hike reminded me that I'm not as young as I was. 

When Papa and I hiked the Canyon before, I put together a table with the various waypoints along the route and estimated arrival times. That is still a reference point for us, but this graphic was posted online. Unfortunately I did not grab the source, I apologize. It was a hiker who is planning rim-to-rim-to-rim. That is a much longer/harder hike than we will do. Our plan is to go down the South Kaibab (1st column) and out Bright Angel (4th column). This graphic provides a better visual.

Outside of last minute details, and continued training, I believe we are set. We're prepared to send mail from Phantom Ranch, the only place in the U.S. where the post mark reads "delivered by mule." It is also the only place to purchase a Phantom Ranch (PR) souvenir t-shirt. That's a definite to-do item. The sack lunch is ordered, and we will toast the midway point of the hike with a lemmy (that's lemonade folks) during our lunch break at the PR cantina.  The anticipation builds.