Well, there she is folks. Our descent is the South Kaibab trailhead. Very close to where I was standing to shoot this image.The dates for the adventure are Feb. 22 - 27, 2010. Each season has it's advantages and disadvantages. We'll likely begin the descent on a snowy trail. Within two hours we should be down far enough that we'll be in mid 40'sF. By the time we get to our first camping area, we'll be in (daytime, mid 50's to mid 60'sF temps). Unfortunately for us, by then the shadows will have lengthened for the day and we'll be setting up camp and making dinner in somewhat cooler temps. We won't be tossing off the covers at night because of the heat!
A negative is that except for the main corridor there are no water supplies during the winter months. So that means carrying quite a bit and likely doing some caching and retrieving. But that's cool, we'll be relying more on the creeks and using our little purifier pumps to filter what we use.
I'm so looking forward to this trip. I have wanted to do the photography thing down there from the day that I saw my first picture taken along Monument Creek. Guess what, we're spending two days trekking that area.
And believe it or not, I look forward to the physical prep stuff to insure that I'm reasonably fit for this venture. Now each day I look forward to the walk. I wear a backpack. Started it at 25 pounds and am working it up to 50 pounds. Alternate days I'm cycling and doing stretches and exercises that my fitness trainer from last summer taught me.
I figure that we'll each be carrying about 50 pounds. My camera equipment is 1/5th of that. Harry thinks I'm nuts. Because of the equipment, at least that's my excuse, we're going to send a thirty pound pack down on the daily mule train trip. That'll also allow us to have access to better quality grub than if we had to rely solely on dehydrated , packaged food. This will give us the fixin's for bacon and eggs and my all time favorite, bannock which is better than good any time of the day, right Mitch and Trav!
Well enough for now. I'll be back to you very shortly updating the progress. Good day to you all. And may your dreams come true, as has mine. Thanks SILH for helping me to take a big drink from the bucket list.
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