Into the Abyss

So. Kaibab Trailhead

It's all Dr. Berti's fault.

My '09 medical ended up with

Her handing me a script for

A change in one of my prescriptions

And another one that read,

Younger Next Year,

Authors Crawley and Lodge.

With a terse suggestion that my

Not-so-kindly-treated body

Would benefit from my "biding by the book".

Accustomed to doing

(Almost) everything she recommends,

The book made me a believer!

My first kedge was completed

On schedule, (the week of my birthday).

What next?

What can I say

The Grand Canyon!

It was, as kids say, a no-brainer.

It had captured my heart

The first time I had seen it.

Crawley describes

A kedge as a significant challenge

That you work toward.

The more that I had read, the more I knew,

That the challenge was there.

And the wow factor was right there with it.

Having heard about my plan,

The indomitable and well-travelled

SILH, (son-in-law Harry)

Offered to be a hiking companion.

How fortunate for me.

And he came through big time.

He really took care of "the old fella."

Putting up with the old guy

For six days on the trail.

First break, still somewhat nervous

The first two hours we broke trail

Through a knee high snow fall.

Three hours into the trail

We fired up the Simmer-lite

And enjoyed a well-earned coffee break.

Coffee time on the trail

We'd applied for the back country permit months ago

Days of reading, research on-line and off

Paid off.

Know the terrain well, pack light

Be capable to physically carry out the plan.

Two of three ain't bad, right!

SILH, unwisely "turned a blind eye"

To some of my creature comfort additions.

Two very light weight, (MEC approved afterall)

Camp stools, cans of sardines, (heavy, as in oz.'s)

Instead of more dried venison,

And truth be told, another 'very light' item or two,

Our three person tent shoulda' been two 1P's,

My barrel sleeping bag coulda' been a 'mummy'.

All meant unnecessary weight

For every step of the way.

The Hoodoo at Monument Creek

The destination was Monument Creek.

Late in the day, rain still falling,

We worked our way down

Three quarters of a mile to the bottom of the wash

On a wet precipitous trail to the campground.

Our tent site bordered

An undercut in the canyon wall

That had eroded ten feet back

And wound around for forty feet or so.

So we were able to enjoy a dry meal

And relax over a prolonged coffee.

SILH, finished reading

Water for Elephants

from his Kindle.

(speaking of extra weight),

I stuck my nose into

Hiking the Grand Canyon Geology.

Dry and Steeped in time, under the undercut

Let me tell you,

That most aspects of

Hiking the canyon is a challenge.

Up is generally really steep

Down takes it's toll on the calves, thighs and knees.

And if you enjoy having a 1000 ft. drop

Ten to thirty inches off to the side

You'll love the marginal trails

Like the Tonto.

We started by carrying 50 pounds,

Should have been carrying 40!

Definitely will be next time.

Truth be known SILH offered to

Ease my load.

Ten pounds lighter was a

Wonderful weight to carry.

SILH almost home

We've got three super Kids- In-law,

SILH is one of them.

What a brilliant week it was.

'Twas as big a challenge as I'd want

But not too big to do it again.