Sunday, October the 10th
We woke up between 3:00 - 3:30am. We had a shuttle take us from the lodge to the trailhead so we didn't tack on those extra two miles. We caught the shuttle at 4:30am and headed to the trailhead.
It was so exciting to start hiking! I know that sounds silly, but it is true. Ah, the fresh, energetic start to a long, hard journey. You start going downhill immediately. We kinda played some leapfrog heading down the trail, people stopping to get various things out of backpacks, adjusting headlamps, etc. Then, Jill, Meredith and Trish caught up to us. Haha! I hiked with them for a little bit, and then they passed us and I thought, well, I won't see them again. They have all done Ironman events - and Meredith was only two weeks past her last one!
The trail was pretty crowded for the first hour or so. It was so cool to turn around and see all the flickering headlamps coming down the trail. I wish I could've taken a good pic of that. Oh, the stars were AMAZING! After a while, everyone kind of spaced out and we had plenty of room. There were times during the day when we didn't see anyone at all for a while. We would space out between us - and then meet up during water/snack breaks.
As the sun came up and it got warmer, I started to take some layers off. It was funny, because each time we met up again, I had something different on. My friends were like, oh, that's you. Haha!
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| Me, Whitney and Ann. |
By this time, it was pretty hot. I went into a bathroom (they have more permanent-like port-a-john stations throughout) and changed into running shorts. I had convertible hiking pants on, and had already zipped off the pant legs. But, my running shorts are so much more comfortable.
We all left the Phantom Ranch at the same time. But, since it was essentially flat for a while, I thought I would take a break from carrying my hiking poles. Quick side story, I struggled with the decision on whether or not to carry them. I don't particularly like having them, especially when we are in rocky terrain. After this Grand Canyon trip, Tom and I read an article about the pros/cons of carrying hiking poles. One plus (which I had already noticed) is that carrying them reduces the swelling in your hands. The swelling can get pretty uncomfortable/annoying. So, that was a huge pro of poles for me. Another thing is that you burn more calories carrying them. This is a positive or a negative depending on what you're doing. In this case, hiking 23 or so miles in one day and already struggling with replacing calories, burning more calories was a definite negative. That might be why I didn't want to carry them. They felt like work at that point.
Anyway, I asked Whitney to please put them in my backpack. This made us stop and our group went ahead. We thought, we'll catch up, no biggie. Well, we walked and we walked and we would look ahead and not see anyone. So strange! We got to the bridge over the Colorado River and that was so cool. I would say it was a highlight of the hike for me. I don't know why, I just liked it.
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| You can see rafters in the river. The river is so much bigger in person. |
There is a part of the hike that I think is called Devil's Corkscrew. It was very hot, the sun was glaring, not a cloud in the sky, and the trail is uphill. I tend to want to power up hills, so it was at this time that I went ahead of Whitney. We all knew that we would end up going different paces. I feel like this part of the hike is where it got really challenging, both physically and mentally.
One mistake I made was not realizing that I needed to change my way of thinking. We tend to look at how many miles the hike is and how long it will take to hike per mile. Well, being honest, Tom does all that thinking and then during the hike, I ask him for time checks. Well, I didn't have Tom with me, so I had to figure it out on my own - during the hike - when I was tired and not at my sharpest. And honestly, numbers are never my thing. In hindsight, I should've looked at a map, and broken it down into HOURS not MILES. Because some miles take FOREVER to get through because they are full of switchbacks.
When I got to the Indian Garden, I thought, hey - I'm close! You can see Indian Garden from the South Rim. Well, that means NOTHING! It is SO FAR AWAY from the finish. It is 4.5 miles from the Black Bright Angel trailhead (the finish). So, being dumb, I thought, Oh, 4.5 miles? No problemo. I can do 4.5miles in my sleep!
You should know that when I studied the map (after I was done the hike - dumb!) it says that it takes an average of 3-5 hours to hike that 4.5 miles. In my foggy, tired, under nourished mind at the time, I thought I could do it in just over an hour! Haha! Tom doesn't like hearing details like this - it makes his head explode.
Also, there was a guy having some difficulty at the rest station there. At this point, my brain couldn't handle taking care of anyone else but me. I literally felt nothing for the poor man. That really isn't my normal personality. I care way more than that! But, not at that time. I'm sorry, but there are signs literally EVERYWHERE that inform hikers that you must be in good physical condition to attempt this hike.
It isn't like you can just quit and call an Uber to come and get you. And, he had someone with him, so he wasn't alone. I can't remember if I stopped to use the restroom or not. I know I did NOT stop for a break of any kind from the Phantom Ranch to the end, which looking back, is probably pretty stupid. I don't know how far that is - but it was numerous hours. I don't think I even filled up my water at Indian Garden - again, stupid. But, in my mind, I thought ONLY 4.5 miles - why carry the extra weight? Stupid.
At some point, I came upon another hiker. His backpack was unzipped. So, I said, "Excuse me sir, but do you know your backpack is unzipped?" He said no and I offered to zip it up for him because at this point, having to remove your backpack takes super human strength. See? I do care! After I did that, I asked him if he would please hand me my water bottle - for the same reason. Haha!
So, I hiked for a while carrying my water bottle. Some time after that, I came upon a couple. I asked him to please put my water bottle back. Him and his girlfriend/wife/friend were out for what looked like a day hike, probably started at Bright Angel Trail. They were taking a selfie and I was willing them not to ask me to take their picture because I just didn't have the energy. I think they sensed my struggle, because they didn't ask.
At this point, I was really having to talk to myself. I remembered what some of my friends' comments were on my Facebook post about this hike - like I was going to crush it and make that trail my bitch, etc. So, I just told myself, Christy, you are crushing it! Look at you go! I got this!
After what felt like an eternity - I passed the 3-Mile rest house. I was like, WHAT? I've only traveled 1.5 miles? How could that be? According to the map, the 3-Mile rest house is about 2-3 hours from the finish!
After that, I passed a day hiker who was carrying a brochure. The brochure was nice and crisp - not wrinkly, which made me think she hadn't been hiking for very long. I asked her how long it was from where we were to the trailhead and she said, um a couple of hours, I think. Oh God. Looking at the map now, it was 1-2 hours from the 1.5 mile marker.
I think it was about this time in the hike that I came upon Trish! How could that be? I never thought I would catch up to them. There were some day hikers there pointing and taking pictures of some mountain sheep? I'm not gonna lie, I thought to myself, don't care, I don't have the energy to stop and get my phone out to snap a picture. But, since I saw Trish, I was like, okay, I'll spend the energy to take the picture.
Then I turned the corner and I heard, "CHRISTY!" It was Jill and Meredith! I was SO glad to see them! They were the confidence boost I needed to finish the hike.
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| Me, Jill, Trish and Meredith |
We finished and Jill's parents were there with cold beers. I cried - I was SO fucking glad to be done. I loved it and would do it again. But, it was one of the most challenging things I've ever done. It was 23+ miles and took me 12 hours and 15 minutes. I have done many half marathons (13 or 14, I think) and one marathon and when you finish those events, there are people cheering for you and they give you a medal and blanket thing and they make you feel all important and accomplished. But, at the finish of this - NO ONE CARED. Haha! It was quite humbling. No one gives a shit. They are there to look at the view and if you're in the way of their photo, move.
Jill and friends went to their room and they offered for me to go with them, but I didn't have the energy to walk there, just to turn around and walk back to meet my friends. So, I didn't go.
It was close to 5pm and it was so much colder at the top. I was freezing. This was the next to the last weekend for the North Rim (they close the North Rim in mid-October for the winter). So, the gift shops didn't have a ton of inventory, and I wanted to get something small for the kids. So, I went into the gift shop. A lady told me I needed to put on a mask. I asked her if they had them, and she said they were sold out. WHAT? So, F-you and your stupid 23+ mile, 12 hour hike, you're a danger to society, get out.
I had to dig through my dirty backpack and find a crumpled mask. Then I went back and begrudgingly bought a couple of things. Then I headed to the restaurant to put our name on the list. On my way in, a gentleman stopped me and asked me if I was coming in from a long hike (oh, what gave it away? haha). I said yes, I just hiked from the North Rim. He said, "Congratulations! You should be so proud of yourself!" Then he went on and gushed about how hard it is and how few people accomplish that feat. He was exactly what I needed to change my mood to happy and proud again. Turns out he was the operation manager and he walked with me to the restaurant and told the guy to try and find me a seat even though there was a two hour wait!
I think I went and put on some pants and my long sleeve shirt. Then I sat down on a bench in front of the restaurant. Two couples came in all fresh and clean and out for the night and they exclaimed in horror about the two hour wait. Um, are you thousands of calories deficient right now? I don't think so. Do you see me bitching?
Then Whitney came in. She is so funny. Just her living her life is funny. She is so real - doesn't hold back and tells it like it is. She went to the vending machine to get us something to drink and it was out of order. Figures.
Then the host said he could put us at the bar until our friends finished. So, we went in and sat and ordered a beer. I still couldn't eat. My stomach shut down hours and hours ago. Surprisingly, the beer was no problem, haha! We got to know the bartender (Isaac) and a waiter (Steve) and of course, Dave, the manager. Haha! Then Ann came in. She said that the others went straight to the car to head to the hotel. So, it was just the three of us for celebratory drinks.
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| Me, Jill, Trish, Whitney, Meredith and Ann. |
Then Jill, Meredith and Trish came to join us and by that point a big table opened up so we moved there. Then I heard, "Christy!" and it was a hiker that we chatted with way earlier in the day. She lives in California and was hiking with her husband and sister, but they were all hiking at different paces, so when we met her she was by herself. She said she was still waiting for her sister and it was long since dark outside. Ann jokingly said, "What, are you the Mayor?" Haha! Later, when her sister arrived, Jill started clapping for her, which made everyone clap for her - it was really cute.
Then we left and headed to the hotel. I was too tired and going to sleep was way harder than it should've been. My legs were so fatigued that they hurt and kept me awake.
Monday, October 11
The next morning we got ready, re-packed for the 14th time, and went and got breakfast in the hotel. I think we were too hungry for what they were serving, so after hanging out there for a while, we went to a fast food place for a biscuit and coffee. Then we headed back to Phoenix. We had lunch with Erin again.
Our flights were late that night (Monday). So we had some time to kill. We ended up going to an indoor mall and just walking. Walking was almost better than sitting. It was weird. Whitney's flight was before mine, so we dropped her off. Jill and Trish were staying longer, so we went and picked up Meredith and went to dinner. Meredith and I were on the same flight. So, Ann dropped us off at the airport.
Whew! What an amazing trip! I am so grateful I got to do it and I hope I get to do it again. Also, in December at my 50th birthday party, Ann surprised me by flying out to be there. She gave me some gifts, one was my own medal! Haha!
Okay, that's it - FINALLY! I wrote this post like 11 MONTHS ago. But, uploading photos became a major chore. There were just SO many to look at and it was so hard to choose.
It is now almost exactly one year later - and Tom and I are going to go and hike it together. This time, we are hiking from the South Rim to the North Rim. I'll save all that stuff for my next Grand Canyon blog post, which hopefully won't be next year. Haha!
Thanks for the love!
Christy xo
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