Today is my first time hiking from the River to the rim on any trail other than Bright Angel. It’s a lot warmer this morning, which makes for a congenial start.
We set off around 8 am and the first two miles pass quickly, even though the gravel in the bed of Red Canyon is a bit like walking in soft sand. Once we leave the bed of the canyon and the real ascent starts, things get challenging pretty quickly and my pace slows. It’s gorgeous and I am enjoying myself.
After making it to the top of the Redwall, we decide to complete the traverse before having lunch. We meet a couple from Washington, D.C., here and stop to chat with them for a while. It’s their first canyon hike and they have a lot of questions for Dean. It’s cute witnessing their awe and enthusiasm. They are also hiking out and started ahead of us, so we pass them and continue.
Some time after our lunch break as we get closer to the top, I can feel myself starting to lose momentum. My legs are sore from all the giant steps and relentlessly steep grade. I start asking Dean if he wants to carry me, counting the rock layers that we have left, fantasizing about food at home later on, and any other strategies I can to get me through the final push. Then Dean turns back towards me and says “You’re going to like what you see here”, and it's the top! I had been bracing myself for more, so I feel pretty jubilant and proud of myself for making it out.
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