We ran into mostly poor snow conditions during two weeks of backcountry skiing near Steamboat; this was a rare patch of decent powder.
Great View, Painful Experience
View from the top of Emory Peak, in Big Bend National Park. One of the hikers in our group broke her leg during the descent and walked out three miles on a fractured fibula!
Window Trail Outlet
This is the view from the end of the Window Trail in Big Bend National Park. Water comes through the canyon behind me and shoots out through the notch and over a cliff. The water has smoothed out the rock at the bottom of the photo. So, easy to slip and go over over the edge. Not a recommended trail during rainy season.
Slot Canyon Reflection
The view from a slot canyon just outside of Big Bend National Park, Texas.
End of the Trail
Finally, the North Rim! This is the North Kaibab trailhead, after 24 miles of hiking (which took nine hours and 42 minutes from the South Rim). And actually, this is not the end of the trail - it’s another 1.7 miles to the shuttle pickup spot, and then a 4.5 hour drive back around to the South Rim lodgings. A long day.
A Few Dangerous Spots
The Grand Canyon Rim to Rim is very well-designed, but there are a few dangerous spots - such as the one shown in the following photo. A good part of the trail up to the North Kaibab trailhead has a cliff (up) on one side and another cliff (down) on the other. And there is no handrail.
Simply Glorious
The sun takes a long time to reach hikers on the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim, instead working its way down the adjacent cliff face. This photo was taken not far short of the 20-mile mark on the hike - and I was still in the shadows down below.
Great use for Dynamite
There are many, many places in the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim where the path has been blasted out of a cliff face - such as in the following photo. Without this work, the trail could not possibly exist. The canyon walls are just too steep.
Entering the Slot Canyon
After passing through Phantom Ranch, the Rim to Rim track switches over to the North Kaibab Trail, which stays fairly flat for a long hike through this slot canyon - which presents a problem, because it’s hard for your GPS to pick up a signal in here. The result is GPS tracking that tends to be off by a fair amount. In my case, the GPS was eventually off by 1.7 miles.
The Colorado River ... at Last
After a long hike down from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, I reached the Colorado River and the Silver Bridge at just after 6 a.m. This video was taken after having crossed the bridge. Only about 14 miles to go!
Hiking in the Dark
Hiking in the Grand Canyon in the wee hours of the morning can be a surreal experience, as the following video shows. You are traveling along a cliff face, and yet it doesn’t seem all that dangerous, perhaps because it’s so dark.
Watch the Temperature
It is essential to be aware of the temperature inside the Grand Canyon, since it kills several hikers every year. In this case, the posted temperature is not too bad at about 4 a.m. The projection for that day was 91 degrees at Phantom Ranch, which is actually on the low side.
Down is Optional
The Park Service has this sign posted all over the trails within the Grand Canyon. The temperatures can go well over 100 degrees in the summer, so they want you to leave before you get too hot. The Park Service conducts about 600 rescues per year in the canyon - hence, the signs.
Hiking Along a Cliff Face
Starting at 2:28 a.m. on the Bright Angel Trail means hiking in the dark with a headlamp, and along a trail that drops a really long ways on one side. That’s part of the deal when the trail is cut into the side of a cliff. Keeps you alert. Here’s a sign just a short ways down the trail.
The Starting Line
The Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim Trail has two possible starting points. I started here, at the Bright Angel Trailhead - though not until very early the following morning. The trail goes down to the Colorado River, at which point everyone switches over to the North Kaibab Trail for the hike up to the North Rim.
Time for the Rim to Rim
October 13, and time for the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim hike, which is 6,000 feet down, 24 miles across, and 6,000 feet back up the other side. Here is the start, at the south rim. I’ll be starting tomorrow morning in the dark.
The Only Guaranteed Job in Japan - Dish Washer
Traditional Japanese meals are massive, with easily a dozen courses. And lots of dirty plates afterwards. Here is a sample.
Cutsie Japanese Marketing
The main thrust of all Japanese marketing is to be as cute as possible. As noted in this photo.
Kyoto Heat Warnings
Kyoto has a reputation for being beautiful, but it’s also bloody hot and humid. Here is one of the better heat warning signs in the area.
Japanese Vending Machines
One of the great aspects of life in Japan is the vending machines - all ten billion of them. Here is a small sample.
