Grand Canyon October 29th - November 4th 2000

Don and I drove into Grand Canyon in a snow storm on October 29th.  It was difficult to find our way to the lodge as the snow covered all signs.

Maswick Lodge

The Four Hikers Peter Clarke, Hugh Pratt,Ruth and Don

We started our hike down into the canyon on November 2nd.  We caught a shuttle bus to South Kaibab Trail head from Maswik Lodge, about 30 hikers on the bus.  We arrived at South Kaibab about 9:20 and started our hike down  to the floor of the canyon.  South Kaibab trail is about seven and a half miles long (the actual distance down to the floor of the canyon is one mile).  The many switch backs caused the extra miles.  The hikers spread out very quickly and we could see an occasional hiker on the switchbacks below.  At first the trail was a little soft and mucky due to the melted snow and the mule traffic.  The path was quite narrow in places.  The scenery was beautiful.  We stopped for lunch at a spot  just before the half way point.  At this point they had specially designed toilets for the hikers to use.

Lunch stop on Kaibab Trail

On the edge!

We continued on and eventually saw the suspension bridge below us. It was difficult to judge the distance as we would look over the edge and think we could see the canyon floor and then we would go around a corner and the floor would be further away.

The Suspension Bridge

Hikers on one of the switchbacks on the Kaibab Trail.

Hugh resting

A sheep on the trail