Grand Canyon Hike

[Pedal Wench]

Luv'n,

I just realized that you hiked on that wacky day after the storms! Were the trails a mess? The fog on the rim was just amazing. There were times that you couldn't see more than 50 feet away. We took tons of pictures that day -- even got 3 elk on the lawn by El Tovar! We were wondering how it was hiking in that, and the trail conditions after that rain. Do tell! edit: It was dry the whole time we were there, so no mud at all! Where was it yucky? OH! Are you talking about the bog/swamp just after the Box and before Cottonwood? Yeah, that was a mess!

We had good weather for our hikes. Usual brilliant sunshine on the first three days (South Kaibab, Phantom Canyon, North Kaibab) and cool weather on the North Rim. We kept seeing cloud cover and hoped we could benefit from it on our return hike. The hike down N. Kaibab was warm and sunny, but it never was the brutal sauna in the inner canyon. We had planned on hiking up South Kaibab (we had very light packs and could carry the necessary 6-liters of water, plus we cached two more liters on our way down - I do NOT recommend people hike up this trail without similar arrangements! *end legal disclaimer*) and usually we have to hurry because there is no shade whatsoever. Well, this was the same day as the thunderstorms, so it was VERY cool and overcast the whole way up. Absolutely perfect temps for hiking. In fact, it was a little cool, as I had shipped most of my clothes back from the North Rim, and only had a pair of shorts, sports top and a long-sleeved hiking shirt. It was fine while hiking uphill, but a little brisk when we stopped. However, given the alternative, it was really quite nice. I would have taken a ton of pictures, but my camera broke the day we arrived...