Trek out of Phantom Ranch on March 27, 2004

Notes from the Grand Canyon-Lila Brown

We left Phantom Ranch and started on Bright Angel Trail. When we crossed the silver suspension bridge over the Colorado River it was not a full sunrise but we were surrounded with dark red colors (maroon-red-burg.) on the canyon walls. We followed the Colorado River before starting into the canyon. We made 3 or 4 creek crossings.

Bright Angel Trail is different from South Kaibab Trail (which has vista views). This trail was in canyons, had waterfalls, and all uphill. We also saw pictographs, many deer by the trail. They did not let the hikers bother them from eating. Saw different variety of birds.

They had metal electrical poles with the insulators that they used for electricity. Also the water line goes from the North Rim to Phantom Ranch and straight up to the South Rim.

Indian Gardens was a rest stop with cottonwood trees. This is where they keep some of the stock for mules breeding.

They were working on improving the trails and these people camped at Indian Gardens for 9 days and were off 5. Breaking rocks with sledge hammers.

We were feeling bad about our achy feet until we sat a guy coming down barefoot.

Most of the foliage was off the trees but buds were starting to show spring was coming. There were many different shades of green in the canyon.

We met a Park Ranger on the trail that had a metal brush that he used to take graffiti off the walls with a mixture of mud and water.

We had many fazes on our hike - mud faze – snow faze - and rum faze at the top.

The top seemed so far away but when you looked back where you had been you thought “ I climbed that far”!!!!! And you knew you would make it.. What kept us going was the American flag on top.

Words cannot explain the beauty and color of the Grand Canyon, you have to experience this yourself.. Each one of us will have a different perspective of what it has meant to us but all of us are very proud that we have had this once in a lifetime experience.

STORIES

Starting from Phantom on March 2^nd, Dewey was leading a group and was walking on the trail down by the river where the trails split and George yelled NO that’s the wrong way, so thinking George knows it all we turned around and came back and was going to go the way he wanted us to but he realized he was wrong (that’s hard to believe.) Now we know why George was the sweep and not the leader going us.

A few minutes later was the restrooms and of course being women some went in and Susan Lively told George she was going to keep walking on the trail – so everyone came out and started walking and George waited and waited by the restrooms and he finally went and knocked on the doors thinking Susan was in there. Actually George had a senior moment.

The person that the best dressed gaiter award was George with his duck tape.

At the 1 ½ mile rest area we encountered this fierce animal ( a squirrel). Susan Lively was eating her big “Snicker candy bar” and the squirrel was behind her on a sign and trying to get her Snicker. Susan was on no mood to give him anything. So the squirrel went in front of her and sat up and begged. Susan just looked at him as if to say “you got to be kidding” and kept right on eating. So he moved on to Lee Lindstrom.. The squirrel succeeded to get part way into his bag but Lee was not into sharing time so the poor squirrel had to find someone so he took a look at Linda Grubbs and said “YES”. Now the squirrel was not to be denied. She tried shoo-shoo him and waving him away but no good. We were ready to go and the squirrel was not going to let her go. He got his feet tangled up in the webbing on her bag so they played tug of war. But as you know a woman always succeeds and Linda won.