The Class of 2008

A couple of weeks back, June 3rd, 2008, Judy and Elroy past that most magical of mileposts.....high school graduation. Graduation ceremonies were held at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC (see picture at left). Jane's brother (we'll call him Mr. Spacely) came down to witness the spectacle as the WJHS class of 2008 filed into the Hall, which was pretty cool to see and at the end toss all their hats into the air. The picture below is before the hat toss, I had a difficult time getting pictures indoors when the lights are low. The boys wore green robes and the girls, white. If you look carefully you can see Judy in the picture below; Elroy was too far away to get a picture. The valedictorian gave a nice speech...something to do with a Dr. Seuss book and life lessons, although I confess three weeks later I've forgotten exactly what she said. The invited speaker was a WJHS alum, a documentary film maker, and recently diagnosed with cancer. His message to the graduates to pursue their dreams really hit home with me and many of the other parents.....whether it registered with the graduates I'm not so sure. Anyway, as I'm writing this, between June 23rd and 30th, Judy and Elroy have turned 18 years old as well. Over this summer they're working at their first real jobs, will be going to college later in August, and will start participating in some of life's "adult" activities (I mean voting, of course). They still have a lot to learn and Jane and I try to pass on all the accumulated lessons of our own lives, but probably to no avail. I've always felt that at each big developmental step in their lives our parental concerns never fade.....they just change and this is no different. In about two months they'll be living away from home for the first time and I'm going to really miss them around the house. Jane and I may stop cleaning the house once their gone so it will feel like they haven't left.

Elroy's and Judy's Summer Jobs

Elroy continues his work at the Ambassador Animal Hospital. He started working there a few hours/week in April and now has expanded his hours after graduation. I think he works 4-5 days a week (around 30 hours) on a flexible schedule. Mostly he performs odd jobs around the office, filing, clean-up, yard-work, and also enjoys working with the groomer Jeanette giving doggy baths. Judy just started her new job this morning with the Montgomery County Recreation Department as a summer camp counselor. Judy will either work at "camp imagination' for 5-8 year olds or a "little people center" for 4-5 year-olds. This is the third job she has landed so far. The first was at the Ambassador Animal Hospital (where Elroy works), the second at a pet kennel; both jobs she quit after the first day. We'll just see how long her position as summer camp counselor job lasts.

R2R2R Conclusion

After dinner at the North Rim Lodge restaurant Jane and I did some shopping for the kids at the gift shop and went back to our room to pack-up for tomorrow's journey back to the South Rim and to plan what to wear. As the evening passed the snow flurries subsided and we sat outside on the front porch wrapped in the bed quilt reflecting on the day's events.

The next morning the temperature was in the low 30s and the ground was partially covered under a thin layer of snow. We opted to pay for the 5:45 am shuttle ride to the North Kaibab trail head; our new friends Gena, Jeremy and Beth (pictured at right) hitchhiked. We both arrived at the trail head at about the same time but again, Bob C. was a no-show. Later we learned that he (and his party) took a 5 hour Shuttle ride back to the South Rim evidently fearing that his party was in no shape to hike back to the South Rim in time to make the 4 1/2 hour ride back to Phoenix for their scheduled red-eye flight back to Washington.

Starting elevation for the North Kaibab trail head is 8250'. Leaving the trail head was exciting. Snow from last night's flurries had dusted all the trees and as the sun was rising, fog was rolling off the high canyon escarpments and misting into the cayon. At left is a picture of Jane starting down the North Kaibab Trail and at right a view of the roiling mists cascading off the canyon summits.

Surprizingly, I felt pretty good but we decided play it safe today and fast-hike most of the trip while the real trail runner trio took off at a fast pace. The hike back down to the Phantom Ranch was going to be downhill all the way. We buzzed past the Coconino Overlook (at .75 miles; elevation 7,750'). By the time we reached the Supai Tunnel (at 1.8 miles; elevation 6800') the morning fog was a memory. After another mile we passed over the Red Wall Bridge (see George running toward the bridge) and traversed the cliff-hugging trail down into Roaring Springs Canyon. This part of the trail that Jane is hiking down looks exposed but is very safe and good for taking pictures. Jane looks like a speck against the high canyon walls.

We continued fast-hiking down the Roaring Springs side canyon reaching the namesake falls after 4.7 miles (see picutre of the Roaring Spring below left) and contiued into the Bright Angel Creek Canyon following the burbling stream through the desert landscape. The day contiumed to warm as the sum came out but for the most part the temperature stayed cool.

As we continued toward the cottonwood campground we went through a very nice part of the inner canyon that was wide and filled with flowering cacti and agave. Here is a panoramic view of this part of the canyon.

After passing through the Cottonwood Campgrounds gradually the canyon narrows over the next 4-5 miles. Although this part of the trail was equally pretty and at times felt like a slot canyon, we were a little anxious to reach the Phantom Ranch and were flustered that the trail seemingly went on and on around every bend.
However, we did reach Phantom Ranch and took a pretty long break to fill up our camelbacks, eat some snacks, and change into lighter weight clothes since the day was warming-up. It's a relatively short hike from Phantom to the Bright Angel Trail and the Silver Bridge that took us across the Colorado river. Now the trail changed, first sandy but then becoming more rocky. The trails are very well maintained but the rocky nature of the Bright Angel Trail was noticeable--at least to me. Looking back, both the Black Bridge (in the distance) and the Silver Bridge (in the foreground) make impressive spans across the Colorado River.

As we climbed up out of the inner gorge we again entered the Tonto plateau and the trail flattened out for while. While on the plateau the Bright Angel Trail enters the Indian Gardens, an oasis like spot with trees and lots of vegetation (see picture below, left). It's a good idea to rest-up here because the rest of the way up to the North Rim is non-stop trudging up unforgiving and endless numbers of cruel switchbacks. We should have rested longer here. Upon leaving the Indian Gardens some more spitting rain fell for a brief time, and I just remember that I wasn't going to bother getting my poncho out. I was too tired and thought the rain might keep me cool. So we just put one foot in front of other and kept moving forward, There was a great temptation to look upward. You could see the South Rim (see photos below at right)...but not the trails that would lead there. Later we passed the 3 mile and 1 1/2 mile resthouses and it began to sleet. The switchbacks are just endless and looking back I could see them winding up the canyon walls with many hapless hikers behind me (see picture below).

We were told by our running mates that when your near the top when you begin seeing people that clearly don't belong hiking these trails....and we began to see such people in the last mile or so. By this time I was hot and sweaty even though the air temperature was getting colder with every step. Near the top it even began to sleet which felt so good and we passed many people coming down in blue jeans, long-sleeved flannel shirts and wearing parkas---I thought that was just crazy. We were just in running shorts and lightweight running shirts. Finally, we reached the summit of the Bright Angel Trail. A quick look downward revealed the Indian Gaden oasis far in the distance which was a magnificent sight.

I regret not stopping at this point and getting a picture with Jane but the South Rim was chaotic with tourists and I just wanted to sit somewhere and rest. Jane and I didn't stay too long here but just made a quick pit stop before going to the car and changing into warm clothes. At this point all I wanted to do was drive to the Wendy's we saw on the way to the Grand Canyon and get a hamburger and some hot and salty french fries.

R2R2R Run: Quick stats:

Ascent: Total: 10,300 feet

Day 1 - 5,840, Day 2 - 4,460.
Descent: Total: 10,700 feet

Day 1 - 4,860, Day 2 - 5,840.
Distance: Total: 45 miles

Day 1 - 21 miles, Day 2 - 24 miles .
Time: Total: 18.5 hours

Day 1 - 9 hours. Day 2- 9.5 hours.

R2R2R Grand Canyon Adventure

We had visited the North Rim of the Grand Canyon last year on our family vacation. Due to time constraints we didn't venture far from the short trails around the North Rim Lodge. However, Jane and I were struck with the immenseness of the Grand Canyon and secretly vowed to one day do something grand. The inspiration for our grand adventure came from one or our running buddies who every year goes to the Grand Canyon to do a rim-to-rim-to-rim (R2R2R) run across the Grand Canyon. At least that was our understanding of what he did, needless to say there's a liberal amount of hiking too.

The basic route that most runners/hikers take is to stay overnight in one of the South Rim Lodges and begin the R2R2R at daybreak the next morning going down the South Kaibab trail which is steep, has no water stops but great views. During the first hour as the sun rises and the cloud cover gradually burns off the colors of the canyon change and at about this time one gets the first glimpse of the Colorado River. After approximately 21/2 hours you reach the black bridge that crosses the Colorado and a short distance later the Phantom Ranch where you can rest and refill your camelback. From Phantom Ranch you proceed up the North Kaibab trail to the North Rim to complete the hike on Day 1. After dinner at the North Rim Lodge and a good nights rest your ready for the run back down the North Kaibab to the Phantom Ranch and the climb up the South Rim by way of the Bright Angel Trail on Day 2. This R2R2R run included 22 miles the first day and 24 miles the second day that an average, fit person can complete in around 9-10 hours each way.

This trip started a little ragged for the group of runners we thought we were going with. After a protracted series of additions (including Jane and I) and dropouts to the participant list this year's hike was referred to as the "Last Man Standing" trip. Two women got pregnant and dropped out (of the two husbands one canceled and one came anyway); 4-5 others canceled due to injuries, one (our friend who provoked our interest in this trip) had a mild stroke and another had a flair-up of MS symptoms and couldn't make the trip. Jane and I were committed to going whatever the consequences.

Our flight to Phoenix was unremarkable. We probably spent more time waiting in line at the Fox rent-a-car desk once we arrived in Phoenix than we spent in the airport waiting for the outbound flight. Once we finally did get a car it was a 4 1/2 hour drive to the South Rim. We had arranged to meet the leader of these yearly trips, Bob C. at the El Tovar restaurant. We arrived at our reserved table for 8 at 5:00 pm on schedule but Bob C. didn't show up until much later; Jane and I had a wonderful dinner anyway and tried to relax. We planned to meet Bob C. and some friends of his early the next morning for the 5 am shuttle to the South Kaibab Trail head. What was quickly becoming an annoying habit Bob C. didn't show at the expected time again (he was having trouble with his guests getting up and going), but we did meet Bob C.'s friends, Gena, Jeremy and Beth who turned out to be REAL trail runners. We chatted during the drive to the trail head, wondered whether to wait for Bob C.....decided not too, took a few pictures together, and then started the journey.

I was really apprehensive at this point as the weather forecast was calling for severe thunderstorms and 2 inches of rain with up to 10 inches of snow above 7,000 feet (i.e. both rims could get a lot of snow) and what consequences that meant of hiking up those trails was any one's guess. Jane and I just tried to prepare for cold, wet trail conditions that we would be out in for about 9-10 hours. As we started out the skies were ominously overcast but we were finally here and were going to make the best of whatever nature brought our way. One way or the other we were going to make it to the North Rim. Below is a panoramic view from the South Kaibab Trail head. In the left foreground is O'Neill Butte which we somehow climb down onto the Tonto Plateau before plunging into the inner Gorge of the Grand Canyon.
Upon reaching the Tonto plateau, the view back up at O'Neill Butte (see picture below right) is quite impressive. Don't ask where the trails are because it is really hard to find them.
As the next couple of hours rolled by and we passed countless hikers along we way we began to suspect the weather was going be alright. I heard from one hiker that the really bad weather was further east. After 21/2 hours of running downhill we rested at the famed Phantom Ranch. Below is a picture of Jane reaching the Phantom Ranch and in the foreground the ever present mule patties which decorate the trails.

After a brief respite we were off on the North Kaibab Trail. The trail meanders along Bright Angel Creek; the initial few miles are through the inner gorge and appears as though we are in a slot canyon. Gradually the view opens up to beautiful vistas of the bottom of the Grand Canyon (see picture below). There was little elevation gain till we hit the Cottonwood Campground but Jane and I were feeling the effects of the 2 1/2 hours of downhill running and the altitude and were hiking more than running. The combination of the pounding our legs took coming down the South Kaibab and the higher altitude than we're used to really began to wear away at our stamina. By this time the sun was out and the temperature was warm but pleasent.

After we passed the Cottonwood Campground we stopped at the Rangers house for a water stop and thereafter the remaining 6 miles up to the North Rim was hard, relentless hiking up a series of switch backs. From here you have to climb about 4000 feet to the top in 6 miles. However, we were rewarded by the natural beauty of the Roaring Springs side canyon that we scaled to the North Kaibab trail head. There are some magnificent views as we struggled up the North Kaibab. There weather turned colder and brief spitting rains prompted us to briefly don emergency ponchos that Jane brought along. At the right below is a picture of a couple of fellow hikers wearing their ponchos and hiking up a trail seemingly carved out of the canyon wall. Gradually we passed the over the Red Wall Bridge and passed through the Supai tunnel (below is a view down the Roaring Spring side canyon from the Supai Tunnel).

Finally we made it to the Coconino Overlook. Below is a panoramic view from the Coconino Overlook. Here, the flora began to change to pine forest dotted with birch trees. From the Coconino Overlook it was a short, easy mile hike to the trail head. We rested briefly at the trail head and met up with Bob C. who finally showed-up and then hitched a ride to the North Rim Lodge.

This was the best part of the whole trip. Just sitting in a warm car. Talking to the couple that picked the three of us up. In was one of those MasterCard "priceless" moments. You know what I mean.....flight to Phoenix, $300; rent-a-car, $100; hiking poles and camelbacks, $300; expression on the faces of the couple that gave us a ride to the North Rim Lodge after we told them what we just did and what we planned to do tomorrow.........priceless. After a shower and change of clothes we met up with Gena, Jeremy, and Beth for a nice dinner. Bob C.'s party arrived much later that evening, after we had finished dinner, around 7:00 pm. A snowstorm kicked-up that evening and a rumor started that snow would accumulate and make the trails dangerous next morning and Bob C. and his party arranged to take a shuttle back to the South Rim. The rest of us took a wait-and-see attitude and turned-in for a good night's sleep.