Grand Canyon hike

This was a fun picture...Howie had quite the mop on his head -and we couldn't just send him to church like that - and we were running late - so Kiersten did my hair while I did his, and he played with Brynn because she was feeling a little left out!  And NOW for the post d'jour...

Ross & Rossi went to the Grand Canyon to hike rim to rim - this is sort of an annual boy scout type thing - they have to train and junk - but they drive up and camp out on the rim - then break camp and head on down, across and UP!  Here you see the boys all ready to start the hike! (full rimmed hat for sun protection, camelbak's for hydration)

This picture was a fun one for the boys to take - because there was snow!  Yup...SNOW! (look close toward the bottom of the picture.  There, do you see it?)

The first part of the switchbacks/stairs (there's about a million of these)

The sign says WARNING:  DO NOT attempt to hike the canyon rim to river and back in one day.  Each year hikers suffer serious illness or death from exhaustion.  They love taking this picture, it raises my blood pressure and causes me to question the purpose of this scout outing...separately every time I bring it up - I'm reminded of the practice hikes that the boys all take in preparation of this hike - if they aren't able to hike another nearby mountain here - 4 times up & down in 2 hours, they are not allowed to do the full Grand Canyon hike - there's a mini-type trail for them to hike on while they wait for the others to complete the rim-to-rim hike.

Some excellent scenery on the hike - believe it or not, these pictures were taken by my 17 year old!  Some of them really turned out GREAT!  But most of them are self portraits of his nostrils and some great scenery behind them...

Careful...there are no harnesses or nets...ugh - those boys will be the death of me!

I really love this picture, Rossi was looking over the canyon trail, and mapping out in his mind where he would be going - and what it looks like from this viewpoint!

more scenery.

switchbacks (forgive me if I get this wrong, but there's a series of switchbacks called "The Devil's Corkscrew" I think this may be it...although - I never know!)

Taking a little weight off the feet - Ross made a friend (look to the right of the shadow of the photographer!)

Some of his trail mix fell out of his bag and the squirrel wanted to test it!  Dang - CRAZY! This picture reminds me of the squirrels in grandpa's back yard...he used to leave nuts out for them - and if you dared snatched any of his peanuts sitting on his washer machine (in preparation of going outside for the squirrels) boy, did you get an earful!  Peanuts for squirrels...gnocchi for Heidi....

We just busted a hole in the rock so we could pass...

and another one...

more scenery

This was a spring of sorts coming out of the rock and some greenery sprouted alongside it - so looking at all the rock, and a green waterfall!  It's cooler in person, I'm told!

This is another spectacular site - I just think it's cool, cause there's no smog in the picture.

This might be the devil's corkscrew?

or this?

scenery:

along the trail

acting like a farm boy "as you wish"

more scenery

my favorite picture - cactus and grass - like the lamb and the lion together!  Cactus thrive in hot dry temperatures...grass tends to favor the cooler/wetter areas!  I LOVE this picture!

Along the way Ross & his hike buddy (they go in twos - for protection) came across another fellow hiker who was suffering heat exhaust and dehydration - so Ross gave him a propel packet to add to his water (for electrolytes) and made him drink it slowly, lying down with his feet raised, they stayed with him for 20 minutes while he "recovered" and rested - and the boys stayed with him to assure him there was no rush - and his health was more important than finishing quickly!  He had the "patient" take this picture of him & Brian (his hike buddy) just before they continued on their hike!

 

the importance of a full-rimmed hat, not for looks, for protection!