Phantom Ranch cabin

Phantom Ranch cabin

The Blood Hat

The Blood Hat

The saga continues.....

Day 3

My legs hurt….everyone’s legs hurt. You can tell who the people are that have just arrived…they can’t walk. They side-step up and down the stairs from the canteen, they hoist themselves up the steps to the dorms. They hobble around the campfire ranger program. They just can’t walk.

Unless they rode down on a mule.

We did not.

It took us awhile to get down thanks to the photographers in our group and two accidents – mine included – that slowed us down. I tripped on a rock, and headed into a faceplant before turning just in time to plant my head squarely on a small stone. Who would have thought a pebble could cause so much blood? I was afraid at one point I would have to head back but after sitting and swearing for awhile we decided it was okay for me to go on. Colin says the blood stain on my hat resembles Russia. We now call it the Blood Hat.

Phantom Ranch is amazing. What a throwback to the 50s. I had no idea what to expect….there is a peacefulness here as you cross the black bridge, head past the Anasazi ruins and down the path along Bright Angel Creek. Of course, by this time I wasn’t thinking peacefulness; I was thinking, “How much longer do we have to go?”

Cottonwoods, stone buildings created by Mary Jane Colter, a ringtail climbing across the kitchen window to the canteen. I think about throwing everything aside and coming to work here. I wonder what it would be like to hike up and down these trails to get back to “civilization” on my days off. For one year I could do it. I can do anything for one year. Where would it lead?

The First Step

The First Step

The Unknown Becomes Real

Day 2: After a night at the Mazwik and breakfast in the cafeteria,we embark on the shuttle that will take us to the backcountry permit office and then onto the trailhead. We are heady with excitement, hefting our packs onto our backs, wondering if we have packed too much, not enough, will it be to heavy, will we be okay…what will the day hold. We load onto the shuttle to take us to the trailhead …and blend with the others who are chatting with excitement only the rush of adrenaline can bring. As the shuttle stops, we shuffle off and stand as the others scatter quickly and erratically like a swarm of ants who have been frightened. But we’re not frightened. We check our packs a last time, pose for pictures, read the literature at the trailhead.

What an unassuming spot. A lonely trailhead with a simple reader board. No fanfare. Not that we’re expecting a brass band or ceremony…but it seems so utterly simple that in this place all you do is take one step and you have dipped below the canyon walls and off on the journey of a lifetime.

One by one we stop, look around as if to say goodbye to that which is comfortable to us, and then take that first step…the first step of many as we set off onto a seven mile journey that we will likely remember for a very long time.

The Motley Crew

The Motley Crew

The Day Has Come

Day 1:

“We’re going to what!? “ Roger exclaims as he peers over the edge.

We are standing on the mouth of the south rim of the Grand Canyon, just having emerged from our cars like butterflies uncurling from their chysalids in the late afternoon sun. Even for April the rim seems very warm and crowded. But we are heady with excitement about the next day’s events: to hike down to Phantom Ranch on South Kaibab Trail. Neither one of us has been to the south rim before and now we peer over into a chasm in which the depths seem unattainable...at least by us. After a brief walk along the rim we head to the general store for a few last-minute supplies, have dinner at the Mazwik cafeteria, and then check into our rooms to finish our packing. Tomorrow we will be off early…

Women who are not afraid......

Cross county skiing in the Methow is a totally different animal than down here in the Seattle area. Sunshine, crazy good snow and miles of trails into which to sink your teeth. Last weekend some friends and I headed up to the Methow Valley for a cross country ski and yoga clinic/retreat -- women only -- sponsored by Winthrop Physical Therapy. I discovererd after years of skiing that my technique was totally wrong so I spent my time not just learning, but unlearning also.

Below is my group of strong women who joined me on Sunday for a few hours to hone our technique.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Mt. Adams Sings to Me



It has been awhile since I have had an adventure -- and I really needed one, so when the Boy Scouts were looking for adults to help with the high adventure summit of Mt. Adams I said "Sure." Glad I did. We left Friday and took of for Trout Lake...spent the night at Cold Springs Campground amidst the piles of snow and took off mid-morning -- nine boys and five adults -- to head for Lunch Counter at 9,000 feet. Despite the slushy conditions it was a fine hike in short-sleeved shirts and shorts. We spent the night on a lava outcropping (Adams is a dormant volcano -- second highest peak in the Cascade range) and, after a restless few hours of poor sleep, were roused at 1:30 for the ascent. It was hard ... very hard... and at one point near the top of Pikers Peak I was a little freaked -- but Ozzie the Black Lab and his owner were there to distract us. We summited, enjoyed the fine glissades back down the mountain, and made it back to Lunch Counter by 10 a.m.
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