once again, The Canyon is Calling

We hadn't been at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for over 25 years.  For our return, we camped for 5 days with our motorhome.  The North Rim is a much quieter, more treed, and more rustic setting than the South Rim that we visited last time we were RVing out west.  Our campsite overlooked the rim and even had cell service transmitting from across the canyon from the south rim.




We spent a couple of days checking out the North Rim's Lodge and cabins, and some short walks at the rim.  But the big event came when our RV friends, Gail and Dan, arrived.

The last time we hiked into the canyon was in 1975; a two day trip from the south rim to Phantom Ranch and back.  One of our fondest memories was after we arrived back at the south rim early, we had to beg for a lodge room, and then the next day we could hardly climb the few stairs in the hallway.

This time, we hiked with Gail & Dan down the North Kaibab Trail leaving from the North Rim near the campground.  Our planned route included seven miles each way and 4,200 feet in elevation change, carrying full packs including our tent, sleeping bags, cookware, clothes and food.  We were unable to secure a back country permit earlier, but with our persistence stopping every morning at 8am at the office, we successfully got one of the last campsites at our chosen Cottonwood campground.

What an incredible hike!  There is nothing that compares to hiking into the Grand Canyon with the incredible vistas, the changing rocks, and the trail.  These pictures don't do the vastness and beauty of the canyon.

                 

For our overnight, we set up camp at Cottonwood campground.  Cooked a meal of Mountain House freeze dried food, and went to sleep on a one inch pad.  But who could complain with great company and then the stars came out. Up at 6am to trek back up the 4,200 feet elevation back to the Rim.






As I'm blogging the evening that we returned to our motorhome and the prospect of a nice comfy bed, I know I'll wake tomorrow feeling great.  It's been a few years after 1975, but both of us feel great!  And another change was that this time we hiked in late September with temperatures on the rim in the 50s/30s, and temps in the canyon in the low 70s/50s.  The leaf colors added to the canyon.  Our last canyon trip was in June, and it was hot!