Hiking The Grand Canyon
Date: 7/25/2015
Type: Exploring, Hiking
Who went: Alexandra, Cecilia, Therry, Jim
Where: The Grand Canyon National Park
Descent: 5000'
So I found out, kinda the hard way, that I need to be a little more diligent in how I map a trail using Google Maps (specifically, don't just gloss over the switchbacks and think that you get an accurate measure of the distance). I mapped the distance down Bright Angel as 7 - plus miles and the hike back up South Kaibab at 4.5 miles. Now hiking down was easy and enjoyable even at the more realistic 10 plus miles that it really is.
But the thing about hiking down to the Colorado River (and something that the rangers really want you to understand) is the the hike back up can be very strenuous. I mean it - Very Strenuous!
So when I got down to the river I was thinking - "Pshhh - this is easy. What's all the hub bub"? Then I started the hike back out. More like attacked it. I was pushing hard and about an hour and a half into it I am thinking - "I have got to be more than half way up". And I am starting to feel it. Then I see a sign up ahead, and I am thinking that it will tell me that I have about a mile or so left, but alas that was not the case. The sign reads "South Rim 3.5 miles".
I just stood there... My day just changed. I was correct that I was over half way up. But, unfortunately it was half of 7.5 not 4.5 miles. Cue the game show clunker music - "Bwa bwa bwa bwaaaaaaaa". I stood there some more. Then I changed the game from nice hike to major workout and pushed for the top, cursing the accuracy of Google Maps the entire way. In hindsight, it was my fault for not mapping the switchbacks, which there were a lot of. Sorry Google! Here is the corrected version.
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