(click 'title' to see Day 05 album)
Holy Crap we have to Hike out of here!
- Total Time: 5h 34 min (4 hours moving time)
- Total Ascent:
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Morning arrived sooner than anyone would want. The group across from us were up earlier than the crack o’dawn and let me tell you ammo cans on metal tables is not a quiet thing. Needless to say we were up earlier than we wanted to be. Gary got the water going for the coffee then proceeded to make the Backpacker version of Denver
We packed up and hit the trail at 8:30. Spirits were high as we set out to stroll along the Colorado River for the first 3 km's . We discussed it and today we were not going to be those tired looking people we saw hiking out yesterday “Team S’more” (as we called ourselves) was going to greet everyone with a big smile no matter how we felt. The first run of switchbacks appeared a little daunting but the grade was low enough that it didn’t feel like you were going uphill. The first half of the hike was a nice meandering trail at a comfortable 7% gradient. A few steeper sections up through the Garden Creek Canyon leading to the mid point rest stop at Indian Gardens Campground for some food and water refills. The second half of the journey started out in a similar fashion. A Mule Deer grazing on the side of the trail, a few dances at the creek crossings and a comfortable grade that was just getting us closer to the 'WALL'.
It wasn't until the last 2.5 km and the final climb out at an average gradient of 13% where the legs started to feel it. Each 'Blue Toe' step felt like it was 12" high and 24" high if you stubbed your toe. All you see are switchbacks and people moving along at a turtle's pace. We pressed on to the top enjoying the beautiful views and taking pride in the fact that we just hiked out of the Grand Canyon !
The hike was absolutely amazing and the experience is hard to express in words or pictures. You really have to see it for yourselves.
(click 'picture' to see Day 05 album)
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