My alarm went off at 4:15 am, but I was already awake. Nerves. I’d laid my clothes out the night before and quickly slipped into them. I checked and re-checked my pack to make sure I had everything i needed and then at 4:45 I slipped out the door and quietly headed down to the dining hall to meet my group for breakfast.
We’d been instructed the night before to not make a peep while walking through the halls out of respect for all of the hotel guests still sleeping. I saw one of the earlier groups silently making their way through the hall in single file headed towards the back of the hotel to the waiting buses. The energy was electric, but nobody made a peep.
I wasn’t too hungry but got a bagel and banana down before we took this pic and made our own quiet trek to the buses:
The bus took us in to the park and then we caught the inner park shuttle to our first stop, Yaki Point. We got there just after sunrise and the light was amazing
Turns out our guide had brought us here just to see the view. We hopped back up on the shuttle and started our official hike near the South Kaibab Trailhead. Our hike would follow the South Rim trail to Mather Point, on to the Yavapai point through the old village which includes the El Tovar hotel, Bright Angel Lodge, the bright angel trailhead and finally winding around to Maricopa point. About 6.5 miles in all. With all the stopping and breathing and trying to soak in what we were seeing – we were on that trail for about 8 hours! A pretty slow pace, but worth it. Here is the rest of what I saw:
(Click here for a slideshow including photos from the entire trip)
In a nutshell, this trip – the whole journey really, since January when I decided to do this – has been amazing. I was able to challenge myself, I was able to honor my parents and I was able to reach out and connect with friends and family who wanted to ‘do something’ too. So THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to all of you who gave your support – monetarily and emotionally!
I plan to stay involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma society and I plan to continue to push myself to stay healthy and get healthier.
Speaking of which…anybody up for a Century Ride this fall (or part of one)?
:)
love and completed journeys.
Erin
