So.... That is the question my friend Nate asked me when I told him I wanted to hike the Grand Canyon. He of course was joking but the way he said it made me laugh and think, wait I really do want to hike the Grand Canyon? And why would Nate ask that question???
Well if you remember this from last year....
Hiking has been the last thing I've wanted to try again, EVER! Seriously... When Bro. Hinton asked me in April if I wanted to go, I laughed. Then I realized he was serious. I was like ummm remember my face.... and he was like, "well don't you think you'll need to get over that someday. Might as well be sooner than later, and it's not like I'm going to let you hike the Grand Canyon without training and supervision. I will make sure you are well prepared before I'd let you go." As I listened to him, I knew he was right. Was I NEVER going to go to the mountains and hit a trail ever again? I decided, now was as good a time as ever. So I tried to get work off for the Memorial Day event and also all the Saturday hikes leading up to it, but alas, I couldn't get the days off work and so I thought ohhh well I tried. When I told this to Bro. Hinton, he was like ohhh no big deal we go in October too, I'll just plan on you going with us then. I was like uhhhh ya, thinking NO WAY.
Well, like the forgetful person I am, I totally forgot this conversation until Bro. Hinton came up to me in August and was like, here is the training schedule for the Grand Canyon, I thought if I got it to you now, you could get the days off early. Well thank you Bro. Hinton for being on top of things, I was able to turn the days into work, and while getting ALL the practice hikes off, the only day I can't get off is the day we actually hike the Grand Canyon. BUT!!!!!!! There is hope and I'm going to pray and prepare like it's going to happen!!!
So.... Why did Nate ask that question? Well, Bro. Hinton gave me the schedule while at church and I was a little excited, this is kind of a crazy thing to do in my book and I was excited to tell someone. Well Nate just happened to sit with me in Sunday School and he was the first lucky person to tell. So I was explaining this and telling him how the first real hike was the one I passed out on and didn't know if I could do it. I was pretty nervous and he could tell and so he was like well who wants to face their fears and it made me laugh. And we chatted about it and I realized that this was something I REALLY want to do, and doing this I will have to face, no pun intended :), my fears and overcome them. My little Bro Ty has done this hike twice and always comes back so happy he did it, and let's be honest, how many people can say they HIKE THE GRAND CANYON FROM RIM TO RIM???? It's 24 miles of pure happiness I'm told, that's why I want to do it the most, for the happiness :). As we continued to talk I was trying to convince him this is totally something he should want to do, I've actually convinced quite a few people to join me, and he wasn't buying it, but did ask to document my happenings. So here ya go....
Last week was the first week of training. We have something to do every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday leading up to the big event. Last week we walked 5 miles around town. Jamie, Katherine, and I had fun chatting, not so much fun walking pretty fast, but enjoyed the company. Then Thursday was the big day. Not going to lie, was petrified of hiking Squaw Peak. I drank soooo much water the days before, to make sure I was hydrated enough. Jamie and Katherine couldn't go and so I was REALLY nervous to go without someone to stay with me the whole time, so I talked my little sis Hayley into going with and she was a champ. I had to convince my mom everything was going to be ok, and if I wasn't feeling good I'd stop and make sure there were others stopping with me. So we were off, and met up with others from our hiking group. We got there around 6 pm and were worried there wouldn't be enough sunlight, and then we started the ascent. I was taking my time and guess what I MADE IT!!!!
We didn't go to the very top because it's like rock climbing up to the top and by the time we got up there it was dark... I realized that I didn't make if very far up the mountain the last time before passing out, but let me tell you, after seeing the rocks where my face hit I am SOOOO lucky I have eye balls and teeth. Check out the view though....
Pretty amazing right? Ohhh man it was beautiful. I would say I'd love to do it again, but it's a pretty miserable hike and plus I do get to go again, the next time getting to hike it TWICE in a row... I'm looking real forward to that :)
Next, was our Saturday hike, the Freemont Saddle. It was sooo early in the morning and anyone who knows me, knows how much I hate the morning. It was definitely worth it though. We started the trail at 7 am and it was a pretty easy hike. Well, I thought it was pretty steep at times, but I think most could do this hike. It's a 5 mile hike and at the beginning you're going to brush and crossing creeks, dry of course, and then in the middle it inclines pretty good and then the last half mile is rock, not like rock climbing, but you're just walking up rock. It was sooo pretty. At one point I turned around to look at the view and saw this,
I was like ohhh this is soooo pretty, and Bro. Hinton was like just wait till we get to the top. He wasn't wrong it was soooooo worth the long hike!!! Check out Weaver's Needle!
Katherine and I with the needle.
I was super happy Katherine was able to come. She was a little faster on the way up but we had so much fun chatting most of the way up and all the way down.
Also, look at the cute little trail markers along the way. Don't mind my nasty, sweaty face, I should have deleted myself but oh well :)
I thought those things were pretty creative.
Anyways, that was our first week and I survived. This week is going to kick my butt for sure, we have some 10 mile walks and then a 9 mile hike on Saturday. I'll be sure to keep you posted on how it all turns out!!!!!
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