Fall Carbon County ATV ride

Second day of the grand Canyon! Cottonwood- Indian Garden


We got up bright and early (around 5:30) and repacked our packs. My dad had some raison bran for breakfast while Ty and I just ate fiber one bars. Then we hit the trail while the sun was still well hidden behind the peaks around us.

 The whole time we traveled along this Canyon we caught nice glimpses of the South Rim... our final destination and we were amazed at the distance we still had to travel before we could even start going up!

 About 1.5 miles past our campsite we found Ribbon Falls... easily one of all our favorite sites. The water was sooo cold but it felt sooo good on our already tired and sore feet! I could've stayed in for a while longer but we still had a ways to go!

 The canopy down the rock was sooo beautiful! We just had to climb into the little cave.


As the disneyland Jungle Cruise tour guides would say...

"May I present the 8th wonder of the world...
The BACKSIDE OF WATER"

Ya well I've seen that now :]

 Ty was freezing but I thought it felt great!





And naturally the boys had to climb up inside so they could look out the smaller window!

 A picture of the beautiful falls from top to bottom! And me soaking wet just from standing close to the mist! haha Afterwards we climbed up the backside to tthe middle so we got a whole different perspective!

When leaving the falls ( I say this for those of you wanting to do this in the future) there is quicker way if you veer right after the falls instead of left you cross the creak a couple times but it takes you right back to the original trail while avoiding a large hill you would go up and down... just for future reference :]

 The first part of the day was out in open canyons with big towering walls around us! The trail was easy and well- marked and thank goodness we were done going downhill for the most part!

 The cactus we saw at the bottom had all sorts of flowers and prickly pears on them! My dad really liked the little gardens we found! Definitely a different type of life at the bottom of the canyon then at the top!

 My favorite part was when the canyon started getting a little narrower but we still got to walk alongside the creek! It kept us out of the hot sun the and towering cliffs above us were always amazing!

 We crossed the creek several times on these cool bridges! There were at least 4 of them in the narrower canyons! They made for great pictures as well!


Unfortunately a little ways further about 3 miles from phantom ranch and the river I rolled my right ankle on a rock! Ty just thought I fell on my bum until he saw my tears! I still had 8 miles to walk just that day! A little to early in the game to be getting injured! Luckily we brought ankle braces and my big toes had massive blisters that pinched every time I took a step... distracted me from the pain in my ankle. haha

but still I trucked on

 A few of the creek running through the canyon and the trail. It was such a beautiful trail!

 Around 11:30 (5 hours after leaving camp) we arrived at phantom ranch. We just walked though it stopping to use their running  water toilets and sinks (a very beautiful site to see) and fill up our water. Then we took a few wrong trails before finally settling down near the creek and the river.

 Before swimming we took pictures of us touching the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon (how many people can say they did that?) and we couldn't swim in the river so we settled for the creek.

After sitting in the creek soaking our sore feet and legs in the cold water we found a campsite to use for the day. The boys took a nap and I just lay there looking a the map or through a pictures so far. This deer was just to our left!

For linner we had MRE meals that my dad brought! Mine was the best! I had chicken pesto, vanilla pudding, peach-mango applesauce, (a gross cracker with fake cheese)

The MRE is so neat! You add just a little bit of water and it heats up whatever food you want cooked in a matter of minutes! Hot food without needing a fire! Woot woot :] They also came complete with after dinner gum, napkins, a spoon, coffee beans and powder creamer, etc... Everything you need for a good meal!

Ty got really yummy enchiladas and refried beans, with a cookie and the same cracker and fake cheese to go with it. Then we flavored fruit punch powder to add to water!

My dads was good! He got tuna with tortillas and pretzel sticks, a raspberry white chocolate cookie, hot apple cider, and a strawberry banana shake (tasted a bit like pepto bismal) but everything was good when you're hungry!

 Around 3:30 we finally crossed the massive suspension bridge to start on the Bright Angel trail. The first mile and a half was in the hot sun and my ankle had really started hurting... so it wasn't the most pleasant walk by the river.

 Luckily just as we turned up a canyon away from the river we found this nice little tub to relax in. It felt amazing to wash the sweat off and again soak my aching ankle. But really best spot ever!!!


Continuing on to Indian Garden for the night we had a 1500 elevation gain to climb. Yippee

 Above: Ty and my dad pointing to the South Rim... we're getting closer!!!


Right: my dad makin his way up the switchbacks of the devil's corkscrew. We timed it just right in the day so we weren't in the sun when we were going up! Yesss! He did an awesome job though!

 Here's a picture looking down on the Devil's corkscrew! Nice steep switchbacks but we're still climbing up to the fist level of plateaus!





The views were getting even grander as we neared the South Rim! We went 5 miles from the river up to Indian Garden and it poured rain for a while (we chilled in a little rock alcove to avoid the worst of it) The creek we walked by was still beautiful and the reeds growing out of it had hot pink roots! Awesome! The further we went the more garden and oasis it looked! We kept thinking ok the campground is just around the bend... after hiking 12 miles in one day we were just ready to be at the campsite already!

Thankfully we made it and w could easily see the South Rim village lights at the top from the bottom. The cliffs around us looked impossible to surmount and we were thankful to be done for the day! We finished up our MRE and hit the hay for another restless night on the hard ground. ( I don't care how much extra weight it adds... next time I'm bringing a sleeping pad.