The Weenies Go Hiking - Part 1

Cheryl, Courtney and I did our annual hiking trip just a few days after my parents went home. We met in Salt Lake and drove to the Grand Canyon with stops at the Sand Caves and Cathedral Wash in southern Utah.

This was an easy 3.5 mile hike.  A bit of rock climbing/scrambling but nothing stressful. The Colorado river here was such a beautiful color. (While I was gone Tyrone had a crazy busy work schedule so the big boys each came home for a few days to take care of the girls.  I talked to Jaxon and Blythe via facetime sitting on this rock and when asked how his day was going Jaxon said, "I'm just a personal chauffer!  I've been driving all day!" Scotia had a track meet, swim meet, friends party and birthday party and Blythe had a soccer game)

Super bloom flowers after all the winter moisture. 

Checked out the Grand Canyon before heading to our overnight tent. It looks so lovely. 

Look how peaceful we look before heading off to hike. 

Still feeling good. 

17.5 miles total back and forth on these switchbacks. We hiked from 9 am until 7:45 pm.  Made it down to the river by noon and then it took us until almost dark to hike back out. Ugh. 

Read the sign and walked right past.  Dumb right?  It's a wicked hike.  The distance plus elevation drop and gain, plus heat just makes for a wicked combination.

I made it down to the river with sore feet but still in good spirits. The first section back up was terrible.  I started to feel sick and had to move very slowly, stopping regularly.  

Once we passed the Havasupai gardens, refilled with cold water and had a little more shade I felt fine.  Just tired.  The only way to get out was one step at a time and I did just that.  Might have shed a few tears in the last few miles but I made it back to the top!  Crossing this hike off my list. Done and never doing it again.