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| Hike & Climb | 20.95 Miles |
8,100 AEG |
| | Hike & Climb | 20.95 Miles | 11 Hrs 44 Mns | | 2.10 mph |
| 8,100 ft AEG | | 20 LBS Pack | | |
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[ show ]
| partners | | Oh boy. I'm writing this in bed. Not sure when I'll be able to get out. Just an incredible day! 
I decided to hitch a ride to the canyon with Denny, Bob, and Joe since they were going anyway. I was gonna do a rim to river with Hippy and let the crazy guys do Cheops. Somehow along the way, I got convinced that whatever my real plans for the trip were could be attained anytime, but Cheops was a rare treat. The best laid plans... yada yada.
Started at six just as it was getting light. Windy and cold didn't last for long and we made good time down to the river, arriving on the bridge in 1:59. We parted ways with Hippy, who had to get back to the top in time for work (and you think hiking Camelback in the morning before work is an accomplishment!  )
From here mountain-goat Bob led the way, the first ascent out of Phantom Ranch being a near-vertical death march. Piano Alley was great scrambling, and Utah Flats was just beautiful terrain to traverse.
We had to get around to the Isis side of Cheops, and the climb to the base of the 400-foot redwall cliff that makes up the top of the plateau. The climb up the spine is a good scramble. Most of it features good foot and hand holds, but there are a few places that the exposure gets into your head. A few loose rocks make you seriously ponder every hold you have because there's nothing to stop anything that isn't attached to the mountain from that 400-foot vertical drop, you included. 
It took a good half-hour to get through the various climbs and onto the plateau. It's a half-mile across and we spent an hour up there exploring, and taking a lunch break before heading back down the sketchy spine ... another half-hour later!
The descent down the scree slope was a pita and we took a break when we had gotten back on level ground before heading back to Phantom via the same route we we came up on.
After a pretty good break there, we began our 14th mile of the day, heading across the bridge and back up South Kaibab. The weather was absolutely perfect and the afternoon "traffic" on the trail was extremely light. It was almost pleasant. Except for my legs were just done. Tired.
I lagged behind the others, taking a half hour longer to reach the top, including a couple of 10-minute breaks, and probably 50 1-minute breaks!
Back up top, we stopped in to make sure Hippy had made it to work and headed to Tusayan for $35 steak dinners.
Despite the pain, it was probably the most fun hike I've ever been on. The AEG is definitely my biggest day (and my GPS came out to 9,300, but since Joe's was only 7700 [wtf?] I'll go with Bob's.) I wonder if I wouldn't have worn out on SK as quickly if I hadn't spent so much of my energy laughing all day?
http://youtu.be/t1l9WkiwxLg
Edit: Late addition ... Google Earth flyby of the route. Sort of cool to watch! http://youtu.be/wfuVS_8urAk
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6:08 start
8:07 bridge
8:35 head up
10:43 saddle
11:20 summit register
12:06 downclimb
12:38 saddle
2:19 Phantom
2:47 head up
4:15 halfway sign switchbacks
5:08 cedar
5:28 ooh ouch point
5:52 top |
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| I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Thankfully my noisey neighbors made sure I didn't get too much sleep. Next day went up to Utah Flats and then explored around Phantom and Haunted Canyons. Spent a cold night (21 degrees) below Cheops. Hiked out on the 3rd day.
