Click here for more Bryce Canyon photosTotal Distance: 21 miles
High Point: 8313 feet
Low Point: 6661 feet
Elevation Change: 1652 feet
Total Elevation Gain/Loss: 6926 feet
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Showing posts with label Utah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Utah. Show all posts
Friday, September 5, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
I Survived!
I'm back in Phoenix.
The hike was HARD! It was uphill both ways! I'm not kidding. I'm glad that I had a good group of people to hike with or it would have been miserable. On the contrary, I had a surprisingly good time over the weekend.
We hiked ten miles through a part of Bryce Canyon that most people don't see, into the pines. It was beautiful of course, but different than what most people think of when they think of Bryce.
On the way in on Saturday, the sun was beating down on us, which made for some really good photo opportunities of the surrounding landscape, but made the 10-mile hike that much harder. I was exhausted when we finally made it to the camp site.
On Sunday, we did the same hike backwards. It rained pretty much the whole day, a relief from the hot sun, but I was drenched to the bone & covered in mud. I was so glad when we finally made it back to the car. The first thing I did was take my hiking shoes off.
Monday, since we didn't see the famous hoodoos on our backpacking trip, we did a 4.5-mile hike through the hoodoo valley. I was so tired from backpacking that it felt like another 10-mile hike.
After the day hike through the spires, we had an 8-hour car ride ahead of us. I finally made it home around 10:30pm, & I promptly went to bed.
I don't have my own camera, so when I get the photos from the rest of the group, I'll post them here.
The hike was HARD! It was uphill both ways! I'm not kidding. I'm glad that I had a good group of people to hike with or it would have been miserable. On the contrary, I had a surprisingly good time over the weekend.
We hiked ten miles through a part of Bryce Canyon that most people don't see, into the pines. It was beautiful of course, but different than what most people think of when they think of Bryce.
On the way in on Saturday, the sun was beating down on us, which made for some really good photo opportunities of the surrounding landscape, but made the 10-mile hike that much harder. I was exhausted when we finally made it to the camp site.
On Sunday, we did the same hike backwards. It rained pretty much the whole day, a relief from the hot sun, but I was drenched to the bone & covered in mud. I was so glad when we finally made it back to the car. The first thing I did was take my hiking shoes off.
Monday, since we didn't see the famous hoodoos on our backpacking trip, we did a 4.5-mile hike through the hoodoo valley. I was so tired from backpacking that it felt like another 10-mile hike.
After the day hike through the spires, we had an 8-hour car ride ahead of us. I finally made it home around 10:30pm, & I promptly went to bed.
I don't have my own camera, so when I get the photos from the rest of the group, I'll post them here.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Labor Day Weekend
The moment of truth has come. I have no more time to train for my backpacking trip to Bryce Canyon. Hopefully all of that uphill/downhill business has helped even a wee bit to make the ensuing hike less difficult. I'm looking forward to getting out of Phoenix, & I'm definitely excited to see Bryce again. I hope I can keep up with my hiking companions.Tune in next week for the results.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Camelback
I'd like to think that I'm a pretty active person; I love hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, yoga etc. But every summer I become a ball of mush because I just can't convince myself to go out in the heat to do anything but go to the grocery store. So I sit for months waiting for the temperature to dip below melting, which is generally at the end of September.
This year, however, the hiking season has started early for me. My motivation: over Labor Day weekend, I'm going backpacking in Bryce Canyon with a group of avid hikers. We'll go down into the canyon about 10 miles, stay overnight down below, & then we'll hike the 10 miles back out. It's the hiking out part that worries me. I'll have a 30-pound pack on my back (if I can consolidate my gear enough) , & I'm miserably out of shape. I have two weeks to try to restore the spring in my step.
So yesterday morning, I started my training regimen by hiking Camelback with my friend Michael. We started our hike at 7:45am. It was already hot (thus my aversion to hiking in the summer time). He, of course, hiked circles around me, but we made it to the top in about an hour. At the summit, the visibility was excellent. We spent about 20 minutes just enjoying the view & discussing landmarks. The hike down was better, but it was still pretty hot. We rested in the shade about halfway down. At 10:00am, we made it back to the car, where I finished off the last of my 100 ounces of water that I had with me. When I got home, I took a cool shower & then I took a nap. I was tired from the hike, but I think I was also suffering a bit from heat exhaustion.
But I need to train for the big trip, so I vowed to get up & do it again today, & every day until we leave for Bryce on August 29th. This time, though, I decided to try to get up earlier. I set the alarm for 6:00am (I can hear you gasping in shock), & I actually got up & was on the mountain by 6:30am (impressive, no?). The hike was much nicer today. I had shade for most of the way up & for about half the way down. It was still hot, but there was a nice breeze for most of the hike, & I only wound up drinking half of my water. What a difference an hour makes! I made it back to the car by 8:15am.
Can I do it three days in a row?
This year, however, the hiking season has started early for me. My motivation: over Labor Day weekend, I'm going backpacking in Bryce Canyon with a group of avid hikers. We'll go down into the canyon about 10 miles, stay overnight down below, & then we'll hike the 10 miles back out. It's the hiking out part that worries me. I'll have a 30-pound pack on my back (if I can consolidate my gear enough) , & I'm miserably out of shape. I have two weeks to try to restore the spring in my step.
So yesterday morning, I started my training regimen by hiking Camelback with my friend Michael. We started our hike at 7:45am. It was already hot (thus my aversion to hiking in the summer time). He, of course, hiked circles around me, but we made it to the top in about an hour. At the summit, the visibility was excellent. We spent about 20 minutes just enjoying the view & discussing landmarks. The hike down was better, but it was still pretty hot. We rested in the shade about halfway down. At 10:00am, we made it back to the car, where I finished off the last of my 100 ounces of water that I had with me. When I got home, I took a cool shower & then I took a nap. I was tired from the hike, but I think I was also suffering a bit from heat exhaustion.
But I need to train for the big trip, so I vowed to get up & do it again today, & every day until we leave for Bryce on August 29th. This time, though, I decided to try to get up earlier. I set the alarm for 6:00am (I can hear you gasping in shock), & I actually got up & was on the mountain by 6:30am (impressive, no?). The hike was much nicer today. I had shade for most of the way up & for about half the way down. It was still hot, but there was a nice breeze for most of the hike, & I only wound up drinking half of my water. What a difference an hour makes! I made it back to the car by 8:15am.
Can I do it three days in a row?
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