Grand Canyon North Rim-to-South Rim Bucket List Adventure Part 1: Shuttle to the North Rim

Grand Canyon Hiking Corridor Map: Our route was taking the North Kaibab Trail from the trailhead on the north rim down to Phantom Ranch. We then took the Silver Bridge Across the Colorado River and hiked up the Bright Angel Trail to the the south rim. Total Hike Mileage = 24 miles 

Here it is! The first installment of the posts detailing my Grand Canyon Rim2Rim Hiking Adventure!  This was another amazing bucket-list item crossed off my list (although I hope to go back and hike it with the boys in the future with an overnight stay at the bottom).  The Grand Canyon is such a wonderful and magical place.  It was amazing to see the sights from the bottom.  Plus we had amazing weather for our hike.  We were fully prepared to experience 100+ degree temperatures at the bottom.  However, we were blessed with breezes and overcast skies for the entire day and even rain downpours in the afternoon which kept the temperatures cool with a high only in the low 80s.  It was an amazing experience!!! (Not to mention all of the amazing training hikes that lead up to this hike.  I hope that you have been following the blog and were able to see the pictures from those hikes.  Of course, the camera never does the actual views justice!).  

The official adventure began on September 17.  I car-pooled with Ali and her husband, Scott, to the South Rim where we had lunch and then caught a van shuttle to the North Rim.  The van ride was 4 hours long, stopping at gas stations in Cameron, AZ and near Lee's Ferry for restroom, gas, and snack breaks.  

Ali and I ordering lunch.  I sent Zach a picture of my hot dog in sympathy of his being stuck with yet another "sad" school hamburger.  

Ali and I on the van. The shuttle was supposed to leave at 1:30pm, but was delayed until after 2pm due to state inspections.  

Scott posing at the Bright Angel Trailhead overlook where we would hopefully emerge successfully the next evening.  The thin red line drawn in shows our approximate hiking from the North Rim. 

More canyon views with the Bright Angel trail below.  

Waiting for the shuttle van at the Bright Angel Lodge on the South Rim.  We had our hiking gear with us as well as tons of snacks.  (Best snacks of the shuttle trip were Snyders Honey Mustard and Onion Pretzel Bites.  Yummy to eat.  Horrible to smell on one's breath afterwards while wearing a mask.  Thankful for mint gum!). Clara and family were waiting for us on the North Rim with all of our overnight camping gear and other supplies.  

During the van ride, it was lovely to see sights of the Vermillion Cliffs as well as the Colorado River when we crossed near Lee's Ferry.  We finally arrived at the Grand Canyon National Park North Rim Camp Ground around 6:15pm.  Clara and family had a tasty dinner of hot tacos with fresh homemade guacamole and salsa waiting for us!  It was so nice of them to haul all of our camping gear in their trailer along with their own gear and supplies.  The campground was very nice with smooth, flat areas on each camp site on which to pitch tents, excellent bathroom facilities, and a lovely camp store.  I pitched my tent, which took less that 2 minutes to set up.  After the long day of traveling, we were all in our tents snoozing by 8:30pm, excited for the hike the next day!  IT was going to be a very early morning with plans to arise by 3:00am.  It was hard to get comfortable and settled down for sleep (primarily because I had not been camping in years!!!!).  My new tent was very cozy and kept me warm and dry despite some small rain showers received throughout the night.  The real treat of the evening was listening to two Great Horned Owls serenade each other in the forest near the campground for over an hour.  Hearing their calls made me smile and lulled me to sleep!  I texted Derek as soon as I heard them (I wished he had chosen to do this adventure with me!).  He texted back, "Who??"  He is so funny! 

Picture of my little tent pitched under a ponderosa pine.  The lights in the background were other camp sites.  

Stay Tuned for Installment #2: The Hike Begins! North Kaibab Trailhead to Cottonwood Campground