Wednesday heading out to the Rim.

Our last day in the Grand Canyon. It was a cold night, 46 degrees. Near the Colorado river the night temps were around 58.  We are up at 5am with the sun already brightening the tops of the canyon.

I got coffee started and gave a cup to Shawna.  Then more boiling water for the breakfast.  Last of the freeze-dried food that we will eat on the hike. YEA!  This morning it is Biscuits and Gravy with Sausage.

As we are packing up camp, a deer walks right by our campsite.  Big ravens and squirrels are checking all the empty campsites.

For the last climb out it is only 4.5 miles but it is 3000 ft of elevation change. Our packs are the lightest they have been on the whole trip. We only carry 2 liters of water each. ​

We have mules pass a couple of times on the trail.  Rangers taking pack mules down with supplies for the Ranger Stations.  Then trainees with two Havasupai trainers on mules headed down and then back up.  They are learning how to guide the mules.

​It takes us 7 hours. We take long breaks and talk to many people along the way.  Lots and lots of day hikers who were very curious about our big packs.  When we told them we had just spent 7 days in the canyon, they were flabbergasted.  OK, maybe just really surprised.

We started at 8:15am, arrived at top of rim at 3:15pm.  Exhausted but I really wanted Ice Cream.

We got more water at the water fill station. Walked to Bright Angel Lodge to see if they had any cancellations.

I walked up and asked the person at the desk if there were any rooms available.  I told her what we had just done and that we enjoyed staying at Phantom Ranch for two nights.  She looked surprised but after checking, her face changed and she said one was available. At first, she may not have believed me.  When she told me that the room was normally $325 a night and at Thunderbird Lodge with canyon view picture windows.  As soon as she said she could give it to me for $250, I said DONE and handed her the credit card.

The view from our room was great!  The entire wall was a picture window.

It was a very short walk to the room and then I took the bus shuttle over to the BackCountry parking lot to get the truck.

We got showers, talked with family, and celebrated by having a really nice dinner at Yavapai Tavern.  My Elk burger was fantastic.

Time for a good nights rest with all the niceties of modern society. Tomorrow more exploring as tourists.