Hiking 2 Other Planets

Very few hikes do you first descend almost a vertical mile in elevation then regain it to finish the hike. The Grand Canyon introduced me to this unique hiking pattern. Descending from the South Rim at 8,000 feet to the Colorado River at 2,700 feet is a mind expanding experience. The further you dip below the rimmed plateau you immediately begin to witness how grand the canyon really is. It is one thing to see the vast canyon from the top, but once you are surrounded by the massive rock walls you recognize how minute you are in compassion as well as how impressive it is that water was able to carve out such a natural wonder. While we hiked the South Kiabab trail we were able to see the first rays of sunlight highlighting the canyon walls, sooo beautiful!
I recommend that hike to anyone. Deep in the canyon it almost feels like you are on another planet, with few people around, and encircled in a very foreign and different terrain.

Usually I am use to ascending several thousand feet first to the summit, then enjoying the easier descent down the mountain. A week before the Grand Canyon I was able to finally able to check off something from my summer bucket list, hiking Mount Timpanogos. If anyone wants ideas for making sure your Mount Timpanogos hike is memorable and adventurous, here are a few tips from personal experience:
• Begin the hike in the thick blackness of night at 4:30 a.m. with your only light source from headlamps.
• Make sure you are the first care in the trail parking lot (or make it the first group on the mountain if you really want a thrill), this way you will be sure to run into wildlife in the dark that will scare you big time! Especially when all you can see is the area where your headlamp is pointing and you can see huge glowing eyes in the distance….
• Go when the early morning forecast calls for clouds and some precipitation, allowing you to hike in mist and thick heavy fog that forces you to stop moving forward because you can’t see 3 feet in front of you, and have no idea where you are.
• Hike it in October so once you get above 9,000 feet there will be snow and you then are able to make fresh footprints in freshly fallen snow, as well as enjoy the crunchy sound under your shoes.
• Plan on eating a cold breakfast in the Emerald Lake Shelter, that provides a nice place to sit down but no protection from the chilly breeze.
• Ascend the rocky slope to the saddle only once you are completely engrossed in a literal cloud, which provides a ghostly atmosphere that makes the terrain look like you are on another ice planet covered in rock, ice, snow, and hiking cairns.

• Once on the saddle pretend like you are approaching the summit of K2, or Mount Everest, as in it will look like it with all the rock, snow, and clouds. You might as well use a caption like that when you post your pics on Facebook, as very few will be able to tell the difference.
• Enjoy the descent down that will feel like a whole new hike, because you will be able to see your surroundings in a new light, the sun.
I live for adventure and am always anxiously awaiting my next. Which is hopefully Canyoneering Zion’s this weekend that is if it doesn’t rain. Cross your fingers!!!
Happy Trails.