Plan B

Now that we are not going on the Appalachian Trail trip what do we do??  I/We felt like we've worked really hard to get into shape that we wanted to go somewhere and hike.  Maybe it's all ego......and we need to prove to ourselves that we can do it.........but either way, what's the alternative?

The GRAND CANYON!!!

While we've been working really hard for the AT trail, the Grand Canyon (at least i think so) will be much tougher.  We will need to keep training and train harder to survive this one!!

As we sit here and bat around the idea of tackling the Canyon the matter of dates, money, time and physical strength come up.  Here is how the evening went after agreeing that YES we will do the Canyon(in between sips of wine)....

First......when can we go?  As Darren has always wanted to go back and hike the canyon (he's done it once before in 2003) and his 40th birthday is coming (September) we decided that would be his birthday present, but we'll go in November.  Why November?  Really there are 2 reasons, 1. we are already going to be doing a big family trip in AZ for 10 days at Thanksgiving.  Why not just he and I go a few days earlier, hike the Canyon and meet the rest of the family on their previously scheduled arrival date?  2.  Money!  Since we're already going to AZ in November and having to pay the higher plane fares (due to obnoxiously high gas prices) why pay it twice??  Especially since the Canyon trip would only be a few days....I just can't justify the extra expense.

So, here we are.....a little buzz on and ready to go full blast at the Grand Canyon.....where to start??

Ugh....based on our previous experiences in 2003 I know that it is very difficult to get reservations at the Phantom Ranch cabins at the bottom of the Canyon.  So, in my wine-induced happy place I grab the laptop and start trying to plan this thing!