Training Log Archive: AliC

Day 1 of Grand Canyon trip
Hermit's Rest to Hermit Creek Campground
~ 8 mi, downhill, rough trail in places

Wahoo! Time for the long-awaited (originally applied for permit in July) Grand Canyon backpack. Easy packing since all our backpacking stuff was out and about from last weekend - main change was using my bigger pack and packing more food, less water (since there would be water at all campsites along the way, didn't need 2 days worth).

Started as all our adventures are wont to, at Biff's Bagels in Flag, then drove up to the Backcountry Office at Grand Canyon. Walked a bit to the Hermit shuttle (first views over the rim- yeah!) and rode it out all the way to the far end where we were to start. Everyone else on the shuttle was hopping off or back on from view points - you can look around a bit and then catch the next shuttle.

We have a great book about the geology of the Grand Canyon, written from the perspective of actually hiking in it. Having read the chapter on the Hermit trail, I had a cheat sheet with what we were supposed to look for where along the trail and what layers were what. We missed or couldn't find the fossils in the uppermost layer, the Kaibob limestone, but then did see the fossilized tracks in the Coconio sandstone two layers down from that - so neat to see little imprints from little creatures of long ago!

We traversed in the multi-layered red Supai for a good 3 miles, over rock slides and for a good long while right above a pretty tall cliff of Redwall Limestone. At the time, it wasn't that scary, because not a steep slope where we were, but looking back at where the traverse had gone was pretty impressive!

Close to Cathedral stairs, we noticed the signs of the Hermit fault on the rock- the layers were all messed up! Neat to see exactly what the book had written about. Descending the switchbacks through the Redwall, we did see the fossils of a brachiopod and some crinoids - not things that jump out at you if you are hiking fast, really have to look for them!

Then mostly a trek in through the Muav limestone and then the colorful green/purple/blue Bright Angel shale.

We were warned by other hikers coming up that they were rebuilding the toilets at the Hermit Creek campsite, so we arrived to their construction zone and the end of their workday. A little less peaceful that one might imagine after hiking 8 miles into the backcountry, but after an hour or so, the tool sounds stopped and they were just camping out like we were.

But! The mice! We were warned of enterprising, food-stealing rodents in the camps. We didn't notice any until we started cooking our beans-rice-Fritos stew, and then at least two different mice (one quite chubby) kept making bold advances into our cooking area, again and again. Quickly got the food packed up in a metal mesh bag and hung away after dinner!!

Some good wind into the early night and a sprinkle of rain.

C • mice 2