On the way back up to the top of the South Rim from the River I knew that I should be seeing drinking water. Well, I knew that it was available.At the same time I knew I needed to make sure to focus on my breathing since I'd been told that at that elevation, at that time of the day, & within the Canyon's walls, what would seem to be easy enough for me, would be more intense; that essentially my lungs would be looking for air to breathe & there wouldn't be any - even though, being that I was outside, air was seemingly all around me.
No, I'm no expert on this, so even how I'm wording it isn't anything close to scholarly or accurate. What I do know is that I made my way back up the South Rim about the same way I'd made my way down it - except I'd used a different trail...Which I did find to be good because I got to experience more than just the one trail.
I did a good job of not stopping, or pausing too much during my climb. I'd learned about keeping these damp & on my head or around my neck (which is where I pinned the one I had with me). Essentially when a small stream, that I could easily stoop near would appear, I'd dunk it in & re-wrap it around my neck & clip it in place with a safety pin. I took a few photos, though no more than half a dozen probably (& in a few different spots), & continued concentrating on making my way.
The next "thing" was realizing that the evening darkness is different from the early morning darkness. And my defense is that I began descending the South Kaibab Trail shortly after the first shuttle was able to transport me from where I'd parked at the Backcountry Office to the Trailhead, which was several hours prior to the sun's rise.
I'd only needed to use this before dawn. And was therefore able to hold each of these in separate hands. As I climbed the Bright Angel Trail, it was inevitable, I would definitely need to use this, which had been one of a few last-minute-in-case-of-emergency purchases. So I began holding these in one hand, this in the other. And that's how I spent the final hours.
It wasn't the most comfortable hand-held arrangement, although when running on adrenaline & pure excitement, with a keen awareness that a goal is about to be reached, well, a suitable 😂 analogy is that same feeling when the finish line is at 26.2 miles & Mile Marker 21 has recently been left in the dust. Eyes are on the prize! 😍
Speaking of the 26.2 finish line 😂… I used this to measure my accomplishments on both the South Kaibab Trail & Bright Angel Trail. I'm aware that their distance accuracy can have some fluctuation.
For me it was slightly accurate, though it left me considering that I'd reached the Rim & would be completed about a half mile sooner than was true.
I'd taken just those maps (out of the half dozen I'd been given) which I needed on the hike to the River. That is, the one which showed the two trails I'd be traveling on, & the one which showed the roads of the South Rim including the lodging & the campgrounds.
I did good with this, yet once I reached the Rim, & then reached for the corresponding map in my backpack's pocket, I found myself reading every street in the park which wasn't on a street sign & vice versa. An associate at the visitor center had mentioned it should be less than a ten minute walk back to the Backcountry Parking Lot, where I'd parked my rental vehicle for the day. Despite relief in knowing that I'd completed the entire uphill climb, I still held great anticipation until I confidently located the correct parking lot. (I'd first found the parking lot for the Engineers Building. 😊)
I did stretch, though it was for significantly less of a percentage of time in comparison to the grand amount of moving & hiking & in different way, using different muscles & movements than I typically would be, therefore - yes, the next day - although I could move, & not that restrictedly, my lower extremities carried a far different sensation than they have following any marathon I've completed.
Here's to new experiences. {raises a glass} Here's to a goal achieved. That's what I'm talking about. 😏
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