Some statistics for the trails we'll be hitting:

• South Kaibab Trail - Trailhead (South Rim) to Phantom Ranch - 6.9 miles, dropping 4,700 feet
  
• Bright Angel Trail - Phantom Ranch to South Rim Trailhead - 9.8 miles, climbing 4,330 feet
  

I have a little spreadsheet breaking the descent in and the climb out into five and six segments respectively, with the following statistics listed for each segment:

• cumulative total distance from start
  
• elevation (feet above MSL)
  
• segment distance (miles)
  
• segment elevation change (feet)
  
• segment percent slope
  
• segment run per foot of elevation change
  
• cumulative total elevation change from start (feet)
  

If you are interested, let me know and I will send you a copy of the spreadsheet!

A couple of books to consider before March!

The Man Who Walked Through Time by Colin Fletcher, about his trip, the first ever, walking through Grand Canyon below the rim. He died this past year, in June, at 85.

Grand Canyon: Solving Earth's Grandest Puzzle, by James Lawrence Powell, a 2005 publication about the recent scientific consensus on how Grand Canyon came to be.

Getting pretty excited!!!

This a good time to get prepared. I am having my Eagle Scout sons get me prepared during the Christmas break. Good times are ahead.

Denis enjoys a view of the inner gorge from the Plateau Point overlook.

Sometimes Connie gets out there, over the edge!

During our October 1981 canyon hike, we stayed two nights at Indian Garden on the way out. During the day in between, we hiked out onto the Tonto Plateau, where this picture of Connie was taken.

CNN Grand Canyon Trip-Planning Article

More good fodder: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/06/20/cybertrips.grand.canyon.ap/index.html