![\"\"](\"https:\/\/awanderingjill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/DSC03655.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThere’s a couple of gals leading the group up. \u00a0They obviously know what they’re doing. \u00a0These mules are a little lighter in build and a couple of them don’t seem to be too happy to be carrying people up. \u00a0We’re going to wait for them to start up before we go – you’re supposed to let them pass you on the way and that trail isn’t exactly wide enough to give both you and the mule plenty of room.<\/p>\n
And now it’s our turn.<\/p>\n Following the mules up. \u00a0We actually kept up with them pretty well for most of the trip.<\/p>\n The steepness is starting to kick in. \u00a0Not the hardest hike I’ve done before, but combining this with the sun and heat and, well, it’s time to start in on the gatorade.<\/p>\n For you, KL.<\/p>\n JA hikes up.<\/p>\n And up and up. \u00a0A lot of trudging on our part. \u00a0Every now and again we’d have to wait for the mules to continue on – I’m not sure if their stopping was planned or just a consequence of passing people. \u00a0This time of the day, not a lot of folks are on the trail – and most of those are heading back. \u00a0It is pretty hot now, we’re sweating a lot (but it evaporates quickly), but it still hasn’t been anything JA and I couldn’t handle.<\/p>\n The mules on the switchbacks. \u00a0That looks like a lot of fun.<\/p>\n Taking a break in the shade on a switchback to look back into the canyon.<\/p>\n And we’re back at the top. \u00a0Overall, we’re a little tired, and down on fluids, but not nearly as tired\/hot as we thought we’d be by what everyone was telling us. \u00a0Overall, it took us between 2 and 3\u00a0hours roundtrip. \u00a0Both JA and I really feel like we could have made it to the 3 mile marker, Skeleton Point, and come back up without issue. \u00a0But I guess we’ll have to leave that to another trip. \u00a0We followed the guidelines – if you look up a map of South Kaibab trail, it says to not go past Cedar Ridge on a summer hike – and now we know that it’s not as bad as they state.<\/p>\n We took the shuttle to Yaki Point, another outlook.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can see Cedar Ridge from here and the continuing Kaibab Trail.<\/p>\n We ended up back at the Visitor Center looking for information on where the showers are. \u00a0We’ve been at this a couple days without one, so it’s about time. \u00a0Showers were at the Mather campground and cost $2 for about 8 minutes of water. \u00a0It felt great to get all the dust and dried sweat off. \u00a0We planned to spend the afternoon resting at the campsite and then head over to the Desert View Watchtower to watch the sun set.<\/p>\n Our lovely little campsite. \u00a0I was really happy with this one. \u00a0Large sites away from other folks, a fire ring, stuff to sit on, and perfect trees for hammocks.<\/p>\n Our afternoon consisted of this. \u00a0And occasionally reading while in this position.<\/p>\n About 45 minutes to sundown, we headed over the Watchtower, which was right next to the campgrounds.<\/p>\n \u00a0It’s too late in the day for us to go into the tower, but we’ll do that tomorrow, before we leave.<\/p>\n It was already a bit crowded by other people with the same idea, but JA and I managed to secure a nice spot along the cliff to watch. \u00a0No clouds tonight!<\/p>\n Guess who just learned what HDR is?<\/p>\n There are no sunsets prettier that desert sunsets.<\/p>\n With that, it’s time to head back to the tent. \u00a0It looked like we might get rained on, but thankfully, it ended up being a dry night.<\/p>\n Back to Grand Canyon Day 2 Part 1<\/a> ::: On to Grand Canyon to Temecula<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" July 23, 2016 When we get ready to head back, there’s more mules! There’s a couple of gals leading the group up. \u00a0They obviously know what they’re doing. \u00a0These mules are a little lighter in build and a couple of them don’t seem to be too happy to be carrying people up. \u00a0We’re going to wait for them to start up before we go – you’re supposed to let them pass you on the way and that trail isn’t exactly…<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n