A relatively easy day...the 18.5 mile single path hike through desert grasslands to the much cooler pine forests that brings the first view of The Grand Canyon.
It is awe inspiring!
Caught up with fellow hikers Red, Waldo and Dixie at the rim. Red and Waldo were only doing section hiking and leaving the trail tonight.
Dixie...who I met on the AT years ago...has through hiked the AZT several times and pointed out our immediate concern
"You see that smoke cloud on the North Rim?"
She explains that is the Dragon Bravo Fire.
It doesn't look particularly bad, but she explains, it is.
"It has burned over 80,000 acres so far...including burning the North Rim Stone Lodge to the ground."
OMG!!
The trail over to the North Rim is closed for safety concerns.
I am crushed thinking the adventure is over, and lamenting the loss of the lodge...but Dixie has this insane gleam in her eye.
"Maybe for lesser folk." She laughs.
...you're scaring me...
The crux of the matter is that she has hiked here enough to know what she calls WORKAROUNDS.
And so, we agree to spent the weekend just outside the South Rim...enjoy the luxury of regular baths, company and chat, and good food/soft beds
...together...
"Besides...we're both carrying GPS", she laughs again.
"So they can locate the bodies", I finish, somberly.
See ya'll on Monday!
"Beans" (...and Dixie)
