Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim
We first went to USA in 2002 when we did a fly-drive from Las Vegas around Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. At the Grand Canyon we did some hikes along the South Rim trails and a helicopter flight into the Canyon. We were so amazed by the scale and the sheer beauty of the Canyon that we said that we would come back one day to trek it rim-to-rim.
August 2011 was our 10th wedding anniversary so we took another trip to Vegas for a cheesy Elvis vow renewal ceremony (Gracelands Chapel, of course) then headed over to Flagstaff for our 4-day Canyon adventure. We had organised a guide and booked the camping licences through Just Roughin' It, they were brilliant and our guide Steve was outstanding. He set up the tents and cooked for us each night...we did our bit by helping to put the tents away in the morning, though. We also trekked with a lovely lady called Heidi from Iowa.
Although the hike is only 24 miles, the overall elevation gain/loss is 5740 ft (1762 m) - that's the same as Everest base camp - and we were carrying very heavy full backpacks. But what a hike - definitely a once in a lifetime experience.
August 2011 was our 10th wedding anniversary so we took another trip to Vegas for a cheesy Elvis vow renewal ceremony (Gracelands Chapel, of course) then headed over to Flagstaff for our 4-day Canyon adventure. We had organised a guide and booked the camping licences through Just Roughin' It, they were brilliant and our guide Steve was outstanding. He set up the tents and cooked for us each night...we did our bit by helping to put the tents away in the morning, though. We also trekked with a lovely lady called Heidi from Iowa.
Although the hike is only 24 miles, the overall elevation gain/loss is 5740 ft (1762 m) - that's the same as Everest base camp - and we were carrying very heavy full backpacks. But what a hike - definitely a once in a lifetime experience.