The Last Training Hike

The last training hike before the Canyon. Was supposed to be fifteen miles but we decided to take it a little bit easy (party due to the extreme heat—107 degrees at the finish) and went only ten. Still, we have hiked a total 180 plus miles in the past four months, 70 of those miles in just the past month!

We’re ready…at least we think we’re ready…

Today’s hike was over part of the beautiful South Mountain Municipal Park, the largest municipal park in the United States at over 16,000 acres. Plenty of room to ramble, and some new terrain to us, which was most welcome. Some great vistas of pretty much the entire Phoenix valley, plus a cute little snake and a guy paragliding…who knew there was so much to see!

The discussion topic today was the five best and five worst memories from our weeks of training. I was extremely pleased when Gray said that his number one best memory was just hanging out with Dad…wow, that’s huge! Also on his top five was how good he felt after he threw up on the terrible hike through the Superstitions. Oh well, I guess that works.

For me, the number one worst memory is definitely the scary feelings I was having just before Gray threw up, at the point we were lost, cold, and tired. The rest of the bad memories mostly have to do with muscle soreness (especially after Siphon Draw/Flatiron and our first ten mile hike when I could hardly walk the last two miles) and of course, last week’s boredom.

My best memories? 1) Being with my son, 2) being with my son, 3) being with my son… 4) finally making it to the top of Flatiron (after wondering about the Superstitions all these years), and 5) knowing that I’m ready to hike the Grand Canyon…at least I think I’m ready…!