I left in the morning, and I was finally able to eat my Subway sandwich on the way home. I got back home about 10:30 a.m. My right knee was very bruised and swollen, and I had trouble walking on it, but I managed fine with pain relievers. The nails of my big toes on each of my feet were black.
So would I do this hike again? I told the kids during the hike that this would be my one and only experience hiking from rim to rim, and that I wasn’t adequately prepared for the physical demands it required. The ascent out of the canyon is brutal, and not to be taken lightly. The heat at the bottom of the canyon is intense, and not easy to deal with. I’ve thought about it since then, and if I could reduce the amount of hiking each day by overnighting at Havasupai Gardens and Cottonwood, and if I could schedule it in late fall when the temperature might be cooler, and if I strengthened my legs and knees with squats, steps, and weights, then maybe I would try it again. Honestly, I don’t think that will happen, but I am glad that I was able to accomplish it without a helicopter rescue!
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