Ken and His Brothers Hike the Grand Canyon

Yes, again.  Ken was invited to hike the Grand Canyon in January clear last June and has been excited about it.  Our friend, Kurtis made reservations to stay at Phantom's Ranch at the bottom and to eat dinner there and breakfast the next morning.  It's great because you don't have to carry bedding or cooking equipment- just day packs.  But you have to schedule far ahead and often people's plans change.    At the last minute, everyone in the group cancelled (poor Kurtis' toe "blew up" and Dave had to work, etc) and Ken was given the opportunity to invite three others to fill the three other slots.  So he got on the phone and called his brothers. This was last Saturday night- late.  They would have to be at the south rim on Wednesday evening. Four of them were really interested and three signed on immediately.  No preparation time- just three days.  And these guys aren't spring chickens- one of them is 70 years old.  But, like Ken, they are in great physical shape and always up for an adventure. One is retired, but the other two made arrangements to take off work and away they went.  So, Jim (from Prescott) and Clark (from Phoenix) and Rick (from Gilbert) met Ken at the motel on Wednesday evening.  They ate at the cafeteria there on the south rim that night and then played the true blue Hinton game- Rook, into the night.
The next morning, they ate at the cafeteria and then began their descent.  They got a kick out of the signs on the way down: Down is optional; up is mandatory.   Ken is now going to choose the pictures and put captions on them:

All "pumped" and ready to hit the trail--32 degrees F
Clark, Jim, and Rick

An ice waterfall on the trail

Snacking at the 3-mile rest station

Beautiful jet's con-trail against that gorgeous blue winter sky

Cleaning up after a "ten-rated" picnic at Indian Gardens

A member of the Indian Garden's visitor friendly deer herd

Looking down into the "Devil's Corkscrew" as we prepare to drop into the inner canyon

Another cute, friendly "wild" animal near the bottom of the canyon

Recovering at the final rest station just as we reached the Colorado River

Oops. This one is out of order. Near the start of the hike down the Bright Angel Trail.

Yay! We reached the river. Now just another 1.5 miles to Phantom's Ranch.

Preparing to cross the Colorado River on the Silver Bridge

Yoshi!! We made it!! Tired, but very happy to be at the Phantom Ranch Cantina.

An early morning shot of the full moon as it is setting over Phantom's Ranch (Notice the 2 lights of the ranger's cabin)

Another shot of the incredibly gorgeous setting full moon

A relatively tame 3-point buck we met as we reached the Tonto Plateau on the South Kaibab Trail

A result of the "photo shoot"  with an unbelievably tame raven (I was within arm's reach of him!)

Near the top (end of the trail) of the South Kaibab Trail. What an Adventure!!!

It was incredibly wonderful adventure with dear loved ones!!!