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10/00

Prelude:

As one might expect, for months there had been light hearted and long-winded debate among the friends and family of the Ridge Walkers as to who would not make the climb out. But… Lets not get ahead of ourselves… Just yet!

The Grand Canyon. The granddaddy of holes. One of the Seven Wonders of the World. It stretches hundreds of miles from east to west. A vertical mile down, the Colorado River continues to carve out its powerful path through the oldest, exposed rock to man. To the north, there is the North Rim (9K ft.); To the south, the South Rim (7K ft.).

Although there are numerous trails to the bottom of the Canyon from both rims, most day hikers and multi-day backpackers take either the South Kaibab or Bright Angel Trail from the South Rim. Make no mistake. Despite the tens of thousands who annually hike the Canyon, most do so with unwitting peril. Most hikers are naive and ill prepared for the potential dangers and hazards which the Canyon offers at it's discretion. Risk of harm can be caused by the altitude, severe weather changes on exposed ridge trail, improper gear and clothing, inadequate physically conditioning… And, most often, dehydration. It is (highly) recommended that each person pack and drink one gallon of water per trip - in or out! Yup… All of this risk accompanied by the most awesome and incredible views… Smack dab in the middle of Colorado… Err… "It's in Arizona?" mused "g."

Let's start at the real beginning. "g" had just returned from backpacking Yosemite (10/99) with his new buddies. He and Kate were preparing a family trip to Phoenix (4/00) to visit "g's" parents and brother's family.

While in AZ, "g's" family and his brother's family would spend a child-oriented, weekend at the Bright Angel Lodge, on the South Rim. With children ranging in age from nearly two to twelve, this would be a gentle adventure. There would be pleasant walks on paved paths. They would revel in the embrace of the spectacular views of the Canyon.

This child-oriented trip would not include any "big boy, high risk "g" adventures." (Rats!) No standing next to the edge! No running or jumping within 50 feet of the Canyon's rim. No hiking into the canyon on trails as wide as a watermelon. No pretending-to-be-falling-into-the-Canyon. No Jokes about falling into the canyon! Children must be tethered to a parent to prevent them from being accidentally blown into the canyon by sudden gusts of wind. No...

However, because "g" was always thinking (or scheming), he began to play with an idea. "You know," he e-mailed his brother, "perhaps when we visit in April we could finagle a deal with Kate and Jeannie. We could schedule a LaBella-Brothers- big-boy-high-risk-adventure into the Canyon? Just the two of us! Two or three days in the canyon!" (Months later, Rob confided in "g" that he had heard… From 2000 miles away in AZ... The big-door-slamming-hard-sound on the "LaBella-Brother's mini excursion!")