Happy Birthday to me!
Descending the south Kaibab trail is rocky and steep and loaded with switch backs. Matt took some awesome pictures and a few videos in the early morning and at sunrise. We arrived at Phantom Ranch 20 minutes before they opened, so we filled with water and headed for the north Kaibab trail. Climbing 14 miles from the bottom to the north rim and then descending those same 14 miles equaled my longest climb/descent ever... there are not many places that can wind up for that long. After we turned around at the north rim we started running into the rest of the gang R2R2R’ing it. We exchanged hugs and I received lots of birthday wishes. Back at Phantom Ranch Matt and I shared a lemonade and wrote postcards to the parents. Only one 9 mile climb to go and we were looking good for time. Halfway back up, I scored some fig newtons for us from a hiker and then only a few miles from the top we ran into Catherine and Roch who had hiked down to the river for lunch and timed it great to finish with us. Just for fun and to beat the 11 hour mark Matt and I sprinted the last quarter mile (well it was a sprint to us).
The rest of the evening was pretty mellow and typical post run energy. After showers and Ultragen we (Matt, Roch, Catherine and I) tried for dinner at the Arizona Room, but opted for the Maswik cafeteria. A great choice as we were well fed and on our way to pumpkin pie before we would have been sat at the restaurant. In our little room Matt lit candles and the three sang Happy Birthday. I got to make a wish and within minutes the entire pie was devoured.
We joined the Boulderites in the bar before calling it a night. Again a wonderful birthday celebration spent with some very dear friends. Thank you to Matt, Roch and Catherine – it is a birthday I will always remember and cherish.
I will post pictures (need to get those -112 total - from Matt) soon.
7 Comments:
Happy birthday! That run sounds great. I'd really like to do a R2R2R some day when I feel I'm ready for it... that would be a great first time trip to the Grand Canyon!
Best birthday wishes, Krissy. Just remember that you're still just a kid to some of us;-)
Kendall
Happy Birthday Krissy!!! Glad you had another fun adventure... I'm in China at the moment, but off to Seattle on Friday. I need a good run up there for Terra and I to do this weekend. Any ideas?
Look forward to seeing you soon!
Cheers,
Chris
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ju
Happy belated birthday! What a great way to spend it!!
Great Run Krissy and Matt!
I am planning a run on December 4th, going down South Kaibab, touch the river! then back up Brite Angel to top. Can I do that in 6 to 7 hours? I am much older than you, but in pretty good shape.
Thanks, Brian
Ihr seid schon wilde Hunde, einfach mal so den Canyon runtelaufen und wieder rauf - super
2009 findet ein Ultralauf von Sizilien nach Norwegen statt- in 64 Tagen durch Europa, das waer doch das richtige fuer euch.
Keep on running
Friedl Hoefer, Bavaria,Germany
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