Up early again, we were on the water at a record time of 7:45 am. It is Dave’s turn at having a birthday and we all expressed our strong desire to spank him.

Almost immediately we negotiated Grapevine rapid, another powerful drop in a tight space between the vertical, hard canyon walls.

Three miles farther downstream we stopped for a mile-plus hike up Clear Creek, a classic slot canyon on the river’s right side.

We took turns standing under a waterfall that rivals any massage by pounding on our backs, necks and shoulders.

Reluctantly we pressed on, knowing that for five of us, these are the last few miles before the long hike out of the canyon.

Sure enough, after running one more rapid known as Zoroaster, we float at mid day into the only civilized spot in the Grand Canyon, Phantom Ranch.

The afternoon was spent readying for the ten mile hike out to the South Rim a mile above. It was great to see Webmaster Chris and meet his girlfriend Meghan who had hiked in to see us.

Kathy, Jim Peggy and I were the first to leave at about 4 pm. The difficulty of walking in the 110-plus degree heat was exceeded only by the beauty we enjoyed while watching the shadows creep in ahead of nightfall.

Up into evergreen forests we hiked until finally we had to use flashlights to see.

We arrived at the top at 9:40 pm just in time to meet Kathy’s relatives T.J., Petra, Dave and Emily.

Not one of us had any trouble sleeping although our feet are a little worse for the wear.

The perspective gained by seeing the canyon from bottom to top made me more in awe of this indescribable place. You really owe it to yourself to visit it some day.