Grand Canyon

So then...I have a backcountry permit for the Grand Canyon National Park. 2 people, 1 night at Bright Angel Campground, at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Now... how did we get there?

Day 1: South Kaibab Trail

Rim (7260 ft) to Cedar Ridge (6120 ft) - 1.5 mi

Cedar Ridge (6120 ft) to Skeleton Point (5220 ft) - 1.5 mi

Skeleton Point (5220 ft) to Tipoff (4000 ft) - 1.4 mi

Tipoff (4000 ft) to Bright Angel Campground (2480 ft) - 2.6 mi

Total 7.0 miles, 4780 ft of elevation change.

Day 2: Bright Angel Trail

Bright Angel Campground (2480 ft) to River Resthouse (2480 ft) - 1.5 mi

River Resthouse (2480 ft) to Indian Garden (3800 ft) - 3.2 mi

Indian Garden (3800 ft) to Three-Mile Resthouse (4748 ft) - 1.7 mi

Three-Mile Resthouse (4748 ft) to Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse (5729 ft) - 1.5 mi

Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse (5729 ft) to Rim (6860 ft) 1.6 mi

Total 9.5 miles, 4380 ft of elevation change.

For a grand total of 16.5 miles and 9160 ft of elevation change over 2 days.

Both days ended after dark, knife edge trails, miles of packed snow and ice, amazing views, fresh powder, freezing weather and wind blown trails with a 1000 ft drop inches from the trail. It was an awesome trip and we got some great pictures.

San Francisco and Napa Valley

Alright, I have managed to return safely.  

I drove out and got into my hotel.  The first place I went was up to Fisherman's Wharf, I walked from the BART station since the line was really long for the cable car (I don't know why they are called cable cars since they are trolleys).  Turns out the hills where a bit more steep then I first though.  But I made it all the way the Wharf and wandered about.  Got to go on a bay cruise and go under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz.  Plus I got to see the Sea Lions.  From there I wondered over to Lombard Street, which is apparently the crookedest street in the world.  It was too steep to drive down, so they added a bunch of turns in it. After that I went over to Chinatown to see it.  Then it was back to the wharf to stroll about pier 39 and get dinner

.  I had to get some seafood since I was right there on the wharf.  (Oh and since the cruise passed under the bridge I was on the pacific ocean.  Twas cool).  After dinner I went down and got on a cable car.  I stopped by a speak easy.  You had to ring the bell and give the password.  Then you go back behind the bookshelf to the bar.  Finally it was time to go and get sleep.

The next morning I got up and found out that I couldn't get tickets on the ferry to Alcatraz.  I had wanted to go, but I guess that I will have to go back to see it.  So instead I ended up renting a bike and biking across the Golden Gate Bridge.  I biked from Fisherman's Wharf to Sausalito.  It was a bit more then 8 miles.  I got a bunch of pictures, check the photo blog.  I had lunch at a nice little Italian cafe in Sausalito and then hopped the ferry back to San Francisco.  A bit more biking and then I hopped in the car and drove the bridge on the way to Napa Valley.

I drove out and passed through Sonoma Valley first.  It was cool to cruise along and see all the wineries.  Then I rolled into Napa and stopped at the visitor's center and got some info.  It was a bit late and so I didn't stay to long.  The first winery I visited was the Robert Mondavi winery.  (by the way one of the attraction types in my GPS is winery).  Apparently this was like the first winery in Napa valley.  I tasted a few wines there, then headed off to the V Sattui winery.  I must say that I really enjoyed it. It had a little deli area and a picnic lawn.  I tasted some more wine here.  I would recommend it should you find yourself in the area.  Stella, this means that when we go we will be stopping here.  After that it was time to head back "home".

One thought though, why is it that when you are driving at night and you come across a construction area they flash all sorts of lights at you in an effort to destroy your night vision and blind you as you drive through the area?

A Belated Easter

Ok then, I haven't posted in a bit on here, so I think that now is the time to.  When last I posted I had returned from Philmont.  I have set out on another grand adventures and can now claim Neveda as a state that I have been to.  So hooray!  

Now if you have been watching the photo blog you have probably seen a number of pictures go up.  I went to Lake Tahoe on Saturday and then on Sunday for Easter I went to Yosemite.  Cause I could sit around a hotel or go see something.  Now it ended up meaning my Easter dinner was via a drive through at McDonalds on my way back, but I don't really mind, cause I got to see Yosemite.  And now I want to go back.  

Otherwise its been kinda dull out out here.  I did go to Reno on Friday, but it is basically just another big city.  I'm sure that I could find some stuff to do there should I wonder around a bit, but I didn't really feel it.  So I stopped by the REI and the Barnes and Noble.  Wandered through a mall but it was just dull.  My other adventures have been much cooler.  

This upcoming weekend I will be going to San Francisco.  I plan to stop off at Napa Valley on the way back, so I will have to see about picking up some wine there.  I'm sure that there will be pictures that go up from that adventure too. By now I'm sure that you all know where to find them.  As for now, I think it is time to relax a bit.

Travel to Florida

So, as I seem to be traveling to Florida a bit, lets just walk through a travel day out here.

2 AM Wake up
3 AM Leave Alamo
430 AM Check In
530 AM Board Plane
6 AM Take off
840 AM Land at DFW
910 AM Board Plane
940 AM Take off
115 PM Land MCO
145 PM Get Bag
200 PM Pick Up Car
210 PM Eat
220 PM Leave for Cocoa Beach
330 PM Arrive Cocoa Beach
340 PM Walk in to hotel, get greeted by the manager who checks over the clerk's shoulder to make sure that my room has been upgraded.
400 PM Nap time!
700 PM Check the interwebs, then off to located dinner
900 PM Meeting at the Irish Pub, find out schedule
1000 PM Back to the hotel, sleeps.