Thu Fri Apr 19 2013

Just went to the post office.

I nice lady showed my the way to the post office,
where they stamp the mail "send by mule".
It was a little longer than expected to get there.
More than 3 hours, one way. The office happened to
be in a pub. And after some tasting, it was to
late to return. So, needed to spent the night there.
Good, because it took more than 5 hours to go back.
To the next pub (you know, you have to drink a lot
when hiking, even of the hike is to the post office).

And these guys deliver the mail.

Other part of the story.
Wednesday, I did only the 3 mile point down,
and I passed everyone the way up. The views
where so extreme, that I went to the back country
office to try to get a permit. And miracle: got it
and the last camping spot in 'phantom ranch', just
next to the bridge over the Colorado river.

On one hand cheap, free camping, the permit only 15 $,
but I needed a good backpack, and the ultra light,
high tech jetboil water heater...

The way down was relatively easy. The amazing part
was that I  met so many (older people, e.g 72 years
young) who just went down and all the way up again
in the same day.

The way down

And more

And more

And more

And more

Skip a few pictures, but it is still down

And finally the bridge

Was down, just at lunch time, time to visit the
beach, cool my feet in the river, did some local
exploration. And, of coarse, found the local post
office, only served by mules

The post office was also the local pub. Yes, really.
Got several beers, before closing time at 4 PM,
just in time to get a very interesting talk from
the local ranger Emmily, about condors.

After dinner, using my new tool, there was a more
interesting talk from Emmily about failures in the
history of discovery and exploitation of the canyon.

Next morning, the way up. Just amazing. At every corner
the views are totally different. But, also went back
2 billion years in the making of the earth.

At the bottom, you find the "Elvis Chasm Gneiss" rock
which is 1840 million years old. Going up, layer by layer,
you can see more recent rocks. Every step brings you
several million years closer to more recent rock formation.

The last mile up, was somewhat hard. But after a good
Amber in the historically hotel, I was ready to walk
another 3 miles to my car.