Day's Summary: SUMMARY

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Preparation I'm starting early: 4:30AM local time. Good description of much of the stuff that I've packed for the hike. Remember, it's better to be overprepared than underprepared when going on a rough hike, especially at the Grand Canyon. Not preparing properly can result in injury or death.

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Hike Begins At the trailhead of the South Kaibab, the hike begins. The plan was to hike to either Cedar Ridge @ 1.5 miles down or Skeleton Point @ 3 miles down. Obviously, double those numbers for round trips. I ended up only going down to Cedar Ridge and back, even though I mention in the video about a 6-mile hike. I felt that after a nearly 16-mile hike to the Colorado River and back in 1999, and a 12-mile hike to Plateau Point and back in 2010 (both along Bright Angel), I didn't really have anything to prove to myself. No sense needlessly suffering. Just a wonderful hike in The House of Stone and Light!

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Ooh Aah Point Pretty certain (due to the rock arrangement and ability to see to the east) I'm at Ooh Aah Point along the South Kaibab Trail. Amazing view.

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Going Down The South Kaibab offers less protection (shade) from the sun, there are no resthouses, and there's no water along the trail (unless you consider the END at Bright Angel Campground to be "along the trail"). I mention that I'm probably going to turn around at Cedar Ridge and make it a 3-mile hike instead of a 6-mile hike. I show O'Neill Butte at around 1:30. If you're inexperienced, I strongly suggest hiking Bright Angel to the 1.5-mile resthouse or to the 3-mile resthouse and back up.

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Cedar Ridge Shadows-a-plenty! I again mention shortening the hike.

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Cedar Ridge It's not "Cedar Creek," obviously. I use my camera with a fold-out LCD screen so I can film myself to prove I was there! I also point out the partially-obstructed Plateau Point Trail around 0:44. A good point I make about hikes to come: another reason I decided to keep it shorter is because I knew I would be visiting Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, etc., all with planned hikes. Didn't want an injury. About my cameras, along this trip I actually used two cameras (with HD video capability): one small Canon without a zoom-while-videoing and one large Canon (SX20IS). I'm a huge fan of the Canon SX20IS, especially considering it allows AA batteries. To me, not having to worry about a lithium ion dying when taking lots of video is a benefit. Of course, a few lithium ion batteries would last for probably a whole day of filming.

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Cedar Ridge Alone at Cedar Ridge. The sign at 0:12.

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Cedar Ridge I show the path of South Kaibab around O'Neill Butte.

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Cedar Ridge Looking out into the Canyon from Cedar Ridge.

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Cedar Ridge A squirrel! (Sorry, not going to feed the wildlife.)

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Cedar Ridge Zooming into the inner canyon and O'Neill Butte.

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Going Back Up Looking back to Cedar Ridge as I begin the 1.5-mile ascent back to the South Rim's edge.

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Going Back Up Another view of Cedar Ridge.

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Going Back Up Seems as though the trail magically steepens on the way back up.

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Going Back Up Continuing the ascent, stopping to film the Canyon.

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Going Back Up Panorama of my position along the South Kaibab. I mention a jogger. You'd have to be in great shape to be JOGGING on a Grand Canyon Trail.

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Mules Great view of mules coming down the South Kaibab.

Grand Canyon South: South Kaibab Hike: Almost Done Near the top, stopping to look at my switchback accomplishments!

Grand Canyon South: Powell Lodge Walk To The Rim This video illustrates why you need to stay at the Bright Angel Lodge if you ever visit the Grand Canyon. It's all about the location. Pretty awesome, huh? Takes less than two minutes to get a view from the South Rim. I'm not sure which rooms are nearer to the door, but imagine if you got a room near the door to the lodge! Less than a minute to walk to the rim, perhaps?! There are two lodge buildings. The one directly across from mine as I walk out the door of the lodge is the Bucky Lodge. I'm at the Powell Lodge.

Grand Canyon South: Lots of Buses Charter buses bringing lots of tourists to one of America's greatest national parks!

Grand Canyon South: Afternoon Canyon View Another breathtaking, "run-of-the-mill" view of the Canyon. The people on the left are viewing the Canyon from the Kolb Studio viewing area.

Grand Canyon South: Late Night Full Moon Canyon I know there are millions of visitors per year, but it didn't seem like it at night. It was serene and very relaxing. You can't really see much of the Canyon at night, as you can tell from this video.