We got off to a bad start at the very beginning because my alarm didn't go off. We had wanted to get up at 4:15 and try to be out of camp by 5:30 but we didn't even get up until around 5:10. I still don't know what happened, it just does that occasionally and it's my own damned fault for not testing it before going to bed. Thank you very much Mr. Gates and Windows Pocket PC.

We finally got on the trail a little before 7 which was a little too late. We did pretty good and made it up to Indian Garden by around 10:30 but after taking a short rest there it would have been too late to continue up the trail---too hot during the mid-day hours. So we took an extended break and found a nice spot to rest and have a little nap. We also had more snacks and drank lots of water and finally started out again around 2 in the afternoon.

Even that was too soon though as Maggi started having problems with the heat almost immediately and started feeling nauseous after only going about ¾-mile up the trail. I found us a nice shady alcove to rest in and we took another short break for about 30 minutes more while we waited for the shadows to deepen on the upper portions of the trail. It was a very good decision as shortly after that the sun went over the western wall of the canyon and the trail was in shade for the remainder of the distance to the top.

We started heading up again around 3, got to the 3-mile resthouse around 4 and hung out there for maybe a half an hour. I started loosing track of time at this point. The stretch from the 3-mile resthouse to the 1½-mile rest house was not quick at all and took us more than 2 hours. We rested there for maybe only 15-20 minutes before continuing on because we knew it would be starting to get dark soon. We were right and finally had to stop and break out the headlamps just before Heartbreak Hill.

It was very dark when we finally did get to the top. Maggi did not really look that bad, a little worse for the wear, but she was still smiling at lot and I could tell she was pleased with the accomplishment. It doesn't matter how long it takes to get out as long as you do get out... and under your own power. She's already talking about "next time" so I know she's hooked.

We threw all of our gear into the back of her truck and headed straight for We Cook Pizza And Pasta in Tusayan. We had a very nice meal of pizza (and beer, for me) before heading back to the house in Flagstaff and man-oh-man was that good.