The Dog Doesn’t Die

Twice now, Dave and I have hiked from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon down to the Colorado River, stayed 2-3 nights at Phantom Ranch, and hiked back out. It is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and it takes me way, way, way outside my comfort zone.

This weekend, we decided to do it again in 2009.

Also this weekend, da1baldguy posted a bunch of clips on YouTube showing parts of his hike down and up — in the snow! I’ve been at the Grand Canyon when there were 8 inches of snow, and the views are astonishing. Anyway, here are clips from da1baldguy’s collection:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DH5WFhKGWY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfbtRoJxZ08&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCNXwuUrwI0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfbtRoJxZ08&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYoXBNXruZI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxyzc9MVwYQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5-80dM6znA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DwV-weedFY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F94VNfSrzOg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw5zrRVdVlY&feature=related

Hugs to da1baldguy, wherever you are!

All my mother wanted for her 75th birthday was to have the whole family together.

It didn’t happen.

My parents live in rural southern Illinois, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours from St. Louis, MO. And if you saw any national weather reports over the last couple of days, you probably noticed that St. Louis had two entire days of freezing rain. Supposedly, the airport was operating pretty well. In fact, American Airlines — the major airline servicing that airport — cancelled the flight Dave and I were to have taken on Thursday, then cancelled our second flight, scheduled for Friday. We could have flown in late in the evening today (Saturday), but assuming the flight arrived on time, we would have gotten in around midnight. And everyone was scheduled to leave early on Sunday. It made the entire trip rather pointless.

 At least my brother, sister-in-law, and niece made it there.

We knew we were in trouble when we flipped on the Weather Channel and saw Jim Cantore standing at 10th and Market Streets in St. Louis. Dave and I looked at each other and said “we’re doomed.” Then I called Mom. We talked about the horrible weather a bit, then I told her that Jim Cantore was stationed at 10th and Market. “We’re doomed,” she said. “It’s not going to happen.”

Jim Cantore = Angel of Death for Travel Plans

There’s more on this little episode below in the first comment.