Planning without reconnaissance can get a person in trouble. I may be. My first look into the abyss makes me dizzy, and I want to be no closer to the edge of the canyon than my full height which will be problematic if I will be hiking the trails of the inner canyon for 5 days. I tried walking down Bright Angel Trail on which we would be ending our hike, but with 36 mile per hour wind gusts and no hiking poles and the dizzying heights, I couldn't do it. I turned back before the first switchback. I still thought I could do it with the hiking poles, but I spent the rest of the evening stewing about the crazy hubris of my plan. I'm not exactly full of confidence upon beginning anything new. Fear of the unknown gets to me.
I knew I had planned well. Know thy enemy. After reading Ghiglieri and Myers' Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon, environmental causes of death(the heat), falls, rock falls, flash floods, lightening strikes, drowning, freak accidents, and venomous creatures(that covers it) top my list of fears. I probably don't have to worry about murder...unless I annoy my fellow hikers.
I read other hikers' blogs. I learned from their regrets. We will have 5 days and 4 nights below the rim to make this a safe and enjoyable experience. I think I can, I think I can...
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