Ribbon Falls, 1.5 miles from Cottonwood Campground. I stayed with the packs to keep the critters away and to gather my strength for the rest of the day and the rest of the crew went to get their photos. Everyone was happy with their decision. It was much easier for the rest of the crew to handle the one scramble on the hike without their packs. We were on the trail to Phantom by 8:00. I wrote 3 postcards while I waited.
Two nights at Phantom Ranch...for the women. Two nights at Bright Angel for the men. Four meals, 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners. Swamp air-conditioning and showers are $43.09 per night luxury for the women. Though all are welcome to enjoy free ice water, swamp air, and beverages in the canteen if you can make to the bottom of the canyon.
Hiker's stew was the best. Breakfasts were excellent. No complaints about the steak dinner except that no one needs 12 ounces of meat a 5:00PM. The steak dinner felt rushed so that the stew dinner could be served at 6:30PM. I would choose 2 stew dinners in the future.
Trail chic for The Box.
The Box is a narrow, dark red-walled canyon that goes on and on. The dark walls reflect the heat back down on hikers. Beware The Box. Leave Cottonwood early or wait until evening. Respect the heat. We got started early and hiked in the shade for more than half. In the full sun it was an asphalt hallway in the summer in Oklahoma. Even though you are hiking along Bright Angel Creek, there are only a few places to access the creek easily. Do it. Wet your clothes and hike air-conditioned or suffer. Your clothes dry quickly in the heat. The rest of my crew was tough. I didn't want a repeat of day1. I wouldn't be so fearful of The Box in the future. It was beautiful and dramatic. But it should be respected. The heat is debilitating. Getting on the trail by 4:30 would be smart. Get on sun time and stay cool.
Merciful shade....
I will never whine again. I hiked on manicured trails for all 23 miles of my rim to rim hike. Notice the green buckets in the left of the picture. The trail crew of men, women, and mules filled and carried buckets of sand, gravel, and rock to where ever it was needed so that I could walk on wide, safe trails in 102˚ heat. They work in that heat every day. The Canyon Trail Crews are my heroes.
Two nights at Phantom Ranch...for the women. Two nights at Bright Angel for the men. Four meals, 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners. Swamp air-conditioning and showers are $43.09 per night luxury for the women. Though all are welcome to enjoy free ice water, swamp air, and beverages in the canteen if you can make to the bottom of the canyon.
Hiker's stew was the best. Breakfasts were excellent. No complaints about the steak dinner except that no one needs 12 ounces of meat a 5:00PM. The steak dinner felt rushed so that the stew dinner could be served at 6:30PM. I would choose 2 stew dinners in the future. 
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