- The Canyon is a neat place. When (note I didn't say if) you go,
get below the rim.
Plan to be in the park long enough to take a day hike at
least. It is worth the time.
- Bob is in great athletic condition. I aspire to be in similar
shape.
- Bob gave us a piece of paper with a map and information
about each day's hike on the afternoon before the actual hike. I
would have preferred to have this before leaving Champaign.
Perhaps he was worried that people wouldn't bring it if he
gave it to them earlier.
- It would have been helpful to have more information about
the contents of the personal food bag before the trip.
Things turned out fine, but I would have been more comfortable
knowing more.
- While we live in a free world, and people can do stupid
things if they wish, it seems like more of a vetting process
would be a good thing on the trip so that people really
know what they are getting into.
- For backpacking neophytes or near-neophytes, more control
of what actually goes in people's backpacks could be a helpful
things before going into the Canyon. This could have reduced
weight that people had to carry. I know some people took
extra food. I had two flashlights. Just more guidance and
suggestions would be more helpful.
- It would be neat to do the Canyon about a month earlier, in
mid April. Or even a couple of months earlier.
- The sun is bad in the Canyon. The shade is good. Even at
100+ degrees, if you can find shade it isn't too bad.
- Food tastes great in the Canyon. Perhaps this is just
another way of saying that Bob is a great chef. Dehydrated
food can be quite good, though.
- Doing the Canyon for the first time in a trip like this was
an excellent way to learn the ins and outs of a successful
trip into the bowels of the earth.
- Squirrels are mean, vile creatures. I already knew this, but
the Canyon did nothing to change my mind.
