Mule Ride

Hiking down Grand Canyon was a memorable experience. Given that I went hiking alone, it was definitely challenging. I have hiked Half Dome which is quite a strenuous hike in Yosemite National Park. That was the longest hike- almost 12 hours. One of my senior, Shao Rong sent us this email:

I didn’t hike all the way to the bottom of the Canyon. That would really take two days. I only did half of the hike in 6 hours. Rushing all the way because I would want to get to other attractions before the sun sets pretty early in winter. That’s just me. I would definitely want to avoid camping in the cold. And I would say, I was actually too daring. No preparations for such hikes and also that I did a hike in Zion National Park just one day earlier. But this was something that I won’t be really be doing again, so might as well go for it.

Another method to go down deep into the canyon is through the mule ride. I actually considered taking the mule ride since I wasn’t sure if I could complete the hike down. But the price was just not right for me. So I decided to keep $150 for myself. And I hiked faster than taking mule rides. So I did not encounter any mules along the trail. I only saw lots of sh*ts along the trail. You can find out more about Mule Rides here.

They said that Mule Rides are available on a limited basis. If you do not make reservations at least 6 to 8 months in Advance, it is less likely that you will be able to secure a reservation on the Mule Ride. Could be true but when I went there in February 2008, there are plenty available. Maybe not so many people in winter. I considered going for the 1-day mule ride to Plateau Point. There is another one: 2-Day Trip to Phantom Ranch.

One-Day Mule Trips to Plateau Point:
“The one-day, 7-hour Plateau Point ride departs daily from the Stone Corral at the head of Bright Angel Trail and is a challenging trip. Brief stops are made to rest the mules every 30-45 minutes, during which time it is possible to take pictures but not dismount. Water and restroom facilities are available at Indian Garden, about 2½ hours down the trail. Following a 15-20 minute rest stop at Indian Garden, the trip proceeds across the Tonto Plateau to Plateau Point, offering riders a dramatic and panoramic view of the Canyon and the Colorado River 1,300 feet below. The trip returns up Bright Angel Trail requiring another 2½ to 3 hours. You will be back to the Stone Corral by mid-afternoon. A box lunch is included. $148.35 including tax, per person (Feb 2008 price)”

Finally at 1pm, I reached the starting point again. What a tiring day. During my lunch break in Bright Angels Restaurant, I gave my sister a call. She was shocked when I told her that I was at Grand Canyon- ALONE!!! She didn’t give me any ‘lectures’ but instead advice for me to really take good care of myself. But I knew she was a bit upset because I was really risking all out. Plus driving my 10 yr old-150,000 mile Toyota. However, this would definitely be my unforgettable experience for a long long time.

This is the view of Grand Canyon before I drove to Desert View where the Watch Tower is.