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The Battleship, Grand Canyon

2/13/2020

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I've been coming here for 8 years and have never seen fog like this.  Oro Valley was covered but as I left the valley and headed north on #79.....
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…..I emerged from the fog and enjoyed the sun.  I am on my way to the Grand Canyon where I will meet Wade, organizer of the "Arizona Strong Hikers" group.  We will shove off from the South Rim, tomorrow at 8am.  Our destination is The Battleship, a prominent feature as one looks out over the Canyon.
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It is a scenic, almost 6 hour drive for me.  I pass just west of Flagstaff and enjoy the view of Humphrey's Peak and the San Francisco Mountains.  With a forecast overnight low of 18 degrees (YIKES!) I dug deep into my box of cold weather cycling gear.  Although I have never used them, I grabbed a pair of cramp-ons as Wade had reconnoitered the portion of the Bright Angel trail we would hike and let me know it was covered in ice.
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I reached Williams, AZ and then a straight shot to the Canyon.  I passed the Grand Canyon steam engine pulling a couple of passenger cars.  This is a popular means of going from Williams to the GC.  There is a bike race where 300+ cyclists race the train, 53 miles to Williams.  Called "Man vs. Machine".  I think you have to average 24mph to win.
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As I drive toward the Canyon, I am always struck by the lack of clues that you are about to view what tops most natural wonders of the world, lists.  I distinctly remember my first visit, driving through the forest and then without warning, seeing it to my right and my jaw just dropping.  
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I drive to the parking area adjacent to the famous El Tovar hotel.  I look down and can see the Bright Angel trail and Indian Gardens.  In late April, I'm leading a group of friends down the South Kaibab trail but while they spend the night at Phantom Ranch, I'll chug out of the Canyon for an enjoyable day hike.
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Despite the cold and off season, the rim is fairly crowded.  The high today is 45 degrees.  I enjoyed walking along the South Rim and looked frequently......
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…..at tomorrow's destination, along with the bird.  I've read many hike reports about the Battleship and am nervous about a part of the climb called the "chimney".  Of course, experience has shown that people who describe features as "scary", "exposed", etc... are almost always exaggerations made by the inexperienced.....almost always.
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A famous spot as a tunnel (lower left) is part of the experience trekking out of the Canyon via the Bright Angel trail.
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So awesome.  I've lost count of how many times I have visited the Canyon.  Backpacking off the north rim a few times and plenty of day hikes down to the river and back via Tanner, Hermit, the South Kaibab/Bright Angel loop (maybe 8 times?) and down and around Horseshoe Mesa.  So, so much fun with a nice does of pain mixed in.  Tomorrow though, oh my!
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    Mark is a long-time cyclist who enjoys poking fun at himself but most especially at his friends. No nicknames or comments are intended to offend, accept them in the humor they are intended.

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