Grand Canyon National Park Read online

  “We’re climbing out of the desert,” Dad announced.

  “It’s a good thing we did all that hiking back home to get in shape,” James observed. “I bet it’s really helping us now.”

  “You have to be ready for a hike like this,” Dad said.

  Morgan walked ahead. “I’m getting into a rhythm,” she said, “and this music is helping me.” The sounds of clopping feet filled her ears, just like a bunch of mules were walking on the trail.

  A while later, Dad stopped and peeled off his backpack. He leaned it against a rock. Morgan and James waited for him.

  “You should see how soaked your back is,” James said.

  “I can feel it,” Dad said. He took out a handkerchief and wiped his face. “Now I know how those mules felt the other day. Going up is a lot different from going down.” He took a long drink of water and then poured some on his handkerchief and rubbed it on his face. “Much better!” he exclaimed. “You guys should drink too.”

  Morgan and James both took long drinks.

  “The next water stop isn’t too far,” James said.

  The family continued to trudge uphill until they ran into Steve and Joanna. They were sitting at a picnic table eating snacks.

  “Welcome to our spot in the shade,” Steve said.

  “Do you mind if we join you?” Dad asked.

  Joanna moved over. “Please, have a seat!”

  WATER AND FOOD

  Grand Canyon hikers lose about a half to one and a half quarts of water per hour of hiking. Some people can lose up to three quarts per hour. Hikers in the Grand Canyon should carry at least four quarts of water per person per day in the summer. If hikers don’t feel like eating or drinking, they should rest until they do. But drinking too much water and not eating enough salty foods can also cause a hiker problems. A balance of water and food is very important.

  Morgan, James, and Dad got some snacks and their water bottles and sat down.

  “There’s a house over there!” James exclaimed. “It looks like someone lives down here.”

  “I wonder who?” Dad said, then turned toward Steve and Joanna. “You must have gotten up early today.”

  WATER AND ART

  For many years, the pumphouse keeper at Roaring Springs was a man named Bruce Aiken. His house was about a half mile below Roaring Springs, and he lived in the canyon for more than thirty years. He had a very important job—to make sure water was being pumped from Roaring Springs throughout the canyon. Although Bruce does not live in the canyon anymore, he is an artist whose paintings are on display in local galleries.

  “Before sunrise,” Steve answered. “We were trying to take advantage of the cooler weather. But that’s gone now.”

  After a few minutes, James, Dad, and Morgan got up and put their backpacks on. They refilled their water bottles.

  “We ought to get going now too,” Joanna said. “But I’m sure we’ll be at a much slower pace than you. Hopefully we’ll see you farther up the trail.”

  The trail quickly became steep. Morgan, James, and Dad pressed on. It was eleven o’clock and already hot. The sky was mostly clear with a few billowing clouds overhead. Morgan, James, and Dad’s brisk morning pace had slowed.

  “How far to the next water stop?” Dad asked James.

  “Not far,” James said, feeling sweat dripping down his face. “Roaring Springs is only seven-tenths of a mile from that house.”

  They hiked on and hiked up.

  “I wonder what Mom is doing now,” James said. He stopped and put his hands on a rock next to the trail to brace himself.

  Dad caught up with James and walked next to him.

  “Mom’s probably sitting under a tree and reading,” Morgan said.

  “Resting under a tree sounds good to me,” Dad said. He shifted his pack around to make it more comfortable.

  James took a deep breath and trudged on.

  “Look, we’re passing into another layer of rock,” Dad said. “It’s a greenish gray color.”

  James looked at his map. “It’s probably Bright Angel Shale,” he announced.

  They climbed some more until they heard a cascading waterfall. The sound of the water got louder as they got closer to it.

  “It must be Roaring Springs,” Dad said.

  “I wonder if this is where Brighty used to go to haul water up to the rim,” Morgan said.

  Dad, Morgan, and James climbed toward the springs. They came to a junction in the trail where a steep path led down to the water.

  “Do you want to go down there?” Dad asked.

  James stood still and blinked his eyes. He wobbled for a moment and then stepped back and put his hand out against the cliff.

  “Are you okay?” Morgan asked James.

  “I just got a bit dizzy for a second,” James answered.

  “Well, that answers that,” Dad said. “We’re going down there to rest.”

  Dad moved behind James. He grabbed his pack and helped hoist it off his back. They took their water bottles and a few snacks. Then they propped their packs against the cliff and walked down to Roaring Springs.

  WATER TO THE RIM

  Starting in 1928, the Union Pacific Railroad pumped water up from Roaring Springs to the North Rim. Then in the 1960s, the transcanyon pipeline was built. This took water from Roaring Springs and pumped some up to the North Rim. A larger amount of water flows by gravity down the pipeline to Phantom Ranch and up the other side to Indian Garden. Several pumps at Indian Garden push the water up to the South Rim. Now all of the water for the Grand Canyon comes from Roaring Springs.

  After resting a while in the shade, James stood up. “I’m so dirty, I can’t believe it,” he observed. Then he said, “I think we should get going now.”

  Morgan, James, and Dad climbed back to the main trail.

  James grabbed his pack and stepped backward. His head felt like it was swaying back and forth. “The canyon is spinning,” James thought. He put his head down for a few seconds and then stood back up. “Okay, I’m ready to go,” he announced to Dad and Morgan.

  Morgan, James, and Dad slowly lifted their packs and put them on. They left Roaring Springs behind.

  As he walked uphill, James wondered if he was getting as tired as Steve and Joanna were the other day. He wanted to stop, but he was afraid that if he did, he wouldn’t be able to get going again. If that happened, they would be late meeting Mom. The only thing to do was to go up, one step at a time. He started counting the steps in his head. “One … two … three … four …”

  “I’m so glad you two came with me on this hike,” Dad said, putting his hand on James’s shoulder. “This is the best scenery in the world, and I wouldn’t want to share this experience with anyone else.”

  At one of our rests

  James continued counting his steps. “Five … six … seven …”

  Dad stopped and looked up at the sky. “It’s getting cloudy.”

  “Shade would be nice,” James said.

  “There are people way up there on the trail,” Morgan noticed.

  “That’s a long ways up there,” James said. “And they don’t even have packs on.”

  “They must be day hikers coming down from the North Rim,” Dad said.

  James walked slowly. “It’s getting hard to lift my legs,” he said, then stopped and dropped his head down. James shook his head and started walking again.

  Dad watched James. “Why don’t we sit for a few minutes,” he suggested.

  What a trail!

  They found a small overhanging rock that had just enough shade underneath it for the three of them. James peeled off his pack and let it drop to the ground. Morgan picked James’s pack up and leaned it against a rock. She handed him his water bottle.

  James drank some water and shook his head. “Now I know how Steve and Joanna felt the other day. I don’t know how much farther I can go on.”

  “There’s no hurry, James,” Dad said.

  “But we said we’d be
at the trailhead before eight o’clock,” James said.

  “We still have plenty of time to get there, but if we’re late, we’re late,” Dad said. “What’s most important is how you are feeling.”

  Dad took out some pretzels and passed them to Morgan. She grabbed a few and handed the bag to James.

  James leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. “I’m not hungry.”

  “You need to eat,” Dad said.

  James grabbed a few pretzels. “I’ll try,” he said, putting one in his mouth.

  While they were resting, Dad took the binoculars and searched the skies. He looked toward the rim and saw the forest above. “I bet it’s at least ten degrees cooler up there,” he said. Then he looked at the large clouds overhead. “Hmm, it looks like a storm is coming.”

  “Can I look?” Morgan asked.

  Dad passed her the binoculars.

  Morgan searched all around. While scanning the canyon, she saw a bird perched on a rock. It was gnawing on something.

  “You guys have to see this!” Morgan exclaimed.

  Morgan handed Dad the binoculars. He found the bird.

  Suddenly the bird flapped its wings and took off. Dad watched the bird rise into the air. “I think it has a number under its wing,” Dad said.

  “A number?” James asked.

  “I think,” Dad answered. “I only had a glimpse.”

  The bird rose higher into the sky.

  “Hmm, that’s interesting,” Dad said.

  Thunder rumbled far off in the distance.

  James sat up. “We better get going.”

  “Are you sure you’re ready?” Dad asked.

  “I don’t know,” James answered, “but I want to try.”

  “We don’t have to hurry,” Morgan said.

  “Yes, we do,” James said. “We’ll be late for Mom.”

  Morgan helped James put on his backpack. James trudged uphill, and Dad and Morgan followed. They crossed a small bridge over a dry creek bed.

  More thunder rumbled.

  “I think,” James said, as he took a step and then another, “I think …” He took yet another step and put his hand and forehead against the cliff.

  Dad and Morgan stopped and watched James. James continued walking uphill.

  They hiked up the steep switchbacks, heading toward Supai Tunnel.

  “I think I’m getting really tired,” James finally said.

  Again, thunder rumbled from far away.

  “Can you go on?” Morgan asked.

  “I don’t know,” James said. “I’ll try.” He drank more water.

  Dad pulled a granola bar out of his pack and handed it to James.

  James took a bite. “Thanks, Dad.”

  They hiked on. Farther up the trail, the switchbacks became shorter and steeper. James stopped again and leaned back against a rock wall. He closed his eyes. Morgan stopped and leaned over.

  Dad took a deep breath and looked down at the bridge far below. “We’ve climbed a long way,” he said. “Good job, both of you. That was tough climbing.”

  “This is the hardest part by far,” Morgan said.

  “How are you doing now, James?” Dad asked.

  “I don’t know,” James answered while putting his arm against the cliff and steadying himself. He took a deep breath and took a step up the trail. James slowly took another step. Then another, and another.

  Thunder rumbled again. Drops of rain plunked down.

  The trail led into a short tunnel.

  They walked through it.

  “Look, a water fountain!” Morgan called out.

  James looked up at the water spigot. Suddenly he dropped his pack onto the ground, rushed over to the bushes, and threw up.

  12

  James closed his eyes. “Ohh!” he moaned. “I feel awful.”

  Morgan walked over to her brother and put a cool, wet bandanna on his forehead. She soaked the bandanna in water again and wiped off his face.

  James leaned back against a rock. “Do you mind if we sit here a while?”

  Dad put his hand on James’s back. “You rest as long as you need to.”

  A half hour later, James was still in the same spot.

  “Do you want us to get help?” Dad asked.

  “No, just let me rest a while longer,” James replied.

  The sky flashed with lightning. Thunder shook the canyon.

  James sat up. “That was close.”

  Then the storm let loose. Sheets of rain poured down. James, Morgan, and Dad watched the rain for a moment, enjoying the cool relief it brought.

  “I’m getting soaked!” Dad yelled above the sound of the storm.

  “We can go in there!” Morgan shouted, pointing to the tunnel.

  Dad helped James up and walked with him into Supai Tunnel.

  Morgan grabbed James’s backpack and ran with it into the tunnel. Then she went back outside and got the other packs.

  The rain poured down even harder.

  James, Morgan, and Dad sat next to each other and watched it rain.

  “I guess Grofé really knew what a day in the Grand Canyon was like when he wrote the Grand Canyon Suite,” Morgan said.

  James started nibbling on a cracker.

  “There you go,” Dad said. “You’ll have your appetite back in no time.”

  James took another bite of the cracker.

  Morgan watched the large drops of rain splash onto the muddy trail. A tiny stream of water formed on the trail and trickled downhill. Morgan pulled out her journal.

  Friday, August 5

  Dear Diary,

  It’s pouring rain outside, and we can’t hike right now. We’re waiting in Supai Tunnel. We needed to take a break anyway because James is sick.

  This trip has been a real test of our strength. It’s a hard trail! We’ve been climbing for what seems like forever, and we’re getting close to the top, we think.

  But really, I like all this. We’ve seen scorpions, different rock layers, desert plants, and this unusual bird with a number clipped on its wing. Anyway, I hope we can make it to the top of the canyon today. I can’t wait to see Mom and get a hot shower and into some clean clothes.

  Yours,

  Morgan

  Rain continued to come down in sheets. Thunder boomed again.

  “I think I’m feeling better,” James announced. He stood up quickly, but immediately sat back down and dropped his face into his hands. “But maybe not completely better.”

  “You’re not seeing anything that’s not real, are you?” Morgan asked seriously.

  James paused a second then looked at Morgan. His lips curled up. “Not unless my messy haired, filthy dirty, soaking wet twin sister is all in my imagination,” he answered. “But, no. I haven’t seen any little green munchkins.”

  Morgan grinned. “You are getting better.”

  “I feel good enough to write in my journal,” James said.

  Morgan pulled James’s diary out of his pack.

  “Can you get my map too?” James asked.

  Morgan handed the map, journal, and a pen to James.

  James opened his journal and spread the map out so he could see everything.

  “You look like a reporter there with all your notes,” Dad said.

  James smiled and then started writing.

  Friday, August 5

  This is James Parker reporting,

  I’m hiding out from a rainstorm in Supai Tunnel on the North Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon. We’ve covered nearly twenty miles on our journey, and we have 1.7 miles and 1,500 feet of elevation gain left. But at the moment, we don’t know when we’ll get to the top. I barfed a while ago, and I don’t even have the flu! I keep getting dizzy when I get up and …

  They heard footsteps sloshing up the trail.

  A woman wearing ranger gear walked into the tunnel. “It’s really coming down out there,” she said.

  Two more hikers also walked in. “Steve and Joanna,” Morgan greeted them,
“you made it!”

  “The rain has really cooled things off,” Steve said. “We’re actually doing quite well today.”

  “Not me,” James said, “I’ve been sick the last few hours.”

  The ranger stepped up to James. “I’m Angie,” she introduced herself. “I’m a PSAR ranger, which stands for Preventive Search and Rescue. It sounds like I’m in the right spot.”

  Angie asked James some questions. Then she took his pulse. “Now will you stand up?” she asked James. Then she took his pulse again. She shone a small flashlight in James’s eyes to check his pupils. She used a stethoscope to listen to his breathing.

  While Angie checked James, she explained, “We’re out here daily, patrolling the trails and making sure everyone has enough food and water. There are lots of heat problems in the canyon—although I imagine less so today, with the weather like this.”

  “I think James has heat exhaustion,” Angie concluded. “You are lucky it hasn’t gotten too extreme and become heatstroke. That would be very dangerous. Unfortunately, heat issues are very common in the Grand Canyon. That’s why we have PSAR people out here. But the best thing for you right now, James, is to rest, eat, drink water, and cool down.”

  “You’re like a portable doctor on the trail,” Morgan said.

  “Well, not quite,” Angie said, “but we do what we can. Do you think you could walk around now?” she asked James.

  “I think so,” James answered. James walked back and forth in the tunnel.

  “How does that feel?” Angie asked.

  “Better,” James answered.

  “Do any of you need food or water?” Angie asked.

  “We have plenty of food,” Dad answered.

  “And there’s a water faucet right outside,” Morgan added.

  “Do you think you’ll be able to hike out?” Angie asked James.

  “I think so,” he replied. “If I rest a bit more. It’s not that far.”

  Thunder rumbled again. Rain continued to pour down.

  “Well, it’s not like we’re able to go anywhere right now,” Dad said.

  “Good point,” Angie said. “And the weather is certainly cooling down. That’s half the battle right there.”