We’re camping 30 yards from the North Rim – not a soul or structure between us and the Grand Canyon. We’re preparing dinner while the last of the sun lights up the red cliffs below us. If all goes according to plan, tomorrow morning we’ll wake up around sunrise and start our Rim to Rim hike. 
Emma is my traveling companion on this leg of the journey. We made the 14 hour journey from Newark to Flagstaff on the 7th, then spent the next day and a half with Mom and Dad. First night was at the house by the Rio de Flag, then last night at two little cabins at the Grand Canyon Lodge. All of us sat in big Adirondack chairs on the big stone terrace of the Lodge, drinking wine and looking out towards the South Rim.
Emma and I got up this morning and got our permits at the backcountry office before 8. Matt the ranger was about as chill as a ranger could be, with Phish playing softly on his desk speakers and his flat brim ranger hat hanging on the wall in a special ranger hat holder. We were first on the wait list, which Matt basically wrote on the back of an envelope on his desk. We spend tomorrow night in Cottonwood campground and Sunday night at Bright Angel.
The next 3 days will be trail bars, freeze dried lasagna and water. Tonight, however, we get s’mores, hot dogs and cold beer chilled in an iced filled camelback. It can go back to regular duty tomorrow.
The Arizona Trail 
Wishing you and Emma a safe and enlightening trip. My envy is mixed with admiration for you doing this. A REAL life experience for you both. Mark
LikeLike