Today my dad is 80. He's at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Dad and my four brothers hiked to the bottom of the Canyon yesterday and today they're hiking out. At least that's how I understand the travel plans.
Hiking the Canyon is a family tradition that goes back to 1967. When Bob was 10 and I was 12, we went to the Grand Canyon. Dad constructed a backpack frame from wood, put a canvas pack on it and filled it with what he thought we needed. Mom sewed straps on Bob's and my sleeping bags, we added our lunches and a change of clothes and off we went. It was our first backpacking trip.
Mom, very pregnant with Bill, stayed at the top with Kathy, Susie and Ben while Dad, Bob and I hiked down to the bottom of the Canyon. It was the first of many trips to the bottom of the Canyon. Each time we varied the route some. In 1977 we hiked from rim-to-rim. In 1988 we hiked from rim-to-rim-to rim. In 1997 we hiked from the South Rim to part way up the North Rim. In 2007 we hiked Havasu Canyon, a side canyon to the Grand Canyon. Right now, Dad and the boys (grown men aged 51, 42, 41 and 39) are in the Canyon.
Way to celebrate your 80th Birthday, Dad!
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