Commitment: Reserving the Trip/Date

After I did my research, and I knew I'd be going with Four Seasons Guides (www.fsguides.com) , I was committed to the hike. I was no longer on the fence. It was no longer just a "wish list" item. I had begun to "Make It So."

I chose a hike and a date. The Grand Canyon Hikes:

• Deer Creek/Thunder River Loop
• Grandview Trail/Horseshoe Mesa
• Hermit Trail/Loop Hike
• South Kaibab/Bright Angel Loop
• Indian Garden/Bright Angel Trail
• Rim to Rim
• Havasu Falls Hiking/Whitewater Excursion
• Havasu Falls Hiking/Havasupai Indian Reservation

I knew I didn't want to settle for a day hike. It cost enough for my plane ticket from Sitka to Phoenix! I chose a 3 day hike, and for the life of me, I can't remember how I chose the South Kaibab/Bright Angel Loop trip. But I did.

The South Kaibab Trail

It's one of the shortest, steepest trails to the bottom of the canyon. A 7 mile hike with an elevation gain loss of 4,400 feet. Here's some details from FSG site:
Type of Trip: Backpacking/Camping
Dates: Year Round
Number of Days: 3 – 5 Days
Total Miles: 20 (3 Days)
Elevation Gain Loss: 4400ft
Difficultly: Strenuous
Orientation Time: 4pm the day before
Orientation Location: Flagstaff – at our store (107 W. Phoenix Ave)
Trip Departure: 6am
Trip Return: 4pm

So I sat there with my curser over the Reserve Now! link on the FSG Calendar for a minute. I hollared into the next room that I was about to book my hike. My wife's response was, "DO IT!" And then she cheered when I

I based my Trip Date (April 18-21) on these averages:

South Rim					North Rim				The Bottom
Month	Hi	Lo	Precip		Hi	Lo	Precip		Hi	Lo	Precip
January	41	18	1.32		37	16	3.17		56	36	.68
February	45	21	1.55		39	18	3.22		62	42	.75
March	51	25	1.38		44	21	2.63		71	48	.79
April	60	32	.93		53	29	1.73		82	56	.47
May	70	39	.66		62	34	1.17		92	63	.36
June	84	54	1.81		77	46	1.93		106	78	.84
July	84	54	1.81		77	46	1.93		115	78	.84
August	82	53	2.25		75	45	2.85		108	75	1.4
September	76	47	1.56		69	39	1.99		97	69	.97
October	65	36	1.1		59	31	1.38		84	58	.65
November	52	27	.94		46	24	1.48		68	46	.43
December	43	20	1.62		40	20	2.83		57	37	.87

That was my first EXPENDITURE:
The trip cost $755 and the reservation requires 50% down. So that part was done.
I realized I would now need to start keeping an itinerary, and a record of my expenditures.
But I was on my way!