Hiking into the Grand Canyon is not for the faint at heart. It is a treacherous, unrelenting hike. Without proper precautions and preparedness, one can find themselves in a life threatening situation easily. Although park rangers and emergency staff are on hand, rescue is not guaranteed. This is especially true during the busy summer months, which are also the hottest and most dangerous.
Having hiked into the canyon during the month of July I can honestly say, I am glad I had the experience but I have no desire to do it again. Tough is an understatement. Although we were armed with water, food, snacks, camping gear and great advice from the park ranger, we were exhausted by the time we reached camp. The rest of the day was spent resting, recuperating and preparing for the hike back out the following day.
It is recommended to hike before 10 am or after 4 pm. Our early start was not early enough as we were caught in the hot July sun for over 2 hours. With nowhere to go, we pressed on resting in small pockets of shade and drinking all of the water we could. Reaching the campground was a joyous moment, followed by a cool down in a nearby stream. 
One of the warning signs at the trail-head.
I could not think of a better photo/story to go along with this week’s photo challenge. Extreme care is needed when tackling the Grand Canyon.
Ralphie Rough Road 
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