I was going to post this on your Blog, but got "cannot be displayed" for both that and your website. Seems like I’ve posted this here before, but…

If you intend to hike the Grand Canyon, I suggest the south rim and going down the Kybob trail (steeper, no water available but uncrowded and great views) and up the Bright Angel trail (less steep, water available at a couple of places, swarming with hikers). The north rim trails are also uncrowded and the least steep, but there are no real views of the canyon from the trail.

The NPS does not recommend down and back in a day, but it’s doable if you’re in great shape — 4 hours down, 8 back up would be a leisurely pace. We stayed overnight at Phantom ranch which has family cabins (usually only available to those on the mule rides) and single sex dorm cabins. I think there are 10 bunks to a cabin and they’re quite comfortable. Reservations are required and I think its unlikely that you can get them now — although there are often last minute cancellations, so check when you get there. Phantom ranch is expensive for lodging and also expensive for meals. There’s a package of dinner, breakfast and a sack lunch, but it also must be reserved in advance. However, the food was good and it sure beat either granola bars or toting cooking gear.

There are some campgrounds near the bottom. I think they’re first come/first serve and I don’t think you’ll have a problem finding a place to toss your sleeping bag if hike down in the AM. Campgrounds on the south rim are usually full before noon each day (year around, I think). There is one privately operated campground on the south rim that takes reservations — I think the name is "tent and trailer park" or something like that. It’s definitely designed for RV’s but it had a couple of decent places to toss up a tent.

North Rim is much nicer than the South…as Old Lady said you don’t get the sweeping views (but jaw-dropping nonetheless) of the canyon but it’s cooler, greener, and way more peaceful. It makes the South Rim feel like Disney World. Sounds like a great trip, have fun! ~Amy

You’ll just love Zion! My favorite N.P. Hike Angels Landing…its really scary but it is the coolest trail ever and not to mention the views and the feeling of " I just scaled that extemely narrow, chain railed mountain"!!! And keep an eye out for climbers on the canyon walls, camping…ya, amazing.

Utah is really beautiful, vast, low population…have a beer in Moab!

drat blast! I have to postpone my trip indefinitely due to dental issues. Oh well… what can ya do?

You don’t get off the hook that easily, Kahunna. Please elaborate!

A few things, really. I was going to just shorten it (due to gas prices and rental car prices), but what slam-dunked my trip into the trash was a broken molar the day before my vacation. I ended up sitting around my apt for a week waiting for the swelling to go down so the dentist could remove the tooth. I did make it to Death Valley last weekend though, so the whole vacation wasn’t lost!

http://www.kahunna.n…

ah dude, that’s intense!

I wanted to write, don’t forget Flagstaff! But I guess for next time.