TWB DAY 6**Disclaimer- Sorry for the late post, from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas there is absolutely no web or cell phone service.**
This is the Sleepy group with our message to TWB June 18th.
Today we rose at 4:30 a.m. We went and saw the sunrise at the Grand Canyon. It was worth waking up so early. Afterwards we got ready to hike the canyon. Walking down the canyon was a piece of cake, but little did we know walking up would be a treacherous journey. Everyone was out of the canyon around 6:30. Here are some comments from the group:
To describe the canyon in one word would be breath-taking literally and figuratively. -Courtney Horne
The Grand Canyon is absolutely amazing amazingly butt kicking! -Jana Crocker
The Grand Canyon is very beautiful and I made it to the Plateau Point. -Drew
The Grand Canyon is absolutely gorgeous but I would not recommend hiking it. -Meg Crumpton
The Grand Canyon is one of Arizona's most beautiful land-marks and is awesome to hike, but I would never do it again. -Shelby Solis
A hike I will never forget. -Bo Miller
I've seen bigger. -Joseph Knight (Joe-Pete)
The Grand Canyon gave me a lot more respect for North Carolina. -Caleb Shelton
Three things sum up the Grand Canyon: It's a gift from God; it's a test of will and heart; and very dangerous. -Nathan Hewitt
The Grand Canyon was really pretty but the only way I would go back down again is if I could ride a mule. -Alex Haislip
The Grand Canyon is so beautiful!! Although I didn't go the full 12 miles, my six were still awesome! -Susan Prince
The Canyon taught me how important friendships are to have to push you through life! -Ashley Gibbings
I liked it, and it was worth the hike. -Jack Collier
Hiking the Canyon is the toughest yet most rewarding thing I have done. -Cayli Mercel
The hiking of the Grand Canyon was one of the most physically demanding things I've ever done, but yet it is an experience I will never forget! -Mary Grace Fraley
Friendship is the key to getting through the Canyon. -Brooke Stoner
This is the one time an adult will tell you to drink (water) like a college student: on spring break. Anonymous Park Ranger, -Hannah Winchester
The Grand Canyon was great, but I need more money mom. -Alex Byrd
I hiked the Grand Canyon, now where's the shirt that said I did it! -William Mack
Never hike the Grand Canyon. -Alexa Martin
Hiking was very challenging, but it was the most rewarding thing I've ever done. -Meredith Parks
I challenged myself, and I challenged the Canyon. I was the winner. -Vince Novosel
Very hard, steep, big, long, hot Canyon! -Josh Kramer
The Canyon was amazing, but I never want to do anything like that again. -Morgan Gibson
The Grand Canyon was very long and hard and I will never hike anything again. -Sara Williamson
It was a long way down and an even longer way back up. That canyon was difficult. -Katey Bozorth
The Grand Canyon ain't no joke. -Brandon Bowers
As you walk throughout the Grand Canyon, one thought comes to mind. Dear lord, help me!!! -Johnathan Jenkins
I'm proud of myself for hiking the Canyon, but I'll be okay if I never see it again. -Haley Thomas
It was fun going down, and hard coming up, but I will never, ever, ever do it again without a mule. -Caroline Ladd
I would have never made it the whole way if it wasn't for God and the breeze! -Anna Clark
One of the ugliest yet most beautiful experiences I have ever accomplished. -Jordan Shoaf
Absolutely the most beautiful thing I have ever seen but I would never do it again. -Jennifer Crawford
The only word that comes to mind when describing the Canyon is wow. It was one of the coolest things I've done. -Justin Bowling
120 degrees, extreme exhaustion, dehydration, long walk and well worth the prize. -Ethan Haithcox
We are now elite Grand Canyon hikers, as said by Will Mack. -Rachel Hughes
Hiking the Grand Canyon, a piece of cake well maybe a few. -Lucas Ward
It was the most awesome yet horrible experience, but if I could I would do it again tomorrow. -Lindsay Speir
Teamwork is key in any circumstance. -Justin Noland
It was hard but at the end I felt like the biggest, baddest Dude on the face of the Earth. -Grant Cooke
Few can say they've had an experience like hiking the Grand Canyon. I am one of them. -Joseph Silvers
The Grand Canyon is a rather large, hot, hole in the ground. -Kyle Caswell
I did it! T'was grand. -Jamila Reddy
The Grand Canyon was magnificent, exhausting, breath- taking, dehydrating, but yet deserves its place as one of the 7 wonders of the World! -Bri Clifton
The Grand Canyon is beautiful, but you will never see me there again. -Haley Conner
It was worth the walk!!!!!!!!!! -Ryan Guill
It's the grandest Canyon I've ever seen. -Mary Houston Matthews
An opportunity to experience one of God's greatest masterpieces can only be experienced if you go hike it yourself. -Crimens Clifford
Grand Canyon, been there done that. Noah Coleman
It makes you appreciate where you live. I was in awe! -Emma Nelli
It was overwhelming in every way. -Chelsea Knight
The Grand Canyon was quite a tough hike, but it was totally worth it. -Owen Bruner
Somebody give me a sling shot so I can shoot these stupid squirrels. Quote by Dustin. -Katie Howard
The squirrels are crazy. -Jacob Belk
The Grand Canyon was hard to hike, but when you got to the point it was awesome and worth every bit of it. -Stewart Smith
The Grand Canyon was a long walk both ways. -Shane Harmon
To me, the Grand Canyon was a beautiful tragedy. -Katie Addington
No more Canyons for me. -Cameron Crawford
Very hot, but worth hiking. -Brian Shearill
Is there McDonalds at the bottom? Suuuuuuure, right next to the Dunkin Donuts, ha ha ha. -Lacey Neal
The Grand Canyon would be great if it wasn't a death wish trying to climb it. Never ever never ever never ever. -Claire Armstrong
Hiking this Canyon showed me how important friends are without them I would've been off that cliff. -Nicki Tschudi
It was very long. -Cody Trimnal
The Grand Canyon was long and pretty much torture, but the feeling of accomplishment made it all worth while. -Kelli Tyson
It was the hardest thing I've done in my entire life. -Brittany McMillan
When I hiked back up the Canyon I've never hated anything more in my life but when you are done it's the most incredible thing in the world. -Sarah Carithers
Pictures could never do the Grand Canyon justice. -Alan Gandy
The Canyon is complete torture especially carrying a certain person up hill. -Logan Shearer
After watching the sunrise at the top it was all downhill. No pun intended. Ha ha ha! -Wesley Stewart
It was the second biggest brown crack I've ever seen. It took a bunch of Dudes to pull me out of that sweaty place. -Ryan Childress
The Grand Canyon is a land of extremes: nice fellow hikers and crazy squirrels, sweltering hot and freezing cold, and exhilaration exhaustion. It truly is a place like no other. -Courtney Huggins
Hiking twelve miles in the desert heat was possibly the most miserable experience of my life. -Hillary K
I actually thought I was going to die. -Abbey Spoon
Note from Lauren-What an amazing day! The Grand Canyon is one of my favorite places we visit on our TWB journey. I love the beauty of the Canyon, but more importantly, I love how it brings everyone closer together. It takes motivation, determination, lots of water, a well-balanced meal, and a good friend to keep cheering you on. Without each other, we might still be trying to make it out of that enormous hole in the ground. As you read the group's comments you notice everyone has mixed emotions on their personal hike, but one thing is for certain, it will be an experience they never forget. I was so proud of everyone! The famous Deaton stew was waiting for everyone as they arrived to the campsite, YUMMY! I think everyone will agree when I say it was the Best Meal EVER! Kitch and I had to give a few lessons on how to do laundry (hopefully no one will come home with pink underwear). Bob and Grant roped on our newly purchased TWB steer horns to each of our vans (TWB June 18th eat your heart out)! I cannot tell you how much fun I am having with your kids. Everyone is so amazing. I look forward to the next 17 days! We are having the time of our life!
Much Love,
Lauren (L-dub)
The beautiful sunrise at the rim. 5:00AM
Don't they look so happy at 5:00AM.
A little stretch before the BIG hike.
Don't forget to ask the experienced hikers for advice.
Alex Byrd borrowed this hat from his grandma. It should protect him from the sun.
Here is a group picture right before they started the hike. Doesn't that hole behind them look big!
Sleeping picture of the Day Winner is Jackie the bus driver. He looks so concerned about the hikers in the canyon.
This is some of the strong survivors that made it out to Plateau Point.
Here is our group sporting our horns on the front of the vans. Those vans sure are horny.
