Last summer (1997) I got an opportunity for a whirlwind tour of some of the sights in Arizona. I got a chance to spend half a day hiking down the Bright Angel Trail into the Grand Canyon.

What a hike! Easy walking, good trail, fabulous views. Despite hearing six or seven helicopters during the 3 hours or so that I was down inside, I never caught sight of one. In fact, most of the time it was so quiet when you weren't walking that you could almost hear the sunshine.

I'm mildly afraid of heights (I walk in a crouch when I'm on my roof), but the trail was so well cared for that I never felt afraid, despite some impressively steep drop offs.

Correction, in some places the outer edge of the trail was better for walking and once or twice I'd be out there when I'd hear a mule train above me. There really is enough room for you to stand on the outside edge of the trail while the mules go by. But I much preferred getting to the inside edge and even climbing up a bit to be sure that they had room. Mules have a reputation for having a mind of their own and those on the trails in the Grand Canyon impressed me with a certain inexorable quality: They are going to move at their own pace, on the line they've chosen. Get out of the way.

I actually carted my camera along, so you can follow the link below to take a pictorial hike with me. Let's go hiking!