.grand canyon.

Way back in November... Tim, Jordan, Corbin, Anderson, Donny, and Matt (a friend from our church) took a long road trip to Arizona to go camping down at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

The boys were so excited! They packed up all their gear and had to pack very carefully since they were backpacking everything down and back up the canyon.

The long trip down...the boys brought all their homework since they were missing a few days of school and obviously Anderson got a little tired.

The first night they stayed at Matt's parents house which wasn't too far from the Canyon.

Matt's and his dad, Ranger Steve, were so kind to go with them and be their personal tour guides. Matt did these trips several times a year while he was growing up and was so helpful in telling us everything we needed and supplied what we didn't have...he also planned the whole trip! Ranger Steve actually is a volunteer ranger in the Grand Canyon. He knows everything that one needs to know about camping down in the Canyon and LOVES it!

Corbin didn't carry this pack but one that was about 35 pounds.

Tim did a fantastic job taking so many great pictures of the trip for me.

Heading down

They all made it to the bottom... I think it was about 8 miles down.
This is where they spent there first night. Donny, Corbin, Anderson, and Ranger Steve slept in tents but Tim, Jordan, and Matt chose to sleep under the stars. The next morning (while it was still dark out) Jordan woke up and realized something wet was on him and in his bag. Tim turned on the flashlight to see that a bird had pooped right on Jordan.

Hiking toward the bridge

Isn't this little guy cute?

The guys said the deer would come up so close to them.

They were having fun sending logs down the waterfall until...

one got stuck!

So they held onto Jordan's legs and had him send the log down!

Glad that I wasn't there to see that!!

They camped the second night half way back up the canyon and finished the rest of the hike the following morning.

Everyone had a very memorable trip!

I am so thankful that they all had the opportunity to go.

The boys said the 21 mile hike was well worth it.

Tim and the boys want to go again...soon!