[casa verde maltese]

I cannot hike down to the bottom of the canyon (it is a matter of not being able to hike in with enough water - shoulder injury. and with my current torn ligaments - I'm not sure I can hike that long). I am taking my students on a Grand Canyon excursion later in May.. and I certainly won't be up to hiking by then.. i can barely do two hours of shopping on cement floors now.. i'm not expecting a cure in 15 days.

So, has anyone taken the donkey's down into the canyon?? & what was your experience.

Thanks
Jennifer

 

[casa verde maltese]

Well, i just looked at the cost!! $469 + oh, my

 

[camfan]

Yeah, I was content to look at the Canyon from the platforms, lol.

If you're not accustomed to riding a donkey (who is, right?) I can imagine you'd be sore as **** the next day. It's bumpy, you are basically spead eagle (lol). It doesn't sound like something I'd recommend to someone like yourself who is recovering from injuries!

Plus, you are literally walking along very narrow, dusty HOT trails.

Have fun no matter what you decide!

 

[iheartbisou]

wow is that the price for one person? it's a bit pricey. But I bet it's soooo much easier on that donkey than having to hike it yourself! I think Camfan is right...I saw a show about it once and they do go on some really scary, narrow paths.

 

[casa verde maltese]

well, there is the rub. I am used to riding horses..but that long 5 hrs down/6.5 hrs back up.. on a donkey would be a bit much. & I'm afraid of hts. and from the top of a donkey/mule - it would be higher.. but given my recent klutziness - they are probably more sure footed then I am!! ha ha.. I think the Price alone - with all the other trips are going to make me done some short hikes. I just walked around the station (i live at a field station) and my ankle is swelling. I'll be lucky to be let out of the van by my interns (who already want to wrap me in bubble wrap!).

 

[Dora's Mom]

We spent a couple of days at the Grand Canyon when I was in high school and never went very far down into the canyon. You don't have to go down to the bottom to appreciate it.

 

[The A Team]

My dad and sister did that several years ago....and now I regret that I didn't ever take the time for any of my dad's wonderful excursions. :smilie_tischkante:



Not sure how it is now, but you used to have to have reservations like a year ahead of time.


I don't think you should be doing any hiking till your ankle is better...:w00t:

 

[MalteseJane]

Yeah, I was content to look at the Canyon from the platforms, lol.

If you're not accustomed to riding a donkey (who is, right?) I can imagine you'd be sore as **** the next day. It's bumpy, you are basically spead eagle (lol). It doesn't sound like something I'd recommend to someone like yourself who is recovering from injuries!

Plus, you are literally walking along very narrow, dusty HOT trails.

Have fun no matter what you decide!

:HistericalSmiley::HistericalSmiley:so not only will your ankle be sore, but something else too :HistericalSmiley::HistericalSmiley:

 

[MalteseJane]

I have seen the Grand Canyon a few times but only from the platforms. I would love to go down but unfortunately I am not fit enough to do it. I probably would make it down, but to get up again somebody would have to come and get me. To go down on a horse or donkey, I can forget about, my husband is never going to put his ***** on them. We made him ride a horse once and he said never again. I went on a horse ride to go to the Cirque de Gavernie (Pyrénées) in France with my parents and uncle and aunt. But I was a young girl at the time. At that age it was fun. I still laugh at the image of my uncle sitting on a donkey in the middle of a small stream of water and the donkey peeing.:HistericalSmiley:

 

[maggieh]

YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! I did, but in 1979, when i was much younger (and thinner). It was an absolutely awesome experience. I would not trade it for the world.

However, it is very hot so if you're not able to take in enough water it could still be a problem. It was very smelly too - I remember not wanting to go through the hotel lobby because we smelled so bad. I don't remember being sore, though, for some reason. Of course, I was 21 so I probably was fine!

 

[mss]

I did that a long time ago, when I was in my 30s. And I was thinner then, too. It was a fantastic experience. :biggrin: But I agree that a person needs to be fairly fit to do it.

I am kind of afraid of heights, but for some reason, sitting on the mule I didn't feel that way. But it hit me at one place we got off for a rest stop. The edge was 20 feet away or so, but I was still woozy! The mules were so well trained and sure-footed--all we had to do was remember to keep their heads turned out towards/over the edge when we stopped.

We went in April and although it was cold at the rim at night, it was getting hot down in the canyon. I think it would be overwhelming in the summer.

I'd say make a promise to yourself to do it sometime--but maybe not this time.

 

[Deborah]

I would never do it but have friends that did. First of all they ride horses all the time so that helped. The mules ride right on the edge of the trail that is their way to prevent from falling. Just knowing that alone would scare the**** out of me. :smscare2: My dad and brother did the river rafting trips and went 2 or 3 times. Not sure if you can do that now.