Once Shurik thought...

From: Alexander Gubin 
To: Natalya Leonkova, Tigra, yuri karadjov, Dennis Girik, Natalia Dimitrienko
Date: Sep 8, 2005 9:27 PM
Subject: Grand Canyon for THXGiving

All!

Aren't we brave enough to visit Grand Canyon this Thanksgiving? I always wanted to make a backpacking trip ther - Rim to Rim sounds somewhat killing, but my friends went there from South Rim to some place with waterfalls (Havasupai?). Sounds inriguing.

As a crazy parent I plan to take Varya with me, so Rim to Rim is not considered.

Thoughts/suggestions?

Shurik

P.S. Please let your friends and all interested know, but let's think that the group shouldn't be more than 15 people :)

 

... and later...

Greetings!

I thinkk Havasu Falls is out best bet, that is near Grand Canyon National Park in the Indian Reservation

Pros: Not so much of the elevation drop, you can relax by the waterfalls, there is a village nearby, which means people (just in case)

Contras: people :), no campfires $20 entrance fee.

That's it. If we are going, it's time to make a reservation.

Dates: 24-27 November. Leaving Thursday and coming back Saturday(?) Getting to Arizona by car(?)


Thoughts/suggestions?

Shurik

And the folks reply...

Natasha:Hey, hey!.
As to the open quiestion (Arizona) I talked to Masha and she said she cann't take Monday off. Could we take Tuesday and Wednesday before off instead of Monday after. What does Princess say?

Princess:Monday after is also problematic for me. Let's take Wednesday before. Why do we need Tuesday?

Natasha: IMHO, we need Tuesday
Let's see, we leave Tuesday evening, so we there Wednesday late night (best scenario). Thursday, 10 mile hike to the campground, one day there (Friday), and Saturday morining we drag ourselves back up?!. In one dat we can see couple of waterfalls, if we have enough stamina... However, if we have an extra day, we can can rest and take a hike to the Colorado River. So, my take, if we spend two whole days driving, let's spend max time there in the Canyon. Of course, if somebody has a problem with another day off, I will shut up and will try not to take it personally. :-))

Masha:I have already taken 11/16 to 11/27 off,
so I can leave Tuesday. However, I will be quiet if Shurik and Natasha prefer to shorter journey

Natasha: If we take Tuesday off I need to make car reservation now, if it's at all possible.So, let's vote: who is for Tuesday and Wednesday off? I am! :-))

Princess:Make a reservation, no problem. If you get the car, I take Tuesday off :). On the other thought, we can take Monday off as well and go for whole 9(!) days ;-)

Shurik:Hey, hey - easy now, think what you saying. Next step: every body thinks it's possible...! Monday off and drive to the infinity.... Wait! and why not? Let's go and open skiing season in Colorado on the way there :) ?
(almost serious).
I can take Tuesday and Wednesday off and modify reservation (if I can get hold of Indians, which isn't easy). Let see the itinerary: When are we coming back? Sunday night? So we spend November 23, 24, 25 on the campground instead of 25 and 26, right? Or, if nobody's scared with my Colorado skiing plans, November 21, 22, 23 in AZ, and back home via Colorafdo? :)

Masha: Skiing in Colorado (one day!). Sounds interesting. Easy for me to say, I have the whole week off.

Natasha: Let me think, let me think. Natasha, what would you say now? Was your idea!? Prayers heard :) !?!

Princess: (not suspecting the seriousness): Sure! Hey, can we get a car on 19th or 20th?

Natasha:: No, no, I cann't leave earlier that Sunday morning. My parent are visiting that weekend
So here is the plan:
Sunday - driving to Arizona
Monday - hike to Indian Reservation
Tuesday - waterfalls
Wednesday - Colorado river
Thursday - hike back to the car
Thursday evening/night - drive to Colorado (Aspen? - 15 hours drive from Havasupai)
Friday - skiing
Saturday - skiing
Sunday - driving to Chicago

Did I get everything right or forgot something? Are you guys after all serious??? And where and when are we going to sleep???

Shurik:Hmmmm. I have to be think this over... this trip sounds somewhat insane... Sleep indeed is a necessity... We can sleep in the van on the way there and back, can we? If we expect to be so tired, let's ski one day instead of two... one day will be for recovery... I don't think we will settle this before Saturday

Princess: I object a sleeping/recovery day. It's a waste of time, since we taking so many days of from a limited supply (two weeks for a year). I think we can find a motel for Friday and Saturday nights, maybe not at the resort, but nearby

Natasha:Fine with me :-)
I like the way our trip looks, so far, even though there will be some inconviniences. I then will look into a van rental and make an equipment list.

What do you think about Aspen? It's away from everithing, and it's hard to get to, but since we are driving, it doesn't matter. Probably fewer people than anywhere. There is also Colorado Springs and it's on the way. I think there will be too many people on the resorts close to Denver

Shurik, could you research the resorts? We'll look into lodging, then.
Damn, this becomes more and more interesting! :)))

Shurik:

Ok, I pick the resort and negotiate with Indians. So, we are camping November 21, 22, 23? Leaving on the 24th... and - to the slopes of Colorado! :)

So far the responsibilities:
Natasha - wheels
Masha - food and general well-being :)
Princess - mood control, planet arrangement and bioenergetics - so the dream comes true :)

I haven't skied in Colorado. People recommend - Vail, Copper, Winter Park .... Aspen - is cool, but too expensive (?), will see though. Let's follow Princess's advice and don't spend a day for recovery - let's sleep in the van, we should be OK :)

Natasha: Masha and myself skied Vail, Winter Park, Copper, Breck,and somewhere else
So we'd love to go to Aspen, if we can :-))
Just to let you know :-))