In response to nessanails' reply: I would like to apologize to Vanessa and all for not making it last night. Yesterday I was looking in my circuit breaker box and saw a breaker labeled "Eastern Sea Board and Canada".......Well I did not know what it controlled and flipped it off..... Next...

In response to chihiggs' reply:

We can grade your papers, we just toss the stack down the bar, the ones that reach the end get a "A", then the next farther get a "B" etc. etc....

HA!

Bill

In response to nessanails' reply:

Thanks,

Barring any issues I will be there....

Look forward to meeting you all...

Bill

You know.....I always keep my toenails short but the one time I kind of forget because I was in such a rush was the time I hike the Grand Canyon....lol Yha I knew they were a bit long and meant to cut them and I had a brain fart I was so excited... I don't think it is shoe size, I wear a 12 normally...

In response to nessanails' reply:

I'm new here is this open to new-comers??

Bill

Besides the knee pain that started on my GC hike, I had two toenails turn black and blue on my right foot (Big toe and the one next to it). This was also caused on the downhill hike. There is no pain just kind of ugly looking. My guess is I was so worried about blisters (of which I only got a minor ...

In response to bzachar's reply: You just reminded me about backwards.... When I did the Grand Canyon, I did find going backward was painless, but slow and dangerous. I'm going to try to rest it for a few weeks the try some gradual downhill to strengthen it and use a wrap or support of some kind. If...

In response to olesma's reply: The problem is on Downhill and is only after a mile or two down. When I did the South Kiabab it didn't start to hurt until about mile 6 or 7 of all down hill. That is when I think I overtaxed it. Then last week after a few weeks of non-hiking it came up again after ab...

In response to BillLator's reply:

Thanks all for the advice....I will use it all, seems it is manageable through these suggestions. I just moved from Chicago "The Flatlands" and would hate to be stuck only on flat trails.

Last month (7-18) I hiked the South Kiabib trail into the Grand Canyon. About a mile before the river I started getting some pain along the outside of my left knee. I was not so bad that it stopped me but I did baby it the last mile. The next day I hiked out and going uphill I did not feel that pain...

New to this group....great website... Just moved here and have been doing some solo hiking and backpacking. Looking for some friends for company and safety for some day hiking for now. By Sept. I will be able to do some overnight or perhaps multiday backpacking. I love the GC and have done BA and SK...