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A Trip Teddy Roosevelt Took
There are not many vacations you can take where you do things pretty much exactly the way they were done a hundred or more years ago.
The mule ride to the bottom of the Grand Canyon is a rare exception. It’s the safest way to get to Phantom Ranch (in all of their decades, only one person has ever died riding up or down the canyon, and that was an employee). Phantom Ranch itself wasn’t built until 1922, but has barely changed since. The ride goes down the Bright Angel Trail and then back up the South Kaibab Trail.
Only mules are used in the canyon — some people have ridden horses down the Bright Angel, but I personally wouldn’t.
Everything that goes to Phantom Ranch has to go there by mule. Everything. A pack string goes down every morning with food, supplies, etc. Because I was a lighter rider, my mule got a bit of an extra, very important burden to carry: The mail.
Do You Need To Know How To Ride?
No! Over ninety percent of participants have never sat on any kind of animal before (although I personally do recommend taking a short trail ride somewhere just to get the feel).
The mules are carefully chosen and trained to be fit, sure-footed and well-behaved. Be aware that they are greedy critters. (Mine kept trying to stop and beg food from passing…