While yesterday I voiced lament that we don’t do enough local travels these days, this moment at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park is a peek of what’s to come. Our room is reserved for early October, and our first hike of the North Rim down into the canyon is planned. We will explore the North Kaibab trail, and weather, gumption, and endurance allow; we will hike from the rim to Roaring Springs. The hike is 9.4 miles (15km) round trip, not a huge obstacle, but the hike out is intimidating as we face 3,400 feet (1037m) of elevation gain.