The Chin's Adventure Across America: Icy cold waterslides en route to the Grand Canyon

Day 6 - Stops: Slide Rock Canyon, Arizona; Flagstaff, Arizona; Grand Canyon National Park

We departed our campsite in the late morning after a campfire breakfast and headed out to Slide Rock Canyon just a mile south near Sedona. First off, our campsite host did not suggest sliding into the water which was 50 degrees. But when we arrived and saw all the kids in their bathing suits, we donned our swim suits and made it out to the slide. There we found many young kids, teenagers, and a few grandmas and grandpas making their way down the icy cold water slide. Jeremy went first and then I had to do it. It actually wasn’t too bad because you’re so numb once you hit the water. And it was super fun.

Slide Rock Canyon

They line up for the plunge.

Here we go.

I'm going to marry this guy.

Cold water.

Haha

I really was having a good time.

Now we're having fun.

Like a little kid.

In Flagstaff, we got an oil change and learned that our car battery is dying but decided to wait until Salt Lake City to get a new one. We replenished our beer supply with some Deutches Porter Butter. Jeremy really wanted to eat Mexican again in Arizona so we got what I called mediocre Mexican at Tacos Altos.

Only a short hour and a half drive to Grand Canyon National Park and I was beginning to have intense abdominal pain. We arrived at Grand Canyon Village and spoke with a crass old woman at the visitors center, inquiring about a trip down to the river. “We don’t suggest that. You should just hike the rim or go partially down. You can’t hike down to the river and back in a day. People die.” Jeremy and I rebutted “Well we’re fairly experienced hikers”. “Where are you from?” she asked. “Pennsylvania”, we said. “No you can’t do it. You won’t be able to take the heat.” “Well what if we do a shorter hike and then if it’s easy we’ll come back and get more information on getting down to the river?” Jeremy suggested. “No”. Dejected from this conversation we headed to set up camp and ran around the Rim to take some pictures. It was obviously amazing but this lady put such a damper on our day back to set up camp.