Discover the Grand Canyon! Located in northern Arizona, the Grand Canyon is one of seven Natural Wonders of the World. More than just a great chasm in the Colorado Plateau, the Grand Canyon is a collection of awe-inspiring views, unique rock formations, a spectrum of desert colors and vast open spaces that will let us explore what feels like another planet. Our trip will begin in the high mountain city of Flagstaff, Arizona. At over 7000 feet in the San Francisco Range and a distinctive southwestern feel, it offers us the perfect place to begin our adventure. We will gather at our hostel and get to know each other over a southwestern dinner before we shuttle to the Canyon Saturday morning. We will spend our first night (Saturday) camping on the south rim of the Canyon at the Mather campground. We will use this day to familiarize ourselves with our gear and the backpacking lifestyle to be fully prepared for our week below the rim. Bright and early Sunday morning we'll kick off our trek with a serious descent from the sometimes snowy rim to the desert river gorge area below. We will spend the rest of the week exploring the intricacies of the canyon.