May 10, 2026. Yesterday was a great day.
I woke at 7am and made coffee at my outdoor cooking station with one of the most insane views for the last time. I wrote my journal entry and then made a number of improvements on Signal. It now offers AI hints, which I think adds a lot. I got caught up in it, and of course we had to play a quick game to test the new features. I didn't start packing until 9:25, which didn't leave nearly enough time for my 10am target. I worked efficiently and was ready to roll at 10:17.
Before we split up I'd decided to thoroughly document Shannon's exit on the somewhat treacherous 4x4 hill. I set her up with a microphone and a GoPro in her vehicle, got a drone in the air tracking her, and had my own microphone and Action5 camera running. We had walkie talkies for communication. We got some great footage and I think the video is going to be fun to watch.
Then we went our separate ways. I drove to Jacob Lake, a 4,000-foot increase in elevation, and found a campsite. My criteria was almost entirely shade. I found a spot, set up camp, cooked some chicken, got situated. I rode my bike around and discovered we'd lucked into a great location, central to all kinds of things in the area. When Shannon arrived we went on a longer bike ride on a little dirt trail right by the campsite that winds all around the area.
This area is the gateway to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. A short distance from our campsite is the beginning of Arizona State Route 67, the only paved road in and out of the North Rim. It doesn't open until May 15. We found some ways to get on it anyway and ride around and explore.
We found a lookout tower we climbed and could see forever in every direction. We visited the historic Jacob Lake Ranger Station, and I loved reading the history. The only way to get around these parts was by horseback or foot, so beginning in 1907 the Forest Service built a system of ranger cabins each within a day's ride by horseback from the next. The nearby Jacob Lake Inn is apparently famous for their cookies and milkshakes, both of which don't align with my current keto situation.
There's also a National Forest Service Visitor Center here, which neither Shannon nor I can recall seeing. We're going to go there with all our questions about the Grand Canyon and see what we can learn.
After our last campsite, which was incredible but raw and exposed to some harsh natural elements, this place feels like the Ritz Carlton. Cool temperatures, trees, protected from the wind. There's an abundance of wood everywhere so we were able to forage plenty for a campfire.
I placed a fairly large Amazon order last night that will be arriving to a locker in Kanab today and tomorrow. I'll go retrieve everything on Tuesday, about an hour each way. One benefit of having a camping buddy is that I can leave all my outdoor camp stuff set up when I go into town and she keeps an eye on it. Makes the whole thing much easier.
I've been contending with some mineral deficiencies this week. After going deep down the rabbit hole I've decided to make my own electrolyte powder blend. I have specific needs that the one-size-fits-all products out there don't meet, not to mention they're wildly overpriced. So I ordered a collection of big bags of individual powders to mix together in a mason jar.
I also ordered a game camera. I've been wanting one for a while and the mysterious footsteps in camp at 2:55am gave me the final push. The other thing I think it will be useful for is keeping an eye on the van at trailheads. I'm always a little uneasy about break-ins when I go on hikes. If something unfortunate did occur, at least I'd have footage and maybe be able to ID the person or vehicle.
I'm loving this new campsite and looking forward to a week here. My plate is full of projects I'm excited about, and this place is perfect for that right now.