18 out of 279 in eight minutes (Phantom Ranch)

Hard to believe it's already been five years (to the day) since we were last down at Phantom Ranch (discussed here, here, here, and here).   I am obsessed with Grand Canyon and its ilk and would love to visit far more often.  Not sure how to solve for this.

We do tee up an effort every now and then to get organized for a large-group return trip.  One problem is Phantom Ranch's overwhelming international popularity - combined with a somewhat archaic "first come-first served" fax system.  You have no chance unless you hit the "send" button on your fax machine at exactly midnight of the first day of the month in which you wish to hike in the ensuing year.  (Large group reservations for October 2011 are opened on October 1, 2010, for example).

The below email shows our last effort - I was trying to arrange things for October 2011.  Started at midnight 10/1/10.  Constant busy signals before I got through - way too late.  My contact told me via the below email they received 279 faxes and immediately filled all 18 large group spots.

Maybe autumn 2013??

Sampling of 2007 photos follows (many more via links in first sentence of this post) (click any photo to access enlargements of all):

reception at the Rim - evening prior to hiking

ready to head down South Kaibab trail

down, down, down . . .

card-playing at the canteen at Phantom Ranch