I did a 5 day backpack trip into the GC last week. It was my first time hiking in the canyon. I went with 5 other people, 2 or 3 of which were experienced canyon hikers. I had a week notice to go on that trip, not much time to hike a lot to get ready. I have moderate experience with long backpack trips.

We did Boucher Trail - Tonto Trail - Hermit Trail. All primitive non-maintained trails, although they are well-trodden.

The Boucher Trail is one trail that I really don't ever need to hike again. Very rough and rocky. Horizontal parts are often on the very edge of a yawning chasm. Vertical parts are straight down on loose rocks for a long long ways. 9 miles to water in Boucher Creek. I made it though. We were all cooked after that day.

My legs were very stiff and sore after that first day. Then 6 miles on the Tonto Trail to Hermit Camp. Next day was 1.5 miles down to the river to stay over. Then 1.5 miles back up to Hermit Camp the next day. It was 106 in the shade that afternoon. Glad Hermit camp has a swimming hole in the creek! Then we got up at 3am to hike out the Hermit Trail, 7 miles, before it got too hot.

27 hard rocky miles, but it was great! My top pack weight with 5L of water was 37lbs. I used a Gregory Deva 60 pack and it was excellent. I wore New Balance 804 trail running shoes and they were excellent, no blisters at all. Just sore leg muscles. Trekking poles are a must. I tried out a new cooking arrangement: an Esbit tablet stove to heat a bit of water for tea and Mountain House meals. It worked out great!

I took a lot of pics, but I haven't posted them online yet.