Hiking the Grand Canyon: Hindsight

[itself]

When you go to the Grand Canyon, and talk to people they have gone down and hiked it, you will always hear about those that did it in one day or even hiked rim to rim to rim. There are people that hike rim to rim EVERY year.

In hindsight, I wish we had done it differently. We started at 5am and finished at 5:15pm. We hiked at about 3.5 miles in every hour. No time for pictures, very few breaks. If you want to get out in sunlight, you have to keep moving. It's a standing joke at REI that the people who do it in a day are moving constantly and looking at the heels of someones shoes all day.

In hindsight, I would have preferred to hike down to Phantom Ranch, stayed over, taken our time, and then hiked out the next day.

So think about this as you do it. What is the big wooha about doing it in one day? I honestly don't know.

[Tri Girl]

I agree! We spent 4 days in the Canyon, and although we were loaded down with heavy packs, we had plenty of time to stop and take pictures, play in the creek, and relax. We met quite a few people running rim to rim or hiking rim to rim. You don't have to get a backcountry permit, but the pressure of moving through the Canyon so quickly just doesn't seem fun to me.

Next summer we are going to hit the much less traveled trails and do some serious backcountry hiking. I wish I could just live in the Canyon forever. SO beautiful and so magical.

And the next time after that we're going to do Phantom Ranch so all we have to bring is a change of clothes in a little daypack.


But that being said, I'm still very impressed with people who do a rim-to-rim!!!!

[spokewench]

It's mostly the challenge that gets most people to do Rim To Rim. And, also, there are a lot of ultra endurance athletes who live in this area who go into the Canyon many times a year and they do Rim to Rim for the workout more than they do it for the views.

Me, I like to enjoy the scenery along with the hike, but have been known to hike down and out in one day. But, that is not how I usually like to hike in the GC.

Spoke

[Irulan]

When you go to the Grand Canyon, and talk to people they have gone down and hiked it, you will always hear about those that did it in one day or even hiked rim to rim to rim. There are people that hike rim to rim EVERY year.

In hindsight, I wish we had done it differently. We started at 5am and finished at 5:15pm. We hiked at about 3.5 miles in every hour. No time for pictures, very few breaks. If you want to get out in sunlight, you have to keep moving. It's a standing joke at REI that the people who do it in a day are moving constantly and looking at the heels of someones shoes all day.

In hindsight, I would have preferred to hike down to Phantom Ranch, stayed over, taken our time, and then hiked out the next day.

So think about this as you do it. What is the big wooha about doing it in one day? I honestly don't know.

It seems to me that if you understand the mileage and the elevation gain, you would know that it's going to be an all day project? Or it is that you are annoyed that an all day project wasn't more fun?

Our permit for rafting the river is up next spring. We've been on the list for about 15 years. I can't wait!!

[emily_in_nc]

For us, we liked doing the rim to river and back in one day (down S. Kaibab and back up Bright Angel) because we aren't really campers, and it kept us from having to carry a lot more gear, which would have made for a less fun hike. We were able to carry mostly just water in our daypacks, and although it was hard, it wasn't crazy difficult since we'd trained well for it in the NC foothills and mountains. We also did it on a day that was not super crowded (May 1, 2006, before school is out for the year), so we only rarely had to look at anyone's heels. We started out at 7:00 am or so and were done before 5:30 pm (can't remember exactly, but it was still plenty light).

The beers and food tasted REALLY good at the top, too.

[itself]

I knew it would take all day, but I honestly did not think we would have to move at such a pace. I just thought we would have a wee bit more time..

[Pedal Wench]

Another fun day hike is just down S. Kaibab to the Tonto, then over to Bright Angel for the hike up. We did this in the winter when it was really slow-going at the top of each due to ice and then lower down, massive amounts of mud. Absolutely nobody on the Tonto, so that was nice.

[emily_in_nc]

I knew it would take all day, but I honestly did not think we would have to move at such a pace. I just thought we would have a wee bit more time..

Yes, 'tis true, we didn't dilly-dally much, but we still had time for LOTS of photos, and a few quick "sits". My DH isn't one for many or long rest stops (on rides or hikes!), tho, so it suited our style well.

[eofelis]

I did a 5 day trip this past June in the GC. It was my first time on the South Rim. I didn't pick the route and it was 10 miles down the Boucher Trail on the first day, a real grind! We saw no other people that day, how often does that happen in the GC? Then across the Tonto to Hermit Camp, then down to the river, back up to Hermit Camp, then up the Hermit Trail. Saw maybe a couple dozen other backpackers all week.

I just got on another friend's list to try to get a backcountry permit for next March. Her itinerary looks like easy: down to Indian Gardens (not sure which trail down, SK or BA), then to Phantom Ranch for 1 or two nights, then back up to Indian Gardens, then out. Sounds easy after the Boucher and Hermit Trails!

[Irulan]

I did a 5 day trip this past June in the GC. It was my first time on the South Rim. I didn't pick the route and it was 10 miles down the Boucher Trail on the first day, a real grind! We saw no other people that day, how often does that happen in the GC? Then across the Tonto to Hermit Camp, then down to the river, back up to Hermit Camp, then up the Hermit Trail. Saw maybe a couple dozen other backpackers all week.

I just got on another friend's list to try to get a backcountry permit for next March. Her itinerary looks like easy: down to Indian Gardens (not sure which trail down, SK or BA), then to Phantom Ranch for 1 or two nights, then back up to Indian Gardens, then out. Sounds easy after the Boucher and Hermit Trails!

So backpacking permits are by lottery also? What is the commercial use ratio for a backcountry (hiking/horseback) permit?

[bcipam]

So think about this as you do it. What is the big wooha about doing it in one day? I honestly don't know.

For a period of about 18 years, I did the hike very year (usually around my birthday in February). The first two times, when I was an avid runner, I ran down and walked up in one day. Would crippled me for a week but I did it for the challenge. The third year I hike down Kaibab, stayed in Phantom Ranch and the next day hiked up Bright Angel. The experience in Phantom Ranch turned it for me... I loved having the time t explore inside the Canyon and you meet the coolest people down there. After several years of that, I planned two days at Phanton Ranch. That was by favorite. The whole canyon area is so lovely... we were able the second day to hike out towards North Rim and enjoy the scenery. Twice I was fortunate enough to hike North Rim to South Rim. Involves a bit of planning but what an adventure. The first time we stayed on the north Rim 2 days and did some signtseeing. Third day hiked to Phanton Ranch. and then we Hiked out the 4th day to South Rim.

I tell people if you have never hiked the Canyon put it on the Bucket List. I can't even describe how wondrous the area is!!!!

[Pedal Wench]

I tell people if you have never hiked the Canyon put it on the Bucket List. I can't even describe how wondrous the area is!!!!

Amen

[Tri Girl]

OK- so we're going back to the Grand Canyon in mid-March. I have done nothing but think about it and dream about it since we spent 4 days hiking it in June.


And I'm ashamed to admit that I want to do a rim-to-river-to-rim one day hike while we're there. We didn't secure a backcountry permit (didn't know we'd be able to go until this month), and Phantom Ranch is probably out of the question (although I've tried a few times and will continue to call daily as the date approaches).
If we don't get reservations at the bottom, we're going to do the hike in one day. I know it will be tough. I know it will hurt. It will be March, so we won't have the heat of summer, and since I've been consistently doing leg and ab work for the last month (something I haven't done in years), I feel I'll be up to it.

I can't wait to see the Canyon again. It has altered my soul forever...

[Irulan]

Our permit for the river is up this summer. We've been on the wait list since 1995 or so. 18 day in our own boats! Can't wait.

[Crankin]

Tri Girl, you might be having snow and ice at the top in March.
Just a warning.