Grand Canyon hiking.

[Kerrytravelers]

Mr. kt and I are hikers. My obsession is to get to the bottom of Grand Canyon. We are training and reading all we can from various sites (one that I found here at DU!)

If anyone here has made the hike, I'd love to hear your advice. If anyone else has done extensive hiking (Grand Canyon or not) I'd like to gather your advice as well.

Our plans is to make the trek in April of 2007. We're considering going down South Kaibob, camping at Bright Angel Campsite, possibly camping at one more location on the floor, and heading up Bright Angel trail.

Our last trip to Arizona, we spent time at both Sedona hiking and camping and at Grand Canyon, also hiking and camping. We have gone a little over 3 miles down Bright Angel.

Please, all advice is welcome. Pretend like we don't know anything. I will appreciate anything anyone would like to advise.

I will also be cross-posting this to other areas as well in an attempt to reach as much of DU as possible.

Thank you all in advance. I know I'll get great advice from my wonderful DU friends!

kt

[Redneck Socialist]

1. Never been, but I'd love to go

Good luck and post some pics when you get back.

[TX-RAT]

2. Made the trip twice

Once on mules, about 45 years ago, and once walking, 41 years ago. I would try and make that trip in the early spring or late fall, gets damn hot in the summer. It's well worth it. When you were in Sedona did you go back in Boyton Canyon, nice hike.

[Kolesar]

3. Rim to rim in October 2000

I was dropped off at the North Rim, hiked down North Kaibab Trail and up the Bright Angel Trail on the South side. I stayed at Cottonwood, Bright Angel, and Indian Garden campground. I did a solo trip and it was wonderful.

My take on down climbing the Kaibab trail is that it is steep and rather taxing on the knees. I highly recommend using a hiking pole (or two) to take the strain off your knees. I also recommend stretching before you go to bed. My legs were all stiff and funny the next morning after my first day of down-hiking.

A good thing about starting on the South Kaibab trail is that you would be hiking it in the morning. Unlike the Bright Angel Trail, the Kaibab trail follows a spine and you will be out in the sun. I would hate that at 2:00 pm. I would think even April would be plenty sunny.

You could stay at Bright Angel campground for two nights and hike to Ribbon Falls and a back. The hike through the billion year old bedrock called "the Box" at the lower part of Bright Angel Creek is a hoot.

Natural attractions would be the black brush desert below the rim. Mountaineers publishing has a great nature guide (just perused it, never bought it). Up near Roaring Springs at the north end, there is a super collection of fossils that the trail builders aligned along the trail.

I met another hiker who hikes the canyon without a tent. I would not have like that in Cottonwood Canyon campground with all the rodents about. I'll write more later when I get time. You're going to love it.

[Lefty48197]

4. Go at the coolest time of year that you can

That's my advice. I hear that it's about 30 degrees warmer in the bottom than it is up top.

[Kolesar]

5. 5.5 degrees/1000 feet * 5000 feet => 27.5 degrees

You aced the quiz.

[iamjoy]

6. Water, Water And Don't Split Up

I think the recommendation is a quart of water per hour of hiking and eating salty snacks to prevent electorlyte imbalance. But of course, if you are an avid hiker you know that.

The chilling thing for me when I was at the Grand Canyon this past May was reading about the woman who ran the Boston Marathon and then died hiking the Grand Canyon because she wasn't prepared. They also tell you that most of the people they rescue are young, otherwise healthy people.

I would have loved to have explored some of the trails when I was there, but knowing that I am not an experienced hiker, I stayed along the rim. The altitude made me more tired than I should have been taking a moderate pace 3 mile walk (I'm a Florida girl).

[PrimeRibGuy]

7. Hiked down to Havasupai Falls about 5 years ago

One of the most amazing hikes I have ever done, absolutely beautiful. We hiked eleven miles in, stayed for five days then hiked back out.

Here is a link with more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfalls_of_the_Havasupai_Indian_Reservation

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

8. One little side hike

On the main trail between the river and North Rim, maybe three or four miles from the river, there's a side trail to the west that leads to a three-tier waterfall, I think the name is Ribbon Falls. Well worth the mile-or-two detour. It's a nice cool shower in July, probably extra brisk in April.

[we can do it]

9. Wow, I Am Planning On Doing This Too, Except We''ll Stay At Phantom Ranch

As soon as my partner gets in good enough shape we'' try to get reservations. I am so excited for you.

[BrightKnight]

10. I was planning backpacking in the Canyon at the end of May.

Did you make the trip in April? How long did it take to get down to the Bright Angel campground?

Would Zion, Bryce or Canyon Lands be a better choice?

[blondie58]

11. wow, what a great trip you have planned

I can't give you any tips on hiking, although I have hiked about halfway down at one time, but a few years ago I took a week long rafting trip down the Colorado River.

I have traveled quite a bit, but this was one of the most wondrous trips that I have ever taken.

When you get to the bottom, there are turquoise of water to swim in at places. Small waterfalls pop up out of nowhere. On the river, the swallows monitor the insect control over the river and then come nightfall, the bats take over. It is like the changing of the guards.

Have a fun trip. The basic hiking rules apply- you know, sunscreen, drink lots of water, be prepared.

Have good shoes, as there is a lot of loose shale on the trails.