GRAND CANYON my hike

Preparation

View from the North Rim

The Dream

I have been several times at the rims of the Grand Canyon and every single time I was impressed. The beautiful views, the always changing colors of the rock formations, the amazing size and beauty of the Grand Canyon grab your heart and soul.

I have seen the chatting and laughing hikers with huge backpacks going down into the canyon and others coming out - sweating, heavy breathing, exhausted but with a big smile on their face! They had mastered the Grand Canyon.

And every single time I have looked down from the rim into the steep canyon my wish to hike to the Colorado grew.

"It is unique; it stands alone. Though only two hundred and seventeen miles long, it expresses within that distance more than anyone human mind yet has been able to comprehend or interpret to the world ... It is one of the few things that man is utterly unable to imagine until he comes in actual contact with it." George Wharton James, The Grand Canyon, 1910

The Preparation

I started reading books and articles about hiking the Grand Canyon, checked out official websites and looked for websites with infos from Grand Canyon hikers.
And I found tons of websites with infos and advices - some excellent, some good and some 'not so good' (you can find some links to websites in my Grand Canyon Link Collection). All together I got a pretty good idea about the choices, the trails,...

Fortunately I have some experience in hiking from living in the European Alps and I know what I can do and should not do. And I am aware of not being twenty anymore. Hiking a tour like this needs good planing and knowing your limits - otherwise it can become dangerous.

So I decided that I would hike down the South Kaibab Trail (7.3 miles long, trailhead near Yaki Point, just east of the Grand Canyon Village) from the South Rim to the Bright Angel Campground and stay there over night. From there I planned to explore some trails in the surrounding area for 2 days and relax another day at the Colorado. The way back from the campground to the South Rim should follow the Bright Angel Trail (9.3 miles) which passes the Indian Garden Campground about half way up. Therefor I would not have to hike the same trail again. I also found out that the South Kaibab Trail is more exposed to the sun as the Bright Angel Trail but gives you better views of the canyon and I would need a permit for over-night-staying within the Grand Canyon bounderies (no permit required for the Phantom Ranch but I knew that you have to make reservations for a cabin at the ranch sometimes up to 2 years ahead - so that was not an option for me). Alltogether I would spend 5 days in the canyon.

Most important I checked out where I could get drinking water. The resources are: the South Rim, Bright Angel Campground, Indian Garden Campground, the 3 mile Resthouse and the 1.5 mile Resthouse (both between Indian Garden and the rim) - knowing that I would need at least 1 - 1.5 gallon of water on my way down and even more on my way up.

I decided when I would like to go. I picked the middle of May as my favorite - according to temperature averages, not to warm yet and not to cold anymore and I have to admit I do like spring anyhow.

I don't mind hiking alone but in this case it would be better to have a hiking partner with the same interests and in good shape - to share the beautiful views, to decrease the danger of hiking in the wilderness and it is also strongly recommended by many canyon hikers not to hike alone.

So I called a good friend who loves the nature, hiking and camping and explained what I would like to do - within a minute I had a hiking partner.

About 4 weeks prior to the hike I made a list of things I would have to take with me and another list of things I would have to buy.
Then I went shopping. I bought a new backpack (5500 cubic inches, big enough and well equipped), water bladers, a pair of Teva sandals, checked my first aid kit and filled it up, checked the tent, sleeping bag, hiking boots, clothings, gas stove equipment,... and looked for my National Parks Pass.

10 days before the trip I called the Park Rangers at the Backcountry Office (in Grand Canyon Village) about the current weather situation and to ask for permits for the Bright Angel Campground. The answer was: 'weather for hiking is great but reservation permits are not available anymore - I am too late. The only chance we have is to come to the Grand Canyon and to ask for a permit for the same day in present - but it could take 1 or 2 days more and we should be aware of that'. And I was told that reservations can't be done over the phone but by fax or mail.
My first thought was "!#@%$!?!@!" knowing that I had made a mistake by waiting to long but then I realized that we do have a chance and I am always optimistic.

5 days prior to the trip I bought some extra energy bars and other food. I knew that I will have to eat enough on the trail to keep a high energy level.

Knowing that the Backcountry Office will be open at 8 am for same-day-permits we decided to get up very early in the morning for the drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon.


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