The Grand Canyon: The Big Hike

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The next most common warning sign after those advising against socializing with the rabid, ravenous, plague flea infested squirrels with huge fangs were the signs warning park visitors not to attempt to hike to the Colorado river and back in one day. Although several friends of mine told me it's not a big deal, the warning is understandable because the shortest route to the river is twenty miles round trip and includes 5000+ foot change in elevation. Even for a masochist like me I'd consider that in the grueling category. Apparently, there are an average of 250 requests for assistance a year. Those must be some busy rangers.

For our big hike, Jean came up with a plan to descend into the canyon via the Bright Angel Trail (One of three going into the Grand Canyon from the south rim), hike across the basin via the Tonto trail, and ascend via the Kaibab trail back to the south rim. All-in-all it would be about 14 miles and 3000+ feet of elevation loss and then gain. An audacious plan, especially for someone as risk averse as Jean. Even more audacious though was Jean's plan to wake up at 5:30 am, have a hearty breakfast and hit the trail early.

Jean did get up at 5:30am and were descending down the Bright Angel trail by 7:00am

In the lower middle part of the picture you can see a faint trail. That's where we're going.


The descent was pretty easy. By 9am we had descended 3000 feet to the Indian Garden campground. We refilled our water bottles at the springs before heading off again.


After Indian Garden we soon turned on to the Tonto trail. The trail was on contour for the most part so it was fairly easy going apart from the lack of shade.



After a while we came across a spring where we cooled our heels.


Around noon we took shelter in the shade of some large rocks, had lunch and then hung out for a few hours during the hottest part of the day.

Around 3 p.m. we set off again. The Tonto trail soon intersected the Kaibab trail. This is the closest we got to the Colorado river.

Ascending the Kaibab trail. The sun had set enough so we had a little shade.







Still climbing

Towards the end of the day the reds really began to make an appearance.

One of those pesky squirrels






Jean ascends the final switchback extravaganza



We got to the rim just in time to see the sun set



Glad we didn't become a statistic

 

Comments

Colin said…
Wow. Incredible photos. What a hike. Made my knees ache just looking at the steps! So mount Snowden should be easy then?
9 May 2016 at 02:36
Mom/sly said…
Gorgeous! I haven't been to the south rim and haven't hiked the Grand Canyon at all. Thanks for sharing!!
15 May 2016 at 16:56
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