Hello Hikers....
A long time quest of mine is to hike from Tramway trail to the bull pen. I believe this is about 43 miles.
However, It has been 15 years since I have been down tramway and I hear it is very over grown. Will I need to hack my way from one end to the other or is the trail still pretty well maintained?
Has anyone made this hike recently? Or have any good advice on the route as far as how many days it may take?
I'd appreciate any info available.
Tramway is just steep, otherwise seemed like a decent trail a few years ago.
A few others might have specific advice on WCC. Here is some info in the mean time http://hikearizona.com/decoder=938
I have hiked (and swam, clamored) this canyon a few times. Except for the areas of the canyon near where there is ingress/egress from the top, there is no 'trail' as such*. In the upper reaches the canyon is shallower, easier-going and somewhat wider than downstream of the power-line. Below the power-line it is more adventuresome and becomes somewhat more difficult of a hike. (*You will pick up a trail about 5 miles before Bull Pen).
There are many, many swims - I would suggest a boundary bag (with a leash for the swims) for a pack. Pack light and small but bring high calorie foods - figure on 4000+ per day due to the arduous hiking as well as the core-warming energy burn. I would allow (but might not completely USE) 5 days for the trip.
We have also hiked the 'short version' (power-line down) in 2 very full summer days.
Last edited by hikeaz on Jul 06 2017 4:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"The censorship method ... is that of handing the job over to some frail and erring mortal man, and making him omnipotent on the assumption that his official status will make him infallible and omniscient."
George Bernard Shaw
Hiked up Tramway last October, I doubt it ever gets any official maintenance, but it was in reasonably good condition. Certainly not "overgrown".
I've also done a full descent of WCC, not as a single thru-trip but in shorter pieces. A fabulous place indeed but very rugged. Tyler Williams book puts the total distance at around 30 miles, not 43, but getting an accurate measurement is probably difficult. I'm a pretty experienced canyoneer, and I would say that in WCC I average no more than 1 mile per hour. So something like 4 - 6 days total would be a reasonable guess, depending on how many hours a day you plan to be on the move. One other note, flat ground for comfortable camping can be pretty scarce in some sections.
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is to hike from Tramway trail to the bull pen. I believe this is about 43 miles. 
