Help planning 3 nights at Grand Canyon - Dec/Jan

[sscalzo]

Hello...
I haven't backpacked much at the Grand Canyon. I've gone to Havasupai falls a couple times but that's it. I have a couple friends coming into town over the xmas holiday and would like to plan a trip out for 3 nights.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good 3 night backpacking trip? Since my friends have never been to the Grand Canyon, I have narrowed down my destination to that park.

On backpacker.com, I found a write up on this hike but no pics...
"...This 31.5-mile trip, connecting the Tanner and Beamer Trails to the Little Colorado River, is for seasoned, fit hikers with solid navigation skills. If that's you, read on..."

I would think about 30 miles would be the max.

If you have experience backpacking the grand canyon, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,

Steve

[te_wa]

Havasu falls is not grand canyon. i mean, its so shallow. the quote from Backpacker sums it up. never been to GC? dont even try 35 miles.
im not sounding harsh here, im telling you the way it is.

[big_load]

Stick with the corridor trails on your first trip. The other trails will still be there when you have a better feel for it. I'd rate the corridor trails at about three times the effort of Havasu Falls.

[azbackpackr]

I agree regarding corridor trails, although a hike down Hermit Trail to Hermit Creek Camp would suit most fit backpackers on their first GC backpack.

Since I have bp'd the Canyon only once at that time of year, and I followed the usual 4 months in advance application for it, I'm not sure about availability. I assume it isn't a big issue? But on the other hand, you can't just assume you'll be able to get a permit for exactly what you want to do at this late date.

[nonot]

I agree w/ the others. Tanner to LCR and back might be a great 3 day trip, but is not good for your first attempt. Dec/Jan will bring significants amounts of snow/ice and will make upper Tanner quite dangerous. The trails themselves are pretty good as long as you are not acrophobic and can deal with being confused for a bit in some of the Beamer drainages.

[hikeaz]

Bad news: You are about 2 months behind in getting permits - Good news: Your proposed hike is in winter; which is the least-full time to hike in the Canyon.
Call the BCO ASAP @ 928-638-7875 between 1-5PM weekdays and ascertain what is available, THEN immediately fax in a request for those areas and dates.
Phone them the following day to verify that they are in receipt of your permit request.
Bright Angel Camp & Indian Gardens are not a genuine Canyon experience, I'd avoid them.
I'd suggest the Hermit Loop - night 1 at Hermit Creek camp. Next morning, day hike down Hermit Creek to see the Colorado and then back to camp (3-ish miles R/T). Then grab your gear and head over to Monument Creek (3.5 miles +/-) for night 2 camp. Side trips @ Monument: The short hike down the narrows from camp is pure scenic fun. Or, head up the main canyon about 1.75 miles to the headwall to see one of the most beautiful water falls anywhere in the Canyon. Night 3 could be at Horn Creek (about 8 miles from Monument) which would leave you about 7 miles to the Rim on your last day - or, if you can stand the (relative) hustle and bustle (think screaming boy scouts, etc,) of Indian Gardens, that could be your night 3 camp instead.
Note: This loop begins at Hermit's Rest and ends @ Bright Angel T/H - adjacent to BA Lodge. I beileve that the bus to Hermit's Rest ceases on 12/1, so you'd need a taxi or to run your own shuttle or one person hitch-hike to retreive the vehicle (rides are easy to come by, so this is a very viable option).
Check out the trip reports here at HAZ and on Kaibab.org.

[cabel]

South Kiabab to Bright Angel Campground then Bright Angel to Indian Gardens for the second night then out the next day.

[sundevilstormin]

Or BAC for two nights (can't beat the steak dinner!) then day hike up to Ribbon Falls or over toward Clear Creek

[azbackpackr]

That's the one I did the one time I did the BA/Kaibab. It was winter solstice. Very looong night, and no campfires allowed. I should have hiked up to the cantina at Phantom after they reopened it after 8:30 p.m. for some companionship as my companion (my son) fell asleep when it got dark at 5:30, and didn't wake up until it got light at about 7:00. That is way too long a night for me and that is why if I do winter backpacking I build a fire, so I don't go to the Canyon in winter, because fires are not allowed there.

And yes, you can buy a meal at the Cantina, if they have any left. You can also reserve a meal. They are very expensive, at least to me.

[big_load]

You can also reserve a meal. They are very expensive, at least to me.

They sure smell good, though. We could smell it all the way over at the campground, which made our dehydrated meals hard to choke down.

[dysfunction]

The beer's cold, and $4 was worth the price but the buck fifty for the blistex I'd forgotten was better spent..

and yea, it did smell good

[Davis2001r6]

You can never go wrong with Kurt's (hikeaz) advice. Tanner to the LC and back is not anything I would want to do in 4 days, especially not in winter with short days and cold mornings.

Another option I might add would be the Grandview - Tonto - S. Kaibab Loop. It's a little more remote than the Hermit to B.A Loop that Kurt was mentioning. It's a few miles longer as well and no trips to the Colorado river along the way but you see some great side canyons. Water shouldn't be too much of an issue on that in winter, but still pay attention were to fill up.

-TIM-

[dysfunction]

In response to davis2001r6:
It really wouldn't be too terribly difficult, on that loop, to go down S Kaibab to boat beach though if you really wanted to hit the river once during your trip. Especially if you were running a bit dry for the ascent.

[azbackpackr]

Wonder if this sscalzo guy is coming back?

I was thinking of putting in for that Tonto loop (Grandview to Kaibab) for the spring.

[greg]

do remember what time of year you're going too! while the canyon can be almost 30* hotter at the bottom in summer, it can be the exact opposite in winter and be much colder than anticipated at the bottom. also, you want to be prepared for snow as those trails can become mighty slick if they get icy!

hopefully the weather holds out for you and you can enjoy a nice trip! good luck :bigth:

[Davis2001r6]

Yes it can be mighty cold down there. I did the Escalante route one year and I don't know if we had a day above 40°, nights in the teens. Frozen everything in the morning as well as frozen bladders on the hike out. Add the fact that your camping in a side canyon 90% of the time and it may only get sun for an hour a day, some side canyons never get direct sunlight in winter.

[azbackpackr]

On the other hand, sometimes you start out hiking in snow on the Rim and you're wearing Tevas and shorts at the river later on the same day. That's been my experience in the fall, especially.

[Azbackcountry]

down south kaibab, overnight stay at phantom ranch and up B.A. next morning

Would that be a suitable 1st Grand Canyon hike?

[azbackpackr]

I think Phantom would be fun, but it's not backpacking. The original inquiry was about a backpacking trip. Incidentally, I've heard that the best way to get into Phantom is to inquire about cancellations.

What would be a great first bp trip in the Canyon for one person would be pure hell for another, so I don't think you can generalize about it. Truth is, most newbies have no idea how to train or how much to train for it.

On the other hand, just for an example, someone who spends a lot of time backpacking in California's High Sierra already has experience, and just may need a little info about desert hiking, water, etc.

[Al_HikesAZ]

down south kaibab, overnight stay at phantom ranch and up B.A. next morning
Would that be a suitable 1st Grand Canyon hike?

Young and strong - that's a great introductory trip - all the hiking and backpacking without water management issues.

When you're old like me, I like down SK to Bright Angel Campground, a rest day with maybe a daytrip to Upper Ribbon Falls and back to BAC , up to Indian Garden and out to Plateau Point and maybe west a little on the Tonto, then to Bright Angel Lodge and the Bar to ice my knees and take some liquid pain reliever. I hope they get rid of the guy that they had singing there last week he sucked.