My First Grand Canyon Backpack

[cindyl]

I'm ready - and I got permits. Six, to be exact - so I need five more participants to make this a "go." In the Canyon on Nov. 5, out on Nov. 8.

So here is the plan:

Thursday: Drive to the canyon and get a good night's sleep.
Friday: South Kaibab trail 7.5 miles to the Bright Angel Campground (4,800' down)
Saturday: Hang out at Bright Angel Campground, recover, or likely dayhike around the area.
Sunday: Bright Angel Trail to Indian Gardens Campground - 4.5 miles (1,400' up) - day trip out to Plateau Point for sunset
Monday: Bright Angel Trail to the rim - 4.5 miles (3,400' up)

We will return on Monday afternoon.

Anyone want to come with?

[cindyl]

@oliverr99 I'm considering either camping or hoteling it on Thursday night. If you're interested in hotelling it - then we could share a two-bed room to make it a little less spendy.

@Jim_H Yes - you can come and not spend the final night at Indian Gardens. I'd like it if most everyone stayed together for the duration, but if anyone else has this idea, let me know - I can and will make exceptions.

I'm also considering a couple of meals at Phantom Ranch Canteen. Anyone else interested in that idea?

[oliverr99]

Ok Cindy, I was approved for a sub on Friday and Monday!!! YEAH! So I would be more than happy to share the cost of the hotel, if you also prefer that, I can go either way. Also I am interested in a meal at Phantom Ranch, never ate there, and thought that would be cool, plus one less meal to carry. I do know I won't be able to live Phx on Thursday until after 3:30, if you also want to carpool. We can discuss that later. or on PM.

[Jim]

My commitment is tentative, but I want to do an overnight in the Canyon before I leave here so I will plan on it. If you have the necessary numbers of people who can hard-commit, then I can "cancel" so they can all commit. I want to go, but that is far out for me to be firm on due to school. I believe the per-person cost for the permit will be $5 a night, so $10 for 2 nights at Bright Angel CG, plus the proportion of the initial reservation fee. A South Kaibab-Bright Angel CG-loop should be fun. I hope it won't be too cold down there, but I guess November will have to do. I was hoping to get out in early to Mid-October and do this while it was still warm enough to swim in the old crick. Maybe I'll day hike it instead at that time. I would be interested in eating at the ranch, what are prices like?

[azbackpackr]

I'm told the stew is better than the steak. I think it is around 20 to 30 bucks. I hear there is a huge amount of food, side dishes, etc. I was down there one time camping at BA campground, and they said they had extra if we wanted to eat there, but it was too expensive for me at that time.

[big_load]

I'm told the stew is better than the steak.

The stew smells SO good. We didn't get to eat any, but we had our revenge. The Ranch lost power and the poor visitors were freezing with whatever gear the rangers could scrounge up (it got down to the low 20's).

[Randal_Schulhauser]

Sorry, as much as I'd like to go, I have Phoenix Coyotes season tickets and one of the premier games is on Saturday 11/6. Gotta go see Sydney Crosby and the rest of the Penguins take on the 'Yotes... http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/schedule.htm

[azbackpackr]

I myself just got a big talking-to from my boss about putting in for so much time off. She did have a little kindness, though. She gathered up my stack of time-off request slips, and told me to number them in the order of importance. I put my GC trip in late Oct. as my choice #1, of course!!

So, I really don't think it's gonna fly for me to get those days off in Nov!

[hikeitoff]

WOW , i think i best pass this time .I just started hiking..BUT the day i get to hike the Grand Canyon is going to be one of the bests days in my life.I hope you have a wonderful experience .Be Safe

[oliverr99]

And I prefer to hike out from Indian Gardens. I think that will help me out a lot!!

[cindyl]

sebeavs & msmith1120: Care to introduce yourselves? I see that you've recently joined the site. I know that I've been telling quite a few hikers about this trip and that the sign-up was here so I'm wondering if I know you...

[azbackpackr]

Cindy you need to set it up to collect money from people before they are actually on your permanent list. They send you a pm, you give them your snail mail. Make it more than what it actually cost you for the permit, then you can even reimburse the extra $ at trailhead if you want to. Sorta prevents a bunch of BFs signing up. People can really mess with you on these internet hiking sites. That is why some ABC leaders are now charging $65 for a 3 day GC backpack, and they reimburse at trailhead. Gets rid of those who have no real idea what "commitment" means.

[cindyl]

Good tip, Elizabeth. I'll try that.

[Jim]

I have 4 weeks of on call Jury duty starting 10/30, so I won't commit to anything.

[big_load]

I have 4 weeks of on call Jury duty

That's a lot. Is it Grand Jury? Those are usually longer around here.

[Jim]

Some kind of Federal thing in Prescott.

[big_load]

Some kind of Federal thing in Prescott

I hope they let you bring a computer on days that you have to go in.

[azbackpackr]

Hah. I got a letter for that Prescott thing one time. I called them and told them how far I live from Prescott, and at the time did not have a reliable vehicle, plus kids to take care of at home. I got out of it extremely easily. Of course, if you want to do it, more power to ya. I just never have time, so I have never done any kind of jury duty.

[Al_HikesAZ]

As I once again help to careen a thread wildly off topic. . .
I always wear a suit and tie when I get called for jury duty in Superior Court. I usually get called in a pool for a criminal case. I never survive voir dire and get struck by a peremptory challenge by Defense Counsel. No way do they want a grumpy looking old guy in a suit and tie deciding the fate of their young punk dirtbag client. So I do my duty, spend a day reading some exciting tax journals, and go home.

Big_load - I got called for Federal Grand Jury once. It was every other Wednesday for 6 months. I would have liked to have done that, but I did not get selected.

[cindyl]

I've got called a couple of times for Federal Grand Jury - but I always claim financial hardship, since my company will only pay me for three days of Jury Duty. I've gotten out of it every time.

[cindyl]

btw: I got a PM from msmith1120 - she's in Take A Hike and I met her after she did Mount Wrightson. She's in.

I haven't heard from sebeavs yet.