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I'm planning a 4 day hike to Clearcreek in a few weeks. I work here at the park so I'm a veteran to the trails here.

My bizarre itenirary involves:

Day 1: Hiking down to Phantom via South Kaibab at dawn. Hanging out at the ranch and in the creek for the day. Late in the afternoon, I'll trek up to the camping line 2 miles up Clearcreek where I'll scout a camp. At some point in the evening my hiking buddy will meet up with me (he won't be hitting the South Kaibab until 4:30.

Day 2: We will hit the trail at dawn to the Clearcreek campsites. Should be hopefully 6 or 7 miles from the start. After setting up camp, we plan to get to Cheyava Falls and back.

Day 3: Back to the corridor camping line

Day 4: Out to the rim.

For any who have done this here's my question:

Is our Day 2 plan to ambitious for veteran canyon hikers? Basically with an early start, will we have the energy to hike 6 or 7 relatively flat miles, set up camp, grab a day pack, scramble four miles up to Cheyava and back by early evening? And even if so, will that fry us for the next two days of 6 miles then 9/10 miles?

In response to rangerruss' reply:

It depends on your fitness and the weather. It isn't totally crazy, but I'd allow another day for hot weather. Unless you're going fast, light, and very early, you'll be out in the heat a good part of Day 2. Your Day 3 is a good easy day, but if you're not used the sort of distance you plan on Day 2 the trip might seem like an ordeal, especially by the end of Day 4.

Happy trails!

I just got back from a 5 day Canyon hike doing the Tanner - Beamer - Little Colorado and back. It was dang hot! When you say leave camp early in the morning that needs to be predawn, were talking 4:00am if you want to be comfortable. I would even suggest hiking at night after sunset. With headlamps you should be fine. Sounds like a good trip though.

TIM

Another endorsement for nighthiking

thx for the advice folks.

i amended the itenerary in this way: ill meet my buddy at phantom in the evening and cook some grub. Then we'll hike as many miles on clearcreek as possible...all in the dark. I think like you folks said....pre-dawn and dusk will be our best hiking times...it is hitting 108 on the tonto platform right now....yikes.

Also, i took a scope out to see cheyava falls from the rim...it is starting to dwindle, we may cut the Cheyava part out if it isn't flowing good...i've seen dry walls at the Grand Canyon before don't need to scramble on boulders for 8 miles to see another

Kudos for the night hiking....full moon tonight at the canyon, great time to hit the trail.

In response to rangerruss' reply:
If you abort the Cheyava part you could still hike upstream to the ruins (+/- 1 mile), or if you're feeling good, a hike to the River and back would take most of a day and is pretty fun as well.

Hope you will have moonlight ! -- Initial part ( some stretches) of the trail to Clear Creek is rather rock & have some exposure (I say this only because you all are talking night hiking) - say upto ~ 2.5 miles or so ...Watch you footing...

Clear creek campsites are awesome No real shade or water between Phantom & Clear Creek