HikeArizona.COM

Grand Canyon, AZ –As a result of a series of breaks in the Trans-Canyon Water Pipeline, Phantom Ranch at the bottom of Grand Canyon is currently experiencing a water shortage. Visitors hiking to Phantom Ranch must be self-sufficient and be prepared to carry or treat all drinking water.

In consultation with the National Park Service, Xanterra South Rim LLC has temporarily suspended its Phantom Ranch overnight accommodations and services.

All Grand Canyon National Park trails remain open. However, the National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning between 10 am Friday and 8 pm Sunday with temperatures reaching 114-117 degrees within the park along the Colorado River. The National Park Service encourages all hikers to be prepared and to Hike Smart. ('smart' would be not be down there)

The National Park Service expects pipeline repairs to be completed allowing normal Phantom Ranch operations to resume as early as Saturday, June 29. Visitors should call the recorded information hotline (get it?) for current status at (928)-638-7688.

All other park operations remain normal. Visitors planning a trip to Phantom Ranch in the next several days may also contact the park’s Backcountry Information Center (928)-638-7875 and/or Xanterra South Rim LLC (928)-638-2631.

('smart' would be not be down there)

Is that your own, or a NPS opinion?

Because the creek is still just fine and quite cold, so anyone can slip in and cool off very quickly, there are probably no drinks for sale at the ranch, but anyone with a filter can take water from the creek and stay hydrated well enough. If I lived nearby and wanted to head down, I would just try to be over the bridge by 11, and wouldn't leave until after the canyon is shady. I'd also probably carry a dirty bottle for wetting a head rag on the way out, but one can easily head down and do so smartly. I was only down there in 111 (my personal hottest temp ever), but I would have liked to have experienced hotter. Makes the creek more fun.

Jim_H wrote:

('smart' would be not be down there)

Is that your own, or a NPS opinion?

Because the creek is still just fine and quite cold, so anyone can slip in and cool off very quickly, there are probably no drinks for sale at the ranch, but anyone with a filter can take water from the creek and stay hydrated well enough. If I lived nearby and wanted to head down, I would just try to be over the bridge by 11, and wouldn't leave until after the canyon is shady. I'd also probably carry a dirty bottle for wetting a head rag on the way out, but one can easily head down and do so smartly. I was only down there in 111 (my personal hottest temp ever), but I would have liked to have experienced hotter. Makes the creek more fun.

Well, ok, but some can't tolerate it. I get migraines. I actually like the way heat feels, just sitting by the pool, or rowing a raft where I can keep my clothing wet, but if I hike or bike in it for more than an hour or so I get a migraine. I get migraines other times as well, so the triggers are unclear, but hiking in heat, almost always will get one.

Then don't go Liz, but that isn't something you would do with the water, either. It is no more or less smart for you if they have 75 degree water and gatorade taps every 1000' on the trail to Phantom, it is purely the heat. I could probably hike that (even out of shape right now) in 120 degrees, if they had taps of chilled water and gatorade every 1000', Throw in free bison steaks at the rest house, and massages on the Rim, and I would hike that every day!