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| Backpack | 30.60 Miles |
8,770 AEG |
| | Backpack | 30.60 Miles | 2 Days | | |
| 8,770 ft AEG | | 10 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Ok, this one was a little bit awesome and a little bit debacle. I started down South Kaibab at 4:15 a.m. Unfortunately within the first ten minutes one of my trekking pole wrist straps snapped. I love the poles, but the timing wasn't auspicious.
During my time on the Kaibab I was overtaken by between 20 and 30 trail runners, so it's definitely R2R season. Windy as all get out with a lot of dust in the air. Made it to Phantom Ranch ~ 6:30 and hung out there for about 30 minutes. It's a different scene down there with meals being taken in little plastic containers and all socially distanced.
Next came the part I was really excited for. After a brief jaunt up North Kaibab, I made the right hand turn towards Clear Creek. While not as well maintained as the Park's main trails, the trail quality was outstanding for an AZ desert trail (until the final ~mile where it's a bit sketch). After a beautiful ~ 2 miles climbing up to the Tonto platform, what ensued was an exposed and beautiful hike along the platform. The views were great, though impaired somewhat by the dust still hanging in the air.
I took it slow and felt every bit of the heat. Not sure of temps, but it was 103 in the Valley, so I assume is was around that. I hike with an umbrella, and it really helped me out. I don't know if it was the solitude (saw no one the entire time) or the different perspective, but I found the trail much more beautiful than when I've hiked the Tonto Trail between Kaibab and Hermit. My camera skills and my camera just don't do it justice.
Clear Creek itself is flowing well and helped cool me down. Note: It's incredibly windy down there. I was thankful it settled down after dusk, or I'd not have been able to sleep.
The only downside to hiking this early in the season is that I can't hack the higher temps, and so hike early. That left me with a lot of time to kill after arriving at Clear Creek, but no real energy to do more hiking.
Wanting to avoid a hike back up Kaibab too late in the morning, I got a really early start. Although I was trucking up Kaibab, I was fatigued enough that I forgot my glasses on the trail. By the time I realized my vision was fuzzy, I'd come too far to hike back down safely. So trekking pole repairs and fingers crossed for GCNP Lost and Found in my future. . .
I'm not sure how much solitude you get at Clear Creek when it really cools down, but I think I'd do it again during the winter season rather than with triple digit temps in the valley. With cooler temps, I think a trip down to the Colorado would be a lot of fun. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
