South Kaibab/Bright Angel Loop. Mid March 2001. Second time in GC for us. Great backpack as well but much more crowded than the Hermit/Boucher loop in November year before. Great weather during the 3 days. Phantom Ranch area is a nice place to chill by the Colorado (on a sandy beach). Saw a bighorn sheep on The River Trail (name??) portion of the loop. Snapped many a picture of tourists on mule-back clad in "Mule Rider" (bright yellow, huge letters) rain parkas.
Want to come back to do a rim to rim backpack and would love to see more of the Tonto trail.
Hermit/Boucher Loop. Early Nov. 2000: My wife and I backpacked this little loop over 3 (easy pace) days. A classic backpacking trip!!! Beautiful scenery. Rain and hail on day 1, perfect weather for rest of time.
Route Climbed: Hermit-Boucher Loop Date Climbed: October 27-29, 2002
Great Hike!!! 25 or so miles with plenty of vert. One might consider bringing a rope for lowering packs if they descend Boucher. Hikers shold be comfortable with a long airy traverse. Fantastic views the whole way. Lots of privacy on the Boucher Rapids.
Route Climbed: South Kiabab, Bright Angel, New Hance, Grandview, Tonto Hermits trail Date Climbed: variouse dates
1990 April-Down Kiabab up Bright Angel 3 days, Age 13
1990 September- Down Hermits, across Tonto, up Bright Angel 4 Days, Age 13
1991 March-Down South Kiabab, up North Kiabab, Down North Kiabab up South Kiabab-3 days, Age 14
1992 January 2-Grandview Trail-1 day, age 15
1992-March-Down Grand View, looped around Horshoe Mesa on the Tonto Trail, up Grandview-3 days, Age 15
1993 January-portion of New Hance Trail-1 day, age 16
2000 December-Down South Kiabab, portion of Clear Creek Trail, up Bright Angel, age 23, 3 days
I have done 5 backpacing trips and 2 day trips in the Canyon. The first time was when I was 13 in the 6th grade. We hiked down the South Kiabab trail and up the Bright angel, a total of 3 days. My second trip I was still 13. We hiked down the Hermits trail, across the Tonto trrail and up the Bright Angel trail, took 4 days and a total of 32 miles. My 3rd trip I was 15. The first day we hiked down the South Kiabab and up the North Kiabab to Cottonwood Camp. The next day we hiked in the snow up the north kiabab trail, not making it to the rim. The next day hiked to Bright Angel camp and the next day hiked out along the South Kiabab. My Fourth trip we took 3 days, I was about 16. We hiked to Horseshoe Mesa and around the Mesa along the Tonto Trail. My fifth trip was December of 2000. We hiked down the South Kiabab and spent 2 nights there. The second day was a day trip along the Clear Creak trail and back to camp. The next day we hiked out along the Bright Angle trail. My 2 day trips were along the New Hanse trail in January (in a foot of snow) and the Grandview trail to Horshshoe mesa in Januany (in a foot of snow).
Route Climbed: South Kaibab down, Bright Angel up Date Climbed: July 1974
This was my very first backpack trip when I was 14. Went with a friend, his brother, and his dad. Left early in A.M. going down to try to avoid heat. Once we reached the Colorado River it was very hot so we decided to cool our feet in the river, very, very cold. Spent a couple of nights camping and playing just down the creek from Phantom Ranch. Started up the Bright Angel Trail at dusk and walked at night, under a full moon, to Indian Garden. Layed our bags an the ground for a few hours of sleep and headed up the rest of the way in the morning. Awesome memory
Route Climbed: Bright Angel Trail Date Climbed: June 1993
I hiked together with 2 companions from South Rim down to Phantom Ranch, where we spent 1 night in our tent. The next day I was thinking about taking the North Kaibab Route up to North Rim alone, because my companions did not have time for it. But because I was not sure, how secure it was to hike alone as woman, I followed my both companions the same way back to South Rim on Bright Angel Trail.
Pay attention to curious and hungry animals down in the valley. I left my backpack only for 10 minutes alone on the floor, and they even opened the zipper of my backpack while looking for food .....
We had not made any reservation in advance (neither for the campingground nor for the trail), but got a campingplace and a permission for the trail because some reservations expired.
rpc - Oct 30, 2002 2:38 pm
Route Climbed: Two Date Climbed: TwiceSouth Kaibab/Bright Angel Loop. Mid March 2001. Second time in GC for us. Great backpack as well but much more crowded than the Hermit/Boucher loop in November year before. Great weather during the 3 days. Phantom Ranch area is a nice place to chill by the Colorado (on a sandy beach). Saw a bighorn sheep on The River Trail (name??) portion of the loop. Snapped many a picture of tourists on mule-back clad in "Mule Rider" (bright yellow, huge letters) rain parkas.
Want to come back to do a rim to rim backpack and would love to see more of the Tonto trail.
Hermit/Boucher Loop. Early Nov. 2000: My wife and I backpacked this little loop over 3 (easy pace) days. A classic backpacking trip!!! Beautiful scenery. Rain and hail on day 1, perfect weather for rest of time.
markmay - Oct 30, 2002 2:05 pm
Route Climbed: Hermit-Boucher Loop Date Climbed: October 27-29, 2002Great Hike!!! 25 or so miles with plenty of vert. One might consider bringing a rope for lowering packs if they descend Boucher. Hikers shold be comfortable with a long airy traverse. Fantastic views the whole way. Lots of privacy on the Boucher Rapids.
Steven Cross - Aug 6, 2002 6:52 pm
Route Climbed: South Kiabab, Bright Angel, New Hance, Grandview, Tonto Hermits trail Date Climbed: variouse dates1990 April-Down Kiabab up Bright Angel 3 days, Age 13
1990 September- Down Hermits, across Tonto, up Bright Angel 4 Days, Age 13
1991 March-Down South Kiabab, up North Kiabab, Down North Kiabab up South Kiabab-3 days, Age 14
1992 January 2-Grandview Trail-1 day, age 15
1992-March-Down Grand View, looped around Horshoe Mesa on the Tonto Trail, up Grandview-3 days, Age 15
1993 January-portion of New Hance Trail-1 day, age 16
2000 December-Down South Kiabab, portion of Clear Creek Trail, up Bright Angel, age 23, 3 days
I have done 5 backpacing trips and 2 day trips in the Canyon. The first time was when I was 13 in the 6th grade. We hiked down the South Kiabab trail and up the Bright angel, a total of 3 days. My second trip I was still 13. We hiked down the Hermits trail, across the Tonto trrail and up the Bright Angel trail, took 4 days and a total of 32 miles. My 3rd trip I was 15. The first day we hiked down the South Kiabab and up the North Kiabab to Cottonwood Camp. The next day we hiked in the snow up the north kiabab trail, not making it to the rim. The next day hiked to Bright Angel camp and the next day hiked out along the South Kiabab. My Fourth trip we took 3 days, I was about 16. We hiked to Horseshoe Mesa and around the Mesa along the Tonto Trail. My fifth trip was December of 2000. We hiked down the South Kiabab and spent 2 nights there. The second day was a day trip along the Clear Creak trail and back to camp. The next day we hiked out along the Bright Angle trail. My 2 day trips were along the New Hanse trail in January (in a foot of snow) and the Grandview trail to Horshshoe mesa in Januany (in a foot of snow).
keema - Aug 6, 2002 11:20 am
Route Climbed: South Kaibab down, Bright Angel up Date Climbed: July 1974This was my very first backpack trip when I was 14. Went with a friend, his brother, and his dad. Left early in A.M. going down to try to avoid heat. Once we reached the Colorado River it was very hot so we decided to cool our feet in the river, very, very cold. Spent a couple of nights camping and playing just down the creek from Phantom Ranch. Started up the Bright Angel Trail at dusk and walked at night, under a full moon, to Indian Garden. Layed our bags an the ground for a few hours of sleep and headed up the rest of the way in the morning. Awesome memory
Rahel Maria Liu - Aug 6, 2002 4:50 am
Route Climbed: Bright Angel Trail Date Climbed: June 1993I hiked together with 2 companions from South Rim down to Phantom Ranch, where we spent 1 night in our tent. The next day I was thinking about taking the North Kaibab Route up to North Rim alone, because my companions did not have time for it. But because I was not sure, how secure it was to hike alone as woman, I followed my both companions the same way back to South Rim on Bright Angel Trail.
Pay attention to curious and hungry animals down in the valley. I left my backpack only for 10 minutes alone on the floor, and they even opened the zipper of my backpack while looking for food .....
We had not made any reservation in advance (neither for the campingground nor for the trail), but got a campingplace and a permission for the trail because some reservations expired.