Luciano136 - Jun 19, 2006 4:16 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2006
South Kaibab-Phantom Ranch-Bright Angel
Hiked the day before Memorial day. Camped right outside the south rim entrance. Woke up around 5am to a chilly 31F. After packing up the the tent, breakfast, etc., we left the South Kaibab trailhead at 7am. We really took our time going down to take pictures and save our energy for the hike out. Arrived at Phantom Ranch at about 11:30am. Laid out at Bright Angel Creek and cooked some food. Started the hike out around 3pm (Bright Angel). Temps were mild and we were out around 9pm; last mile started hurting a bit. Passed several people in trouble on their way out; hope they made it out ok. Some pics are here:
I (very) mistakenly thought that the Grand Canyon wouldn't hold much appeal to me. I thought it would be too touristy for my liking. But, on my first visit to the Phoenix area I decided that I should go see it anyways. I was completely awestruck at the scale of it. Pictures can ever do justice to it. The hike to the Colorado River was one of my most memorable days in the great outdoors!
Tracy - May 5, 2006 9:53 pm Date Climbed: Apr 22, 2005
1st time- down and up south side; 2nd thru 4th time-rim2rim
The first time I hiked the "Big Ditch" was with Bristol Ellington, Michael Tassi, Scott Majewski, and Greg Toth (4 coworkers). We hiked down the South Kaibab Trail on 4/21/05, spent the night at Bright Angel Campground, and hiked up Bright Angel Trail on 4/22/05. On the way up Bristol and I took the old historic short cut from just above Devils Corkscrew to the East Tonto Trail just east of where it intersects with the Bright Angel Trail.
The second time was on 5/18/07 when I hiked South Rim to North Rim (6:00 am to 8:30 pm via Bright Angel and North Kaibab) with my son Lance, my brother Barton and his daughter Chelsea, my brother-in-law Michael and his 11-year old son Zachary, Steve Stembridge, and Scott Jarvis. We met up with 6 of my coworkers (the same 4 coworkers from my 2005 trip plus Steve Dush & Eddie Dichter) for a couple of hours at Cottonwood Campground who are doing a 3-day North Rim to South Rim backpacking trip. I told them where I had parked their vehicle and they told me where they had parked mine so we could swap vehicles.
The third time was another south to north R2R on 5/23/2008 with Scott Jarvis again but this time we were joined by Sally Ihmels, Mo Jadid and Rod Streets. We had much cooler temps than in '07 and we enjoyed rain and snow showers coming up the north side.
The fourth time was with a big group of 53 people (Ned Shamo chartered a bus from Boulder City). We went to the north rim on Thursday night the 19th and started hiking at 1:15 am on the 20th. I hiked with Steven Stembridge and when we got to within 2 miles of the south rim, I asked Steven if he wanted to do a side hike over to "The Battleship," a significant butte west of Indian Gardens. He declined, but offered to wait for me at the 1.5-mile resthouse. He even took my pack to the resthouse while I took a trekking pole, two nalgenes, and a walkie-talkie with me in "travel-light" mode. I ended up losing all of the above equipment when I set them down just past the saddle thinking I would easily find them on my way back.
My favorite hike in the canyon was with my Dad in the 1970's. We hiked up Spencer Canyon to Merriwhitica (sp?) Springs. The creek coming out of the canyon had good-sized fish in it and we ate some of the wild water cress growing along the creek bed.
Went with a group who many of which had done the Rim-Rim-Rim before and ended up getting to hike half the way with Gerry and Jennifer Roach! It took 17.5 hrs at a moderate pace with short breaks. I ran about 4-5 miles out of the 44 mile day. I have felt worse on mountains, but this is a different kind of pain. The final 4700' back to the South rim was killer. See my TR.
Quadaxial - Apr 16, 2006 7:09 pm Date Climbed: Jan 14, 2005
January is the perfect time for the Grand Canyon!
Left the South Rim via the Bright Angel Trail. Perfect weather the whole way. Very crowded and icy at the top, but not too bad below Skeleton Point. Saw the Grand Canyon Maverick on our way down.
Bill562 - Apr 5, 2006 3:43 am Date Climbed: Apr 3, 2006
Took the Tanner down to the Colorado, followed the Escalante Route over to Hance Rapids, then took the Tonto up to the Grandview and the Grandview out of the canyon. Took it slow... 5 days. Excellent hiking, narrow trails, excellent exposure, a slot canyon, 50ft vertical climb w/ 45lb pack, and compacted snow climbing w/ wicked exposure at the end. Gotta love it!
sbkelley - Mar 23, 2006 3:53 am Date Climbed: Mar 13, 2006
Route Climbed: New Hance to Grandview Point loop
One of many trips that I've done down the Canyon - this was done via the Red Canyon/Grandview Loop with camps at Hance Rapids and Horseshoe Mesa. A foot of snow on the rim slowed us down and made the New Hance Trail trickier to follow than usual. Great weather, though. I know I'll keep coming back again and again.
Route Climbed: Bright Angel Trail Date Climbed: June 1991
On vacation with my family we took the Bright Angel Trail to the bottom and back up. It was a great time. I remember it being very hot and I had no water. I would love to go back.
Route Climbed: South Kaibab/ Bright Angel Trails Date Climbed: April 9-13, 2005
When we first arrived at the Southern rim of the Canyon it was snowing so we held up in a hotel for the night. The next day the storm and the snow had gone and we began our decent of the South Kaibab trail to Phantom Ranch. We stayed on the bottom of the Canyon for two nights and enjoyed the scenery and the Lemonade at the Phantom Ranch cafe. The hike out on the Bright Angel Trail was actually pleasant until it got later in the day and it stared to warm up. Watching the stupid tourists coming down the trail in tennis shoes and carrying bottles of Sparklets water was amusing.
I would love to go back and do this hike again or to maybe do a North Rim to South Rim trip.
Route Climbed: Bright Angel Trail/South Kaibab Date Climbed: March 2000
Started hiking with my wife Mary at 5:30 AM. Some ice on trail. Incredible scenery and hiking. You haven't seen the Grand Canyon until you have hiked down into it. One of my favorite day hikes ever.
Route Climbed: R2R via North Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails Date Climbed: September 30, 2005
What an incredible experience! This was a brother's trip across the Grand Canyon in 1 day. We started on the North Rim as recommended on many trail report pages and descended down 5000' over 14 miles to the Colorado River. The trail is relatively easy with the only thing to watch for is mule dung and the occasional rattlesnake. We ascended via the Bright Angel trail - a 4000' gain over 7 miles. In total, 23 miles in 12 hours.
The NPS does a great job of warning people not to do a cross canyon trip let alone a trip from the Rim down to the river. You definitely have to be in shape for this one, but it's a rewarding experience. We met the wife of old timer named Maverick (79 years old) who has hiked 1000 mile this summer in the Canyon and has completed numerous Rim to Rim trips. I hope I can do that when I'm 79....
Luciano136 - Jun 19, 2006 4:16 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2006
South Kaibab-Phantom Ranch-Bright AngelHiked the day before Memorial day. Camped right outside the south rim entrance. Woke up around 5am to a chilly 31F. After packing up the the tent, breakfast, etc., we left the South Kaibab trailhead at 7am. We really took our time going down to take pictures and save our energy for the hike out. Arrived at Phantom Ranch at about 11:30am. Laid out at Bright Angel Creek and cooked some food. Started the hike out around 3pm (Bright Angel). Temps were mild and we were out around 9pm; last mile started hurting a bit. Passed several people in trouble on their way out; hope they made it out ok. Some pics are here:
http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e378/luciano136/
Other%20-%20Hikes-Mountains/AZ%20-%20Grand%20Canyon%20rim%20to%20river%20-%20May28th%202006/
Stuart B - Jun 9, 2006 5:53 pm
Bright AngelHiked the bright angel trail twice. Once in 120 degrees in august, once at easter with snow on the canyon walls.
Joerg Marretsch - May 25, 2006 7:53 pm Date Climbed: Jun 8, 2003
South Kaibab - Phantom Ranch - Bright AngelAn awesome and hot adventure.
Wandering Sole Images - May 16, 2006 1:28 am Date Climbed: Dec 10, 2002
Route Climbed: South Kaibab in, South Kaibab outI (very) mistakenly thought that the Grand Canyon wouldn't hold much appeal to me. I thought it would be too touristy for my liking. But, on my first visit to the Phoenix area I decided that I should go see it anyways. I was completely awestruck at the scale of it. Pictures can ever do justice to it. The hike to the Colorado River was one of my most memorable days in the great outdoors!
Tracy - May 5, 2006 9:53 pm Date Climbed: Apr 22, 2005
1st time- down and up south side; 2nd thru 4th time-rim2rimThe first time I hiked the "Big Ditch" was with Bristol Ellington, Michael Tassi, Scott Majewski, and Greg Toth (4 coworkers). We hiked down the South Kaibab Trail on 4/21/05, spent the night at Bright Angel Campground, and hiked up Bright Angel Trail on 4/22/05. On the way up Bristol and I took the old historic short cut from just above Devils Corkscrew to the East Tonto Trail just east of where it intersects with the Bright Angel Trail.
The second time was on 5/18/07 when I hiked South Rim to North Rim (6:00 am to 8:30 pm via Bright Angel and North Kaibab) with my son Lance, my brother Barton and his daughter Chelsea, my brother-in-law Michael and his 11-year old son Zachary, Steve Stembridge, and Scott Jarvis. We met up with 6 of my coworkers (the same 4 coworkers from my 2005 trip plus Steve Dush & Eddie Dichter) for a couple of hours at Cottonwood Campground who are doing a 3-day North Rim to South Rim backpacking trip. I told them where I had parked their vehicle and they told me where they had parked mine so we could swap vehicles.
The third time was another south to north R2R on 5/23/2008 with Scott Jarvis again but this time we were joined by Sally Ihmels, Mo Jadid and Rod Streets. We had much cooler temps than in '07 and we enjoyed rain and snow showers coming up the north side.
The fourth time was with a big group of 53 people (Ned Shamo chartered a bus from Boulder City). We went to the north rim on Thursday night the 19th and started hiking at 1:15 am on the 20th. I hiked with Steven Stembridge and when we got to within 2 miles of the south rim, I asked Steven if he wanted to do a side hike over to "The Battleship," a significant butte west of Indian Gardens. He declined, but offered to wait for me at the 1.5-mile resthouse. He even took my pack to the resthouse while I took a trekking pole, two nalgenes, and a walkie-talkie with me in "travel-light" mode. I ended up losing all of the above equipment when I set them down just past the saddle thinking I would easily find them on my way back.
My favorite hike in the canyon was with my Dad in the 1970's. We hiked up Spencer Canyon to Merriwhitica (sp?) Springs. The creek coming out of the canyon had good-sized fish in it and we ate some of the wild water cress growing along the creek bed.
shknbke - Apr 25, 2006 10:36 pm Date Climbed: Apr 22, 2006
Rim-Rim-Rim via KaibabWent with a group who many of which had done the Rim-Rim-Rim before and ended up getting to hike half the way with Gerry and Jennifer Roach! It took 17.5 hrs at a moderate pace with short breaks. I ran about 4-5 miles out of the 44 mile day. I have felt worse on mountains, but this is a different kind of pain. The final 4700' back to the South rim was killer. See my TR.
Quadaxial - Apr 16, 2006 7:09 pm Date Climbed: Jan 14, 2005
January is the perfect time for the Grand Canyon!Left the South Rim via the Bright Angel Trail. Perfect weather the whole way. Very crowded and icy at the top, but not too bad below Skeleton Point. Saw the Grand Canyon Maverick on our way down.
Bill562 - Apr 5, 2006 3:43 am Date Climbed: Apr 3, 2006
Grand View hikeHiked with my 10 year old down Grand View trail
KevinEldon - Mar 26, 2006 3:05 am
Tanner to GrandviewTook the Tanner down to the Colorado, followed the Escalante Route over to Hance Rapids, then took the Tonto up to the Grandview and the Grandview out of the canyon. Took it slow... 5 days. Excellent hiking, narrow trails, excellent exposure, a slot canyon, 50ft vertical climb w/ 45lb pack, and compacted snow climbing w/ wicked exposure at the end. Gotta love it!
sbkelley - Mar 23, 2006 3:53 am Date Climbed: Mar 13, 2006
Route Climbed: New Hance to Grandview Point loopOne of many trips that I've done down the Canyon - this was done via the Red Canyon/Grandview Loop with camps at Hance Rapids and Horseshoe Mesa. A foot of snow on the rim slowed us down and made the New Hance Trail trickier to follow than usual. Great weather, though. I know I'll keep coming back again and again.
cp0915 - Feb 16, 2006 6:43 pm
Grand CanyonA number of things (including quite a few of the temples) ~
-Cheops Pyramid
-O'Neil Butte (2x)
-Coronado Butte
-Escalante Butte
-Cardenas Butte
-The Sinking Ship (2x)
-Whites Butte
-Unnamed Butte (6,633)
-Cedar Mountain
-Grandview Benchmark
-Desert View Point
-and The Battleship;
...a number of times, over a number of years. I've also done some canyoneering in Marble Canyon.
A beautiful place that everyone should see at least once (but preferably every year).
Tbacon251 - Jan 18, 2006 2:27 am
Route Climbed: Bright Angel Trail Date Climbed: June 1991On vacation with my family we took the Bright Angel Trail to the bottom and back up. It was a great time. I remember it being very hot and I had no water. I would love to go back.
Brett A - Jan 14, 2006 1:22 am
Route Climbed: Bright Angel Date Climbed: 1/12/062.5hrs down, 3hrs up. First time in the canyon, pretty amazing.
Rileywyna - Jan 12, 2006 1:37 pm
Route Climbed: Bright Angel Date Climbed: may 1996With my wife to be on a trip to Vegas. Made it within a 1/2 hour of the bottom before we thought it best to turn around. An amazing place!!!!!
SawtoothSean - Jan 6, 2006 2:59 am
Route Climbed: South Rim to South Rim Run Date Climbed: 5-5-05Down Bright Angel to Phantom and Back up Kaibab in 4+ hours. Great scenic run
Smith93 - Jan 2, 2006 4:52 am
Route Climbed: South Kaibab/ Bright Angel Trails Date Climbed: April 9-13, 2005When we first arrived at the Southern rim of the Canyon it was snowing so we held up in a hotel for the night. The next day the storm and the snow had gone and we began our decent of the South Kaibab trail to Phantom Ranch. We stayed on the bottom of the Canyon for two nights and enjoyed the scenery and the Lemonade at the Phantom Ranch cafe. The hike out on the Bright Angel Trail was actually pleasant until it got later in the day and it stared to warm up. Watching the stupid tourists coming down the trail in tennis shoes and carrying bottles of Sparklets water was amusing.
I would love to go back and do this hike again or to maybe do a North Rim to South Rim trip.
Holsti97 - Dec 21, 2005 12:12 pm
Route Climbed: Bright Angel Trail/South Kaibab Date Climbed: March 2000Started hiking with my wife Mary at 5:30 AM. Some ice on trail. Incredible scenery and hiking. You haven't seen the Grand Canyon until you have hiked down into it. One of my favorite day hikes ever.
Michel C - Nov 28, 2005 12:39 am
Route Climbed: S. Kaibab Trail Date Climbed: Nov 2005Very nice souvenirs, and very beautiful trail..
eviltwinash - Nov 7, 2005 2:44 pm
Route Climbed: South Kaibab in, Bright Angel out Date Climbed: Nov 2-3, 2005Perfect time to hike. Not too cold up top and almost didn't need a sleeping bag at the bottom.
rleclair - Oct 6, 2005 2:35 pm
Route Climbed: R2R via North Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails Date Climbed: September 30, 2005What an incredible experience! This was a brother's trip across the Grand Canyon in 1 day. We started on the North Rim as recommended on many trail report pages and descended down 5000' over 14 miles to the Colorado River. The trail is relatively easy with the only thing to watch for is mule dung and the occasional rattlesnake. We ascended via the Bright Angel trail - a 4000' gain over 7 miles. In total, 23 miles in 12 hours.
The NPS does a great job of warning people not to do a cross canyon trip let alone a trip from the Rim down to the river. You definitely have to be in shape for this one, but it's a rewarding experience. We met the wife of old timer named Maverick (79 years old) who has hiked 1000 mile this summer in the Canyon and has completed numerous Rim to Rim trips. I hope I can do that when I'm 79....