The Grand Canyon - Climbing Out

HighDesertWalker

HighDesertWalker

Joined
Mar 11, 2008
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The second day in the Canyon we made the 1,320 ft climb from Bright Angel Campground to Indian Garden Campground. This was an easy hike and much appreciated after the exhausting first day.

First we crossed the Silver Bridge back to the south side of the Colorado.

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Then we followed the River Trail west to the junction with Bright Angel trail. From the junction the trail proceded through some really nice, lush lower canyon country. There was a lot of water in the area and several stream crossings helped keep your feet cool.

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The biggest treat of the day was spotting five condors circling overhead. I managed to frame three of them for a photo:

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The morning of the third day we left Indian Garden for the 3,100 ft climb out of the Canyon to the Bright Angel trailhead. As we hiked south away from the Colorado the air was cool and the terrain was immersed in shade. We could see the morning sun illuminating the cliffs on the north side of the Canyon.

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After awhile, the trail began to climb more steeply:

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Soon we were on a seemingly endless series of switchbacks known as Jacob's Ladder:

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There were some interesting chimney structures near the Canyon rim:

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Finally, Bright Angel trailhead:

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Joe had made the final climb out in less than three hours. It took me over four hours, so Joe was waiting at the rim when I emerged. I was very pleased to have completed the three day trek and proceeded to clown a bit for the camera:

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Really great trek! I recommend it highly.
 
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Great pics of what looks like a wonderful trip. I've had the good fortune to kayak the Grand a couple of times-- 260 miles the first time 280 the second -- and can say that it's a spiritual place. It's hard not to feel the ghosts of the Anasazi while your down there. I count the song of the canyon wren among the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard.
 
Awesome, looks like fun. I was wondering if you were going to have to hike back up, after your last post of going down. Great pics, too.
 
Texas Slim said:
Great pics of what looks like a wonderful trip. I've had the good fortune to kayak the Grand a couple of times-- 260 miles the first time 280 the second -- and can say that it's a spiritual place. It's hard not to feel the ghosts of the Anasazi while your down there. I count the song of the canyon wren among the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard.
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That's quite a pair of float trips TS. Is it still possible to get permits for kayaking, or are river trips now limited to the big commercial rafts?
 
stingray4540 said:
Awesome, looks like fun. I was wondering if you were going to have to hike back up, after your last post of going down. Great pics, too.
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Know what you mean SR. Turns out there are a lot of ways to do the Canyon. When Joe and I headed down we were surprised to see a lot of folks with day packs. Turns out they had contracted to have mules carry the bulk of their gear down. Many of those folks stayed in the lodge a few days and rode back out on mules. You can make a luxury trip out of it by riding the mules both ways and staying at the lodge in between.

But then you'd have to post your story in a different forum. ;)
 
stingray4540 said:
Awesome, looks like fun. I was wondering if you were going to have to hike back up, after your last post of going down. Great pics, too.
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Actually, there's a famous quote by Hillary concerning the importance of completing a climb in both directions.

When asked how he felt about the fact that George Mallory may actually have reached the summit of Everest before he did, Edmund Hillary responded "These's a lot to be said for getting back". :D
 
Great pictures. I love the Grand Canyon, hiked it in 2001. Really an incredible place. Truly one of the wonders of the world. I would hate to go through life not having seen it!

Everyone in the US should go, at least once! I'll be back for sure.
 
You continue to inspire to get back into shape, HDW. Those pictures are breathtaking. :D
 
misanthropist said:
Great pictures. I love the Grand Canyon, hiked it in 2001. Really an incredible place. Truly one of the wonders of the world. I would hate to go through life not having seen it!

Everyone in the US should go, at least once! I'll be back for sure.
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It really is an unforgettable experience that leaves you wanting more. Joe and I will certainly go back again. Among other things, I want to try some new gear that should correct the equipment problems I had on the first trip. I also want to try a new Irish Whiskey I've discovered. Nothing better than sipping a fine whiskey while reading with a head lamp after a strenuous day on the trail. :thumbup:
 
Your pictures are awesome, I've still not hiked in but you've got me thinking. I'm another that believes 60 is the new 40!;)

Win
 
man.. more great pics....:eek: that place is just epic.... i haven't been there in years... my mom is from AZ...:D
 
Excellent pics!!! You make me want to drive up to the GC right now and start hiking!
 
HighDesertWalker said:
That's quite a pair of float trips TS. Is it still possible to get permits for kayaking, or are river trips now limited to the big commercial rafts?
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I'm sure you can still pick up a private permit but I'm equally sure the process is beyond what most would consider reasonable. Both trips I've made were on private permits and each time, the permit holder waited about ten years to receive their permit. The system has changed a bit over the years and I haven't kept track. I know there was a time when you had to re-up every year to remain on "the list" and at some point I think there was a fee added to be placed on the list, but I don't know the exact process at this time. What I do know, or at least can guess with reasonable certainty, is that the vast majority of trip permits are still issued to commercial outfitters. This has always been the case and as there's a lot of money involved, I don't imagine it will ever change. But there should be a better balance between private and commercial interests.

There was a time when the number of people capable of successfully completing a private trip through the Canyon was very small. With the boom in "extreme sports" and the incredible advances is boat development and boater skills sets, the number of people capable of such a trip has risen greatly. With that, you'd expect that the number of private permits available would increase accordingly but I suspect very little has changed.

At this time, I'd say your best chance to pick up a permit would be to take over a date that has been given up. From time to time, for a variety of reasons, groups will be unable to complete their trip as scheduled. When they cancel their trip, those dates become available on a first come first served basis. The biggest problem here it that you likely have very little time to pull your trip together. And while the number of people capable of putting together a 18 day, 280 mile trip has grown, the number of people who have the experience and willingness to put that kind of trip together in a week or two is still generally small.

So, as much as I hate to say it, if you really want to experience the Canyon from the bottom up, your best opportunity will be on a commercial trip. Be prepared for sticker shock as as a good trip will run around $6,000 per person. If you consider this option, PLEASE, do it right. No motorized trips! Take your time, enjoy the Canyon as it should be experienced with nothing but the canyon wrens to disturb the silence.

Also, if you think ten years is a long time to wait for an opportunity to paddle one of America's wild and scenic rivers, forget about the Selway River in Idaho. It's on a lottery system with only one private permit issued per day during it's season. I tried for 20 years with no success to "win the lottery." :eek:

Oh, one last thing. I made a misstatement in my first post. Our first trip was 240 miles with a take-out at Diamond Creek. Our second trip was 280 miles but we were picked up by a jet boat at Separation Canyon and ran the final 40 miles of flat water in high style. I can't tell you how exciting it was to hear that boat coming up canyon, knowing that after 18 days of cool or warm beer, that boat was going to be packed with ICE COLD brew. Wow! Beer never tasted better, even if it was a little earlier in the morning than I usually pop my first top!
 
Excellent pics!
The American southwest is so beautiful,i'm definitely visiting there some day!
:thumbup:
And as we just got an extra 2 feet of wet-soggy-snowshovel-snapping-snow yesterday pics that don't have white in them are much appreciated!
This thread and Pitdogs BC green-shots are really helping me survive til spring!
:D
 
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