- Image by StormeTX via Flickr
Hiking the Grand Canyon is an experience like none other. It’s like hiking a mountain backwards. Instead of going up and then coming back down, you go down, way down, and then, when you are nice and tired, you have to come back up.
So, if and when you plan a hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, keep this added difficulty in mind.
Here are some additional tips that you need to be aware of when planning a hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon:
Tip #1: You can start your hike from the North rim or form the South rim.
Tip #2: If you like, you can start at one rim and end at the other rim; but, make sure that somebody is there to pick you up. Otherwise, you’ll have to do the whole thing twice.
Tip#3: Most people hike down from the South rim. A popular way to do the canyon is to take one day to hike down the South Kaibab trail, spending the night in the canyon, and then take two days to hike back out on the Bright Angel Trail.
Tip #4: Hiking the canyon during the summer months has its own special hazards. Temperatures can rise to well over 100°F during the day.
Tip #5: The temperature during the night, for those who plan to stay at the bottom, remains elevated due to heat radiation from the sandstone and limestone walls.
Tip #6: You must take into account, when planning your trip starting at the South rim, that there is virtually no water available on the trail either going down or coming back up. Plan on taking all the water that you will need. You can, if you like, get water from the Colorado River or another stream at the bottom of the canyon if you have a way of purifying it.
Tip #7: Consider the items on the the following list essentials for your hike: water, salty snacks, other food, first aid kit, map and compass, flashlight with batteries, spray bottle (to cool your skin), hat, sunscreen, whistle, rain gear (from mid July to early September).
Tip #8: Plan to take with you and drink a quart of water, or other fluid, for every hour that you are hiking. Remember that this is the desert. During the uphill climb, you’ll need even more water, as much as double that amount.
Tip #9: Not only must you drink to replenish fluid loss, you must also replace electrolyte loss to be really safe. I recommend that you take along some Gatorade powder or other electrolyte replacement product to add to your water.
Tip #10: Don’t wait until you feel thirsty. Use a hydration pack or keep a bottle of water in your hand. Take swigs on a continual basis.
Tip #11: Eat snacks constantly to keep up your energy. Include salty snacks and energy snacks like Clif bars.
Tip #12: Horses and mules have the right away. Stand back against the wall to let them pass, and obey all commands of the mule train guide.
Tip #13: Don’t envy the tourists riding the mules. By about half way down, they’ll be looking mighty saddle sore, and they’ll be envying you.
Tip #13: Start your trip down and your trip back up very early in the day, especially in the summer. To get a really go head start, take your flashlight and start before sun up. This way you will avoid the very hottest part of the day. You’ll also enjoy a unique experience: a Grand Canyon sunrise.
Tip #14: Go soak yourself. Whenever you find yourself near water get soaked. That’s right. Soak yourself and your clothes thoroughly. This will reduce your core body temperature and make hiking much more pleasant and safe.
Tip #15: Be nice to the Rangers and the rescuers. Stay safe and give them a break. We know they love their jobs, but they are very busy people, especially during the summer, rescuing idiots that failed to read and heed the rules.
Plan smart. Hike smart. Have fun hiking the Grand Canyon.
by Richard Davidian, Ph.D.
Tired of paying full price for outdoor gear?
Click here now for the latest REI deals.
———-
We welcome comments. Please join the conversation.
Please subscribe to our RSS Feed for more great outdoors tips and issues (top right corner).
Solo Backpacking: Antidote for a Frenzied Life
Learn to identify edible wild plants with Edible Wild Plants Cards.
Wholesale Backpacking Equipment
Follow me on Twitter for more great outdoors tips and issues.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
These are excellent tips! My wife and I hiked down a mountain in Virginia last summer and we failed to have enough water with us so we got dehydrated on the way back up. Let me tell you, I don’t think I’ve ever felt more drained and I was breathing so hard, I thought I might die. I said a prayer that my wife Dolores and I would get back safely. I should know better since I’ve been a hiker for years. Well, we got back but it took about two days to fully recover from that hike. My wife and I are both over 50 years of age and doing this kind of hiking is not a good thing! I hope we both learned our lesson. We drink lots of Gatorade now. It’s great.
{ 9 trackbacks }