[IOCA] Grand Canyon Backpacking

[roland vinyard]

Hi,
	Have a super time. The Grand Canyon is something I have always said  
no citizen of the US should ever miss, it is like required reading  
for citizenship. Yellowstone is the other place.

	But there is something that you should know. Overnight trips into  
the canyon are HIGHLY regulated. Day trips are not.
The one you want is surely already booked and has been for a long  
while. Here's what to do: get to the ranger station before they open  
(7am?), so you are one of the first in line. Ask them about  
backpacking trips. Normally nearly every one is full well ahead of  
time. If you are there Tuesday , Wednesday or Thursday, your changes  
are better. If things are normal, all is not lost. Frequently people  
do not show up for their reserved trip and they can issue you a  
permit a few hours later. If you are flexible on where you want to  
go, it will be easier. Trips to the bottom are the most popular. I  
can recommend the Hermit Trail, which sort of circumnavigates the  
canyon. I found that more interesting than just going to the bottom,  
though seeing the river was neat. I think the Hermit gave me a better  
feel for the canyon. The North Rim may have less overnight  trail  
traffic. I have not hiked there.

	Be sure to spend time at various overlooks at both sunrise and  
sunset. Things change fast with the light then and it is a neat  
experience as well as the most beautiful time. Clearing or coming  
storms also bring neat lighting conditions.

	Las Vegas is a horrible place, but still neat in its own peculiar  
glitzy way. Hoover Dam is  good. There are other parks that are fun  
as well. Here is one you may not know about which is my absolute  
favorite - Havasu Canyon. It is pretty popular too, as it should be,  
but since it is owned by Indians, a little more relaxed. Super  
camping, swimming beyond the best  you could ever imagine, good  
hiking though no official trails. You can't get lost. You can make a  
trip for there to the Colorado River - super scenic, and enters the  
Grand Canyon NP on the way. If  you had lots of time, I know of many  
spots  within a day's drive of LV that re very cool. For the first  
trip, the Grand is the best.

	If you want to know more, ask me.

Roland Vinyard
"The Bard Rocks"
roland at thebardrocks.com
518-673-3212
visit the web site: www.thebardrocks.com

On Jun 25, 2008, at 9:08 PM, Ragone_Andrew wrote:

> Summer is exciting. Deserts are exciting. Let's combine them!
>
> I'm heading out on a about a week long escapade to the Grand Canyon  
> this Summer, which should be nothing less than breathtaking (damn  
> hot weather). Here's my preliminary itinerary:
>
> Thurs, Aug 14:
>    Flight out to Las Vegas, meetup with others.
>    Explore the LV nightlife.
>    {Sleep @ LV Hostel}
>
> Fri, Aug 15:
>    Meander around Las Vegas and lose some dolla dolla bills.
>    {Sleep @ LV Hostel}
>
> Sat, Aug 16:
>    Depending on how much fun the trek is having in LV, we may have  
> left early in the morning. If not, we may straggle and check out a  
> few last things in LV and then headout on a roadtrip to Grand Canyon.
>    On the way, we will hit up a bunch of POI: Hoover Dam, other  
> national parks, etc.
>    Explore night features of GC upon arrival.
>    {Camping at a Grand Canyon Village area campground}
>
> Sun, Aug 17:
>    Become Grand Canyon Tourists (boo).
>    See the different acclaimed features. Probably descend into the  
> Canyon come evening.
>    {Perhaps the same GCV CG, else a campground in the canyon below  
> the rim}
>
> Mon, Aug 18 - Thurs, Aug 21:
>    If we did not descend already, do so. There are a bunch of cool  
> day hikes with amazing sites that /probably/ were hit up on the  
> previous days. Some others /may/ be able to be worked into the  
> itinerary - though unlikely.
>      The main brunt of this trip is a rim-to-rim hike of the  
> canyon. Upon arrival at the other side (woo!), take the shuttle  
> back to GCV.
>    {Nights spent in various campgrounds or appropriate camping areas}
>
> Fri, Aug 22:
>    Roadtrip back to LV.
>    Provide some buffer time just in case something goes wrong or we  
> take longer than expected.
>    {Sleep in the car on the side of the road, or maybe even in a  
> hostel}
>
> Sat, Aug 23:
>    Be in LV. Perhaps explore?
>    Definitely depart.
>    {Sleep: on the plane, for sure!}
>
> Trip is over. fun fun.
>
> If any club members are interested, contact me asap! It is bound to  
> be a sweet time - but we need to organize things and make sure you  
> can handle the hike. Contact me here:
>     ajr9166 at rit.edu
>     201.406.0298
>
> -Andrew
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