We're going back to the Grand Canyon!

[austinado16]

Just got our back country permits from the Nat'l Park Service! Mather Campground will be our base camp, but we're spending one night tent camping in the bottom, and a second night tent camping halfway up the Bright Angel Trail in Indian Gardens.  So 3 days total in the canyon, plus a couple more up top.

SWEEEEEEEEETTTT!

[K_and_I]

Sounds like you scored a good one. Take lots of pictures; we expect a full report.

K- DW
and I

[Shepherd]

Hey, congrats, what a awesome sounding trip.  Looking forward to the pics as well

[AZsix]

Austin,

With our Grand Canyon trip still fresh in my mind I know that you are going to have a great time. When are you going?

[austinado16]

We're leaving July 31st.  We'll overnight in Lake Havasu or somewhere near there, then be at the Grand Canyon the following afternoon.  It's a 660mi drive one way.  Then 3 days and 2 nights in the canyon, and then 2 days home.

This is from last year's trip:  down the South Kaibab Trail and we're headed across that big "tower" behind us and then down into that dark ravine in the distance to the Colorado.

[maromeo]

We are going to be there August 1-4 but we are staying at Trailer Village just in case it is too hot we have hookups to run the A/C if needed.

We were thinking of taking the train ride also. I still need to decide.
We want to do some hiking around but closer to the top. We can't wait. My DD was too young to remember the Grand Canyon so we are taking her back to really see it for the first time.

Mary Romeo

[Kristenamber]

well color me jealous!  I wish I could get to the Grand Canyon!  Once my boys are grown up, I will.
Enjoy your time there!

[austinado16]

We are going to be there August 1-4 but we are staying at Trailer Village just in case it is too hot we have hookups to run the A/C if needed.

We were thinking of taking the train ride also. I still need to decide.
We want to do some hiking around but closer to the top. We can't wait. My DD was too young to remember the Grand Canyon so we are taking her back to really see it for the first time.

Mary Romeo

Mary, let's try to at least say hello!  We're in Maple Loop, site #254. The only day we'll be up top (that you're there) will be the afternoon/evening of the 1st.  We'll be in the canyon the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, coming out on the 4th.

Our daughter is 8 (9 in August) so they'd enjoy meeting each other too.  There's no cell service up there, at least not with our phones, but maybe we can exchange campsite info?

We're taking our daughter down in the canyon with us and she's looking forward to it.

Temps at the top were only in the 70's and low 80's at the top last August with trees for shade on the camper and cloud cover, so it was very nice.  

If you haven't already, consider getting your DD a Camelbak and then pick up some "Cytomax" from your local bicycle shop.

[AZsix]

[IMG]Our daughter is 8 (9 in August) so they'd enjoy meeting each other too.  There's no cell service up there, at least not with our phones, but maybe we can exchange campsite info?

We have Alltel and we had service. I also saw everyone and their brother talking on their cell phones all over the Grand Canyon. Maybe they have erected some new towers since your last visit. You should probably exchange phone numbers just in case.

[austinado16]

We have Alltel and we had service. I also saw everyone and their brother talking on their cell phones all over the Grand Canyon. Maybe they have erected some new towers since your last visit. You should probably exchange phone numbers just in case.

Maybe we did have service there at the entrance to Mather.  We've got Celular One, which is about as big a joke as Cingular used to be.  We're about one notch better than soup cans and twine!

[CajunCamper]

Okay.....We're going too, but in late August.....Oh and we cheated as well. Living in Louisiana it is one hell of a drive to the Grand Canyon, so I booked two roundtrip flights for my wife and I to Las Vegas on United Airlines for.....get this $188.00 roundtrip. Wait it gets better. I also booked a two bedroom log cabin for three nights on the North Rim for $138 per night. The way I figure it, I'm getting all of the above for a little less than what the gas alone would cost me to drive. Oh by the way, my wife's niece and her husband live in Las Vegas and they are going to join us at the cabin. They are also bringing their tents and camping gear so we can camp a couple of nights as well.

I'm pumped.

CajunCamper

[maromeo]

austinado16,

We will be at Trailer Village but have not been assigned a site yet. I guess we get one when we arrive. I will let you know. I wrote down your info so I we will try to get together. We have met up with so many
great people from PUT.

We have alltel cell service so we should be fine. I will have to PM you the info.

It would be great for our DD to meet. We will keep in touch.

Mary Romeo

[austinado16]

We've thought about just flying in.  I think we can get into Flag Staff or maybe it's Phoenix for $68ea.  We could rent a car (bring our camping gear as our luggage, drive up, tent camp.....hike it, and fly home.  

But nay, I gotta do things the hard way.  You're going to love the north rim.  I think it's about 1,000' higher than the south rim and a lot more forested.  Longggggggg drive to get there though because it's in the middle of nowhere.

Yes, Marry, PM me and we can exchange cell numbers.

[austinado16]

We've thought about just flying in.  I think we can get into Flag Staff or maybe it's Phoenix for $68ea.  We could rent a car (bring our camping gear as our luggage, drive up, tent camp.....hike it, and fly home.  

But nay, I gotta do things the hard way.  You're going to love the north rim.  I think it's about 1,000' higher than the south rim and a lot more forested.  Longggggggg drive to get there though because it's in the middle of nowhere.

Yes, Marry, PM me and we can exchange cell numbers.

Just modded our plans and we're staying one more day/night at the top, so we'll be leaving early morning on the 6th and I'll just power drive the 11hrs home in one shot. :-()

[CajunCamper]

Longggggggg drive to get there though because it's in the middle of nowhere.

From my calculations, the distance from Las Vegas to the North Rim is only a few miles further than the trip from Las Vegas to the South Rim. Plus we pick up an extra National Park by stopping at Zion National Park in southern Utah on the way.

CajunCamper