Grand Canyon Trip #3

[austinado16]

Yesterday we dialed in our plans for a return trip to the Grand Canyon and made reservations for July 31 to Aug 6.

This year we're hiking from the North Rim back to the South Rim, with the PUP parked in Mather CG on the South Rim.

It's our 9yr old DD's 2nd trip to the GC and we're all looking forward to seeing more of the interior.

[flyfisherman]

I have not been to the G.C. in years!  But I very well remember looking into it for the first time!

Have a great trip and take some pics and post same.


Fly

[JohnandLeann]

HOW EXCITING!  We were at South rim in October and stayed at one of the lodges there overnight and rode the train from Williams, staying in Williams a night on each end also.
We would love to go and camp for a few nights sometime in the future at the south rim or even the north rim.  Either way it will be a beautiful place to be.
Don't think we can hike the canyon though.  We might be able to go into it for a mile or two, but the climb out would be a bit much for us at this point.
Look forward to seeing your pics from this trip.  Enjoyed your trip last year in pics.
John

[Dee4j]

I like Mather CG...That's where we did the episode for RV Roadtrips

[austinado16]

I like Mather CG...That's where we did the episode for RV Roadtrips

We like it too.  Very clean, everywhere.  I'll be sure and post pics and maybe some short movies.  

It's going to be a little different this year because we arrive late morning and literally have to grab our gear, jump on the shuttle bus and get over to the main lodge in order to meet the transport van that takes us to the North Rim.....5hrs away!  Then stay the night in a cabin, and head out the next morning about 5.  It's 14mi to the bottom, and Phantom Ranch/Bright Angel CG, so we'll do that over 2 days.  All undiscovered territory for us, as we've only hiked down from the South Rim trail.

This year, I'm packing a 5" O2Cool battery powered fan down in.  I know it sounds  :eyecrazy: but I'm not spending another night sweltering in the heat.

[JohnandLeann]

This year, I'm packing a 5" O2Cool battery powered fan down in.  I know it sounds  :eyecrazy: but I'm not spending another night sweltering in the heat.

I remember you said it was very hot down at the bottom of the canyon last year.  Hard to sleep IIRC.

[austinado16]

I remember you said it was very hot down at the bottom of the canyon last year.  Hard to sleep IIRC.

Yeah, like 95ish at night with the rock walls radiating heat like an oven, and 110+ during the day.  Our tent is all super thin screen, except the floor, and still, it was like laying in a sauna.  My wife and I put our camp mats on the picnic table and slept (tried to sleep) on top of that.

But each year we get smarter about backpacking and camping down inside, so this will be a good trip.  In fact, I'm thinking about backing up our leave date one day.  Otherwise, we're going to drive 7hrs to Needles, then drive 4hrs the next morning to get to the GC, and then jump in a van and get driven 5 more hours.  I'm not warming up to that schedule too well.

[JohnandLeann]

I think that would be nice to do a quick or minimalist setup for one night on South rim before getting on the van to North Rim.  You will prob be better rested too.