A commonly quoted statistic within the National Park Service is that over 98% of visitors to the Grand Canyon do not step below the canyon rim (another one is that the average time spent at the Grand Canyon is around 23 minutes). This of course is great news for those who want to venture down and explore the beauty and surprising diversity of the canyon’s interior.
We arrived at the South Rim in mid-April, and were met by a 4 inch covering of snow when we woke just before sunrise to start our hike. Our plan was to walk the Kaibab trail, and we had arranged to have a nearby geologist lead us down into the canyon and describe what we would see. And so when we met Jon, we were reassured by the fact that he didn’t seem too concerned about the snow.
Sure enough, as we started to descend along the trail the snow thinned out and soon disappeared. Our layers similarly started to vanish as the sun got to work, and within an hour of leaving the rim we were already down to our t-shirts. By the time we reached our lowest point and the place where we would start ascending again, the temperature was certainly in the 90s, and our copious water supply was being used liberally.
The area we explored carried many visible signs of its history as a working place. Old mine shafts, remnants of settlements and even carts still littered the landscape and gave a clue as to the activity that had taken place here some 100 years ago. This was true Lone Ranger country! I imagined that in the canyon it would feel very claustrophobic, but this was certainly not the case. The area is so vast that it is easy to forget where you are, such is the distance from the high ridges around you.
The climb up was long and energy sapping, but thanks to the healthy portions of food we were carrying we never lacked extra sugar and protein supplies to keep us going. As we came up to the rim at sunset and met a wall of people parked up to observe the sunset, we felt like explorers coming home. And looking at the faces that observed us with a mild curiosity, we might as well have arrived from Mars!
There are more and more ways to experience the wonders of this incredible place. I doubt (for me at least) that any will match the peace, solitude and beauty of the canyon’s interior; and it is likely to stay that way, regardless of what they build at the top.
Alright, yeah, I'm a guilty party to skew those statistics. I stopped there to see the sunrise a few years ago on my way for my birthday in Vegas. It was great, and I want to go back and spend a few days at the canyon, but I definitely ruined the bell curve by only being there for a very short time. My bad!
Thanks for stopping by Jason, and don't worry, you can always go back and explore more. The trails are easy to follow and the views are stunning. Bit strange starting a hike with a descent and finishing with a steep ascent but at least you carry the heavy pre-lunch pack for the easy bit.
Happy travels!
Andy
Hello Andy,
Thank you for this post about your Grand Canyon hike! Sounds like you had a great time and a great hike!
I am glad we connected on Twitter (@FoxRentCar)!
Happy and safe hiking!
Maria
Thanks Maria, and it's great to see your blog singing the praises of hiking.
You have some great posts on your blog!
I always find it incredible how many places there are to explore. I know even in some areas that I have been many times there are little places that still blow your mind! I think you can always dive deeper into some of these places – the canyon is obviously no exception!
Aaron