Grand Canyon Backpacking Trip - May 2010
Estimated Pack Weights - Tom:45-50, Alyssa:30-35
5/20-5/22 Maswick Lodge North
5/20 - Mahi-Mahi Tacos at Pancho Mcgillicuddy's in Williams
5/20 - Rest after driving from San Diego
5/21 - Day Hike somewhere from rim
- Yeah we did a short hike to Plateau Point - 15 miles round trip!
5/21 - Obligatory rim souvenir shopping
5/21 - Dinner at Arizona Room (bring on the corn bread!)
5/22 Bright Angel Campground
5/22 - South Kaibab to BAC (7 mi)
- Hit the trail at 5:40, stopped at our usual overlook for an extended break, and croosed the river at 9:40.
5/22 - River Trail hike in late afternoon (3 mi)
- Didn't do this - rested and hung out at canteen instead.
5/23-5/25 Clear Creek
5/23 - Clear Creek Trail to Clear Creek (10 mi)
- Weather was great - instead of it being 95-105 it was 80-85 crossing the Tonto!
5/24 - Day hike toward Cheyava Falls (someday I’ll make it while it’s running) (8-10 mi)
- What luck! The falls were still runnning - it was much more than a trickle - photos to follow soon - 10 miles round trip!
5/25 - Day Hike toward Colorado River (2-10 mi)
- Another easy day - we decided to just head down the creek a bit and take it easy - 2 miles
5/25 - Late afternoon/evening - hike to Sumner Wash to camp (7 mi)
- Left around 3 made it to Sumner Butte about 7:30 just as the sun set - 7 miles
5/26 - Sumner Wash to BAC (3 mi)
- Didn't make it to BAC - dropped out packs at the junction of the North Kaibab and Clear Creek trails and headed out to Ribbon Falls. Spectacular as usual! Saw Santa Claus on the trail and at the falls. Returned to get our packs and then on the BAC - 18 miles
5/26 Bright Angel Campground
5/26 - Day hike to Utah Flats (4-10 mi)
- Started up the Utah Flats Route the next morning - not for me my friends. This is more of a mountaineering route than I want to tackle at the end of 7 day trip! We went up about 400 feet - straight up on loose shale!
5/27 - Day hike to Ribbon Falls (12 mi)
- Incorporated this into our return to BAC the previous day
5/27 - Rest at River until sun is setting
- Explored the trail that heads East from the Black Bridge - short trail looks like it was created for access to the suspension baskets used to get to the flood warning equipment on the South side of the river. Spent most of the day around camp, in the cateenn, or under the trees near the canteen.
5/27-5/28 - Full Moon hike out to rim (rise-19:50 set-04:43) (9 mi)
- Another awesome night hike out of the canyon. Left BAC at about 7:30 PM, crossed the Silver Bridge as the sun was setting. Took a break at the top of Devil's Corkscrew, rested on the benches at Indian Garden for about 1 1/2 hours, and rested at the Three Mile Rest House for about four hours. Another rest athe the 1 1/2 Mile Rest House of about 45 minutes and we emerged from the canyon at about 9:00 AM.
5/28 - HUGE breakfast at Bright Angel Room or El Tovar
- We went to the Bright Angel Room. OK, it wasn't HUGE, but I ate more than I usually do for breakfast!
5/28 - Spend the day on the rim and/or hiking other trails
- We were eating again by 11:00 - I guess I didn't have enough breakfast!
5/28 Spend the night at Maswick Lodge
5/29 - Drive home - may or may not do it in one day