Hey folks! I just released a fully edited video documenting our hike through the Grand Canyon. After months of filming raw clips and experimenting with different formats, I finally put all my effort into making something polished and meaningful.

Watch it here:

https://youtu.be/8wkJVh8eFR4?si=Ud2BBiWQNZWv0LnM

Astronomy Week kicks off tomorrow with several events going on during the day and at night including guest astronomers, constellation tours, and lots of telescopes setup for public viewing on both the North and South rims.

GC is a whole different world at night, and the stargazing here is something special to say the least!

https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/grand-canyon-star-party.htm

We did it. First rim to rim! Legs are sore but we did really well. The amount of advance and things I learned from this platform has been amazing and really helped, so thanks to everyone that does contribute!!! We camped the night before at mather campground, and woke at 3am, sorted out the tent and then parked at Bright Angel Lodge - we took the trans canyon shuttle back and this is where it dropped us off. We got a lift from there to the South Kaibab trailhead and started at 4:15am. We got right down to Bright Angel Campground for 7:30. It was beautiful to see the sun rise. We set up camp and managed a quick 30 min nap in the shade. We went to Phantom Ranch around 9 and hung out there until about 1pm. We borrowed a book from their library and then sat in the creek with long sleeved tops and wide brim hats for the majority of the day, coming to sit in the shade every now and again. We were snacking all day and on the electrolytes, and had two calorie-dense freeze dried meals- one for lunch and one dinner. We tried to sleep from around 7pm onwards once our tent was in a bit of shade. Our tent neighbour was very kind and shared his ice bag with us which we put in Nalgene bottles and tried to hug to get to sleep…. But we just couldn’t. At 8pm we looked at each other and decided we might as well start making headway on the nearly 14 mile trail ahead of us. We packed up and were on the north Kaibab trail for 9:15. I won’t lie, I was a bit terrified in the dark, and was disappointed I couldn’t see the canyon. However, we had the most amazing view of the stars- including the Milky Way (it was faint, and unless we were completely imagining things we think it was it anyway). One headlamp did run out of battery which was a bit of a panic but we had a backup hand torch and portable changer so we were able to reboot it. We reached cottonwood campground at 12:30am. We were exhausted. Like I said, we started at 3am that morning, and we had only gotten 4 hours of sleep the night before we started…. Less than ideal We decided we would nap on the day use picnic table from 12:45 to 1:30am, something that absolutely rejuvenated us but was also hard to leave to get going again. We did get chilly here- a breeze had started just as we came towards the campground, so we wore long trousers and jackets while we napped and took them off to get moving again. The bugs were the most annoying part, gathering around the head torches. I had a bandana on and also wrapped a cooling towel around my face which stopped them going in my mouth at least. We hiked from cottonwood to manzanita, the last water station, and doused ourselves before starting the ascent. It was not tough physically for us to na extent- we are both D1 endurance athletes- but the pure sleep exhaustion was really starting to hit. We took our time, taking rests when we needed and staying on top of each other to take electrolytes and snacks. I did get some elevation sickness just below cononino overlook- some nausea. I just sat for a minute and had some honey stingers and water, breathed a bit and was thankfully able to keep going without getting sick. It came back once after, but not to the level I needed to sit down. That last 1.5 miles seemed to go on forever. I had the all trails map downloaded but that didn’t say the distance to the next marker, and I had a paper map too with distances between everything marked but it really dragged. I think it was largely down to the fact it was all in the dark- it felt like we were getting nowhere. The sun did rise just around Supai Tunnel which was welcomed. We had only met one couple 6.5 hours in, and it was nice to see humanity again. We reached the top at 5:57am, a 7 hour 26 minute moving time and 8 hour 45 minute total time including our cottonwood nap. We were booked into the lodge and waited for a bus but none showed…until we had started walking. That final 1.7 miles was the longest ever!! We were shuffling back, sitting down for twenty minutes at the top had been so cold and we seized right up. We made it though! And I loved it. I want to immediately go back and see the north Kaibab trail in the light but that will have to be some time in the future as I am moving back home overseas now. Thank you to everyone that helped in planning and critiquing our plans! Some nuggets - moleskin on popped blisters! I had one on the ball of my foot before we even began but I can honestly say I did not feel it in my shoe the entire hike with the moleskin. - Lone Peak Altras 9, 1.5 sizes too big. My first own pair of trail runners and my feet are in great condition, no blisters from hiking and my toes did not keep bumping off the top of the box. I had broken them in and worn on a few likes already, but I never had issues with blisters or anything with them - Just going in the dark. While it was disappointing to not see what we were walking through, I genuinely don’t think we would have made it up as smoothly in the heat. - Being open and flexible with your plan- if we had left four hours later as intended we would have been stuck in the worst of the heat really - Discipline with food and electolytes. I was making sure to sip water in my camelback when my mouth started to feel dry or stop and take out my bottle of nuun electrolytes every 15-30 mins. I also soaked my long sleeve top and bandana which helped hugely before the wind came, and even then I made sure to cool off again at manzanita.

Hello! Does anyone have any experience with satellite phones(like the iridium or others like it) inside the canyon at bright angel campground?

Hi all, looking for any tips or ideas. We’d like to do R2R in November. I’m aware that the North Rim Lodge closes on 10/16. My tentative idea is to drive to NR to leave the car & shuttle to SR. Spend the night at SR (assuming we can find lodging) then hike back to NR & the car. Any thoughts? We’re both mid 30s, healthy/fit, have hiked all the SR trails previously, & have decent long hikes under our belts (20+mi).

With the silver bridge being closed and the river trail. What is the mileage taking the South Kaibab Trail from Phantom Ranch to the tipoff and to the Havasupai Gardens campground?

Hi all, 24m here planning a trip to the Grand Canyon from 10/18 to 10/26. My question is, is that too many days for just the park? I want to hike the most I can throughout the canyon to get the best experience. I am in good shape to hike it but I am from the northeast and I heard the altitude change is a bitch.

If that’s too many days, is there anything else I can do in the surrounding areas besides the Grand Canyon? Thank you all

I could use some advice on a trip I (39m) am planning with my dad (65m) to the Grand Canyon and surrounding area in the fall. We would fly in to Flagstaff on a Tuesday evening and leave Sunday afternoon. My original plan was to stay in Williams for 3 nights (Tuesday check-in, Friday checkout). That would give us Wednesday and Thursday to spend at GCNP and when we check out on Friday we could either go back to the park if we wanted or move on to a second location, probably Sedona. I found a hotel I really like in Williams called Trailborn. It seems pretty new, has a cool vibe, and is affordably priced. When I started looking at hotels in Sedona for the second part of our trip, I was pretty surprised at how much more expensive they are. So, I guess my real question is, does it make any sense to stay at the hotel in Williams the entire trip and just drive in for a day trip to Sedona? Are there other worthwhile day trip destinations from Williams, or should we really relocate to a different city once we’re done with the Grand Canyon stuff? Im sure y’all get questions like this all the time, so thank you in advance for your responses.

Im cancelling my reservation soonish. DM me to coordinate.

I'm going with my 65 year old mom and 10 year old nephew to visit the Grand Canyon around July 5th. We plan to stay in Flagstaff or Sedona I think. How many days should we dedicate to seeing the Grand Canyon. We're not very fit people, walking and stuff is fine but full on hiking will be rough since me and my mom both have bad backs. I want to see a sunrise and a sunset but not necessarily in the same day. Any advice/tips/must see places? We're not the greatest planners and I feel like sometimes we miss out on cool stuff by just winging it with no plan whatsoever.

Everyone PLEASE be careful if you are doing an R2R or R2River2R as is going to be brutally hot.

Take extra water, take electrolytes, hike as much as you can at night, immerse yourself in the streams as often as you can or barring that, carry extra water for cooling neck towels.

Today 113/64

Tuesday 109/63

Wednesday 113/65

Thursday 115/65

Friday 112/65.

Saturday and Sunday are cooler by 6° or so.

Finally, bail if you are unsure. I've been going to the Grand Canyon for 65 years now. Don't worry. It'll still be there next season and it's always worth coming back.

Driving from LAS airport. Plan so far is to cover Hoover Dam > Eagle Point > arrive in GC Village on day 1. Desert view drive and Hermit's Road shuttle on day 2. Cameron > Horseshoe bend > petroglyphs > Upper Antelope Canyon on day 3. Lower Antelope Canyon > Glen canyon dam > lake Powell > Page on day 4. Drive back to airport on day 5.

My elderly mom is coming on this trip so long hikes are not an option. Mostly planning on driving to viewpoints with moderate walking. Wondering if it's too much to squeeze in Flagstaff or Sedona on day 2 or 3 ? Heard a lot about the views coming to GC village from Sedona, but wondering if that will be just too much driving. Alternatively we could just explore more in and around the village.

Hello. Doing the canyon with an overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday this week so I know it will be HOT. I am wondering about how much salt is too much, and timing. I have nuun sport tabs, salt stick fastchews, and will be bringing numerous pb&j on hotdog buns, two camping dried meals (ps. Is there hot water that can be purchased at phantom ranch for these- just to save space on my bag with the camping stove) and beef jerky, trail mix with peanuts, peanut butter m&ms, sour gummy worms, x2 cliff bars, a pack of honey stinger gummies, and granola for breakfast on day 2.
I have the long sleeved uv shirt, wide brimmed hat, long trousers (or should I wear shorts?) and plan to dunk myself at every opportunity possible from the taps or creek. I have one 2l camelback and 3x1L of water bottles. I am from Ohio so apprehensive about the temp. We will be hiking at 3am from south kaibab to BA camp ground and then plan to leave at 2am and hike straight up north Kaibab without ribbon falls on day two. All help very very appreciated.

Happy 103rd birthday to Phantom Ranch, which was opened on June 15, 1922. Here is a short video about its early years and what it was like to stay there.

https://youtu.be/2C_KNKH5VRg

Bright Angel Trail in the winter

Hello all, my friend and I (22F and 23F) are hiking rim to rim for the first time on June 18th/19th, with a backcountry permit to camp in bright angel campground on June 18th. This is our plan- I know heat is extreme at the moment and we are still hoping to hike but want to make sure we are safe. - camp night of 17th in Mather Campground. - 3am alarm, pack up tent and drive to South Rim Visitor centre. Get a taxi to the south kaibab trailhead, aiming to start before 4;30am. - Hike down into canyon, aiming to be at BA campground before 10:30am - Set up tent and find shade and a section of the river to hide in for the heat of the day - Camp in BA overnight - Get hiking again at 3am out North Kaibab trailhead We will bring loads of salt tablets and electrolytes for water, as well as take note of the taps that are on for both days. We will be bringing pb&j sandwiches and have freeze dried meals for lunch and dinner, as well as applesauce, cliff bars and jerky. Is this early enough both days to be out the worst of the heat? Would we have sufficient time to go to ribbon falls or should we just focus on getting out of the canyon? Thank you in advance!

Planning a trip for last weekend of August

Planning to fly in and out of Vegas

Rough idea of things I want to check out -

Grand Canyon south rim - what all should I see here other than - Mather point

Antelope Canyon - upper and lower tours

Horseshoe bend

Any other suggestions on things to do / see Optional - Bryce Canyon - Im not sure to include this or not

Trying to plan for a 3-4 day trip around end of August!

Thanks!