I have done 5 backpacking trips to the river on the Grand Canyon corridor trails and always in the heat (May-September). Everyone is different in how they prepare and their priorities, and there is no right way. Here are some things I have found helpful:
Stairs and more stairs.
Trails and more trails.
Gradual training over several months to avoid injuries.
Hiking poles. Ininji toe liner socks. Brim hat. An extra pair of lightweight shoes comfortable enough to wear at camp, with some traction to go in the creek. Headlamp with a red-light setting. Addresses for postcards.
The general guidance is to try to avoid hiking 10 am to 4 pm in direct sun during hot weather. With a 3 or 3:30 am wake up I’m on trail before civil twilight. Thunder and lightning are more likely to occur in the afternoon and evening.
High carb easy to digest foods starting 2 days ahead.
To start hiking pre-dawn, I eat something light as I’m leaving camp like a toaster pastry. During the hike I eat trail foods with water & electrolytes. After my hike I get more protein with a late breakfast like eggs and coffee. Then a high carb dinner with protein.
It can be hard to eat or think clearly due to heat and physical exhaustion. Campers are often moving slowly or sacked out on tables or in tents after their hikes. It helps to cool down as soon as possible, stretch, massage feet. A water spigot is a fast way to cool your head and neck. Creeks are good for sitting or reclining.
The Colorado River’s currents can and do sweep people away, so it’s wise to stay on shore. A miscalculation here can be deadly.
Freeze dried backpacking meals have worked out well for me – boil water, stir, wait, stir, eat.
Trail food – I eat sports bars for most of the hike and honey stinger waffles when I need fast energy. For variety I have energy chews, dried fruit, crackers.
Electrolytes. Don’t skip this. Do trail test them ahead of time. Check the Grand Canyon website and read the hiking guidance for your season.
Sips and bites. Eat and drink a little every 15 to 30 minutes.
I use a 100 oz water bladder with added electrolytes, a 32 oz Nalgene bottle of water only for extra water or injuries, and an empty 16 oz Nalgene for camp use or in case I need to carry extra water. An alternative is to use the water bottle for electrolytes and keep the bladder for water only. Another alternative is no bladder, just bottles. Through various mishaps, I’ve become more attentive to procedures. I check seals, caps, tubing, and mouthpiece. I hike with the tubing/mouthpiece secured in the chest strap or shoulder strap so that it won’t get knocked off. I also keep the tubing/mouthpiece locked to avoid leaks.
Water filter/purification. I carry both a water filtration system and 30 minute purification tablets as a back up. On my 2022 hike there was a pipe break and I was reliant on my water filter and water storage choices for two days. It’s good to plan and practice ahead of time.
I test new hiking clothing, footwear, trail food, and electrolytes during training hikes. I inspect my footwear and gear, review gear instructions. I weigh everything and keep a chart with notes on use and instructions for care.
First aid – I write simple instructions in large print with emergency phone locations and a basic script: If verbal, get consent. Consent implied if unconscious. Report: where is the person, are they conscious, breathing, what is the problem, anyone with them, what 1st aid measures have been taken? Common issues: blisters, hyponatremia (drank too much water/low sodium), heat exhaustion, hypothermia, heat stroke. Other risks: red ant bites, bee or wasp stings, lightning strike, snake bite, scorpion sting, cactus spine puncture, drowning, flash flood, getting too close to wildlife, falling.
Food debris at the campsite attracts critters and gets a food chain going. Keep a clean site.
Secure food and toiletries in the metal box at corridor campsites. Hang empty backpacks on the pole with all zippers open (I hang mine upside down). Don’t eat in a tent EVER. Don’t leave unsecured items unattended. The critters are watchful, fast, acrobatic, and tear through gear looking for food. Ravens take shiny objects including phones and keys.
I arrive at least a day early and talk with a ranger at the Backcountry Office.
Immediately after each trip I write notes while the details are fresh.
I’ve seen hikers more fit than me struggling to recover after hiking down or feeling ill on the hike up to the Rim. Check the NPS Grand Canyon website to Hike Smart.
The grades on the final ascents are intense. My minimum stair workout to get myself out of the canyon is 2 hours.
Descending is hard and steep. Be careful starting down with a full backpack as you adjust to how the pack affects balance. There are some deep steps. I side step if needed. Loose rocks can cause occasional skidding. It usually takes me awhile to get my bearings and then I settle in. Poles are extremely helpful on this hike – plan to check them in baggage if flying. If you’re new to poles, learn how to use them properly to max their benefit. Test footwear on steep trails well ahead of your trip – your toes should not touch the front of the toe box, and footwear should not feel uncomfortable or form hot spots or blisters. If your footwear is uncomfortable, you’ll need enough time to trail test something else (or size up your preferred shoe). If you’re getting blisters where your toes rub together, try a toe sock liner. If your shoulders hurt, you may need to adjust the straps on the pack above your shoulders. REI usually has good ‘how to’ videos.
I keep a bandana tied on my shoulder strap to avoid breathing dust when the mules are coming by.
Things don’t always go as planned. You might need to hike in the dark. You might be hypothermic. You might hike slower than planned. You, a person in your party, or another hiker might be injured or sick. You might reach the top when restaurants are closed and there are no shuttles. Know the emergency telephone and ranger locations.
Water stations close for various reasons. They may be on when you start but off when you’re hiking. Carry a water purification system and a way to carry all the water you need. Ascending Bright Angel Trail, fill at Bright Angel Campground, Havasupai Gardens. Ascending North Kaibab Trail, fill at Manzanita Rest Area. Below Manzanita the trail follows Bright Angel Creek all the way to Bright Angel Campground, with some areas easier to access than others.
No matter how much preparation, the hike itself is the teacher.
That said, do read the day hiking and backcountry information on the Grand Canyon National Park website. Watch the preparatory videos and read your permit. Check for updates on the site and at the Backcountry Information Center on the South Rim or North Rim prior to your descent. A failure to understand and plan for your specific hike or the season could make for a really bad experience.
Keep a positive attitude. Your mental state will get you up a hill or slow you down.
RocksTalk 