On Thursday July 6th I completed one of the most intense trails in my life: the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim trail. Starting from the Northern Rim and ending at the Southern Rim, this 12 hour long journey traversed 12,000 feet in elevation across 14 miles on the North Kaibab Trail and 9 miles on the Bright Angel Trail. After camping overnight at the North Rim Campground, my dad dropped me off at the North Rim at 5:15 a.m. and I descended into the cool canyon below.
As you enter the canyon, you are surrounded by the beautiful sound of springs and streams dripping from the canyon side and falling down the north rim. Waterfalls and streams combine to the basin below. However the temperature increases, and as the sun rises above the horizon everything came to a boil. Before leaving on this journey I had checked the daily temperatures at two sites: Phantom Ranch (at the bottom near the Colorado River) and the Indian Garden (the first wellhead on the way up). The goal would be to avoid the trip from the Phantom Ranch to the Indian Garden during the hottest part of the day...but little did I realize this would be more difficult than planned.
Rather than descending in 4 hours, I made it to Phantom Ranch two hours late at 11 a.m. This was not good, as the temperatures would soon climb to 106 degrees on the stretch of land that traversed the Colorado River...
and then the climb up to Indian garden. What's more, I also ran out of water on the way up. Sweat and salt poured out of my shirt and caked the straps of my backpack. I realized that if I didn't get to Indian Garden soon, I would pass out. Over the bend I heard the sound of running river water. Luckily I met a kind family on the way who said I was only 10 minutes away. Jacob, their oldest son, was a junior in high school and had several questions about college. We got talking and soon became great friends, pushing each other at each stop, getting water, and making it up the south rim.
At 5:20 p.m. I made it out of the South Rim at the Bright Angel Trailhead. My parents were tense and were waiting for me, and I was feeling pretty tired. After bearing the heat, physical exhaustion, and lack of food, I was glad to finally be done. I would recommend a few things that worked on the way down the grand canyon: North-to-South works due to heavy shade, pick a day with clouds (I got lucky), buy Saltsticks Chewable electrolytes as you will lose water, and make sure to always fill 4 Liters (2 liters was not enough to make it from Phantom Ranch to Indian Garden) at the wellhead.
This was one of the most beautiful trails I have ever been on. Seeing the sunrise over the canyon as deer were grazing on the side of the canyon walls was simply spectacular. The colors of the Grand Canyon told the story of the colorado river, as red and orange gave way to white granite and finally green below. Vegetation crept in and a forest of prickly pear cacti patterned the canyon basin, this was an exceptional trip and one that I will never forget.