Kilted Canyon Hike

**Riverkilt** · 24th November 07, 12:08 AM

Hey Ogden, come on down!

South Rim is best when its cold and snowy and windy...otherwise its packed with tourists (who me??).

North Rim is open about May through late October, weather depending. Hardly ever a crowding problem on the North Rim. And when I was there kilted was told a piper pipes the sun down on the North Rim.

Overnight accomodation arrangements require long range planning.

And, of course you really need to see both rims and the western canyon at Hualapai and Havasupai to get a perspective.

Or, if you are in shape and have read up on conditions try some hiking.

Best book is Death in the Grand Canyon...sort of a "how not to be stupid manual."

Ron

**turpin** · 24th November 07, 06:53 AM

Beautiful Pix Chrome Scholar. I still remember fondly reading Brighty of the Grand Canyon as a kid, and then reading it to my own children.

**ChromeScholar** · 24th November 07, 07:46 AM

Another picture. This one shows the stupid doing what the stupid do best...

One wrong step and those idiots are going to fall over 400 feet. That's why the sign says KEEP OUT!

**Red_Raven** · 24th November 07, 07:47 AM

yes for the most part if you can go in the winter when no storms are brewing you would be best.Mainly because It's easier to peel off layers when cold then running naked when its 100+ and there is no water to cool down. to get reservations takes about a year of planning. When I went to Phantom Ranch at the bottom We made reservation 9 months in advance and just asked for the first available cabin. for packing or camping in the back country you don't have to plan as far. but Indian Gardens Campsite and Phantom Campsites are usually full.

I have to really plan for my hikes as I have Asthma. so I'm hiking the canyon on a good day while breathing through a soda straw and a bad day breathing though a coffee straw. It takes me about twice as long to make it up the canyon so a single day jaunt down and out is impossible for me.

Ron, hiking the canyon is the closest thing to 'take it one step at a time' I've come to, I literally have to go one step at a time...Slow and Steady like the tortoise.

**Bill** · 24th November 07, 08:49 AM

Thanks for those beatiful shots of the Canyon! I have good memories of the Canyon having made the hike down to the river back in the early 70s. My roomate from colege and I went over the Easter break and made the trek in one day. I needed to be back in the Valley for Easter Sunday services where I was responsible for the music at the church I attended. The bad thing about it is that I was more use to hiking from class to class than down and up the trail in the Grand Canyon! I remember vividly trying to limp on both feet at the same time and conducting the music program at church.
Ah memories!

I wish I had been aquainted with the plesures of the kilt back then that would have been the cherry on the sundae.

Bill

**Riverkilt** · 24th November 07, 09:14 AM

You are soooo right Bill,

A kilt makes all the difference.

This was my last hike down the Western Grand Canyon to Havasupai. The Utilikilt Basil Survival II. I really liked being able to put some of the weight lower in the cargo pockets. Don't think its possible to carry enough water. I had a Camelpack and four liter and 1/2 bottles and the hike is only about 2,000 foot drop and ten miles to the campground.

On this jaunt a lady with me was probably the oldest on the trail at 67. Halfway down she slipped on slickrock and broke her wrist when she tried to catch herself on the way down. Major surgery resulted. Even though I'd been hiking for months to get and took blister precautions I still developed on large enough to preclude hiking back out. We both helicoptered out the next day.

Right now my lady, her daughter, and daughter's boyfriend are on the trail to Havasupai. Their second trip this year. The temps at the campground tonight were forcast at 8 degrees F. Even this time of year the Lodge at Supai is booked solid. Last trip, their first, they went down one day and back the next...their muscles paid for it. This trip they're spending two nights down at Supai but they will be very cold ones.

Last year the same crew hiked down to Indian Gardens for an overnight camp out. The downhill was so rough on my lady that she lost both nails on her big toes. The caretaker/Ranger at Indian gardens had to lance both nails to let the blood out. He also carved away a hole in both her boots where her big toes went so she could hike out the next day. They went down in snow and very cold weather because that is when they could get a permit.

The Grand Canyon is the real deal, Nature in your face. Not a place for a casual stroll and even many experienced and well prepared hikers find themselves in serious trouble - or dead.

And finally, here's a "commercial" for how well Utilikilts modesty toggles work. Its taken in the chopper's rotar wash at Hualapai Hilltop, the trailhead for Havasupai.

Don't "not visit" the Grand Canyon, its beautiful and will "right size" you.

Just don't be "stupid" while you're there. The Rangers are most likely already busy with other "stupid" people.

Ron

**Bill** · 24th November 07, 09:26 AM

Ron:

I was lucky I was sore in places I didn't know I had but no blisters in spite of hiking in borrowed boots. The Canyon is a humbling experiance especially when your young and sitting right next to ariver like the Colorado with its' raging rapids towering over your head (I can still hear the roar).The place has an unreal serinity about it that leaves one in awe.

BTW the bad thing stupidity is that it tends to reproduce!

Bill