How to prepare for hiking the Grand Canyon
Talk about a little adventure. Hiking the Grand Canyon can be an excellent introduction to adding adventure to your life. It is an experience you will not soon forget with breath-taking images that will become engraved in your mind for your personal reflection and enjoyment once you have returned to planet Earth and your normal routine.
You've decided to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, great, now what? Well, since hiking in and out in one day is not recommended you will need to decide where to spend the night once you've reached your destination somewhere at the bottom. You also need to decide how many nights you want to stay. The Grand Canyon national park requires that you have a permit to spend the night in the canyon and yes, they do come by to make sure you have your permit with you. You can reserve your spot at a campground and get your permit through the park's website.
Embarking on a hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon requires moderate physical endurance. You will not enjoy this trip if you cannot walk at least 5 miles without feeling exhausted. I recommend that you test your stamina by hiking several miles of trails near home before deciding to take on this inverted mountain. If you know that you can handle the miles, I recommend taking a few hikes in the shoes you plan on wearing for your trip; you do not want to be dropped off at the top of your trail with brand new shoes unless you happen to enjoy large, painful blisters.
Take some time to decide what trails you want to take into and out of the Grand Canyon. Visit the Grand Canyon National Park website for detailed information about each trail. The South Kaibab trail is a great trail to take into the canyon, however there is no potable water on this trail. It is a fairly steep trail, wearing two pairs of socks helps with the downward motion. Put the friction between the fibers, not on your skin. Bright Angel is a great trail to use when hiking out, but again the national park's website has specs for each trail that will help you to decide which trail is right for you.
If you already have an excellent fitting backpacking bag then you are one step ahead of most of us. If it's been a while since you last wore it be sure to try it on and make sure it still fits properly. For the rest of you who do not own a backpack you must realize that the pack you carry, much like the shoes you wear, can be the difference between an exciting trip and a miserable one. It is an item that you should spend time picking out and must be willing to make an investment in. Backpacking packs do not come cheaply. Go to several outdoor gear stores and ask for help if you are not sure how to adjust the straps to fit you. Don't allow yourself to be talked into purchasing a pack if it doesn't feel right when you wear it. If it rubs you uncomfortably in 10 minutes, just try to imagine that over 5 - 7 hours on a hike.
Once you have your pack you need to do a "dry run" for packing it. This is an excellent article about how to pack a backpack: You will want to take a lightweight tent, camp stove (don't forget the fuel and matches), reusable utensils and dishes, thermal underwear, backpacking worthy foods (see tips below), sleeping pad, sleeping bag, several plastic grocery bags (for your trash),
Thomas Sabo Heart Necklace, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, sunglasses, bug spray, sunscreen, and most importantly plenty of water (approx. 2 gallons/person for a 2 night trip). Water will probably been the heaviest thing you carry in, but it is also the most important and look on the bright side, it will get lighter the further you go.
You have your permit, you've decided what trails to take, with comfy shoes and a well packed bag you are ready to go! Savor every moment of your trip and take lots of pictures. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people. Allow the views to penetrate your memories so you will have them for years to come.
How to prepare for hiking the Grand Canyon
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