A GUIDE TO BACKPACKING
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Before rushing in to get a permit to backpack the inner Grand Canyon, there's a lot of preparation. Like a marathon, you'll need physical training in desert and alpine climates. You will need to plan your meals and minimize your trash you will be hauling. You will need sunprotection. You will need to bring water and a filter. You will need to have a place to stay the night before and after. And you will need to decide if you need to take a shuttle back from the South to the North Rim.
We have found the most important part of our trip was to include Jesus, and pray for every step we made; including desirable weather and safety.
I have led four backpacking trips from the North Rim to the South Rim. When I return home, I examine the gear I shouldn't have brought and the extra food and clothing I didn't need. Remember, the time of year you hike might determine what you should bring.
LIST OF THINGS TO BRING
BACKPACK that feels comfortable on shoulders and hips.
FOOTWEAR that has toe protection, good traction, and a thick enough sole. Some folks need ankle support and others don't. The first trip I wore a pair of sneakers and the bottom of my feet ached, because of thin sole. The next time I wore my low cut hiking shoes. These were fine, except when I got my shoes wet in the water. The last two times I wore my Keen's water shoes with socks. I could walk in and out of water and they dried fast. I did get blisters. If you are wearing hiking shoes, don't forget to bring sandals to play in the water and streams.
SOCKS bring at least two pairs of medium wick dry socks. You can wear one pair and one to wash let dry. Bring wool socks during cooler seasons.
CLOTHING for hiking, sleeping, and getting wet. I brought one set of clothes for hiking, a set of clean clothes for sleeping, and extra underwear and socks. Some women bring swimsuits for getting we in the stream.
HIKING POLES are extremely important. I actually saw backpacker without poles hiking the Grand Canyon. With one slip or fall in the wrong direction, the weight of your backpack will pull you over. Everyone must bring two hiking poles.
WATER containers are needed. Some prefer large bottles, while others use hydration Camelback where they can sip water as they hike. It is good to have one bottle for mixing electrolyte drinks in. Make sure you bring a WATER FILTER to filter water out of the creeks and streams.
ELECTROLYTES are extremely important. I preferred mixing cold filtered stream water with powder Gatorade. Others brought gels, gummies, and tablets. Drinking water is not enough; you need to replenish the salts and minerals you are sweating out. This is one area, I wish I would have brought more with me backpacking.
HYPOTHERMIA (abnormally low sodium levels in the blood) may occur if a hiker drinks too much water without adequately replenishing electrolytes. Don't guzzle down water! Drink when you are thirsty.
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HEAT EXHAUSTION symptoms are heavy sweating, dizziness, high body temperature, headache, naucea, muscle cramps, and confusion. Cool off, wet your clothing and rest.
HEAT STROKE symptoms slurred speech, dried skin...no longer able to sweat, and loss of conscientiousness. This is a serious condition and may require medical help.
TRAIL SNACKS are important. Make sure you bring SALTY SNACKS. You might want to weigh your snacks and divide snacks in ziplock bags and use a black marker to mark each day. On every trip we are bringing snacks out of the Grand Canyon, adding to our weight.
BREAKFAST most folks boil water for coffee, tea and oatmeal; or eat cold cereal. Some people bring breakfast backpack dinners. It may be important to wake up a hour before sunrise to eat breakfast and pack up your gear and get on the trail.
LUNCH should be packed before you hit the trail in the morning. Some hikers pack sandwiches or wraps, and other eat trail-mix.
DINNER should be easy to fix and easy to clean up. We have found boiling water for Backpacking foil meals are the easiest to prepare. Make sure you bring a long stirring spoon, a bowl and a cup for your meals. Some people share a two person meal, while others only cook one half of a two person meal each night. Make sure you try out your dinners at home.
STOVE bring a one burner, self igniting stove. Some people prefer to bring a Titanium pan with a lid; while others bring a kettle for boiling water. No open campfires are allowed in the inner canyon.
FIRST AID for backpacking. The number one item on this trip was Waterproof Bandaids. I went through at least a half a dozen myself. Also Moleskin is needed for blisters. It would be good to have an adhesive roll bandage for larger cuts; and an elastic roll for sprains. You'll need Advil and other medicines you take.
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SUNPROTECTION in the desert. You'll need a sun hat, to protect your face and neck. Sunscreen, Lip block, and/or Sunblock for your skin. Every skin is different...I used SPF 50. I wore long sleeve shirt with a SPF 60 protection, and long pants that can zip into shorts. I wore socks to protect my feet from sunburning. I survived without a sunburn.
HEADLAMP is a must. Make sure you have fresh batteries.
BUG SPRAY is a must during warmer months. There are biting flies. I like Picaridin bug spray, because it won't damage gear like Deet does. Others use organic bug sprays.
JACKET to protect you from rain or wind. A lightweight jacket is good during the warmer months. You can get HYPOTHERMIA even in the Grand Canyon.
CAMERA or CELL PHONE to take photos and videos. Make sure you bring extra batteries and maybe a solar charger. Cell phone coverage is limited in the inner canyon. Emergency phones are available at campgrounds and rest houses, 911 use only.
TRASH has to be carried out. I eliminated most of the packaging and carried out one ziplock bag of trash. You can dispose of your trash only on the Rims. It is illegal to bury or burn trash. Apple cores and Orange peels can be disposed in compost out houses.
TOILETRIES you'll need toilet paper, small shovel, ziplock bag for your toilet paper, small toothbrush, small toothpaste, floss, hand sanitizer, ear plugs, etc.
TENT may be one of the heaviest things you pack. Most couples share two persons tents. For singles, finding a light weight tent is important. Make sure you bring a light weight tarp or footprint; because sharp gravel on the ground will ruin your tent. Do not store food, perfume or toiletries in your tent.
SLEEPING BAG or BLANKET? During the hot season most hikers sleep on top of their sleeping bag. But during colder nights in the 30's you will freeze if you don't have a sleeping bag. Some people bring a blanket and sleep on their pad or air mattress. Check the weather before you decide. Sleeping bags can be heavy. In the Summer you might want to bring a 40 or 50 degree bag.
PILLOW AND MATTRESS are important too.
MAPS one person in your group should have a map. And maybe give each person a one page Itinerary.
NO EAR BUDS! Listen to nature, hear bubbling creeks, birds, and rattlesnakes.
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CAMPGROUNDS have large white boxes for you to store your food and garbage in; protecting it from critters. You will also need to hang your backpacks on a pole too. At Cottonwood campground you will need cord to tie each backpack to the pole. I used my pants belt to secure my backpack.
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WATER WAS OFF during most of our Rim to Rim trip. One spigot by Phantom Ranch Canteen and the spigots at Indian Garden where our only pipeline water available. Check current Backcountry updates.
DESERT TRAINING is necessary. Make sure your group is able to hike in the hot dry desert climate.
ON THE RIM make sure you have fresh clothing to change into. Also can bring ice chests, and have car camping gear. You can find Cabin lodging, stay at either the North Rim, Demotte or Jacob Lake Campground. On our first trip we stayed at a motel in Kanab. It was a long drive to the North Rim.
NORTH RIM WASPS may drive you crazy, swarming around your front bumper. After it gets dark, you can clean your bumper and enjoy eating at the picnic table without being stun. Bring a spray cleaner.
PRAYER is the key to a successful adventure. Without prayer nothing happens! We prayed for shaded, cooler weather for the day we would hike the Box; and God blessed us exactly what we prayed for.
