We were recently lucky enough to hike in the Grand Canyon, specifically Bright Angel Trail to Indian Garden. Now, while we did not go all the way down to Phantom Ranch, we did learn a few things about the trail that we will remember for our next trip.

1.  START EARLY!

Man is it hot in Arizona in May! When we landed in Phoenix, it was predicted to be a high of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. For two New Englanders, this was obnoxiously hot. Now, I know…it’s a “dry heat”…which we think is just how people in Arizona fool themselves into it being OK that it is over 100 degrees by their mid-morning snack.

Anyways, even though the Canyon Rim is cool in May, the bottom is not. Starting early is the best way to avoid the heat (and heat stroke) and make sure that you are able to keep to your turnaround times!

Starting early also helps you avoid the crowds that will be on the superhighway that is Bright Angel trail. A lot of people will be on this trail since it is one of the most accessible and has water along the way. This fools a lot of them into thinking that they should do this trail even when they are in flip flops and denim short shorts.

2. Water is your friend

While Bright Angel generally has running potable water, it is always best to bring your own. We each had about 3 liters of water, which weighs about 6.5 pounds. This was probably the heaviest thing in our pack, but was very worthwhile to bring. Not only was our water cold since we put it in the fridge overnight…but the taps at 1.5 and 3 Mile Resthouse looked kinda ugly. Not sure I would want to share water with all the people who were walking up and down the trail.

Another way to carry water that was helpful was in a spray bottle! Our guide, David, had a full spray bottle that he used to mist us and random people along the trail providing great relief in the heat on Jacob’s Ladder, one of the hardest parts of the trail back up. We will definitely be stealing this idea for our next hike!

3. Try to not get discouraged

One of the weird things about hiking into the Canyon is that you can often see the place you are going to for a very very long time. The way down only took us about 2 ½ hours to do 4.2 miles. However, the way back up is completely different because you can’t see any of those landmarks again. It took us twice as long to hike out of the canyon, and we took many breaks to catch our breath and rest our muscles. It was a real hit to the ego!  You will make it to the top, but it will be difficult.

Take lots of stops and bring some great snacks. Some people had speakers playing music, but that can get really annoying for others on the trail. Also, if you are distracted by the music, you could take a bad step! So just keep going and when you get to the top, reward yourself with a steak at the Arizona Room or drink at El Tovar!

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