Backpacking the Grand Canyon First Part

Backpacking the Grand Canyon First Part - The Bright Angel Trail

January 03, 2020

The Land of the Havasupai, Hualapai, Navajo and the Hopi

(The Bright Angel Trail)

Bakersfield to Grand Canyon at the South Rim is roughly around 510 miles, fairly long drive along the stretch of Mojave Desert and into the high country of northern Arizona. A day prior to our trip we been inundated with weather news regarding the blizzard of the Grand Canyon South Rim. Like any other backpacking trip preparation is paramount making sure the needs are in place, especially gears, reservations, backpacking permits, and other things. The weather wasn't that great, it was cloudy and rainy along the stretch of the desert and snow on the grounds along interstate 40 for hundred of miles. Such a sight to see, that recent snow storm blanketed most of the counties near the Grand.

It's like a homecoming for me to see the Grand Canyon it's one of my favorite place on earth, I haven't been here for quite sometime and I'm really excited to be back.

I arrived at the town of Tusayan the gateway to the park it was inundated with mountain of snows. The Grand Hotel is fairly quiet when I arrived the temperature outside is around 39 degrees Fahrenheit. This hotel would be my stop over for the night to get ready for the backpacking trek.

I love the hotel location it's outside the National Park but it's right next to a lot of business establishment that is way cheaper to shop and dine and more selections, in comparison to the establishments at the park proper. Rooms quiet comfortable and basic amenities from coffee to shampoo is readily available. The hotel lobby is on Christmas festive mood, and the walls decorated with big games (taxidermy), wild animals that still exist along the huge area of Kaibab National Forest and the Grand Canyon National Park proper.

Woke up around 5:30 am, packed all my gears into the backpack weighed it about 30 lb's, put on my hiking boots and layers of clothing, an essential need for a cold winter backpacking.

The base layer is a drifit shirt, the second layer is either a wool or fleece sweater, I chose a wool bought it from Kuhl, and lastly a hooded Thermoball Tri Climate jacket from North Face.

Cozy and warm while walking thru the snow.

Parked my car at the Back Country Office parking lot, this where most hikers and backpackers will safely park there vehicles. I checked in to the office letting them know where on our way to the trail. I waited for my buddies, sister Phoebe and husband Gerry. We will be heading down the snowy icy trail of the Bright Angel.

Slippery? Indeed it was, although it's all part of the adventures of surviving a challenging conditions. It wasn't really that bad going down the trail, but as the day wears on the feeling of tiredness sets in and it seems like the switchbacks will never end, this long downhill hike is not as easy as it seems.

Here's my hiking buddies Gerry and Phoebe both avid marathon runners. They love the

outdoors and they traveled around the world for adventures.

It was far enjoyable as oppose to being afraid of the icy condition, crampons in our shoes did the trick we thought of the worse that could happen but thank God we're prepared. The first long slow 3 miles is where the snow and ice, and there are some people moving up and down along the trail for a half day hike to the 3 mile rest area. Athletic trail runners training going up and down on the icy trail, but as soon as we reached the Indian Garden the trail all of a sudden is devoid of people, we are now alone for the next 7 miles of pure wilderness walk. But first, we made a stop by the oasis of the Indian Garden for lunch, a much needed break, drinking water and toilet is also available in the area.

THE VIEW FROM THE TRAIL

Absolutely incredible view along the Bright Angel Trail, this is a great trial for my iPhone 11 Pro camera and it did a fantastic job, but I also use my P900 Nikon primarily.

iPhone 11 photo

iPhone 11 photo

Nikon P900

iPhone 11 photo

THE INDIAN GARDEN

This an oasis about 5 miles from the top of the rim, drinking water, toilet, and picnic tables. It's also a campground and the park ranger station. Live creek along the canyon and wildlife is very abundant in the area. The mule deer is very common along the riparian forest.

The Bright Angel is the first part of the journey, we started late around 9:30 in the morning and arrived around 7:30 at night at the campground, it was a long tedious hike. The last 2 miles of our trek we have to use flashlight all the way to the campground.

I sleep fairly well that night and I'm excited for the next day adventure of exploring the

Bright Angel canyon, the Phantom Ranch and the North Kaibab trail.