Seeing and Hiking the Grand Canyon

It is hard to believe that the first European explorer who arrived at the Grand Canyon just turned back after being unimpressed by the enormous gaping hole in the earth. Major Powell was the first to chart a map of the Colorado river defying harsh conditions and dangerous rapids. Now it is a major tourist attraction drawing millions of tourists each year. Only hundreds hike to the bottom and hundreds are rescued every year. Good preparation beats being in excellent physical shape. We hiked in the beginning of May. I brought a 2 pound hiking bag, 2 pound sleeping bag, 3 liters of water in a camel pak, Gatorade powder, water bottle, sunscreen, hiking poles , light jacket, socks, and food. Weight is a very important matter to consider. We started on the South Kaibob Trail (~7mi) for the way down. It took approximately 4 hours with plenty of shade. There were restroom stops approximately every 2.5 miles. We arrived at Bright Angel Camp and set up our tents. We applied for a permit two months in advance. The camp had restrooms, potable water, and even food at the Phantom Ranch. We woke up at 8 a.m. and had a quick breakfast. We used the Bright Angel Trail (~9.3 mi) to hike back up to the rim. Most of this trail is exposed but there is a reprieve midway at the Oasis at the Indian Gardens. It took us approximately 7 hours to arrive to the top of the rim.