Hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon

So I and 3 other friends are planning a hike from the south rim back up the south rim…I am currently training for this by doing endurance like activites…I am planning to go in May 2010 meaning that I can’t apply for my permit until January, initially I was planning on staying overnight at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon but I think I would get a more rewarding experience if I stuck to traditional camping methods

95% of people walk down from the south rim, after all it’s 1000 feet lower elevation, if you like walking with less people start at the north rim! You will have a choice of two very nice campgrounds on the way down.(you have to make reservations) I stayed at the second, left my sleeping bag there, and walked to the river and back, stayed a second night then walked out the next morning.

As the sun was setting at Indian Gardens (half-way point).

1988 (to the bottom) and 1992 (to horseshoe mesa)

I recently stopped at the Grand Canyon and did a couple hours of hiking. Fabulous! Before then, hiking to the bottom was a dream of mine, but now it’s a goal. I have three friends riled up to do it with me and we’re looking at next April. Here’s hoping!

Update:
One week from today I’m flying to Phoenix and the following Sunday am hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon with my husband and two dear friends. We’ve been training for months and are definitely ready for this adventure!

I’ve hiked the Grand Canyon twice and camped at the bottom once.
SUCH a great experience and so different from a typical hike, since you’re climbing up 4,400 ft in the later half, instead of the beginning (hard!).
I hiked in Jan/Feb and it was about 30 degrees at the top with snow/ice/slush for about 2 miles. However, as we got closer to the bottom, it was in the mid 60s.
Colder months are the perfect time for this hike in my opinion :)

Hike down, camp out, and hike out! No Burros!

woddle woddle

Ok, so I need to talk my husband into doing this for August, he thinks we are not in good enough shape for it. I really want to do just the 3 day, easier Indian Garden Hike and feel like we would be fine. Thoughts?

My best friend and I met up at the Grand Canyon after she had been on a road trip around America for a whole year. I knew we were hiking some part of the canyon but she assured me her mom wasn’t so crazy that she’d take us all the way to the bottom.
She lied like a dog.
We got up at five in the morning and packed nothing but Luna Bars and sleeping gear before setting off. It was so gruellingly hot and steep, but dunking into the river at the bottom felt GREAT.
It was so different from the mountain climbing mentality though. No hard on the way in and easy on the way out stuff. When my knees were killing me from hundreds of steep stairs on the way down, my thighs were going to be killing me from climbing the same stairs on the way up.
We could tell when we were getting close because the people started looking cleaner and happier. Near the last stretch we were passing this mini-troop of boy scouts. Each switchback we rested at they passed us, and then we passed them at the next one. This went on until we decided to book it through the last 5 switchbacks and made it up first. We stayed behind and congratulated them though.
It was a great experience and I’d be stoked to do it again.