Story:
Two day trip in the winter down the Kaibab South trail, overnight at Phantom Ranch and then back up Bright Angel Trail.
Started out around 11:00 am from the trailhead. The upper sections of the trail has several inches of snow and ice. Used the over shoes traction devices, which worked great. Made great progess, getting to Phantom Ranch around 3:30.
Had a great dinner at the ranch and the three of us stayed in a cabin at the ranch. Got up to eggs, pancakes and bacon, then went back up the Bright Angel trail. We left around 7:45, got to the Rim in time for lunch at the El Tovar hotel.
Wonderful trip, but wished we had taken more time and had down a side hike to Clear Creek or to Ribbon Falls.. well next time.
Two day trip in the winter down the Kaibab South trail, overnight at Phantom Ranch and then back up Bright Angel Trail.
Started out around 11:00 am from the trailhead. The upper sections of the trail has several inches of snow and ice. Used the over shoes traction devices, which worked great. Made great progess, getting to Phantom Ranch around 3:30.
Had a great dinner at the ranch and the three of us stayed in a cabin at the ranch. Got up to eggs, pancakes and bacon, then went back up the Bright Angel trail. We left around 7:45, got to the Rim in time for lunch at the El Tovar hotel.
Wonderful trip, but wished we had taken more time and had down a side hike to Clear Creek or to Ribbon Falls.. well next time.
Tags:
grand canyon, Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel, Kaibab
grand canyon, Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel, Kaibab
Comments (12)
I did this trip with 6 women (and my husband) in November. PERFECT weather. Didn't need any extra stuff. Even if you're not a serious hiker, if you get to this park, at least walk a short way down the Bright Angel Trail. It's a different experience to be IN the canyon. Even a very short way. We stayed in one of the cottages on the rim one night and at 3 a.m. I got up and went for a walk. Can you imagine being the ONLY person at the Grand Canyon?! I could tell where the North Rim was because that's where the stars stopped.
by Seeker on Jul 23, 2010
dcveeneman
Must have been very pretty with the fresh snow! Warm gear is definitely a good idea. We had temps in the teens at the rim.
by AllenRbrts on Feb 13, 2010
Must have been very pretty with the fresh snow! Warm gear is definitely a good idea. We had temps in the teens at the rim.
Great pictures! Did this hike on Feb 1-3, after a heavy snow at the South Rim. Fortunately, both trails were already broken. We camped out at Bright Angel Campground first night, and Indian Garden Campground second night. If you do it, go with winter gear--temps were mid-twenties the second night. We were well-geared and stayed warm--a real blast!
by LagunaHiker on Feb 13, 2010
Bram:
We stayed at a hotel on the rim and then took the shuttle to the Kaibab trailhead in the morning. On the way back, the Bright Angel comes up right where all the hotels are, so it was very easy.
I have hiked in the Canyon a couple of times in the summer, but the winter experience was great, very few people and much less sweat!
by AllenRbrts on Jan 27, 2010
We stayed at a hotel on the rim and then took the shuttle to the Kaibab trailhead in the morning. On the way back, the Bright Angel comes up right where all the hotels are, so it was very easy.
I have hiked in the Canyon a couple of times in the summer, but the winter experience was great, very few people and much less sweat!
There are shuttles to the beginning of the trail and from the end. We just left our car in the main parking lot when we did it and picked it up after a long breakfast after the hike
by chris on Jan 27, 2010
Great pictures! I'm planning to do a similar trip in March. How do you get back to the starting point (which is where you presumably leave your car)? Can you hike back along the rim road?
Thanks,
Bram
by bramvdbroek on Jan 27, 2010
Thanks,
Bram
Great pictures! You got me tempted to try the South Kaibab trail now. I have only been when the temps were around 3 digits, but this looks a bit more inviting! Thanks for posting it.
by pd2002 on Jan 20, 2010
I did this exact trip this past summer, there was less snow then. Great pictures!
by chris on Jan 14, 2010
Wow, is it just me, or are there really more Grand Canyon trips then ever being posted to the site?! I was there on Christmas day with the family, and since then I noticed a couple of very cool trips. Looks like a challenging hike in winter. Nice! We stayed on the rim, with 3 little kids.
by joost on Jan 14, 2010
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