An overview of my 6-day, 5-night solo backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon, March 14-19, 2021.
Trip Planning
While I am sure there are people who can show up at the Backcountry Office, get a permit and disappear below the Rim of the Grand Canyon for days, I don’t enjoy that luxury at this time. So I had to plan my routes, put in for permits and get organized.
- Inspiration and Planning the Route
- Getting Backcountry Permits
- Food Planning
- Gear (Work in Progress)
The Route
This is the actual route I hiked, based on my planned route in CalTopo. I used both AllTrails and the Garmin InReach Satellite Communicator to track my journey. Total trip mileage was 42.4 miles over 6 days. I’ve included the day’s route and mileage in each day’s blog entry.
Retrospective
This was an amazing hike, and I’m so happy I was able to do this and accomplish it. I could have spent a couple more days out I’m sure, and be easily entertained. I started to notice towards the last couple of days I was already thinking about what I needed to do when I got back to the RV, when I was picking up my girls in the Mesa airport, etc. I wish I could’ve kept that turned off, it started to make me anxious. The first several days of an empty mind was amazing, and that’s what helps me recharge my batteries.
Weather wise it was perfect, I cannot imagine doing this trail past mid-April at most. It was already hot in sections, but tolerable for sure. Nights were perfect. March is probably my favorite time in the Canyon, but I’d like to try November one time too (October on the Rim was beautiful!).
I’d make some changes to my food, but that’s a normal part of backpacking for me. Things that were good last time aren’t this time. In this case I found a new love in salami and cheese, pizza roll-ups and Snickers. I always pack too much food, with the portions just a little larger than they need to be. Oh well….I suppose extra is better, it was probably a couple extra pounds though.
I of couse can’t find where I wrote down my starting pack weight, I think it was about 42 pounds with food and water. Ending pack weight was 33 pounds. 6 pounds of that were leftover food and garbage, 1L of nasty water from Page Springs, and a 1.2 L of water from Hance Creek. I’ve done a lot over the years to get gear weight down, but it looks like I still have a little work to do. I have no interest in being an ultra-light hiker, I want reasonable comfort at a reasonable weight.
Here are some of my thoughts on what I’d change:
- I want to find a lighter weight water filter system. Love my Katadyn Hiker Pro filter, but it’s heavy.
- My MSR Pocket Rocket stove needs some kind of windscreen. It was windy in the Canyon most nights during this trip
- Boots…need new boots since I separated the sole from mine
- Probably time to retire my Osprey Aether 70 for a newer model. I was looking at the Aether Pro series before this trip.
- Garmin InReach Explorer – the smaller inReach Mini would have been better for my needs
What worked well:
- Tent, sleeping pad and sleeping bag all worked awesome
- Trekking poles are a must have!!
- Micro spikes, super happy I carried them
- Loved my Sunday Afternoons Charter hat
Thanks for reading about my Grand Canyon journey! I hope you enjoyed it, maybe got inspired to take a trip of your own, and learned a little something about how to get started. Hike on!!
