Grand Canyon Hike
 

I am a 61-year old female preparing to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon with my 30-year old daughter in Apr. of 2005. I worry about the trek back up the next day. We took the mule trip down (awesome)in 2003 so am familiar with the terrain,with Phantom Ranch and with the lack of available water. I would appreciate any advice with regard to the hiking end of this adventure. Am I too old to attempt this? How strenuous is the walk back up? I work out at a gym four to five times a week but don't hike on a regular basis. Any suggestions for what else I can do to make this trek fun and not a disaster will be appreciated. Any other 60-year old females our there that have done this? Thanks for any advice anyone can give me.

I was a spring chicken when I did this hike at age 38. I can only recommend:

-- get your knees and legs in shape by walking up and down flights of stairs. You don't have to use a stair climber; just use a flight of stairs! Build up your muscles until you can do so for an hour without any fatigue or soreness. Since you'll be doing it for EIGHT hours as you hike out of the Canyon, this level of fitness is a must.
-- go down the South Kaibab and back up the Bright Angel. Don't even consider any other trail out of the Canyon.
-- when you do your hike, use shielding to protect your skin from carcinogenic thermonuclear radiation. Cotton is probably the best for this.
-- even with this shielding, use LOTS of sun screen.
-- carry and drink LOTS of water before, during, and after your hike.
-- prepare yourself mentally. You WILL be VERY tired and sore when you walk out. But you will have an experience that 99% of the visitors to the Canyon (sadly) overlook!

Based on what you said about yourself, I would not do it. Remember, if you can't make it out yourself, you will be charged for the evacuation whether it be by helicopter or whatever. On my mule ride I saw a middle aged woman in agony waiting to be coptered out.
A close friend at least 2 decades younger that runs regularly every day of her life said it was the toughest thing she'd ever done. She went in summer and April may be better, but then again it snowed on us for three days the first time I went to the GC in April (on spring break from teaching). I hiked Arches later that trip and was concerned about ice patches on the trail.
I'm usually optimistic on this board, but I would really recommend "no". Do a rim hike or another mule trip (do they take the mules on the trail in April?)

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Say hello to Dutch.

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If you work out in a gym already, I would talk to a trainer and get into a program that will help you prepare for that hike. If you already work out many days a week, and you have lots of time to prepare, it should be very doable. We hiked part way down a few years ago. Yea, going back up was tiring, but in some ways, it was easier than going down. I should have had better shoes, I kept sliding on the rocks. I say, go for it. Jean

I am your age, female, and workout too...2-3 spin classes, 2-3 step classes, and 3 "body pump" classes a week, plus I run, although this time of year, the word run is a bit of a euphemism! We live in the flatlands of Florida, where there is no opportunity for hiking. We've hiked the Grand Canyon 3 times but never to the bottom--first trip went to the first rest stop, 2nd trip to Indian Gardens (8 miles roundtrip) and this past November, to Promontory Point (12 miles roundtrip). We plan on doing the bottom, hopefully next spring. Our daughter and s-i-l are urging us to come with them, camping at the bottom, and the camping aspect is the only hesitation I have...as we'd have to pack our gear down and back out. I am absolutely certain I can make it without a pack, but worry some about the pack, never having tried that. They've hiked to the bottom several times, camping at the bottom, and were planning a rim to rim hike this spring until our daughter became ill and needed surgery. That put a temporary end to those plans but they are only on hold--they are determined to do it as soon as she is full strength and the weather allows. (I'm not so keen on that idea..for them or me.)

Only you know the shape you are in, whether you are working out fairly strenuously and how you feel when you are doing it. As I said, I am 100% certain I could do it, providing I wasn't carrying a pack, and probably could carrying a pack...(emphasis on the "probably"). Are you planning on camping? If so you face the same issues. If not...it may already be too late to get a spot at Phantom Ranch...in fact, I imagine it is.

You will be able to get water at the first rest stop, again at Indian Gardens, and at the bottom, and although their website says May to October for water, we've always done these hikes Thanksgiving week and it has never been an issue--water was still running. Obviously it's something you'd check with the rangers.

Even more positively, you've got plenty of time to train for this and get yourself into tip top shape. One of my friends here, my age, has climbed both Kilamanjaro and Machu Picchu recently. To prepare she would go to the gym in her hiking boots and loaded backpack, get on the treadmill, crank up the elevation as high as it would go and walk. On weekends she and her husband would dress in hiking boots and pack and do 12 mile walks along the bay in Tampa, culminating at his downtown office building where they took the stairs to the top. Now your training doesn't need to be quite that extreme, but neither is your hike...you get the idea. If you normally use the treadmill, work on getting the elevation up and maintaining a good pace for at least an hour. You'll get a better feeling for your abilities. If you have new hiking boots then I would definitely do it in your boots a couple of times, and wear them beforehand to break them in.

You might find it easier to hike with poles. I used one for the first time this year as I had a bad hamstring when I did the hike...and found them very beneficial in the upper section especially where they've done recent trail maintenance. The maintenance made it a bit more difficult actually as they placed logs and filled in spaces between with small rocks, so there was constant stepping up or down in this segment. I had hoped they weren't finished and whatever they did next would make it easier, but someone else on the board hiking it more recently complained about the same thing. It's not terrible, but it is definitely more difficult in this one segment than it used to be.

If you are camping, another thought, and something we are considering too, would be to hike to Indian Gardens, set up camp there (there's both water and toilets), the next day leave gear and hike to the bottom then back to Indian Gardens, then out the following day. That way the hike is broken up and probably more enjoyable as you won't be worried about the climb out.

If you aren't interested in camping, and are unsure of your abilities, day hikes to either Indian Gardens or Promontory Point are good alternatives...then you can enjoy the comfort of a real bed and hot shower in one of the lodges at the rim that night, still getting a real sense of accomplishment.

Good luck...and I'll be very, very interested in what you decide to do!!

Hmm...the above posted without some of the changes I'd made so I'll add them now.

First re water availability, we have had it in the end of November despite there being some snow and ice at the top twice.

I'd also added the following at the end...most imporant! :) A lot of age is just a state of mind...don't accept it lying down! With determination we <i>can</i> keep it at bay for a loooong long time. Go_Go_Go! :D

topping

Thank you 00 and others for good ideas. I think I'll know my abilities better when I start training (next week). The treadmill with hiking boots and backpack--great suggestion. Reservations are made at Phantom Ranch but may change and try Indian Gardens trek instead. Depends on how training goes.

I have no advice, but want to say:

YOU GO GIRL!!!

you used to be able to pay and have your pack sent down on a mule(rides to Phantom Ranch) ahead of your hike...ck and see w/the mule rides #...also the water camels you carry on your back are great ...and the hiking poles...

I am 57 and this past weekend we were in the Grand Canyon. We did a hike to Indian Gardens and back.We did the Bright Angel trail and we left before sunrise to beat the heat and made it back around 6:30 pm. We had to stop because the heat was overwhelming. It was suggested to us (my 62 year old husband) to stop hiking between 10 and 4 pm. We stopped at a kiosk and waited the sun out. I did fine. I had lots of water and salty snacks. You have to drink and eat whether you feel like it or not. Before I knew we were going I did a lot of walking so my legs would be up to all the hiking. The last time we hiked to Phantom Ranch I learned a great lesson . Be prepared for anything and that includes the weather. My calves were so sore from that hike that it took days to get any relief. That was 17 years ago and this time I had the common sense to listen to all the advice I could get. The rangers were most helpful. If you pace yourself and stop when it gets too hot, you'll be fine. Get on the Grand Canyon website. They offer lots of advice too. April would be an awesome time to go. Just remember to bring salty snacks and water. Lots of water. Sunscreen and wear a hat. Layer your clothing so you can take off clothes so you can feel comfortable. If you leave early enough in the morning you will have no major problems. I saw people going down with nothing and I nearly freaked out. There are so many warning signs posted to tell you what to do. The switch backs can be tough coming back up so I agree on poles. I used a walking stick and that was very helpful. This time my legs were fine even if we didn't make it to the bottom. But we are planning on doing this in the future but we will not be camping at Phantom Ranch but staying in the dorms they have there.

I know this is an old post but for those reading for future info----

The best web site I found for info is:
www.hitthetrail.com

If you work out 3-4 times a week and don't have any major knee or foot issues, you'll be fine.

PaulRabe---if you are still checking into this thread. . . when you say &quot;don't even consider any other trail (other than the Bright Angel) out of the canyon&quot;---was this specific to the poster who was concerned about her fitness? Or do you mean that advice for everyone? I know the Kaibab is shadeless and an extra 400 feet of gain, but we were thinking of going down Bright Angel and up Kaibab instead of the &quot;usual&quot; way. We are going in mid-April so I don't know if heat/shade will be as much of an issue. Our main concern is that we not hike down a steep trail---even with poles that is the hardest part for us. Hiking UP 4700 feet is something we have done a number of times, so I am less concerned about that than the downhill. I suppose the alternative would be to go down and up on the Bright Angel. I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!

enzian,

Almost no one we saw were doing it the way you are describing BUT we did meet a group that had done the trails several times and this was the way they preferred because of the steep descent on Kaibab.

We did meet several people who had gone down to Skeletal Point on Kaibab and then back up Kaibab.

BTW, this group consisted of three people, who appeared to be in their 30's, 50's and 70's!

The first few miles of BA are about as steep as Kaibab but then it's mostly a nice gentle slope.

Thanks, Connie.