advice Grand Canyon backpacking Spring 2020

[shredhiker]

Glad you finally made it!

I hiked down hermit in '21, camped at Monument Creek & Granite Rapids. I've been losing the permit lottery, trying to get back out there every spring since.

 

[wick e. pedia]

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Original poster here! Reliving this thread 4 years later to say….I finally made it! We did Hermits Rest TH to Monument Creek. Then night 2 at Hermit Creek with a side trip to the river at Hermits Rapids. That was what was available and I really enjoyed it. We started off with a spring snowstorm, which faded away by 11am. It left a cool vibe in the canyon, with the way the clouds were dangling around the temples.

At night there was a full moon that illuminated the whole place!

The trip from Hermit creek to Hermit Rapids was my favorite part. Loved it!!

Awesome to hear you finally made this trek!

Almost the last thing I did pre-pandemic was a 7-day trip down Tanner Canyon, up the Escalante Route, along the Tonto shelf, and out Bright Angel in late February 2020. I think we made it back to the top and cell service on March 1st only to find this pesky virus had become something much more serious, and by the time I got back to CO and my legs began to work again the whole world had shut down. For the longest time, it was my most recent kick-ass memory of doing anything outside the house, and four years later it still stands up as an all-timer.

 

[Janice]

There is a big flat spot just below Cardenas Butte just before the trail descends the the Red Wall that we camped at and I've made a point of camping there every time I've gone on that trail.

Curt, I noticed your comment from 2019 about the dry camp between Lipan and Tanner Beach. I'm doing some planning for this trip next spring and am wondering if the spot below Cardenas Butte is big enough for 2 or 3 tents. If you (or anyone else) can let me know, that would be helpful.

 

[b.stark]

Curt, I noticed your comment from 2019 about the dry camp between Lipan and Tanner Beach. I'm doing some planning for this trip next spring and am wondering if the spot below Cardenas Butte is big enough for 2 or 3 tents. If you (or anyone else) can let me know, that would be helpful.

I don't know if Curt checks the forum much these days, but I hiked with him in the Grand Canyon in 2016 and we camped on the Tanner Trail on the top of the Redwall and it's a pretty spacious site. You have to continue a bit off trail, but where we camped there was ample room for all of our group of I think 5 in individual tents. Here's a photo of just two of the tents. Be aware that the cliff you camp by is BIG and you don't want to fall off it! Apart from that, it is a really amazing place to camp with truly spectacular views.

This shows the location of the campsite. If I recall, there is a use trail that leads there.

 

[Janice]

I don't know if Curt checks the forum much these days, but I hiked with him in the Grand Canyon in 2016 and we camped on the Tanner Trail on the top of the Redwall and it's a pretty spacious site. You have to continue a bit off trail, but where we camped there was ample room for all of our group of I think 5 in individual tents. Here's a photo of just two of the tents. Be aware that the cliff you camp by is BIG and you don't want to fall off it! Apart from that, it is a really amazing place to camp with truly spectacular views.

This shows the location of the campsite. If I recall, there is a use trail that leads there.
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Thanks so much. I just found your 2016 trip report and really enjoyed your descriptions and beautiful photos. Will watch the video, too. I hope our conditions are similar to yours - such a clear river! (I know it rained on your last day, but that didn't seem too problematic for you.) I will be impatient between now and next April when we go, assuming we don't have trouble getting a permit...

 

[b.stark]

Thanks so much. I just found your 2016 trip report and really enjoyed your descriptions and beautiful photos. Will watch the video, too. I hope our conditions are similar to yours - such a clear river! (I know it rained on your last day, but that didn't seem too problematic for you.) I will be impatient between now and next April when we go, assuming we don't have trouble getting a permit...

Glad I could help!