Walking from winter to summer in six hours: Hiking the Grand Canyon in Spring

Posted: April 12th, 2010 | Author: Roger Ludwig | Filed under: Arizona | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments »

This spring break we walked from winter to summer in just less than six hours. Breakfast was in the crunch of icy snow. Supper was prepared in the give of soft sand, an 80 degree sun baking the winter freeze from my old bones.

The quickest way to summer is not to drive south but to walk down. Down into the welcoming heart of the Grand Canyon.

We’ve done it for ten springs now, a family tradition, taking different trails from the south rim down to the river. In one sense it’s a trip through deep time, walking down this layer cake of rock through ever older sediments. But in another sense it’s a fast trip from Canada to Mexico. The rim is in the Canadian zone of Ponderosa pines while the river flows through the Sonoran zone of cactus and mesquite. In six hours we walked south across the North American continent.

The ideal hike to meet the inner Grand Canyon

While there are nine trails snaking their way down the south rim, only two are maintained. They join at the river to make a loop. Here’s my prescription for the perfect spring break backpack.

Get up in the dark, dress warmly and stumble to one of several overlooks to watch dawn’s light show. Sipping hot coffee adds to the pleasure. As the sun eases up over the horizon, it highlights ridge upon ridge below you. A giant condor, recently reintroduced to the park, may heighten your wonder.

This year my son decided to reintroduce the pterodactyl. He bought one at Walmart, complete with red streamers and yards of string. Read the rest of this entry »