How fit does one need to be for the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim
I'm seriously considering a solo hike, rim-to-rim, across the Grand Canyon, coinciding with the annular eclipse on May 20th. I want to challenge myself, and figure this one could do it.
I have read that one can, if they are very fit, do rim-to-river and back in a day, but I haven't found what hiking from one rim to the other and back is like. I was thinking that I, as an FOF (Fat old fart, who loses pounds from the hair loss only. turned 40 last month, and feeling every bit of it) should budget a lot of time.
Is four days excessive? Is this too big a challenge? Does anyone have any experiences to help me gauge this trip?
Best Answer
For reference from another 40-something: my husband and I just got back from a 3-day Grand Canyon hike. We went to Bright Angel Campground at the bottom near the river from the South Kaibab trail in about 8 hours, stayed one night, went up to the Indian Garden campground the next day in about 5 hours, stayed one night, and then out where you end up at the Bright Angel trailhead the next day in about 5 hours. We were pretty spent.
Our calves are still a little sore (after 9 days)! This is mainly from going to the bottom in one day. We did not do as much training as we should have. We are not overweight and have been on several other treking adventures. In general, we do some sort of 30 min aerobic workout 2-3 times a week, but doing some more hiking before the trip especially with our full packs would have benefited us.
One thing to consider when comparing these stories is that a day hiker will not be carrying nearly as much of a load with them as a backpacker. A tent, sleeping bags, food, clothes, cooking gear, etc. will have a big effect on what your muscles need to accomplish.
We saw all ages on the trail and were amazed at how fit some of the older people were. We did not see a lot of overweight people (except riding the mules!) Definitely plan on bringing a lot of water, snacks and sunscreen. We always hike with hiking poles as it helps a lot, especially for knee joints on the downhill. Hiking boots, synthetic clothing, and layering are also a must. A hat or sun visor with a brim is recommended.
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How difficult is the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim hike?
The Rim to Rim Hike of the Grand Canyon is an extremely difficult hike. Less than 1% of the 6 million annual visitors embark on this hike and most prepare for months even years for this hike.How fit do you need to be to hike the Grand Canyon?
On your Grand Canyon hike, you'll constantly be climbing stairs and walking over rocks, so you'll need to condition your joints and muscles to handle them. The trails you choose should have an elevation gain of at least 1,000 feet.How difficult is Rim to Rim to Rim?
The Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim is a classic crossing of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world \u2026 twice. The out-and-back route is 44-47 miles (depending on the variation) and has 11,000 feet of elevation gain. It is a challenging and rewarding route that can be done in 1-4 days.How hard is Rim to Rim in one day?
Don't underestimate its grueling difficulty. By the shortest route, combining the South and North Kaibab trails, a rim-to-rim hike, or r2r, entails about 21 trail miles and a cumulative nearly 11,000 feet of elevation gain and loss. The heat can wilt even the fittest people.How to Plan a Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim Hike
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