Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2015 17:28:12 GMT -8
Does anyone here have experience hiking/camping in the Grand Canyon in December? I'm from Georgia and will be in AZ for family then.
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on Aug 23, 2015 18:23:49 GMT -8
You could get just about anything in December. It can be moderately cool to quite cold at the top, and dry to snowy or icy until you get down in a ways. There are fewer tourists in December, and the scenery is just as good. There's a lot of other great hiking in AZ at that time of year as well.
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Post by hikerjer on Aug 23, 2015 19:08:25 GMT -8
A couple of years go we did two weeks in the Grand Canyon during the beginning of January. The weather was fantastic. Mid 70s in the day and down to the 50s, sometimes the 40s or little lower at night (the water froze a bit one night) with blue bird skies. Be advised that's it going to much colder on the rim than down in the canyon. The further down you go, the warmer it gets. Also, near the top of the canyon the trails were ice covered and made for some dangerous walking. I'd recommend some sort of traction device for your boots. They make things a lot safer.
That hike was one of the best I've ever had. The Canyon will simply overwhelm you. I'd really try to work in a night at the Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Bright Angel trail. Reserve a meal. Their stew is fantastic and a cold beer is pretty nice as well.
Good luck and go for it.
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Post by starwalker on Aug 23, 2015 19:42:46 GMT -8
Although I've not hiked far into the Canyon, I have been there and day-hiked in at Christmas (my son works there so I get there almost every winter). Like hikerjer said, it can be anything from warm to cool with the rim being much colder. I have seen snow covering the Rim up to 6 inches or more, snow covering Bright Angel Trail (it must be the pits having your office 1/4 mile from the Trailhead) to the extent that you need crampons or something like that which are sold in the Bright Angel gift shop and at Yavapai in the grocery/hiking supply store. Although I haven't gone down in those conditions, you can see how the trail clears out a few hundred feet below the rim and I've seen plenty of hikers climbing out with no problems in snowy conditions. Just make sure you have the traction devices with you as the trail can be clear on your descent, but an overnight snow storm can blanket the trail with snow and ice before you return.
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Post by hikerjer on Aug 24, 2015 7:04:02 GMT -8
Good advice from starwalker. You really don't need regular crampons but some traction device such as Yak Tracs or Katoohlas.
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speacock
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I'm here for the food...
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Post by speacock on Aug 26, 2015 11:06:28 GMT -8
A group from this forum (the old one) spent New Years Eve and for a few days using the Grandview Trail. The top was a bit slippery in places but could get around it by tossing some gravel on it or walking above or below (wow what a view!) it. Good weather and explored down to the river.
In college during Spring Break a group of us spent time at the bottom via Kaibab Trail and a few days climbing. Over the last night had a very wet light rain all night. Woke up to 3-4 feet of new snow toward the rim. But then it does that in early Spring I've been told. It was an adventure.
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swmtnbackpacker
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Back but probably posting soon under my real name ... Rico Sauve
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Aug 27, 2015 7:51:15 GMT -8
Yeah, it's my new favorite time to visit and can +1 the traction advice. Only the South Rim is open though.
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beef
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Post by beef on Oct 7, 2015 13:03:29 GMT -8
I did the Escalante/Tonto and whatnot loop a couple years ago in December. Depending on the terrain, you might want crampons. There are a couple places that rent them, and the rangers will answer questions about the necessity. I had quite a bit of snow and ice both descending and ascending. Our last night hit single digits, and a couple perennial springs were frozen under the surface. It was a life lister that lived up to its billing, but it wasn't without challenges (not to mention, it was my first visit to the Canyon). We did not have crampons, but I met the limit of my yaktrax as they tore apart under the load and terrain. I still had just enough tethered together when I finished. One thing I did decide to purchase at the last minute, and was glad I did, was a few steel mesh bags to thwart rodents.
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