Grand Canyon National Park North Bass, AZ
Oct 2 - Oct 10, 2022 -- $1500 ★★★★★
Trip Description
What can we possibly tell you about
Grand Canyon National Park,
that would persuade you to visit? Would it help to know that it's considered one of the
7 Wonders of the Natural World? Or that the geologic features reveal 40% of the Earth's history?
Or that the Grand Canyon is home to some of the cleanest air in the United States? Or
that it's well over a mile deep, giving rise to superlative, unobstructed views?
The Grand Canyon is a life list destination that words are insufficient to fully describe.
You owe it to yourself to visit this truly amazing wonder, even once.
Unlike our other Grand Canyon trips,
The North Bass Trail.
starts and ends on the less crowded North Rim, in a remote section of the rim.
According to Backpacker Magazine, "With all due respect to the hordes on the
corridor trails, there's a better, lonelier way to descend into Arizona's belly and back
again". This will truly be an epic adventure that traverses the Grand Canyon in a much
different way (both geographically and spiritually) than the corridor trails. We may encounter
rafting groups at Bass Camp on the Colorado River, but probably only a few people along our route.
In 2021 we saw exactly zero people on the trail itself.
Sign up to do this trip now, while you're young and capable.
Weather
Weather is always an important concern when backpacking, especially in the Grand Canyon.
October is a great to visit weather-wise as snow has probably not yet started on
the North Rim
and it's (hopefully) no longer oppressively hot in
the canyon.
Still, be prepared for freezing weather or even snow on the rim, but also be prepared for 100 degrees and
little water in the canyon. Chances are, neither extremes will happen but we must be prepared for both.
Probable Trip Leaders
Steve Silberberg
2nd Guide TBD
Cost
$1500 per person double occupancy.
Here, double occupancy means that you will
share a hotel room with another trip participant. You will also be responsible
for transportation to and from Las Vegas McCarran Airport (LAS) as well as personal equipment,
restaurant meals and any gratuities for guides.
Covered expenses include 1 (possibly 2) hotel nights, backcountry reservations, 8 days
of trail meals, ground transportation, National Park permits, fees and awesome guides.
Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters,
we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services,
we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides.
While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider
a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals,
sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.
Important Note
Although it seems like this trip is overly long in order to get to the Colorado River and
back, it's because the terrain can be extremely steep and the trail can be in terrible condition:
overgrown, choked with vegetation, rocky and/or washed out. Plus the temperature can be
freezing or 100 degrees. Still, it's the Grand Canyon!!
Difficulty (Please Read)
The Grand Canyon can be extremely difficult and forbidding. The temperatures
can be freezing or over 100 degrees. There is little to no shade in some areas, so you may
be exposed to the beating sun for extended periods. Sun block is not sufficient for this, you must
bring a wide brimmed hat, long sleeve shirt and long pants.
Furthermore, we will be dry-camping (no water) on at least 2 nights. Water may not be available
for 2 days. It will be imperative to carry up to 2 gallons of water (16 pounds) on occasion.
Carrying the extra weight makes your full pack even heavier. Elevation gains and losses
are dramatic in some places. Expect to gain or lose over 2800' vertical on some days. In order to do this,
you will need to be sufficiently hydrated. Plus, your feet must remain in good shape.
Blisters and unclipped toenails will cripple you and make progress extremely slow and painful
so be mindful of hot spots as they develop.
If you have a fear of heights, some short sections of this trail may paralyze you with fear. Although most
people hike this trail without issue, those with a heightened sense of fear at drop-offs may
not fare well.
Even though our total mileage over 7 days is only 27 miles, this is still rated a 5 star trip.
Training tips
Note
This is only a tentative itinerary that's subject to change. The park doesn't approve
itineraries until 2 months before the trip. Because of this, we may have to run this
trip a few days earlier or later, but this is the itinerary we are applying for so it's
presented here. Obviously this makes it difficult for you (and us) to plan if your
schedule is not somewhat flexible. We will let you know any changes as soon as we know them.
Here is our
proposed route (CalTopo)
This is the 3rd of 3 Fatpacking trips to the Grand Canyon this year.
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