I loved your pics and report. I told my wife this morning let's plan on hiking GCR2R next May. I think I'll take a 2 week vacation so I can also stop at Zion Park and probably Las Vegas. Bravo!!! to you, your family, and Steve.
Thanks RenoFrank
Don't take this hike lightly. It is loooooong down hill from the North side. We trained in the local hills in hot weather every chance we had.
If I was to do it again, I would skip the Kaibab Lodge, get to the trail-head around 3PM, and hike in to the Cottonwood Campground. The Kaibab Lodge accommodation were ... on par with camping.... wrong, camping would be less smelly.
Unless you want to do it in a day , like the Super-hikers
(Steve and Whitney Fan), splitting the R2R in 2 or 3 days would give you more time to enjoy the splendor of the Canyon and save your feet and knees.
My wife planned the whole trip including permits and lodging
I'm just the scrawny muscle behind the brain. She did start the processes early on. My brilliant idea was the car swap.
I did notice that a lot of the camp sites at Phantom Ranch were empty, one can wonder if the Park Service holds on to some spots, or there are that many cancellations/ no shows?
My girls are talking already about doing the whole thing in reverse, S to N. another car swap...?
Don't push your luck J
