Made coffee and waited for the 7:00am lottery release this morning on the recreation.gov website. I was looking for a 2 person permit ideally for either July or August. As the process opened at 7:00am sharp for bidding there were many options for May (still are), handful in June but nothing for July or August. I clicked back to June, I think there were 4 or 5 days with 2 or more (2 of these had available for 12 or more as I recall). Picked a date still showing available for 2 but unable to launch it into my cart to secure, tried a few times and then it disappeared as did every other potential option. It was all over without success, it was now 7:02am.
Thinking I need to do the daily cancellation checking thing I got another cup of coffee. Around 7:23am I looked again, and to my surprise it repopulated with additional(?) spots in June and was able to secure a 2 person permit June 13. Holy smokes what just happened, there were many days with singles but only 2 days with more than this.
Appreciate the trip reports and photos here to assess the current situation on the Mountain and will use this as the best source for intel as we get into early June to balance packing as light as possible while trying to be prepared for the unexpected. If it is to sketchy/iced over may shorten the summit attempt this time around, assuming all else with nature is cooperating or blessing our presence on this day.
Anyway, it looks like a relatively low snow fall year but not sure about what the cables situation, etc. may be by mid June. Not crampon/microspike experienced and making this journey with 13 year old daughter. Young soul but a bit of experience in backcountry 40 miles in Yosemite last year and Grand Canyon (NOT the R2R for the purist, I concur) but a worthy hike down S Kaibab to Phantom Ranch and up Bright Angel as a 10 year old in mid June, thermometer at Bright Angel reading 126F one of the days - a bit Saharan desert hot. We are scheduled to tackle the actual R2R journey in August - hope we dodge lightning/monsoons? If anyone has thoughts/experience on how they arranged a car swap for R2R would be appreciated. We are going from N Rim to S Rim and while there is a shuttle service its $90/person (times 3 in this case) plus the drive time 4hours + each way - its an option but not ideal if a car swap could be arrange.
Cheers!
