I miss the Canyon...

[Deborah]

[quote="azbackpackr"]Hey, I put my permit request in this morning! First choice: Boucher-Hermit, because I haven't done Boucher. Put in a couple other choices as well. So we will see what I get.

I just did Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa. Down 3 miles and 3.000 feet. Then off Horseshoe Mesa to Page Spring to get water. That was an additional .5 miles and 1,000 feet. It was an awesome trip and I can see why people get addicted to packbacking in the canyon. It was my first time, and I have lived in AZ 22 years now.
I want to go back? When are you doing your trip in October?
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Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. - Rachel Carson

[azbackpackr]

Yes, and I had to break down and buy myself an internal frame pack in order to be able to do the rest of the Canyon... Too much scrambling on the primitive trails I have not yet done, and boy, with that old thing (see my profile photo) it was always really dicey due to it being so top heavy. I could carry a TON of weight on that frame, though. But it put me through hell in South Canyon.

I am getting to be an old she-mule, so had to make some adjustments.

[Deborah]

Take care of your knees. Mine were screaming several times. It was nice to be able to go slow and stop at various places on the way down to wait for my friends. Although I didn't stop as much going up. SO much easier. I was surprised how easy it was going up because it was hell going down and that trail is like you said steep!!! We were heros at the overlook! Although I talked several visitors out of even starting down the trail.
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Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. - Rachel Carson

[azbackpackr]

PS My other choices were Monument/Granite Rapids, since I have never been down Monument Canyon to the river (only to the bp campground). Also put down the Hermit-Tonto-BA loop as third choice because I did it once before the other way around, and this time also put in for different campsites along that route, to make it different. Thought about doing Thunder River or Nankoweap, but maybe in the springtime. Have been to Thunder River, but it was my first GC backpack in '93.

[azbackpackr]

Did you do Boucher this year, Deborah? My permit request is for October. I have heard it is steep. My knees have improved with use of poles, use of glucosamine and MSM, and regular chiropractic visits.

[Hnak]

There are a couple steep spots on the Boucher. There is a place going through the Supai where you might need to use your hands to scramble down this one spot, maybe 15 - 20 feet. Also, after the saddle by White's Butte, the route down through the Redwall is in places pretty steep, consisting of a lot of stair-steps. Just take your time and enjoy the process...
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The world is older and bigger than we are. This is a hard truth for some folks to swallow. —EDWARD ABBEY

[azbackpackr]

Thanks, Hank. I just this afternoon hiked 5 miles with 25 lbs. in my new Golite pack. I think the true test of whether a pack fits is if you can forget you are wearing it some of the time. This did happen!

I decided to buy a length of plastic sheeting but have found out there is no longer such a product as Visklamps. You have to be a real Colin Fletcher fan to know about Visqueen and Visklamps.

[Hnak]