Wow i must know 1/2 of you out there this…
Marmot, Slowride and Lori, Roni and John. Shara and Nimo, to name a few…
Good luck with your hike
Those who have hikes the Canyon before will be happy to see when you leave Phantom Ranch and enter the ‘box’ there is a new bridge so you no longer have to go in the (swamp) just pass the box, its keeps you high and dry…
meadow ed
Hi Ed-
Blisterfree told me you might know of some spots in the GC along the AZT that don’t require a BCCP (backcountry camping permit, sorry, i love acronyms). He said a short detour up Clear Creek maybe? Can you recommend a spot or two or a good resource to find out? Maybe the rangers will tell me at GCV? Thanks bunches!
SlowRide
The rangers at the canyon are the militant types. Don’t camp without a permit there. They will confiscate your gear and give you a several hundred dollar fine.
Their always seems to be permits available at the backcountry office For Clear Creek. Also of the twenty times or so times I’ve been to the BA camp/ phantom area, I never got denied a permit from the office when I just walked up to the desk. Just go early and get on the waiting list. Take a day hike or hang out at the library at the south rim. Or see the imax. You’ll get a permit. Dont illegally camp. I used to be a ranger at the N. Rim, and I know these guys won’t be cool if they catch you.
guino
Backcountry permits are required for all overnight stays in Grand Canyon. There’s a $10 processing fee, plus $5 per night user fee. Spend the few bucks, get the permit.
Sure, maybe you could get away with it, but that’s not the point. However unfortunate it may be, much of the area near the route of the AZT thru the Canyon is pretty high use and they charge a user fee for a reason. If you get caught without a permit, you will REALLY wish you’d just spent a few bucks on one. Fines for obvious negligence can be WHOPPING. The backcountry rangers are generally pretty cool (especially Ranger Ayers if you happen to see him) and will always work with you to sort something out.
dloome
Yeah, get the permit. Those rangers don’t kid around. We decided to do Grandview-Tonto-South Kaibab to Bright Angel campground and got lucky with a permit on the same day. My husband started ahead of me and the ranger didn’t believe his story about me being behind him with the permit. She had already called the rangers at Phantom to catch him. No kidding around there. She was a former AZT hiker but no breaks for the rule breakers. PS eventhough hitching is illegal in National Parks, the rangers seem more lenient with that although I wouldn’t recommend it because it took us a long time to get picked up and get back to Grandview. And Meadow Ed, you don’t remember Apple Pie? What’s up with that? That bridge is nice indeed, we met the trail crew last year when they were building it and had the pleasure of walking over it nine days ago.
Apple Pie
Apple Pie,
Congrats on the AZT!!!
Hitching isn’t illegal in all national parks. Definetely the GC though ,been yelled at myself. I just read the 54 page yosemite laws book on line, and there is a section on hitching in the park. You just need to do so at a place a car can comletely pull off, and not on a bridge.
Guino
Thanks for the info, guys!
I’m in Flagstaff now doing the ol’ resupply. To clarify, I wasn’t looking to illegally camp. I just wondered if there was some unstructured backcountry nook somewhere in there. I am planning on behaving in the park. Except, I found this little glider kit on the side of the road down near Patagonia, and I have been carrying it ALL this way just to huck it off something huge. I’ll be sure to put my return address on there so I can get the footage off the micro-cam :).
Take it easy…
SlowRide
This park gets $25 bucks a car x 9.5 million visitors, and they put idiots in the ranger stations. The entire western half of the US was acquired for $500 some small pox blankets some shiny trinkets and whiskey. All they will do is misspend your money.
Stealth camp on the South Rim next to entrance area and do a rim to rim. If you can’t make it in one day camp at Supai tunnel ( only flat spot ) noone is on the North side until mid May
Worldwide
At least two rangers, one law and one maintenance are on the N. Side permanently. Plus a winter watchmen for the concessionaire.
Guino
I was there 4 days ago. They are not there at all in fact I had the only set of footprints in the snow. The ranger housing #122 had a window flapping around in the breeze. They aren’t at the housing I saw and they are definitely NOT in the backcountry. Park Rangers have become nothing more than attendance people. Their titles connotate ranging = patrolling they patrol from the entrance gates to the crapper then to their truck that is all the ranging they do. No budgets left. So go enjoy
Worldwide
Guino does get out there. The park service has enough support from entrance fees and nonprofit groups that it’s budget is not shrinking. I’m sure you weren’t looking in the right spot of the north rim.
Sheera