Hey everybody Hydro Heidi and I are on the AZT right now. We’re doing a flip-flop from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. We just completed the 100 miles from here to the Utah border and hitched back yesterday. Now we’re about to start from here 700 miles to Mexico. Here’s what I learned so far:
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All water sources have water in them to the Utah border. Except the N.Rim entrance station which will never have water near it except when Residence building next to it is staffed and has water truck next door. (IT DOES NOT NOW) Also the only one that isn’t nasty chunky brown cow water is Crystal Spring which is awesome.
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Large burn area about 15 miles South of Jacob lake has no trail and is nearly impassable, but walking highway here is cool.
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Jacob Lake slack pack is easy. Hitch in from Crane Lake have good meals, leave camp set up. Hitch to trail in morning then walk back with light pack. No need to drink cow water this way.
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Wire Pass Trail head 1.4 miles north of Utah border on the dirt road has a ton of cars and we got a ride to Page in a minute. Page to Cameron took 15 minutes to get a ride. Cameron to way out on the Rez took two minutes to get a ride and interesting rez tour. Then about 15 more minutes of hitching got us back to the Canyon.
5 Rangers let you park for extended periods at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon BackCountry Office.
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Criminal Element in the neighborhood of the back country office. Lots of employee houseing here with a lot of really bad people. I used to live here for 5 summers so trust me.
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busses run till 10pm at the canyon.
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N. Rim ends all services on Oct. 15
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Don’t camp on the Dirt Road near in the Forest behing the Grand Hotel. Crackheads use this area as we found out. had to swiftly leave at midnight.
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It’s all sunshine and beautiful color changes right now. Have fun.
Guino