Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim March 25ish 2013 anyone?

Cool!  I am aware of a potential water situation, i.e. lack thereof except for maybe Phantom Ranch.  I am planning on iodine and maybe a filter and just carrying more water weight.  Could be some snow on the North Rim, but worse case is we turn around a little early.  When I did rim2rim last year in mid-Feb there was a blizzard at the top and it rained the entire way up.  Temps in the 40's at the bottom and 28 at top.  I carried my entire water needs and had some left over.  Conditions should be much better more than a month later in the season.  Just takes good planning.

Tony

Rim2Rim2Rim is on my list, but not for 2013.

So I am hoping on a full report, so I know what to expect in 2014

Here is the route.  http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/55053356/

42 miles total.  Start at 7200 ft, drop 4800 ft in 6 miles, climb 5600 ft over 15 miles, turn around and go back!  FUN!  Shooting for 17-20 hours.

Flight and room at the village are booked. Got one of the last inexpensive (relatively) rooms.  Busy week for spring breakers, like me.  Sounds like there will be a lot of folks on the trails.  Arrive Tuesday and leave Friday.  Likely head out Thursday morning and get back Thursday night, but might opt for Wednesday depending on weather.  It is possible to maybe make it in 14-15 hours.  I am not planning for clean water to be available anywhere but Phantom Ranch, so I will bring a filter and iodine.

Major training milestones will be 1) 40 mile trail run in about 8 hrs, and 2) 10,000 ft of steps in about 4.5 hrs.  If I can do those I figure I will be ready.

TonyO

Found at least one other sucker to take this on.  We will head out around 3:30-4:00 (well before the mules get in our way) on Thursday morning, March 28th (with an option for Wed depending on weather) and get back about 15 hours later around sunset, give or take a few hours.  Temps expected to be around 30 at the S Rim, 40 at the N. Rim around Noon and 70 at Phantom Ranch (give or take 20 degrees).

Tony

That sounds so awesome!

Can't wait for a run-report and pictures!

So far, so good!  Current list of things to pack:

1. Camelback
2. 2 liter bladder
3. One water bottle
4. Water bottle w/filter+carbon
5. Knife
6. baby wipes
7. Plastic baggies
8. 2 head lamps with fresh batteries
9. Running shoes (Innov-8 or Altra depending on trail conditions)
10. Short sleeve Dri-fit shirt
11. Top insulation layer
12. Zip off long pants/shorts
13. Wide brim hat
14. Gloves
15. First Aid kit
16. Aleve
17. Super glue for blisters
18. Duct tape – a strip or two for blisters
19. Emergency blanket
20. Two pair of socks drenched with Body Glide
21. Body Glide – sample size
22. 3000 calories – 10-20% protein, 10-20% fat, 60-80% carb
23. Salt tablets/packets
24. Garmin 910 XT
25. Map (one page)
26. Cash
27. Cell phone (turn off)
28. ID/Credit card
29. Sunscreen
30. Lip balm
31. Sun glasses
32. Bandana for washing

So exciting! How about a little point-and-shoot camera? They make pretty small ones to put in your pack. 

You MUST take pictures!

Good luck!  

When you get done with the R2R2R, if you visit Flagstaff, here are a few recommendations for food/etc.

-Late for the Train- great coffee

-Diablo Burger- awesome, grass-fed beef burgers, all AZ-only produce into the burger (cash only)-Tinderbox- outstanding Gourmet Cuisine.-Horseman's Lodge-great grass fed steaks, potato, and Salad bar for a great price.

Good luck! Be safe!

Interesting about Gold Bond.  I will try some before.  Maybe one half Body Glide and the other half Gold Bond??

Tony

Well, I did finish, so I didn't die.  Right at 20 hours.  I will provide a full report in a few days, so check back.  It was extremely difficult on many levels, but I did finish.  Temps from 30 to 80.  Certainly beautiful!

Tony

Nice job!

Congratulations

R2R2R Summary:

It was extremely difficult due to the self-support nature of the trek and the mental and physical aspect that the most difficult part of the trek is the last 6 miles getting out of the canyon and there is no option to stop.  You can't end at Phantom Ranch unless you want to pay for a helicopter ride out.  Seriously, I will not do this again and do not recommend it for anyone unless you have completed a few 50 mile ultras and are very well prepared and equipped.  I was lucky that nothing went terribly wrong like an ankle sprain, bad fall or severe cramping.  I took a satellite transmitter (Delorme) so friends and family could track me and I had an emergency signal if needed, but it did not work in the canyon or even on the S. Kaibab trail heading back up.  You can't depend on technology.

What went well:

1. Nutrition was as planned.  Took in about 3000 calories about every 35 minutes.  I set my Garmin watch to beep/vibrate every 35 minutes to remind me.  Took a gel or a mouthful of raison/nut/M&M mix (about 80% raisons, balance chocolate and nuts).
2. Water intake was very good.  Urinated regularly.  Probably drank around 4 liters. No potable water other than Phantom Ranch.  Refilled at Pump House (4500 ft) on the way up and Wall Creek stream crossing (3800 ft elevation) on the way down
3. No cramping.  Fairly well conditioned muscles, plus good water, calorie and salt intake helped.
4. No blisters. Thankfully brought 2 pair of socks spiked with Body Glide.  I changed at the top of the North Rim.  Added more Body Glide to feet and added the first (dirty) pair of socks at Phantom Ranch because I was feeling some hot spots.  That did the trick the rest of the way up the South Rim.
5. No falls or other pains – took it slow and careful.

What could I have done better:

1. More climb and trail running (although time, geography and climate limited for me)

Statistics:

Total time – 20:01 (17:20 moving)

Rest time - 2:40 (13 mins down, 12 @ Ph Ranch, 56 up, 15 at N. Rim, 23 down, 24 @ Ph Ranch, 18 up)

Total distance – 42-43 miles (45.6 on GPS, but overstated due to GPS confusion in some parts)

Total elevation gain/loss (barometric altimeter based, not GPS) – 11,200 gain, 11,200 loss

Heart Rate – 121 avg HR, including stops.  HR about 8 bpm higher than normal due to higher altitudes. Resting HR about 60 at altitude.

Total calories burned – 9,000, not based on Garmin. Calculated based on adjusted HR.

Calories consumed – approx. 3000 – 1500 in Powergels and 1500 in a self mixed raison based trail mix with a few nuts, M&M’s and added salt.

Notes:

1. Several factors slowed progress such as: Limited safety of using headlamps at night (not as good as day vision for surfaces), North Kaibab had a lot of rock falls that slowed progress, particularly a partial cave-in at Supai tunnel and partial collapse of trail.  It was too early in the season for trail maintenance.  Extra time spent filtering water at Pump House and Wall Creek crossing on the way back.  No faucets were turned on – N. Kaibab.  Also, I carried more water than necessary because I was not sure how much I would need.  I did not want to run out and risk dehydration.
2. Snow was limited to small spots on the highest part of N. Kaibab and non-existent on S. Kaibab. 
3. Very few hikers were present on the trails at the hours I was there – 3:30 am to 11:20 pm.  A few were on the North side, maybe 7 or 8.  Three others were coming up the S. Kaibab at night.

If you have any other specific questions, feel free to shoot me a message.

Tony