Grand Canyon Rim-To-Rim hike

Grand Canyon Rim-To-Rim hike Oct 19, 2024
By a stroke of luck, I managed to secure a 4 AM shuttle from Bright Angel Lodge to the North Kaibab trailhead with Red Rock Cab reaching the North Kaibab trailhead at 9:15 AM. The North Rim was blanketed with 8-10 inches of snow the night before, but the roads were recently plowed and in good condition. The temperature at the start was just near freezing, but it was sunny. Started at 9:30 AM from North Kaibab Trailhead, bundled up in layers for the chilly morning air. The trail was a bit muddy from the snowmelt, but my waterproof Hoka Challengers and Yaktrax kept my feet dry. By the time I reached Coconino Overlook, it had warmed up considerably, and I had to shed all my layers except for a t-shirt.
I was fortunate to have clear skies at the start - bright, sunny, and perfect weather for hiking with very little wind. I didn't need the Yaktrax after Supai Tunnel.
Along the way, I encountered a steady stream of R2R2R hikers heading up the trail as I was making my descent. I trudged along, taking a couple of breaks at Coconino and Manzanita. I stopped at Cottonwood to tape some toes that were starting to bother me. I skipped Ribbon Falls since I had visited it back in 2020.
The Box was stunning with lovely weather - it must have been in the 80s or cooler. I reached Phantom Ranch in about 6.5 hours, around 3:50 PM. I took a slightly longer break at Phantom Ranch - about 30 minutes, refueled, and chatted with fellow hikers. I started from Phantom Ranch at around 4:20 PM.
It started to drizzle right after I crossed the Silver Bridge. I put on my rain pants and jacket. The drizzle stayed with me until the very end. Most of the uphill climb was in the dark after Devil's Corkscrew. As others have mentioned, it gets tougher after Havasupai Gardens. The last few miles were a real test of endurance, with relentless stairs and a downpour that made the going tough. Finally, I made it out by 10pm and checked into my room at BA lodge. Total time was 12:30 hrs , moving time 8:26hrs
Additional details:
Gear: I wore Injinji liners with wool socks, which helped keep my feet comfortable and blister-free.
Nutrition: I kept up my calorie intake throughout the hike, consuming at least 100-150 calories every hour. My nutrition included gels, bars, salty snacks, honey stingers, LMNT, and Tailwind.
Hydration: I carried between 1.5 to 2 liters of water with me at all times, refilling at Manzanita, Cottonwood, Phantom Ranch, Havasupai Gardens, and the 1.5 resthouse.
Shuttle: I was lucky to secure a 4 AM shuttle from Bright Angel Lodge to North Kaibab Trailhead with Steven from Red Rock Cab, which allowed me to get an early start on the hike.
Shoutout to Red Rock Cab for getting me to the trailhead early in the morning!