New Life List: Tackle a Monster Dayhike in the Grand Canyon

Being a backpacker can mean having the ability to push yourself beyond what you ever thought you could do... but what is the point if you are setting yourself up for something you cannot possibly enjoy?

I've done fuji and guadalupe, night and day respectivly. The only thing that woulg get me out in the coal miners &8% of night is an awsome panoramic that no camera could fully grasp! Besides, I like to have My Daughters along. Misery/company...risk/reward... There learnin'

I'm cringing along with any ranger that reads this report. I suppose if you had hiked the Canyon many times and felt the need to challenge yourself to the brink---no, actually, it still doesn't make sense to me. Take your time in the Canyon. Test yourself on the corridor trails, then, if you want a challenge (and solitude) look into hikes on the Tonto Trail.

I am fortunate to live in the great state of AZ and have completed 6 R3s or rim to rim to rims and aborted in progress on two R4s. The Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim day hike is not a "OK, I'll give it a try" hike. To be successful, that is defined as not just suviving the experience --which can be of major concern-- means completing the hike within 24 hours. Being successful takes months of training (day and night hikes) and a solid study of hydration and food intake requirements.
Understanding inner Canyon and rim temperatures is a must as well as water sources between October and May. The rim to rim to rims are the toughest hikes I have completed and can be deadly.

Lanza! 99.99% of Backpacker readers will never do this hike as you describe it. To cite your November issue of Backpacker: "Hardest hike? More like the deadliest," says a ranger (p. 50). Who are you writing for? Or are you just letting us all know how hard-core you are? C'mon.

While I understand the sense of accomplishment in this type of hike, I also prefer the more enjoyable 3-4 day hike. See the sights. Enjoy what is there. Granted you have to carry more, but I personally enjoy that much more. I just did the S. Kaibab, 2 nites at Phantom, up the Bright Angel with a stop at Indian Garden and an easy hike to Plateau Point. What a great time and great pictures. Now I'm prepping for a North to South Rim hike with four nights.
If you want to run, so be it, but I'll take the tortoise side of this adventure.

Not a bad idea if you have taken your time already to see what the Canyon holds on it's side trips, otherwise all you really are doing is walking and not seeing what is around you. I was at the canyon in May for the third time and still spend three to four nights in to wonder around. The trail is very rocky and uneven the whole trip. We watch two "joggers" fall down right in front of us. One busted his head open and said he was fine!? I would think if you do a r2r2r that you had better be close to being a mountain goat if your going to do it in one day. I have read that a group of 6 did it in 22 hours though!