Tips for Running the Grand Canyon R2R2R

Another important decision to consider before attempting the Grand Canyon R2R2R is when you are going to do so. Spring and fall are the best options. November and April seem to be some of the most popular months according to personal accounts I have come across online. With the low snow levels this year, we ran March 22 and found no snow at all on the South rim and very patchy snow at the trailhead of the North rim. I should note that the North rim is closed from the first snowfall in the fall until May 15. This is important information for several reasons. First of all, you can't drive to the trailhead. So don't try to run from it. Also, don't tell your husband to drive 5 hours to it to resupply you. Because he won't be there (this happened). Second of all closed trailhead=no mules! Hooray! I mean I respect the beasts, but being anywhere near their excrement is not something I prefer to do. The North Kaibab trail is also significantly more exposed than the South Rim trails, so passing a mule train might not be possible for quite some time.

I would recommend contacting a Ranger in the Grand Canyon to get the most up to date status on water refill locations and trail conditions. We refilled water at Phantom and the Pumphouse (a stop midway between Phantom and the North Rim). We had the option of refilling water at several campgrounds on the Bright Angel trail but it was not necessary. According to the Ranger Frank spoke with, there is also a spigot at the North Rim that is flowing this time of year, but it is a 10min walk from the trailhead. It turned out that our longest stretch without water was a little over 10 miles (from the Pumphouse to N rim to Pumphouse). This figure can be a little deceiving, however, as it includes the last 5 grueling miles up to the North Rim (which we hiked) and took us about 3 hrs. I completed the run with a 2L bladder and found this was a sufficient amount of water for my size (130lbs) and for the conditions (highs in the 60s, partly cloudy). Frank, however, only had a 1.5L bladder and suffered from serious dehydration and cramping starting before we gained the North Rim. His symptoms continued over the next few hours, despite watching him drink over a liter and a half of water at both Pumphouse and Phantom Ranch. So spare your kidneys and bring more water folks!

Do not attempt this run without a headlamp and an extra layer. I wore shorts, a polyester T, the OR Echo long sleeve, and the North Face Apex jacket. This outfit was perfect because I had a couple of extra layers in the morning when it was chilly, but the combined weight of my jacket and long sleeve T was only 6.6 oz! When things heated up and I stuffed both layers in my pack, I barely knew they were there. Another caution I must bring up is to NOT underestimate your hydration strategies. In addition to seasonal spigot closures (most of the water sources are turned off from 1st snowfall until May 15), breaks in the water lines can result in any water refill location to be CLOSED at any time. My point, do not be utterly dependent on water fill-up locations! Looking back, we got lucky carrying as little water as we did. Any warmer of weather or one less water source anywhere could have caused serious hydration issues for us both. In retrospect, a 2L bladder with a 20oz handheld would have been a better option for me and potentially even more water if you are bigger.