Wow this was a really fun hike. I was very intimidated. I think the only thing scarier would be Kilimanjaro or Everest. Such a weird hike because you walk down first which is easy and on the way up it’s super difficult. I wanted to hike down to the bottom and up over two days but I couldn’t get a backcountry camping pass. Maybe next time!
Also here’s my hike into the Canyon (just a mile in and back). From South Kaibob Trail to Ooh-Ahh Point. No idea why it’s called that, I was saying OO and AHH the whole way! Hyuk Hyuk.
You either have to get a shuttle to or walk the quarter mile from the road to the trail head to reach the South Kaibob Trail head. From here you can begin to walk down into the Canyon. I was using AllTrails app with maps previously downloaded and my GoPro with chest harness to film this hike. Ooh-Aah Point is a “halfway” (see trail joke 1) point between the top of the rim and Cedar Ridge. Cedar Ridge is not something to hike lightly. It goes for 2.8 miles (4.5 km) and goes down 1,102 ft (~336 m) which of course, you then have to hike back the same way you came, 3 miles and 1100 ft up! South Kaibob to Ooh-Aah Point was half as far, only 1 mi (up and 1 mi back) and a gain of 846 ft. With an average stair size of 9 inches, and 20 stairs in a flight of stairs, you’re looking at about 56 flights of stairs down and 56 back up!
I have the entire hike which took about 15 minutes to get down the trail to the point and about 30 minutes to get back up while moving. I paused the camera every time I stopped to take a break which was frequently. The elevation goes down about 400 ft or close to 500 stairs down and 500 back up! Bring lots of water and salty food like jerky or sunflowers to replenish the minerals your body is losing through sweat. Definitely learned a lot about my kit that I had with me and made some changes when I went to the PEFO.
I met some cool people on the way in. I was going to post the full hour of hiking, but even I was getting bored editing it. So, you don’t get to hear my funny jokes as I was passing or getting passed by people.
Trail Joke 1: No matter how far you are into the hike just tell people, “Yeah, you’re about halfway there.”
Trail Joke 2: “I think you just missed the elevator!”
Trail Joke 3: “Ooh Aah Point? I’ve been saying Ooh and Ahh this whole time, can I just turn around now?”
Trail Joke 4: This isn’t really a joke but more of an observation. Why don’t they have the mules at the bottom of the hike or like halfway when your endurance is destroyed and you wish for death?
I don’t really know what compels me to hike. I love the challenge, the fresh air, sense of accomplishment, and the physical exercise.