Camping Out Ideas
Grand Canyon Camping...any ideas?
I'd like to spend a week at the Grand Canyon, with 3-4 days of camping down on the floor of the canyon. The sites I have found are confusing, not very clear on the guidelines for permits, etc. What are the best times of year for GC Camping? Where are the best sites within the canyon? Are bears/wolves/etc a threat, & can we legally bring firearms into the canyon? I know we have to book in advance, get a camping permit, but what else do I need to know? Thanks for the help! The brown crust you see as you walk across sandy desert type soils in many places is composed of an association between algae, lichen, mosses, and fungi. Called crypto (from the Greek word for hidden) gamic (marriage)this soil is a critical to survival of the desert. The cryptogamic organisms help to stabilize the soil, hold moisture, and provide protection for germination of the seeds of other plants. Without it the dry areas of the west would be much different. Cryptogamic soils go through their own succession, starting out as a thin hardening of the surface as it drys out and culminating in a brownish green crust several centimeters thick. The availability of moisture determines how much green moss is present relative to the other species. Although some disturbance is normal and helps the soil to capture moisture, excessive disturbance by hooves, bicycle tires and hiking boots has been shown to destroy the cryptogamic organisms & their contribution to the soil.... THANKS, MR D!
Public Comments
- 1) get a copy of the Sierra Club book Hiking the Grand Canyon by John Annerino The book will give you all the info you need regarding contacting NPS for permits and such. 2)Firearms are prohibited in the back country of all the national parks.In GCNP the backcountry begins as soon as you step off the Rim. 3 ) the most dangerous animal in the Park is a mouse which can and will raise hell with an unprotected food supply and ruin equipment in the process of getting to that food 4) For me the best time of the year for hiking the Canyon is the dead of winter .There is always a 25 degree difference between Rim and River temps -and 5 -6 Climate Zones .In addition melting snow from above will provide water in creek beds that are normally dry. 5 ) Since you sound like a newbie and I don't want you to get too far in the weeds on this the best hikes that i can think of are Tanner Trail to the River camp out by the Rio and spend your days exploring up river and down river.Under snow conditions the upper stretches of Tanner can be tough physically and can present some navigation problems Remember during your explorations never down climb something that you have doubts about climbing back up. Another possible hike is down the Hermit Trail to Hermit Camp , next day Tonto west to Boucher Creek and then down to the Rio Exit the Canyon via Boucher /Hermit If you do that trail make a dry camp above the Redwall on your way out bc it will save you miles in the morning Make no mistake about it Boucher is a physically hard trail to do and will strongly challenge your nascent GCN navigational skills. One March many years ago I left theTonto / Boucher jct wearing a T shirt and shorts and walked out of the Canyon in blizzard conditions wearing long pants , capelline , pile and Gore -Tex Your HW asignment is to learn what a Cryptogamic soil is and how to recognise one in the wilderness
