| Since I did R2R2R 3days backpacking couple years ago, I really wanted to do it in 1day. I met one guy who did it in 9 hours trail running and I was expecting it will take about 15-18 hours in hiking pace. It will be 43+ miles and 11,000 ft of total elevation gain. I had done a few 11,000+ ft elevation gain hike, but I had never done any 40+ miles hike in 1day. Most of my endurance hike was less than 30 miles. And I knew it will be one of the most toughest hike I have ever done. On Saturday night, I had to work til late night and got home at 1:30AM. I packed everything into the car and left the house at 2AM. I was tired and I had to stop and take a sleep for 45 minutes at Mesquite. Fortunately, I could make it to the North Rim without any more sleep after Mesquite and got there by 7:30AM. It was bit chilly at the trailhead. I just packed only 2 litter of water and I brought water filter for just in case. But, I never used it in this hike. Since air temerature was cool enough and all the water station was available, I didn't have to carry more than 1 litter of water at the time. Since this is a long hike, I wanted to make it down as fast as possible. I tried to kept running down the North Kaibab trail for 10 miles. I started feeling some hot spot under my right leg, also some hurts on the right thaigh-hip joint. Thus, I slowed down, but it was too late. Even though, I made it to the Bright Angel Campgroud in 3.5 hours. I took 10 minutes lunch break at there and kept going. From there, there was a choice to hike up the Bright Angel trail or South Kaibab trail. And I took Bright Angel trail. It is way longer than South Kaibab trail, but there are restaurant up there and I was thinking to have a big dinner at there. The right leg blister and joint muscle pain slowed me down. And I had to stop and give it a massage at Indian Garden Campground. But I made it to the top in 7.5 hours. When I made it to the South Rim, my right leg was already beat up. Thus I decide to hike down the South Kaibab trail that is shorter than Bright Angel trail. For getting to the Sourh Kaibab trail, I had to take a free tram and it took 1 hour. I was lucky enough to catch the last 1 or 2 tram of the day, but not lucky enough to have a time to take a dinner at the restaurant. I took a little "dinner" break at the South Kaibab trailhead for 10 minutes and started hiking down. It was about 4:30PM. Since the 4:30PM is the last tram schedule, there were no hikers going down the South Kaibab trail other than me. Even though I met few hikers coming up the trail. I met one couple they were about to finish their R2R2R. They could make it in 15-16 hours. The down hill was way tougher then up hill since my leg got blister and joint hurts. I stopped many times and watching the sunset and moon rise. It was almost full moon and it came up right before the sunset. It was really beautiful moon rise. It took me 2.5 hours to get down the South Kaibab trail. And it was complete dark when I came back to the Bright Angel camp ground. I didn't stop and kept hiking. My leg really hurts and really slows me down after that. And after passed the narrow canyon section (for 3-4 miles), my right leg finally refused to move forward. It was already passed 9PM and there is 10+ miles and 5,000 ft elevation gain from there. Fortunately, the air temerature was warm enough to stay there for a while. I took off the boots and gave a massage to my hurt joint for a little while. But, it doesn't seems like helping anything. Actually, it get worth and my calf muscle get stiff after 20 minutes of break. Now, there was no reason to stay there more than that even my right leg moves or not. Since my right leg completely refused to move forward, I had to walk "backward" and it worked. But, I don't think, I can keep hiking "backward" for 10+ miles. The only way I can move my right leg is "using my arm to pull my right leg forward". And it was the las option. But, amazingly it worked. I had to pull up my pants every simgle step to move forward, but it holds my body and even able to climb since calf muscle has still energy. Even though, it was very slow moving. I could move only 1 mile per hour. When I made it back to the cottonwood camp ground, it was midnight. Still I have another 7 miles to go. I was having another problem at then. It was getting SMOKEY. I knew there was a control fire at the North Rim and I could even see the big smoke from the South Rim. Those smoke came down and stack in the canyon. As far as I go, it gets more dence. I got tear in my eyes and running nose whole night. The temperature drops down while I was making the elevation. It was already passed the mid night and it gets bit windy in the canyon that brings more smoke and drop the temperature. I was really tired and wanted to take a break, but it was too cold to stop. Fortunately, I was carrying winter gloves, balaklava and winter hat. I was slow but steady. At the last 1,000 ft up, I could see sunrise. And I was so surprised to see how much deep smoke were there in the canyon. It was really dence. After 10hours of battling with my right leg, I made it back to my car at 7AM. Yes, it took me 14.5 hours from the top of South Rim. I barely made it in 24 hours period. But, I don't think this hike was a success. I will do this hike again, but next time, I won't take that long. |
 Entire 3D trail map |
 Upper North Kaibab trail |
 Middle North Kaibab trail |
 Lower North Kaibab trail |
 Around Colorado River |
 Lower Bright Angel trail |
 Upper Bright Angel trail |
 South Kaibab trail |
 Elevation Chart |
 Google Map |
 Google Earth |
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