Grand Canyon- Double Crossing aka “Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim”- BPL Group Run

Whoa there friends, no need to leave the 40oz bottles at home! Drink all the whiskey and Colt 45 you want. None of us are uptight, and I sure as heck don't try to shield my family from alcohol and/or fun. I have a slight suspicion that no one will have a raging drinking session the night before, but if there is energy, maybe the night after??

Brian: I'm completely excited to chat with you if you show up about the ITI. This race is high on my list, though I'm horrified of the entry fee ;)

"I'm completely excited to chat with you if you show up about the ITI."

So is there going to be a sizeable Alaskan (residents and wanna-bes) doing R2R2R?

More than the terrestial 300-milers, I've been eyeing that little cross-border, 300-mile canoe race that goes from our friend neighbor to the east down the Yukon River.

I learned long ago that the best way to keep your mind off the pain of your current death march is to be planning the next one as you hike.

I've got the smoked salmon set aside in the freezer for the trip to PHX.

I'll bring my laptop so you can view some photos from the 2 races this winter…..that'll have you convinced about the need to get up there!

Back on topic…..if I keep rolling my left ankle I'm going to be doing some serious walking on April 14th!

I think I'd fall into the Alaskan Wanna-be category……I've been up there 3 times in the past 13 months!

B

Can we get another head count? The other one done a while ago was buried in one of these threads and new people have popped up since then.

I'm trying to get the beer mugs finished but I'm not sure I've made enough…don't want to leave anyone out. Just need the number of runners.

Tell me if this is right for R2R2R participants:
Craig
Adan
Eugene
Dan M.
Dan H.
Martin
Art +3
Greg
Mike M.
David Thomas
Rob Lee (hiking to the river and back and support)
Torrey
Brian
Eric
Joshua M.

So I've got 18.
Did I miss anyone?

Updated to include Joshua M.
Updated for Martin and Dan M.
Updated for Art +3

Craig-

Beer mugs! That's awesome. Thanks for taking the time to do that.

I'll have Joshua Malpass with me, so I guess that makes 15

OK, got Joshua.

Craig: That's very kind of you. I once mentioned bringing a friend, but he has to re-cert on his firearms training that week. So only one of us from Kenai Alaska on your list is correct. -David Thomas

Craig,

Coming from New Mexico:

Myself
Dan Hewins
Martin Miera (my father in law)
Dan Carter (currently in Sedona climbing, should be there on April 14th)

You're the man.

Craig- very nice gesture- if you want you can drill some holes in mine at ~ the 3/4 mark or put on there R2closebutnocigar2R :)

David- sent you a pm w/ my motel info

Mike

OK, adding one more to the list from the Nuevo Mexico Posse.

Anyone that can't finish will get a commemorative 8oz. "Rim to…Almost" sippie cup. :)

Craig said "Anyone that can't finish will get a commemorative 8oz. "Rim to…Almost" sippie cup. :)"

perfect! :)

I'm getting in on this a little late and not sure if I can make it – or if there is any room left. How many miles is this total, 50+-?

I just moved to the southwest and have no hiking buddies here! I'd love to meet some SW BPLers.

Art +3 (rather than +2).
not 100% yet, but high probablity we'll be bringing the second female runner to the canyon trails.

and David, since you're looking for Alaskans, I went to high school in the Anchorage area, but it was so many years ago I call myself a native Californian now.

OK Art.

Jon, most of the info you're looking for is the links on the first page of this thread.
Off the top of my head, you're looking at ~42 miles and ~20,000' of +/-.

Let us know, I'm sure there's somewhere to stay.

Jon: 42 miles if you go South Kaibab – North Kaibab – South Kaibab. Bright Angel – North Kaibab – Bright Angel is a shallower slope but longer.

But it ain't the miles, it's the vertical feet. A mile down, a mile up, a mile down and that final, grueling mile up. I've done it when I was half my age and that last vertical mile up was a b***h.

If you've done 10,000 feet (up+down) in a day, you can probably extrapolate what R2R2R is like. If you haven't, you maybe ought to do a 10K vertical day first.

That may sound arrogant, but truly, I mean it compassionately.

But if you're 23 and haven't done any training yet? WTH, go for it. Worked for me. I couldn't walk for 5 days afterwards, but I'm still glad I did it.

But this time? I'm training more and maybe hiking less far.

Still lurking here and still in for half-a-hike. I'll have a truck & small trailer at Mather #162 on Thur, 2 wheelbarrows of dry firewood, 2 ice chests,room for tents,and a 6.5' pu bed w/ a camper top and a cot inside. Trailer kitchen available for all. Could also bring pads & bags if someone can't bring all they need on a plane. I'll just need to know in advance. I've learned a lot from you guys and you've inspired me to make this trip. Mi casa tu casa.

Craig
the Art +3 (John, Nick, Carlyn(female))
does not include my brother, Ray, who is coming as a sort of backup support guy. he'll do BA-Phantom-BA. did you say something about sippie cups? does he qualify?

Jon L.
RRR stats :
South Kaibab-North Kaibab-South Kaibab is 42 miles (most runners in this group)

Bright Angel-North Kaibab-Bright Angel is 47 miles (a few of us)

elevation gain is the key though, and roughly the same for either way, 10,000 to 11,000 ft depending on how you calculate it.

Hey, for those of you going halfway, maybe consider going a couple more miles to get to Ribbon Falls. Its an easy walk from Phantom, and Its worth it and a very nice place for lunch, rest, a shower if its hot, and a photo op. Its where i usually run to on my days off to chill and eat too. heres a link to pix I took in November. (taking SK to falls is a couple miles shorter than the 16 I posted here…guess it'd be more like 13.5-ish from SK)

http://sangabrielmnts.myfreeforum.org/about4288.html

David and all, this sounds really intriguing. I'm 27 and in good shape. To be honest though, I'm not much of a trail runner and don't have much experience. I averaged about 16+ or so miles a day hiking on the Long Trail when I lived in Vermont with a 20+ pound pack. So this would be longer and more grueling, but I would only be carrying a day pack.

For the "halfway" crowd are there plans to eventually drive back to the main trailhead for people to pick up their cars? I've read it's a long drive. Is there a halfway crowd?

Let me ponder this today. I would love to join but not sure if I can hang with the trail running crowd. I live within driving distance of the trail, so it is a possibility – and I'd love to meet some SW BPLers as I said before.

Jon
everyone is doing an "out and back".
that means the halfway crowd will not go all the way to the North Rim.
they will go to Phantom Ranch, Cottonwood, Roaring Springs, then turn around and go back to South Rim.

yes its a bit of a logistical issue to get from North Rim back to South Rim if that's where your hike ends.

as others have mentioned, its not just about the mileage, the 10-11,000 ft of elevation gain will kick your butt.

Thanks Art, I realize most of the info is in the thread, but it's tough to sift through 20 pages.

Jon- I believe the North Rim is closed (May 15 opening???) hence the start at the South Kaibab, I'd love to do a R2R as I'm more comfortable w/ that mileage :) thus the reason we're all starting (and finishing) on the South side

not sure of the status of the road(s) to the North Rim- perhaps it is open????, I'm sure we could we do a key pass and have the vehicle on the North driven around to the South- it is a long ways though ~ 200 miles

Mike

I think Art's idea of doing an out and back makes more sense. Even if the road is open, it's a FAR drive.

Jon: It sounds like you know or can assess what you're in for based on your experience. If you haven't done any GCNP hikes, you may not grasp just how many climatic conditions you can experience in day. An early morning start could be 20F if the night was clear and cold. Mid afternoon in the Inner Canyon could be 85F. Hopefully the Rim will be in high 30s and it won't get over 75F at the River, but you never know – I've had 110F in summer and then driving hail and high winds 2 hours later.

I promise you I'm hiking more than I'm running. I haven't gotten ANY trail running yet cause (1) there's still 3 feet of snow and (2) I don't want to run on the highway. So I've been doing stairs, stationary bike and stomping around in snow shoes. Mike has also indicated he's more of a lover not a fighter, er, I mean hiker not a runner.

There's a park shuttle from the Bright Angel Trailhead back to South Kaibab Trailhead, but not if you finish at 10 pm (like I did walking my first R2R2R). So I'm returning to the South Kaibab trailhead where my car will be parked.