Foot Traction Device needed for winter Grand Canyon?

You probably won’t know until you get there…. unless you can find someone who did the trial a day or two prior to your departure. Sun is low in the sky, so South Rim gets a lot of shady spots this time of year… and you will likely be starting in the morning, when it is coldest. Me? I would take them because I own them and don’t have to buy.

I’d personally prefer carrying a few pounds of gear I don’t need than taking three kids out for a trip I have to abort because I don’t have the right gear…

IMO, the trail can be slick and icy at the top due to all of the foot traffic.  It can be slicker than an iced over splayground slide (that and the frozen mule urine).   In that case, I would advise  traction and poles for stability.  It usually only is icy for no more than a mile.

If you are going down the Bright Angel, you can stash your gear around Indian Garden and pick it up on the way back.  My 2 cents.

If you have them, mircospikes are best.  If you don’t, get something like these: https://www.hikingshack.com/instep-crampons.html

Having taken Boy Scouts on several winter Grand Canyon hikes these work well enough and are inexpensive.

Thanks all for the advice. I wish I would of posted earlier and I could of purchased the cheaper/lighter hiking shack version.

I already have microspike/equivalent for everybody but I’ll check the general store in the village to see if they have those same spikes.

From what I have recently learned of Micro-spikes: they’re not an item one can use in half-measures.  Use a pair of them, or use a pair of something else.

Yep.  We have been there in February and March, and each time the top 1/2 miles of every trail leaving the rim was icy and slick as snot. Not fun at all if you don’t have something to help with the traction.

+1 to the first mile or so is typically very slippery and you really want micro spikes or something similar.  We have typically removed ours after just a couple of miles and them put them back on at the very end of the return ascent.

“I don’t need no stinkin’ spikes!”

Great picture, that.  I wouldn’t want to be sharing a set with someone on that little slope…

Get some cardboard and the first section will go by quickly!

How’s that old saying go? Something about a picture and a thousand words?

That’s like the Shot Heard ‘Round the World of pictures explaining a situation

@ Ken

yup. That is what it looks like.

@ Jon

The cardboard works until you need to turn at the switchback. Then you are airborne!

Darwinian evolution.

^^ Brings back a memory. I was able to drive the family out to the North Rim one time in February. The new superintendent at the time allowed you to give it a go if you wanted to try so….  It was beautiful  driving out there through all those big parks (Utah term for open mountain meadows). No one around anywhere. The Lodge deserted and it was kind of eerie like the Shining. My youngest was @ 4 and LOVED snow (still does)  so she was running all around with reckless abandon when we walked the snow covered paved paths behind the Lodge out along the rim to check out the views so we had to literally leash her up to make sure she didn’t do what those guys in Ken’s photo look like they could easily do.

The old standby…screw shoes.

http://skyrunner.com/screwshoe.htm

trip went well. Didn’t bother taking out the spikes for south kaibab. Probably could of managed on Bright Angel without (as going uphill), though it was much icier. However, since we got there in the dark, it was a lot safer and we were able to hike quickly and confidently with the spikes on.   So good call to bring.

Thanks for the photos and I’m glad your trip went well (and everyone was safe).

Nice views!!  Looks like a fun time.

Love the South Kaibab views.  Glad you had a safe and enjoyable hike.

Looks like your trip is done by now, but for future reference by others:  I was there 10 days ago and the first kilometer of the South Kaibab was a lovely packed powder and I had absolutely no need for anything on my Merrill Moab low-cut hiking shoes:Then, as is almost always the case, that seep at a eastern switchback 1 km in had a clear ice layer that got me onto all fours to transverse it and then I relented, sat down on a rock and put on a 10-stud rubber overshoe thing ($9 on Amazon):Which was exactly right (for me, on that day) – I could walk upright (with a smaller stride where the ice was), they stayed on, and gave plenty on traction in that zone that thaws and refreezes into solid ice.  I felt no need for trekking poles (I had them back in the rental car, but had scoped the trail the night before).
Most people were wearing more Yak Trak style devices, but those are heaver and sometimes less secure.  A few people had four point instep crampons and I’ve brought and used those at times, but they rarely stay snug on your boot for long.  Very few people had full, 10- or 12-point crampons which is always overkill for that very substantial, modestly-sloped trail.

I suppose you could get a big dump followed by several freeze-thaw cycles and have the first 1.5 miles to traverse with some traction aid, but I usually find the upper km is fine and then there’s 500-800 m of transitional icy trail and below that, it’s slushy and muddy until it’s not.

The grocery store at the Market Plaza inside the park is usually well-stocked on traction devices (and fuel canisters) although shortages can arise.  I always bring a few styles with me and then always scope the trail the day before as I stretch my legs after the flight down.

Even if you don’t normally bring trekking poles (I don’t) – it wouldn’t be wrong to bring one set between you so if a particular hiker wants that reassurance or their traction devices aren’t working for them, you’ve got an option.

Remember, there’s no water at 1.5- and 3-mile huts in the winter.  No water until you get to Indian Garden which is more of an issue on the way back up, or if you go part way in and back out without getting that far.