Too hot to hike? How to do a hot weather rim to river to rim hike in a day at Grand Canyon.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 มิ.ย. 2024
- • It is the longest day of the year, June 20, and the perfect time to ask the question, “how hot is too hot to hike Grand Canyon?”
• On a nationwide basis, the National Weather Service issues heat warnings at various temperatures for different parts of the country. In general a Heat Advisory is issued for temperatures over 100 degrees for two days, and an Excessive Heat Warning is then temps will be over 105 for the same period, but the numbers vary from region to region.
• There are some unique modifying environmental factors at Grand Canyon. The first is relatively low relative humidity. I have lived in the West for decades, but when I step off an airplane in a hot and humid place, like San Antonio or Bali, I am always shocked by the feeling of almost walking into a wall of heat and humidity. I find that evaporation has very little cooling effect in high humidity. The West, in contrast has a dry heat, sometimes transplants get a front plate for their car that says “dry heat,” maybe because they get tired of explaining to their east coast friends that the temperatures do not feel as extreme as they sound.
• And the evaporative effect can lead to very different strategies when the temperature is 100 and the humidity is 3%, as opposed to somewhere the same temperature with 90% humidity. When I hike in Summer, I like cotton, because it retains water and allows an evaporative cooling effect when you hike. At Grand Canyon, that is desirable, whereas in other parts of the country it is not. The evaporative effect is why the park service encourages you to soak your hat and shirt on a hot hike, and to hop into a stream if you overheat.
• But there are two edges to this environmental sword. If you start a hike on the rim of Grand Canyon, you are as much as mile above sea level, and the atmosphere is thinner. You get as much as a 10% increase in exposure to UV rays for every 1,000 feet of elevation, so on North Rim you may get 80% more UV exposure than at sea level, and on S. Rim you get 68% more. That is why I am so crazy about recommending a floppy hat and a handkerchief of bandana for sun exposure at Grand Canyon.
• There are also multiple strategies that can help in the Canyon heat.
• Loose fitting clothes are an important strategy for me. A thin, loose t-shirt combined with oversized running shorts provide lots of air flow. Wool hoodies seem to be favored in the sun by a younger demographic, but I think I get much better airflow with an ultra-thin, loose, white handkerchief under my hat and protecting my neck. This also serves as an evaporative cooler when I soak the hat and handkerchief in water.
• Starting in the dark also lets you get a jump on the hottest times of day.
• Shade is your friend on a hot day. But it is hard to come by on South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails. GrandCanyonHikerDude has a useful TH-cam channel, he provides guide services and also posts an online “Shade tracker” at brightangeloutfitters.com/pag...
• The other factor to consider besides the environment is you. Your age, health, experience and acclimation to heat will affect your choices about a hot weather hike.
• So, I promised to provide you with my number, and for rim to rim hikes, it is 100 degrees. I choose not to do a rim to rim hike when the temperature at Phantom Ranch and the deep canyon will be over 100 degrees. Whether you go from the North or South, you will spend several hours in the deep canyon, and temperatures over 100 change the hike from being fun to being work. And even worse than work, the heat can be life threatening.
• Now, I will hike rim to river to rim when the deep Canyon temperatures exceed 100. On Bright Angel Trail, the exposure to the highest temperatures are only on the Devil’s Corkscrew, a section of trail that takes 20 or 30 minutes, depending on your speed and where you define its start and end. With an extra liter of water to pour over my head and body, that period of time is bearable to me, sometimes even fun. After that, the trail hits Garden Creek and a shaded stretch up to Havasupai Garden, so conditions get much better.
• Now, it is true that in Summer Bright Angel Trail is in full sun for much of the day, but as you ascend from Havasupai Garden, temperatures moderate a bit, and if you are lucky there will be a breeze, which aids in evaporative cooling. Even though the South Rim may be hot, it is generally about 20 degrees cooler than the deep Canyon.
• In closing, these are my personal standards and I am also aware of, and accept the risks of injury or death in extreme weather. Also please recognize the Park service says you should never hike rim to river to rim in a day, no matter what the weather, and they say you should stay out of the Canyon on days with temperatures like today. And I am sure they are correct. It is safest to listen to them and their expertise, and not to a crazy guy like me.
That is a good question that I've not really ever thought about. I think my solution is to hike in the cooler weather.
😊
That is probably the easiest way to solve the problem, good point!
This information is life saving, hopefully people get this in their algorithm if they are considering this trip.thank you Sir.😊
I agree with you. GCHIKER is good 😊
Agree 👍
😊
Thanks so much for your kind comment. I often see people suffering in the heat and I would love it if they would consider the issue before undertaking the hike.
Thanks for the well-thought-out exploration of this issue. I think only a night time start could make those temperatures tolerable to me. It is something to think about.
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I started this hike at 1:30am, so I agree fully that the early start helps to beat the worst of the heat.
I am 68 years old and I feel that it is more difficult for me to hike in high temperatures than before. Your tips are very helpful as always. You should listen to general recommendations, but also be critical of your age, health and experience.
Very good point.
I think a very individual approach is the best, on this hike, I found I needed even more breaks than in the past, but with the breaks, everything went well. Thanks for your comment.
I think my limits are well below yours, but the strategies you suggest are useful ones, and the scenery is beautiful as always.
We all go along at our own pace and season. Thanks for your comment.
Whoa, that is a healthy hike in any weather, no less when the temperature goes over 100. Good for you.
Thank you.
Very valuable information! The heat can be very dangerous. So true about the loose-fitting clothing and starting the hike in the dark. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. Also, I love all the great views in the background. Have a nice week my friend.
Yes, I do worry about other hikers in the heat. On this hike, I met some young guys who were having a heck of a time. They were improperly prepared. The Grand Canyon provides a great backdrop for videos, and all credit goes to the Canyon. Thanks for your comment.
With the weather like it is now, that is a very valid question. Interesting analysis, thank you.😊
I agree 👍
Thanks for watching!
Valuable information! I spent days and night researching for my GC hike and wished for more. Your 13-minute presentation would have sufficed. Thank you.
Thanks, that is a very kind compliment.
Hi GC, I have to agree with you on several points. I definitely find in my older years that hiking in the heat is not easy for me at all anymore. I have to start hikes really early so I can be done before the heat sets in.
I know younger people can compensate much better. However, the heat in the desert can be deceiving for those who are not fully prepared or over estimate their capabilities.
Your endurance is much better than mine for hiking in the desert.
Actually posting this video and reading some of the comments was educational for me, as I do this hike so frequently it is an ordinary occurence, but I realize for others it is not.
I do worry about the people who have trouble in the heat on the trail, I always try to help out with advice or water when I see it happening, and most of them are young people, I think older people have less pride involved in taking a break or turning back, which is probably a good thing.
Thanks for your comment.
Another admirably epic hike.
Agree 👍
I agree!
Thank you.
I think Bright Angel trail is definitely the way to go during hot weather. You have the option of jumping in the stream, or getting treated water stops.
That is certainly my preferred route, for those very reasons.
I have lived with Scottsdale for a year. I found my enjoyment of hiking here. I am in your age group. I try to start hiking by 5:30am because the park aren’t open till then. I am doing my research to do Rim to Rim in one day. Thank you
I hope you are able to make the hike. With an early start, it works out for me. Thanks for your comment.
We were under a heat dome here in NS the other days and it got to 42C in the backyard...no working out there and no walks until the sun disappeared. Indeed, it is the humidity that can be oppressive. Gotta keep hydrated for sure.
It is amazing it gets that hot in the Northland! Gadzooks, I imagine many people are unprepared for that.
I came through the Devil's Corkscrew on June 2. It was 93 degrees at Phantom Ranch around 11:30 am, so I figure it was pushing 100 in Devil's Corkscrew a few hours later. Soaking shirt and hat in the creeks several times was key and made it bearable. The week before I did some heat acclimatization, going out in the heat for light hikes 3 times for increasing periods, up to about an hour and a half.
It sounds like you had the right approach to get through that tough section of trail!
Great information and advice. What you are able to do is different from what the rest of us are able to do if we are not used to hiking in these conditions.
Thanks, I have been doing these hikes so often for so long that they seem ordinary for me, but I do understand that they are not for everyone. Thanks for watching.
Γεια σου φίλε μου έχει πολύ ζέστη εκεί 🎉πρόσεχε
I agree 👍
It seems really hot down there at the bottom of Grand Canyon. I agree with you.
Thank you, It is always my goal to have a safe hike.
This video is very useful and valuable to all hikers. I will definitely take your advice and hike in a cooler temperature season like autumn and spring. Thank you very much for sharing your expertise and good job.
Certainly hiking in cooler times of year can avoid the issue altogether, I think that is a great strategy!
Fantastic video man, topic is fantastic and so nicely elaborated!
Thanks so much!
Great advice and I found this video very helpful and valuable. Thank you so much. Wonderful video.
Thanks for watching!
I’m really curious to test cotton vs the modern fabrics. I run covered head to toe in UPF 50 fabric. I seem to always be asked “aren’t you hot” by people looking way more blasted than me wearing skimpier outfits. Cotton’s UPF rating is generally low, it does retain water better than my Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoodie but I can soak more if I want. I find the sun hitting the skin is the enemy so I stop it from happening in a breathable way that requires no reapplication. Every ray hitting you is slow cooking you like an easy bake oven in my mind, you don’t feel baked right away but spend 8-10 hours in the sun and you will wish for sun management from the start of the hike.
NPS is a government agency and will be slow to ever change their recommendations. That doesn’t mean better options aren’t available. Cotton is inexpensive and readily available thus making it easy to recommend. I have eliminated it from my hiking wardrobe even before I was a runner. Changing from Cotton underwear to Exofficio underwear had a tremendous cooling effect. Then I changed to Kuhl pants (now I wear patagonia joggers when running) from cotton blend pants. My sun shirt use has changed over time, becoming lighter and more breathable as I tested more gear. I’ve really found the Crater Lake to be the best UPF 50 fabric, if I want to go lighter I would need to go UPF 30. I find my sun shirt makes an effective base layer in winter time as well, they are extremely versatile.
Thanks for your expert suggestions. I think there is a lot of individual preference involved in these decisions as well. I have tried the synthetics, but I do not like the feel, I personally find cotton more comfortable. Having had low vitamin-d levels, I appreciate the sun on my skin as an opportunity to absorb some vitamin d.
I did some testing of colors with an infrared heat thermometer last summer, but I did not focus on fabrics. Using one might be a way to test the effectiveness of the various fabrics in protecting from heat, but in the end I think it will be a matter of personal preference. Thanks for your comment.
It looks like you know what you are doing, and I will have to take your word that the dry heat makes the high temperatures more bearable.
That is my perception, but we all see things differently.
What an interesting and valuable video this is. I love it. Thank you so much for sharing and GCHIKER, you have done a great job sharing this video with us. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Nice weather, but with those temperatures, I imagine you would have wished for a few clouds.
I always hope for clouds and breezes on a hot hike, unfortunately, they were nowhere to be seen on this hike.
Impressive information, I'm a fan ❤👍
Thanks for watching!
I really like that digital thermometer. Where did you get it?
That is from Lowe's, about $10 when I got it.
I love this topic. Thanks. I wish someone would invent a cooling suit so that we could be active all summer long. You didn't mention sunscreen. Do you wear sunscreen? I find that sunscreen makes me hotter as it blocks the heat from leaving my skin quickly.
I wish more outdoor companies made 100% cotton athletic clothing. Most active clothing is polyester. Do you ever wear polyester or do you avoid it completely?
Thanks! Awesome hiking by the way.
Thanks so much. I try to avoid synthetic clothes , although some of my winter stuff is a wool/synthetic blend, the shorts I wear are nylon. I wear a very light sunscreen (10 spf) on my face and neck, and around my elbows, as sometimes I burn there, but otherwise, I enjoy getting some sun exposure. The other issue with sunscreen is when it runs in your eyes! Thanks for your comment.
I just started to get back into hiking after several decades, and this topic is one I have been considering too. Thank you. P.S. which poles did you decide to use on this hike?
I use the Cascade Mountain Tech (Costco) poles exclusively, and they work well for me. The only change I might wish for is a more padded strap, but I wear fingerless gloves to compensate for that. All the best in your return to hiking, it has been a great retirement project for me!
what specific neck handkerchief do you recommend? 🤔
I have been buying a multipack of white cotton hankerchiefs from Walmart, they cost .75 each and work out great for me!
www.walmart.com/ip/George-Cotton-Handkerchief-6-Pack/948461540?fulfillmentIntent=In-store&filters=%5B%7B%22intent%22%3A%22fulfillmentIntent%22%2C%22values%22%3A%5B%22In-store%22%5D%7D%5D&athbdg=L1102&from=/search