Mr Z.–
We need some weather (temperature) reports from the Canyon! (does it actually get “cold” at night, in the desert?) (I’ve never been West of the Mississippi.)
–past week in Michigan, it’s been a literal sauna; temperatures in the mid 90’s and with 90%+ humidity.

Kirk: Sounds like you’ ve had a lot of fun in the Canyon. I also suspect that you are relatively new to Behind the Black and don’t realize that Diane and I do this every year. Been to the bottom more times now than I can count, and loved every trip. The Grand Canyon always makes me happy.

Do a search on Behind the Black for the Grand Canyon. You’ll find some posts by me that I am sure you will find interesting.

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/39447399.jpg

That’s a pretty spot, though I’ve done my Grand Canyon hiking in February or March when showers like that aren’t quite as comfortable. I’ve found that up until Spring Break starts in earnest, walk-up back country permits are readily available. (Advanced planning isn’t my strong suit.) It can be chilly on the rim that time of year, but hiking conditions down below are wonderful.

Back in 2005 or 2006, we tried a five day rim to rim to rim, but started down only hours before a blizzard which closed the South Rim for three days. There was no snow down at the river, but our tents got a fair covering of snow up at Cottonwood Campground on the second night. We then started up well before dawn, and hoped to make it to the North Rim and back down to Cottonwood the same day, but were pushing through thigh-deep snow drifts on the trail by the time we made it to the Supai Tunnel (with 1400 vertical feet still to go to the North Rim). By then it was noon, and since we had left the tents pitched at Cottonwood and were packing light, we had to turn back around.

I’d love to reattempt that hike someday, blizzard and all, but packing snowshoes and tent and allowing two days for Cottonwood to the North Rim and back.

Have a good trip.