[Big Tuna]

I got invited on a GC trip in March and can only make the second part of the trip. I have never hiked in to phantom ranch and was curious about a few things:
1. Has anyone ever hiked in their gear and yak in to Phantom?
2. What is the hike like if I have all that gear? Is it realistic? How long would it take?
3. Are there companies that will get my gear and kayak down there? Raft? Mule? If so which ones and how much do they charge?
4. Any suggestions beside the obvious (which I can't do) of running the whole ditch?

Any knowledge on this would definitely help me out.

 

[UserName]

Send your gear on down ahead with the rest of the trip. They are planning on carrying your gear anyway, only extra burden is strapping a kayak on a raft (& paddle). Shouldn't be too difficult.

Next idea is to bring your gear and a REALLY LONG ROPE to the Rim

 

[Caspian]

Send it with them. Bring good shoes and lace the instep well. It's not a bad hike at all, but don't let poor foot care there wreck your time once you get to the river.

 

[Big Tuna]

Problem is they are pretty loaded down. Not sure if anyone will want to take the kayak. I'm pretty sure they would take my gear and paddle, but I think I need to get my yak down to the river on my own. Anyone out there hiked your boat in? Or pay someone to get it done?

 

[lhowemt]

There were some discussions on the GCPBA yahoo group a while back about someone hiking their yak out. I think you can send some stuff down on mules, but not sure about a yak. Check out that group, you might get some good ideas. there's also the RRFW yahoo group too.

Another thought - maybe a commercial trip would take your boat and leave it at Phantom on the given day, or day before? Not sure how they could secure it, if they could lock it up to the water station, or a tree at the boat beach.

It's a big hike, I've done it backpacking. Something like 10 miles and 4000 vertical feet. Get as much down there NOT on your body as possible.

 

[HelenDamnation]

I hiked in with a squirt boat about 10 years ago from the south rim. It took all day, and was a bit sketchy having the kayak sticking up above your head on the cliff sections. But all in all not too bad. Nobody in the group wanted to deal with hauling my gear on the boats. Prolly about 6 hours of hiking. Have fun, it was well worth the hike in with the boat.

 

[DurangoSteve]

There were some discussions on the GCPBA yahoo group a while back about someone hiking their yak out. I think you can send some stuff down on mules, but not sure about a yak. Check out that group, you might get some good ideas. there's also the RRFW yahoo group too.

Another thought - maybe a commercial trip would take your boat and leave it at Phantom on the given day, or day before? Not sure how they could secure it, if they could lock it up to the water station, or a tree at the boat beach.

It's a big hike, I've done it backpacking. Something like 10 miles and 4000 vertical feet. Get as much down there NOT on your body as possible.

It is a pretty demanding hike. Don't think I'd want to do it with a kayak strapped on my back. I rather doubt you could get the mule folks to strap on a yak... but the idea of paying a commercial trip to drop it off strikes me as the most viable route.

 

[UserName]

I am a mule, and I wouldn't want to do it. I can be pretty stubborn about something like this too. Sure footed or not, that is a lot of awkward bulk sloppin around everywhich way on my back. Oh, and I am afraid of heights to begin with... better tie a few bed sheets together

 

[DurangoSteve]

I am a mule, and I wouldn't want to do it. I can be pretty stubborn about something like this too. Sure footed or not, that is a lot of awkward bulk sloppin around everywhich way on my back. Oh, and I am afraid of heights to begin with... better tie a few bed sheets together

A mule that types. Very cool! Now, if you would stop crapping all over the Bright Angel Trail, you might be qualified to be the Vice President of the United States! On second thought, being full of mule crap is a qualification for being the VP...

 

[bth]

i did the hike last year and maet the rest of my crew at phantom. i carried a very small backpack and a peli case with camera gear in it, and absolutely wouldnt have wanted to carry more.

something to seriously consider...if the rest of your crew isnt willing to strap a kayak to their raft rather than having you lug in down 4000 vertical feet from the canyon rim, is this REALLY a group you want to go spend however many days in the canyon with??

 

[HelenDamnation]

i did the hike last year and maet the rest of my crew at phantom. i carried a very small backpack and a peli case with camera gear in it, and absolutely wouldnt have wanted to carry more.

something to seriously consider...if the rest of your crew isnt willing to strap a kayak to their raft rather than having you lug in down 4000 vertical feet from the canyon rim, is this REALLY a group you want to go spend however many days in the canyon with??

Yeah, maybe it would be better to wait another 10-15 years to get invited on a trip. The hike isn't that bad, don't let everyone talk you out of it. I did the hike because I didn't feel comfortable asking someone to look after all my paddling gear for a week because it is a lot of trouble for somebody else. If you're in decent shape and if you pack light will not have a big problem.

 

[Ron]

Heck of a still start!!!!

 

[UserName]

A mule that types. Very cool! ...

Naaaa...aaaaawww, Can't type. My computer has Voice Recognition, and it translates Mule.



wat'lthey think of next...

 

[boatingbuss]

I hike the canyon all the time and I would never want to carry a kayak. If your friends won't take your boat, maybe at least the rest of your gear? I think it can be done, but it would suck. But that's just like my opinion, man......

 

[Chip]

2 thoughts

1. Tell 'em to stow beer and other consumables for the first half of the trip inside your yak, and provide a good cockpit cover. Really not much worry to rig it crosswise at the front or back.

2. If you're actually goofy enough to try to get a yak down to Phantom from the Rim, get one of those trolley set-ups with all-terrain wheels and devise a waistbelt harness (i.e. a pack waistbelt that connects to the trolley thing). I built similar rigs for skiing with heavily-loaded pulk sleds— not rocket science. But it might be a test to get it around the switchbacks. Or, you could probably get the boat and gear packed down on a mule (for $$$).

3. Or find a different trip.

 

[yetigonecrazy]

you could also just screw the yak-pack and do the classic willie kern, "im gonna fucking carrying it johnnie, im gonna shoulder it, im gonna drag it, and occasionally im gonna throw it down and do one of these numbers and stretch my arms"

 

[FLOWTORCH]

Find some other assholes to go with. Asshole.

 

[lhowemt]

There's always the IK option, that would be easier for your friends to pack down to Phantom to you. It could be deflated and tucked away in the bottom of the boat for those 8 days or whatever. A hardshell yak on a big boat that has to be loaded and unloaded every day would be a drag, unless you do something REALLY special for them! Boatmen/women can often be bought!

 

[Mut]

I can't believe that everyone on here thinks that hiking a kayak DOWN HILL is such a pain. What a bunch of pussies. You must all be rafters.

Did I mention, it is down hill?

Just put the thing on your shoulder and start walking. By the time you are over it, you'll be too far down to want to turn back. By the time you are really over it, you'll be close enough to muster a second (or fifth) wind.

Baiscally, suck it up.

-Mut

 

[Ron]

In the old days we hiked Sport yaks in at whitmore every fall. Until they decided to make that part of the park. We had to make 3 trips, one with the boat, one with the food, and one with the dutch ovens. We couldn't walk down hill the rest of the trip, but the river was sure great! Ron.