C2C or Grand Canyon Rim to Rim - Octoberish..which is harder

[hawkbill666]

Hello All,

I was hoping to get the thoughts of my hardcore day hiking friends on this forum.

If I only have October to work with, which is a harder hike, C2C or Grand Canyon Rim to Rim? (single day hike).

To start to answer my own question....It looks like C2C has the most elevation gain and higher working elevation...but GCR2R, has scary heat...but plenty of water.

Anyone done both of these...? Please brag to me, and then scare me a bit as I like that to help my planning

Best month for GCR2R to avoid heat?

Sorry if this is a bit off topic but C2C is a relative gauge I understand since I have 'almost' done it and have spent LOTS of time on San Jacinto.

Thanks !

Scott

[marmot]

never done R2R, but C2C can have intense heat as well. If it was up to me though, I'd probably do R2R, because I havent done it before.

[recordalley]

If you've never gone down into the canyon, you must! Nothing compares to the beauty of the inner gorge of the GC. If you're a runner you could try to break this record.

http://www.grandcanyonnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=719&ArticleID=9353

[hawkbill666]

Not a runner, knees wouldnt hold up anyways if I were to try.
Im just trying to find a gauge between the two hikes. I dont find the elevation gain or distance on C2C too terribly hard, although I took it slow and certainly treated skyline with respect for its dangers. What I did find hard was the heat during the middle part of skyline, that was a killer. Obviously that would be my concern with GC also.....
Thanks

[tinaballina]

thats a close call, can't really say and i have done both. if it were between rim2rim2rim i would say that but being you only put rim2rim thats not really a tough one. my opinion only. they both take about the same amount of time.

[Mountaingoat]

Agreed with Tina, have done all (3)
C2C museum to peak to tram 10 hrs (age 45)
R2R 8 hrs (age 47)
R2R2R 16hrs (age 49)

Berne Mettenleiter

[hawkbill666]

Thanks to you both !
R2R2R in 16 hours, that seems pretty zippy from what I am reading...

I am guessing that R2R generally runs at a hotter tempature than skyline in a given month? I did C2C last October in the middle of that heatwave and everything before flatrock was miserable from a heat standpoint.

I am talking more than just looking up the tempature, mostly want your experience in which one runs hotter. Its a big deal to me as somehow when I got into my 40s, my ability to handle heat just plain went away....

Thanks again
Scott

[Mountaingoat]

Scott,

You mentioned, that October is the month for the hike. I don't think heat should be a problem for the Grand canyon hike.

When I did the double R that was the 16th of May. The high in the Canyon was only about 95 F. (Water available along the trail)

One thing I do remember was, that when I came back down the south Kaibab trail, one of my knees started to bother me, but amazingly it improved as soon as I started going uphill towards the North Rim.
(South Kaibab is used by the mule trains, very rough trail, but short 6 1/2 miles)
(Watch the weather report)
Wish you good luck, regards Berne

[KathyW]

For me:

R2R (S. Kaibab down, N. Kaibab up) is slightly easier than C2C
R2R (Bright Angel Down, N. Kaibab up) is comparable to C2C

In terms of scenery, R2R wins hands down and I would go S. Kaibab Down - it's prettier than the Bright Angel Trail. Don't skip the side trip to Rainbow Falls - it's just 0.25 mile off the main trail and it's beautiful. It also gives you a nice place to cool off in that hot section of the canyon.

Heat does make a big difference. A cool day on the trail will make either C2C or R2R much easier. R2R can get pretty hot between Phantom Ranch and Cottonwood Camp.

[hawkbill666]

Thanks, this is exactly what I was hoping for !
But those mule trails look scary. Those are the ones where if I stumble just a bit I go flinging off a cliff...
Its still undecided between my hiking partner and I. Likely October will be C2C, but we were just kicking ideas around.
I have family in PS, so it makes for a good fit.
Thanks again