Old Man Still running

Was lazy and slept in when the alarm went off.

It's Grand Canyon week!  I've come up with an ultra crazy Grand Canyon Adventure.  My biggest GC adventure yet, even bigger than my R2R2R2R2R.

What I want to do is attempt to establish an end-to-end speed record on the remote and rugged Tonto Trail, from South Bass Trail on the West to Hance Rapids on the East.  That is about 86.5 miles, (likely 5 or more).   (I would get a GPS measurement).   The Trail actually extends further on both ends but is less of a trail, more like routes.  I've already run 45 miles of this trail several times so very familiar with what this will take.

This would be pretty crazy because it would require a bunch more miles than that, for about 100 miles in the canyon and 121 miles total.

To get to the start would require a 21-mile dirt road forest run up on the rim to get to the South Bass Trailhead from Grand Canyon village.  I could try to find someone to drive me to the trailhead or pay someone big money to do it, but the drive takes two hours on rough roads.  Why not just run it, on a more direct route?  So, I will likely run it the day before and then spend the night along South Bass, starting my run in the morning at the crack of dawn.

I would have several bail-out points along the way if I needed to cut it short and climb out of the canyon, at Tonto Trail miles: 26, 36, 51, 56, 75. and 80.  This week will be ideal for water with the big storm over the weekend.  There will be snow right below the rims and water in most the drainages so I can travel light.

At the end I would need to hitch hike back to Grand Canyon Village.

This could be tougher than I can do.  We shall see.  The problem with the trail because it traverses the drainages in the same direction, it is always sloping somewhat to the left.  That can really wear on the feet and knees after long miles.

Tapering

Seven easy treadmill miles.   8:20 pace, 4% incline.

Getting ready for the Grand Canyon.  Below is my crazy pacing chart.  First day is just a leasurely 26-mile run to my starting point.   I'll explore around in the afternoon and camp and rest down in the canyon where it is warm.   The next day, will be my timed end-to-end run on the Tonto Trail.  I'll start at the crack of dawn, run through the night, and hopefully be up and out by noon on Saturday.  I can bail out earlier if needed.  I'm doing this legal-like, getting back-country permits for both nights down there.

 

Bright Angel
Pasture Wash Ranger	17.4
South Bass TH	21.1
Tonto Trail	26.1	5:00 AM
Serpentine	31.1	6:05 AM
Emerald	32.5	6:25 AM
Quartz	34.5	6:55 AM
Ruby	35.9	7:20 AM
Jade	38.5	8:00 AM
Jasper	39.5	8:15 AM
Turquoise	42.1	8:55 AM
Sapphire	45.0	9:40 AM
Agate	47.1	10:15 AM
Slate	52.3	11:30 AM
Boucher	57.3	12:40 PM
Boucher Trail	58.3	1:25 PM
Travertine Canyon	60.6	2:15 PM
Hermit Creek	62.6	3:05 PM
Monument Creek	66.4	4:05 PM
Salt Creek	69.8	5:05 PM
Horn Creek	74.6	6:15 PM
Indian Garden CG	77.1	6:55 PM
Pipe Wash	79.7	7:35 PM
South Kaibab	82.1	8:20 PM
Cremation Canyon	85.0	9:05 PM
Lonetree Canyon	88.3	10:20 PM
Boulder Creek	91.5	11:35 PM
Grapevine Creek	97.8	1:50 AM
Cottonwood Creek	103.6	3:40 AM
Hance Creek	110.5	5:40 AM
Mineral Canyon	114.6	6:55 AM
Hance Rapids	113.4	7:55 AM
New Hance TH	121.6	12:55 PM

At the Grand Canyon.  Spectacular weather.  60 at the rim.  Just taking it easy today.  I got my backcountry permit, so ready to go.  Didn't quite explain the entire plan, they wouldn't believe it, the 46 miles I put down for three days was enough to raise eyebrows.  But I do have a valid permit to be in the canyon overnight for two nights.  There are snow patches in shady north-facing areas near the rim.  That is good, so I can refill with snow as I run to the trailhead tomorrow.  This sure is running paradise!

I noticed that my yearly miles is at 1000 miles.  That is the soonest during a year that I have hit that mark.

It is just about game time in the Grand Canyon.   I'm waiting until 9 a.m. for it to get above freezing on the rim.   I'll then park at Bright Angel trailhead, take a shuttle to the Abyss view point and then connect up with a dirt road and start a 20-mile run/hike through the forest to get to the South Bass trailhead.  I'll probably take some site-seeing detours to go peek over the rim a couple times on the way.   I'll then descend the South Bass trail to where it connects with the Tonto Trail.  I'll camp there and just spend the afternoon and evening exploring.  I'll sleep in a light-weight emergency bivy bag.  I'll take extra food down for the afternoon and evening so I don't eat up all the food I need for the big run the next day.   Seems like I have almost as much food as I take for a 5-day backpack.  For my run Friday, I need at least 5,000 calories.  Tonight, while camping, I'll even have some soup, warmed over a little sterno can in a alum foil bowl.

Tomorrow morning, before dawn, I'll start my timed run on the Tonto Trail, hopefully for the next 87 miles to Hance Rapids.   Then I'll climb out the New Hance Trail.  We'll see.  I could cut it short if I have any trouble or get too pooped.   I'll pass six exit options before reaching New Hance Trail.    I look forward to the first 31 miles, a section of the Tonto Trail that I have never been on.  It goes through "the Gems," a series of side canyons named after gems.

Did at trans-Grand Canyon run, attempting to run the Tonto Trail end-to-end from South Bass to Hance Rapids.  27 hours 56 minutes. I came up 10 miles short.  Ran out of time and worried that I didn't have enough food to spend another five hours in the canyon in the heat.  So I cut it short and came out Grandview trail.   Details coming, I haven't really slepts for 60+ hours.  Time to hit the hay.