South Kaibab Trail Area - Various Trips

South Kaibab Trail Area
The mini-blogs

Various Short Trip Reports

by Dennis Foster

Zoroaster Temple is a notable feature along the So. Kaibab.

Click on any picture to see a larger image.

Writing up a full-fledged trip report for every hike I have done in the Grand Canyon would suffer from at least two problems. One, there are plenty of trips where not much happened. This was especially the case for day trips that I took mostly for the purpose of hiking down and back as fast as I could. Second, it would get repetitive. How many trip reports do you need to read on hiking to Plateau Point? Well, just one really. But, there are usually some interesting features to remark on for every hike, and some unique photos. So, I will endeavor to fill in this page (and, others) with these short stories and photos. They are arranged, from top to bottom, in chronological order and linked to the list below.

2009/02/06 - Day Hike to B.A. Creek 2010/11/27 - SK to BA Loop

Day Hike to Bright Angel Creek
Friday, February 6, 2009

My hiking buddy, Bill Ferris, and I took off this Friday for a day hike down the South Kaibab. We parked at the picnic area near to the trailhead and were on our way from the truck by 8:03 a.m. Fifteen minutes later we were headed down the trail. It took us 40 minutes to reach Cedar Ridge and 35 more minutes to reach the top of the Redwall (at Skeleton Pt.), where we cached some water for our return trip. We left here at 9:45 a.m. and reached the Tonto trail at 10:20 a.m., taking a quick pit stop here. At 10:29 a.m. we were back on the trail and we got to the black bridge 55 minutes later.
We stopped at a picnic table from 11:24 a.m. until 12:42 p.m. My recollection is that we grabbed the table that is right by the creek, before the trail crosses over to the campground. I am pretty sure I didn't go to the ranch, although I don't remember if Bill did. At 12:42 p.m. we were on our way, crossing the bridge 9 minutes later. At 2:47 p.m. we reached the top of the Redwall and took a fifteen minute break while picking up our water. At 3:51 p.m. we reached Cedar Ridge and took a ten minute rest. At 4:59 p.m. we reached the top. Our hiking down time was 2 hours, 45 minutes, while our hiking up time was 3 hours, 39 minutes.

Dennis and bill at the trailhead on a cool February morning. There was a bit of ice at the trailhead, but it didn't persist.	Bill takes a photo at President Bush Point (well, that's what I call it).	The dark clouds really made for an interesting day; here at Skeleton Pt.
	Looking down on the river and the Phantom Ranch area.	It is not unusual to see trail crews in the canyon. Why not take a photo?

South Kaibab - Tonto - Bright Angel Looping Day Hike
Saturday, November 27, 2010

It is a couple of days after Thanksgiving and time to work off some of that overindulgence! So, with hiking buddy Bill Ferris and his neighbor Joe, we headed up to the canyon to do a loop down the South Kaibab trail, then across on the Tonto trail to Indian Garden and up the Bright Angel trail to the rim. It was a hike that would allow me to continue to assess my rehabilitation following an accident the previous spring when I badly sprained my foot.

---More to follow---.

Dennis, Joe and Bill at the South Kaibab trailhead. Some snow along the sides of the trail, but otherwise pretty clear.	A place for the trail crew to tie up.	Another place to tie up.
	Phantom Ranch from the Tonto.	Burro Spring.

We stopped for lunch where the trail crosses Pipe Creek. Yes, it was still cold, especially in the shade.	Small granary visible from the trail.	Bill heads for Indian Garden.
	Where Cameron had his tent cabins.	An icy display at Kolb Seep.

A helicopter lifted supplies from the Phantom Ranch area.	A mule train heads up the South Kaibab with everyone in slickers.	An unusual cloud display over Yaki Point, and Bill.