Grand Canyon Backpacking - South Rim Backpacking Tours with Backcountry Found Adventures

Trip Description: To experience the sheer magnitude and quiet vastness of the Grand Canyon, one must travel by foot through the
backcountry. We’ll travel back 2 billion years through geological time on this challenging adventure designed for experienced and fit
backpackers. This somewhat "introductory" Grand Canyon trip takes you to the bottom of the Canyon via the famous South Kaibab
Trail. This exceptionally scenic trail takes you over 7 miles straight down to the bottom passing vistas galore. Once at the bottom
sites including the Colorado River, Ribbon Falls, Phantom Falls and Creek, Clear Creak and Phantom Ranch await. The hike out
traverses, perhaps the most well known, Bright Angel Trail. The abundance of water and high traffic of this trail allow for a more
relaxed trip up, but don't fool yourself. You are still hiking approximately 9 miles up and out! This is not a beginning backpack. We
will hike on maintained but steep and rocky trails over challenging terrain with big elevation gains and losses on each day.
Participants will carry 30-40 lbs of gear, including about 10 lbs of group gear (comprised mainly of food, tents, and cooking
equipment) on their backs throughout the duration of the trip. Time spent in the wilderness below the rim of the Grand Canyon is an
experience unlike any other in existence, and a self-supported and participatory journey on foot from the rim to the river and back
constitutes a milestone accomplishment for a backpacker.

Accommodations: One night developed campsite, three nights backcountry camping.

Activity Level:   Class 3 - Introductory Intermediate Tour. Class 3 tours are meant for those that have done some backpacking
before. Participants must be prepared to do heavy physical activity in extremely diverse environments and terrain.   The trails,
although well traveled, are not easy. They involve extended descents and climbs (Almost all standard Grand Canyon tours are Class
3).   We will hike between 7-10 miles a day with a backpacking pack weighing anywhere between 30-40 pounds (depending on how
many personal items you bring). Class 3 tours tend to be a similar length (4 hiking days) to Class 2 tours, however, we may not
utilize any base camps meaning we may be backpacking with packs every day. Age range tends to be 15-55. Please contact us if
you are not in that age window, but still think you qualify.

Start Location: On the first night we meet at 6:00 p.m. at Mather Campground inside the South Entrance of Grand Canyon National
Park.
End Location: We will exit at the Bright Angel Trailhead and return to our cars parked in the FREE shuttle parking area.

Trip Itinerary:
Day 1: Meet your guides and the other group members at Mather Campground, inside Grand Canyon National Park.   We have an
evening trip orientation, a wonderful dinner, and a brief gear check before resting for an early start in the morning. Dinner included.

Day 2: After breakfast, we drive to Grand Canyon Free Shuttle Parking. We’ll take the free shuttle to the South Kaibab Trailhead and
begin our 7.3 mile descent from the rim to the Colorado River. We’ll descend through layer after layer of white, yellow, tan, and rust-
red limestone, sandstone and shale, deep into the dark schist and ancient granite dating back nearly 2 billion years. We’ll establish
camp at the beautiful Bright Angel Campground and enjoy dinner together. Before or after dinner, there should be plenty of time to
explore the Bright Angel Creek and Phantom Ranch. Breakfast and Dinner included. Bring your own variety of quick foods to be
eaten as lunch and grazed on constantly throughout the day each day. Energy bars and drinks as well as trail mix, bagels, salami,
etc. are all good choices.
Mileage: 7.3 miles Elevation Start: 7260ft Elevation End: 2480ft

Day 3: After breakfast, options include either resting all day by the creek and the Colorado River or a somewhat long 12 mile day
hike (with no packs) to the amazing Ribbon Falls (pictured below). Depending on availability, we will either stay at Bright Angel a
second night or hike a short, but difficult 2 miles up out of the Canyon to a favorite spot for many hikes in the Canyon along the Clear
Creak Trail. Amazing vistas and stars await at this completely remote backcountry site. Breakfast and Dinner provided.
Mileage: Variable/Max required - 2 miles Elevation Start: 2480ft Elevation End: 2480-3800ft

Day 4: After breakfast, we'll get an early start to begin our hike out of the Canyon. Mileage varies. Depending on availability, we will
hike either from Bright Angel Campground 5 miles to Indian Garden Campground along the Bright Angel Trail or we'll rest at Indian
Garden for a few hours then hike the last 2 flat miles to the remote, but beautiful Horn Creek area where will set up camp for the last
night. If we stay at the Clear Creek area the night before then add 2 miles to the days total. Breakfast and Dinner provided.
Mileage: 5-9 miles Elevation Start: 2480ft Elevation End: 3800ft

Day 5: On the last day we will hike the last 5 miles (add 2 miles if we start from Horn Creek) up and out of the Canyon. This may be
one of the most difficult days as those last 5 miles are steep and long. Be prepared! Fortunately there will be plenty of water stops
and with an early start we should miss most of the sun. Once out of the Canyon we'll shuttle back to the cars and head home. Note:
this day tends to be long. Most trips finish by 1 or 2PM, but please do not make plans anytime early that day. You may consider
staying in Williams or elsewhere that night and take a early flight the next morning. Breakfast included.
Mileage: 5-7 miles Elevation Start: 3800ft Elevation End: 6860ft

Note on itinerary: Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for
numerous reasons beyond our control. This trip is operated rain or shine.

Trip Preparedness: This trip is Class 3.   Participants will be carrying their own backpacks with weights of 30-40 lbs. over steep and
rocky terrain with constant and dramatic elevation gain and/or loss. Please make sure your backpack is fitted to your body before the
trip. Trip members need to in superior physical condition.   To maximize your enjoyment of the trip, we strongly encourage
participants to be involved in a training regimen before the trip.   Day hiking with 30-40 lbs in the pack you intend to hike with on the
trip and making sure your hiking boots are broken in before your trip is key.

Trip Price Includes: Professional instruction and guiding; all dinners on day one through day four, all breakfasts from day two
through day five; drinks, group cooking gear; group first aid kit, water filters; campsite and backcountry permit fees.

Not included: Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point; park entrance fees; insurance of any kind; lunches;
snacks and energy food; energy drinks; alcoholic beverages (please do not bring); soft drinks; guide gratuities and items of a
personal nature.

Directions to meeting point: On the first night we meet at 6:00 p.m. at the South Rim Mather Campground inside the South Entrance
of Grand Canyon National Park. There will be signs posted at the campground indicating where the Backcountry Founds group will
meet.

From Flagstaff, AZ, take Hwy 180 about 80 miles northwest to the South Entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. There is a park
entrance fee that you will need to pay at the South Entrance. From there, follow the road for about three miles to the stoplights, turn
left onto Center Road. Travel ¼ mile; turn right onto Market Plaza Road. The campground is about one mile down Market Plaza Road
on the right.

From Phoenix, AZ: Take Interstate 17 North from Phoenix to Flagstaff (about 2 hours). In Flagstaff, I-17 becomes Milton. Continue
North on Milton toward downtown Flagstaff. Milton will curve right under a railroad overpass and become Route 66 as it starts
heading East. Soon after turn left onto Humphreys at the stoplight and follow it to the T-intersection with Ft. Valley Rd/Hwy 180. Turn
Left onto Hwy 180 and follow it as it curves to the right. Follow Hwy 180 all the way to the South Entrance of the Grand Canyon. There
is a park entrance fee that you will need to pay at the South Entrance. From there, follow the road for about three miles to the
stoplights, turn left onto Center Road. Travel ¼ mile; turn right onto Market Plaza Road. The campground is about one mile down
Market Plaza Road on the right.

Emergency Contact Information: If you encounter any difficulties on your way to Yosemite, please call your guide’s cell phone at
415.710.8158. Please leave your name, a phone number where you can be reached and an explanation of the problem. Once you
are in the field on this trip there is no easy way to contact you; typically cell phones do not work in the backcountry.

Tipping Guidelines: Tipping at the end of the trip is optional. If you feel your guide(s) did an outstanding job and would like to reward
them for their efforts, $5-$15 dollars per day, per guide is a suggested guideline.

Closest Airport(s):
Major:         Phoenix Sky Harbor, Phoenix, 230 miles, 4 hours

Smaller:         Pulliam Airport, Flagstaff, AZ, 80 miles, 1.5 hours
Grand Canyon Airport, Grand Canyon, AZ, minutes south of the park’s South Entrance

Important Information about Air Travel: Contact Backcountry Found prior to purchasing your airline tickets to confirm the trip has the
minimum number of participants required to operate.

Who are our guides: Our guides are rigidly selected for appropriate levels of expertise in backcountry travel skills. In addition, they
each hold at least Wilderness First Responder medical certifications. [Click HERE for more information on our guides]

Weather: Daytime temperatures usually range between 60o - 90o F but can sometime climb even higher. Evening temperatures
drop into the 40s - 50s or even lower. While rain in general is rare, there is always the possibility of rain, so adequate rain gear is
important, even in this arid landscape.