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A Location Hike

      Hiking is more than exercise—it is a time to be outdoors and therefore to absorb your surroundings. I am always a little disappointed to pass people so intent on reaching a destination or staring so closely at the bottoms of their hiking poles that they don’t notice the flowers, the rocks, the birds, or the general landscape.

      Hikes can be thought of as somewhere on a continuum from “destination hikes” to “location hikes.” On a destination hike the sights along the way are overshadowed by those at the end point—many a summit hike or walk through forest to a spectacular lake fits into this category—and hikers are mostly forgiven for just trekking to the end. On a location hike, there is something new and spectacular to see every few steps down the trail, yet no single location that is universally judged “most beautiful.” Hikes in the Grand Canyon are the ultimate location hikes, so plan an itinerary that gives you down time—be that many extra five-minute breaks to see what you pass or an extra day to give you more time to wander around.

WHY YOU SHOULD BUY—AND CARRY—THIS BOOK

      If you have ever searched for books on the Grand Canyon you were likely overwhelmed by the large number of generally excellent books written on its trails, natural history, human history, accidents, and more, leaving you wondering whether there’s space for yet another title. If you wish to read individual books that delve into the region’s botany, geology, prehistory, pioneer history, tourist attractions, on-trail hiking, or off-trail exploration, then the bibliography suggests a healthy foundation for a Grand Canyon library. However, if you plan to visit the Grand Canyon infrequently (until its spirit captures you and you decide to return often), this book provides you an introduction to most of these topics, all focused on the two corridor trails descending from the South Rim: the Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails.

      The primary goal of this book is to help you plan: how to get permits, what gear you should carry, how fast you should walk, what dangers you should avoid, and so on. However, it is also slim enough to tuck into your backpack for your journey to the river. Trail descriptions and maps aid you on your endeavor. In addition, ample human history and natural history sections inform you about topics from trail construction to commonly observed birds and plants. As you proceed first down to the Colorado River and then back up to the rim, you will take water, food, and rest breaks. As you sit in the shade on a hot summer day or enjoy a bit of midwinter warmth, pull out this book and learn about your surroundings.

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT DAYHIKE

      Grand Canyon National Park has a clear policy of telling people not to attempt to hike to the river and back in a day, and as a result, this book focuses on the information needed to complete an overnight trip to the Colorado River. When I first learned of the park’s policy, it seemed quite extreme. I had not found the dayhike particularly taxing, and I have, on my trips to the canyon, met a lot of other hikers completing the hike in a single day without difficulty—granted these trips were in spring, fall, and winter, not midsummer. It seemed that a better approach would have been to emphasize attempting such a committing walk only during cooler months and emphasizing the need to start very early, be “slow and steady,” and take sufficient breaks, especially during the heat of the day. Maybe they should instead instruct

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