Grand Canyon R2R2R

Last weekend, Andrew Feucht, Chase Mueller and I headed down to the Grand Canyon for a vacation that included the R2R2R (rim-to-rim-to-rim), a trail running classic that covers 45 miles and almost 11,000 vertical feet of gain. We planned to do the running starting from the south rim, running down the South Kaibab trail on the way out, and coming back on the Bright Angel Trail. My father, Warren, and his wife, Karen, drove down from Moab to see us before and after the run. Warren also wanted to see if his R2R2R time of 10 hours 15 minutes was safe from being beaten. We weren’t going to be racing, so we assured him it was.

We stayed at the Bright Angel Lodge on the south rim Sunday and Monday nights (thanks to Andrew for booking that six months ago), and we found ourselves on Monday morning at 5:15am at the South Kaibab Trailhead, under a half moon and clear starry skies. Temperatures in the canyon were going to be in the mid to high 80s. We had expected a cool morning on the rim, but within minutes we were sweating, so we knew it was going to be a warm day. Down we dropped, 4800 feet to the river. Although pack mule trains occasionally head down to Phantom Ranch starting at 4:30am, we did not encounter any.

We crossed the Colorado and passed Phantom Ranch, then headed 7 miles up to Cottonwood Campground. This section was both very runnable and very enjoyable, as it was mostly in the shade in a steep walled canyon with very gradual elevation gain. We arrived at Cottonwood at 8:45am.

From Cottonwood, the elevation gain started to pick up a little as we headed up to Roaring Springs, our last stop for water. After Roaring Springs, we headed steeply up canyons that looked impassable, but the trail wound its way along ledges blasted in the rock with incredible views and steep drop-offs. Our gait slowed. I felt good, but Andrew was trying to keep his heart rate in check, and Chase was having a few problems with leg cramps towards the top. We topped out at 11:30am into an empty parking lot with no views whatsoever. Welcome to the North Rim.

After a twenty minute break, we turned around and made good time back down to Cottonwood Campground. There we took a fifteen minute soak in the cool waters of the creek. Chase had not been consuming enough water and electrolytes over the previous three hours, and it started to affect him with more cramps and lightheadedness.

Chase led out from Cottonwood Campground down to Phantom Ranch; however, he slowed to a walk on any uphill, and then on the flats as well. We discovered that he was not doing well and stopped along the creek before Phantom Ranch for a long break. Chase started vomiting at this point.

Naturally, this turn of events caused us some alarm. We tried to get Chase to consume more food and water, and after a short rest, we walked/trotted down to Phantom Ranch. We drank lemonade and sat in the shade for a bit. We headed out again at a brisk hike.

Onwards and upwards. Chase did well to keep hiking for the next five miles until we reached Indian Gardens. We stopped again while he vomited some more. The sun began to set. It was now 6pm with only 4.5 miles to go, but we still had a 3000 foot climb between us and the trailhead. Chase started to shiver. Andrew was so warm he had his t-shirt off.

Andrew mentioned that this would be a good time for a tow rope, and it spurred me to action. I discovered that I could turn my Coban self-adhesive bandage into a bungie coard of sorts. I left this and a jacket with Andrew while I went for some help. I planned on running up to the rim to get bananas and other munchies, trekking poles, and alert Warren and Karen, who were probably waiting at the top. Then I would run back down again. After about a quarter mile, though, I passed a couple guys who were using a cell phone. They let me borrow it. I called Warren and had him come down the trail with supplies, and we would meet him on our way up at some point. I turned back down the trail to find that Andrew and Chase were making some good progress with the tow rope setup.

The tow rope really helped, and Andrew and Chase made it all the way to 3 Mile Resthouse, where we took another rest. At this point, we were fairly relaxed, as we were making progress and my father knew where we were. I took over for Andrew, and we made it another mile up the trail before running into my father coming down. We stopped and had some food. Chase ate a banana, with good potassium for his muscle cramps. Andrew and I shared a muffin, which tasted much better than the one Gu that I had remaining for food. We continued on, our destination within reach.

We finally topped out at the Bright Angel Trailhead at 8:45pm, only a couple hundred yards from our room. Warren and Karen went to the restaurant and got us menus to order some takeout food, and then went to pick it up for us. We all ate dinner in our room and then went straight to bed. Mission accomplished!