bright angel trail run - grand canyon

When I do the run I will take less steps than a walker due to a longer stride. Does this factor into your environmental impact assessment? I'll be careful to limit my dust kicking.

Endurance runners in the Grand Canyon are missing the point

A major issue is trash. Runners don't carry packs, and many don't wear pockets. Electrolyte bottles, once emptied, are ejected; packets filled with flavored gel, which substitute for food, get blithely tossed.

Outhouses are scattered along the Inner Corridor at convenient intervals, but they are designed for 50 to 200 users per day, not 300 per hour. If the line is too long, the trail seems to suffice for runners in a hurry.

Then there's trail etiquette. Uphill traditionally has the right of way, just as in four-wheeling, mountain biking and hiking. When passing, it is polite to say, "Excuse," or "On your right." It is not proper to shove past muttering, "Out of the way, rookie." Mules, of course, have the right of way, period. It is not prudent nor does it lend itself to a longer lifespan to argue with an animal that weighs 2,000 pounds and has 63 chromosomes.

Finally, there's time. If all that matters inside the Grand Canyon is the speed of one's crossing, there is no patience to wait in line, to yield the right of way, to assist an injured companion.

A few years back, a young woman was cited for bringing an organized group of runners, several of whom had to be rescued at great expense and peril. "Oh," said she. "This isn't an organized run. Just 89 of my close, personal friends."

Recently, I stood on the North Rim as night fell, and a runner swaggered toward me. "I just finished a rim to rim; took me 11 hours!"

"We're starting down tomorrow," I told him. "We'll take five days."

He snorted. "I don't know what you're going to do down there for five days." What will we do? Look, feel, discover lost worlds? The possibilities are endless, if you're willing to take the time.

https://www.hcn.org/articles/grand-canyon-runners-are-missing-the-point

The author of that article should hike his own hike and not be worried about how or the speed of others.

HYOH wrote:

The author of that article should hike his own hike and not be worried about how or the speed of others.

Which is why the National Park Service will ban runners soon enough.

I usually just toss my oxygen canisters off the side of the trail or, preferably, off a cliff.

...a runner swaggered toward me. "I just finished a rim to rim; took me 11 hours!"

The above is what the OP will cry out. He will pack absolutely nothing out, and will not drop his crap in trash bins. The trail is his outhouse.

The Op will match 11 hours wrote:

...a runner swaggered toward me. "I just finished a rim to rim; took me 11 hours!"

The above is what the OP will cry out. He will pack absolutely nothing out, and will not drop his crap in trash bins. The trail is his outhouse.

The OP is a nameless, faceless man.

It ain't happening wrote:

rety wrote:

Hmmm, 16 miles round trip - over 8,000 elevation change in 2 hours? That's a bit ambitious.

It ain't happening. The park rangers are on the look out for runners. Runners assume they own the trails and get upset with hikers and people on horseback. Runners are the ones who usually do honor the code of passing people on trail and create dangerous situations: spooked riders, forcing hikers too close to the edge, and similar. Runners also create more trail damage than hikers.

C'mon dude, take heed in what he says. Do your heroic run somewhere else. You will be a safety hazard to yourself and everyone else on the trail. Most people on the trail want to experience the Grand Canyon without the distraction of some guy flying past them, possibly zig-zagging in between hikers. Many people (myself included) are not comfortable being too close to the edge so they may appear to you as if they're not following trail etiquette, but so what! Don't ruin their day by being Mr. Marathon Man. Tourists and nature lovers are not impressed by your running skills, they are annoyed, especially if you choose that particular arena.

C'mon dude, let's face it, the only reason you want to do this is to brag about it. The truth is that people will not be impressed. Runners think it is a ridiculous endeavor. Non-runners don't know (or care) about times or distances.

No one cares about a trail run PR set by a "2:25" marathoner.

You don't know why I want to do it. I want to do it because I have the ability to do so and have limited time on my trip. I'm not from the US and won't be back for a long while. I don't have time to do a full hike. I will respect other walkers on the trail.

I'm not doing it as some heroic endeavour. Running fast is what I consider impressive, not jogging up a (albeit steep) climb. Any runner of reasonable fitness can do that.

Beagles wrote:

You don't know why I want to do it..

No, YOU don't know why YOU have to do it. As others said, no one cares about your PR. No one cares if you die doing it like the 3 hour guy did.

Look, wear a wingsuit and jump off the edge. Land in the river to break your fall. Climb out and run up the trail. People will notice that.

The reason I posted my PR was to give posters an idea of my fitness so that I would receive accurate advice. I always run to see more of a place when on vacation. If being a pretty fit runner can mean that my jogs can be a bit more adventurous, I will look to capitalize on that opportunity. It's a nice bonus for the training that I do to be, in reality, as fast as a professional woman marathoner.

You are a real whiner, beagles. Talk, talk, talk, and nothing happens. Stop talking about it and JUST DO IT! Leave tonight and start as soon as you arrive. Best to start when it cool and no one on trail.

I didn't know that defending myself was akin to whining.

I'll be sure to enjoy myself on the trail. Thanks all.

Beagles wrote:

I didn't know that defending myself was akin to whining.

I'll be sure to enjoy myself on the trail. Thanks all.

It's gorgeous and amazing. You'll have a blast if you run or walk, but you'll see more if you run it. Happy trails!

Beagles wrote:

I'm pretty sure I am not going to die.

Famous last words.

Does anyone ever think before starting that they will be the one to die?

people die wrote:

Beagles wrote:

Is this trail runnable in a couple of hours if I start at sunrise? I'm fit (225 marathonner). My concern is the crowds

Unprepared people die doing this.

You're asking this question here means you're one of the unprepared.

http://articles.latimes.com/2004/aug/17/news/os-canyondeath17

Thank you for posting the link to that article! Very sobering and sad. Sounds like a series of mistakes added up.

For someone who's never been to the Canyon (like me), it's kind of hard to understand how it could really be *that* difficult. But, it's so important to respect that I don't know what I don't know. Respect & heed the advice of those that DO know.

I too am a 2:25 guy ( although it was a long long time ago) and did a rim to rim just a couple of years ago...opted to do Bright Angel trail instead of Kaibab (though nearly 2 miles longer) because on paper is markedly less steep...started at 4:45 a.m under an October full moon...we were the very first people on the trail, headlamps and all...while steepness wasn't a big deal, the footing surprised me...a lot...far far rockier than anticipated.

All that being said, dude, just go do it...the 'great unknown' is what makes an 'outing' an adventure!!

Go forth and prosper,

MF

Ya gotta start early to get ahead of the mules. South Kaibab down and Bright Angel up. Rangers get testy if you don't give right of way to mules. And I would allow for 4-5 hours.