While watching your excellent R2R2R video I was thinking how much more enjoyable it might have been hiking with a friend. Then, you mentioned it in this video. I was on Bright Angel upper section last week for the first time and now would like to try a R2R or maybe R2River2R. But, I’m over 70 and would need to train for months. My concern is something you mentioned, the strain on my knees and whether or not they could handle it. We hiked some in all the Utah National parks over the last few weeks without problem.
Yes, I do think it would have been more enjoyable with a friend. And at the same time I have never had a friend who is wants to or is willing to push themselves this hard! My biggest recommendation would be to train LOTS, both elevation gain and loss. And if you attempt it take the down hill slow and use hiking poles to ease the pounding on the knees. The Utah national parks are amazing, however I don't think that any of them had a hike quite like R2R, Its a beast! Good luck if you hike it, Its absolutely amazing!
Great content, glad I found your channel. I usually hike alone too and haven’t done,but would like to do R2R2R this fall or next fall. Happy to chat if you are going to do it again and looking for a trail buddy
Thank you! It is quite the experience, I hope it goes well for you! I’ll be doing south Kaibab to north rim in October. I’m excited to see south Kaibab in the day light!
In your video, you mentioned starting on the North Rim at 4:00 AM. What time did you arrive there? Did you sleep in your car before the hike, or did you stay somewhere else? Also, was overnight parking allowed where you parked? I'd love to know more about your North Rim logistics since that wasn't covered in the video. Thanks!
I slept in my car at the parking lot when I did R2R2R. However last year when I did it I spent the night at the campground on the north rim. Yes over night parking is allowed. I created a full video about the logistics, released right after this. I’ll try to link it!
love the channel/content...thank you for sharing your amazing adventures! Hoping to do R2R2R one of these days. Completed South Kaibab to Bright Angel on 10/12 (missed you by a couple of days) with plans to do R2R next May. What do you have planned for winter? Looking forward to watching your upcoming content and pacing myself on watching some of your older stuff so I don't run out of good stuff to watch.
Ive got a lot of great adventures in mind for 2024 and some that ill attempt during the winter months! I just hiked Angels Landing in Zion National Park, That video will be going live this Saturday! My newer stuff is my better stuff! I finally feel like I've gotten into the groove with my videography, storytelling and editing. So don't judge me too harshly for for the old stuff! ;) Congrats on R2R! That's a huge accomplishment!
Looking back on your hike if you were to do it again would you consider just bringing more snacks with when you leave and maybe grabbing some food quick in Grand Canyon Village and then just turning around
I think that I would still rest, maybe an hour or two and eat a meal then get back to the trail. I think resting really helped but it also prolonged the rest of the hike.
Congrats on yr R2R2R hike and thank you for the advice! I’m just wondering what is the point of hiking in the dark? I know it is cooler at night, but the views along the South Kaibab trail are the most spectacular I’ve ever seen, and you can’t see anything at night! I am sure the North Kaibab trail is awesome too. I am planning to do rim to river to rim in 2025, I am nearly 65 so I guess that may be the only possible way for me. I’ve done it 45 years ago the wrong way (Bright Angel to South Kaibab)😅 and we ran out of water almost at the start of South Kaibab
Thank you!! I’d say that hiking in the dark is more of a byproduct of hiking R2R2R than a choice. With this much mileages its was impossible for me to hike only during day light hours. All in all the hike took me 27 hours start to finish, including my rest. Next year my plan is to do south to north to actually experience the South Kaibab trail! Good luck on your hike in 2025! Be prepared and make sure to train!
@@trailandtravel Thank you! Next time I remember to have enough water. 45 years ago we hiked the last miles in the dark and almost dying of thirst! I understand it is impossible to make such a long hike in daylight, anyway you are certainly in excellent condition. Good luck on yr future hikes too!
I absolutely love your perspective on this hike. I have plans to tackle this same hike the first week of October 2024. I am training, but I have a question concerning how to train for the downhill portions of the hike. I have access to a full gym and I have my own garage gym. I have ventured down and back a mile on both the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trail but never further. What exercises should I incorporate into my routine which will help with the downhills. I have seen a numerous video that have people talking about how the downhill was killing their legs. I want to be prepared and not have the discomfort that others have voiced.
Thank you!! Are you planning on doing R2R or R2R2R? Id make sure to spend time strength/weight training your legs and going on walk frequently. Walking on a daily basis allows your body to get used to the demand. Hiking down hill requires a lot of deceleration, so id make eccentric (or negative) leg movements a priority, such as step downs, squat and even deadlifts if you have proper technique. Building upper body strength will be really important when using the poles, especially Upper back muscles. I would highly recommend doing this hike with poles. Ab exercises and stability training will be very helpful to reduce the pressure on you low back. So be sure to incorporate enough core training. No matter how much training you do your knees are still going to feel it.. but training will allow you to have stronger muscles to support them. I know that was a lot of info! I hope it was helpful!
@@trailandtravel I am undecided on which to do. I know I can easily complete R2R, but the challenge of R2R2R is very very very tempting. I am just going to have to see how my training goes and decide a little later.
Great question! I used my camera (Sony A7iii) on the north rim before I started my hike and my drone (dji mini 3). I used my GoPro 10 to film all the hiking.
Hey! Thanks for the info! What filter do you have?
The Katadyn 1L!
@@trailandtravel Cool. Thanks.
you're welcome!
@@trailandtravel Literally JUST ordered it =).
@@KeriFisher Perfect! you'll love it. Its a great filter!
TY awesome info, headed there in October, Wish us Luck....
Thanks for watching! Good luck on your adventure, Happy trails!
While watching your excellent R2R2R video I was thinking how much more enjoyable it might have been hiking with a friend. Then, you mentioned it in this video. I was on Bright Angel upper section last week for the first time and now would like to try a R2R or maybe R2River2R. But, I’m over 70 and would need to train for months. My concern is something you mentioned, the strain on my knees and whether or not they could handle it. We hiked some in all the Utah National parks over the last few weeks without problem.
Yes, I do think it would have been more enjoyable with a friend. And at the same time I have never had a friend who is wants to or is willing to push themselves this hard! My biggest recommendation would be to train LOTS, both elevation gain and loss. And if you attempt it take the down hill slow and use hiking poles to ease the pounding on the knees. The Utah national parks are amazing, however I don't think that any of them had a hike quite like R2R, Its a beast! Good luck if you hike it, Its absolutely amazing!
Great content, glad I found your channel. I usually hike alone too and haven’t done,but would like to do R2R2R this fall or next fall. Happy to chat if you are going to do it again and looking for a trail buddy
Thank you! It is quite the experience, I hope it goes well for you! I’ll be doing south Kaibab to north rim in October. I’m excited to see south Kaibab in the day light!
i'm heading there in 6 weeks! this video is super helpful! thank you!
Awesome, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for watching!
In your video, you mentioned starting on the North Rim at 4:00 AM. What time did you arrive there? Did you sleep in your car before the hike, or did you stay somewhere else? Also, was overnight parking allowed where you parked? I'd love to know more about your North Rim logistics since that wasn't covered in the video. Thanks!
I slept in my car at the parking lot when I did R2R2R. However last year when I did it I spent the night at the campground on the north rim. Yes over night parking is allowed. I created a full video about the logistics, released right after this. I’ll try to link it!
love the channel/content...thank you for sharing your amazing adventures! Hoping to do R2R2R one of these days. Completed South Kaibab to Bright Angel on 10/12 (missed you by a couple of days) with plans to do R2R next May. What do you have planned for winter? Looking forward to watching your upcoming content and pacing myself on watching some of your older stuff so I don't run out of good stuff to watch.
Ive got a lot of great adventures in mind for 2024 and some that ill attempt during the winter months! I just hiked Angels Landing in Zion National Park, That video will be going live this Saturday! My newer stuff is my better stuff! I finally feel like I've gotten into the groove with my videography, storytelling and editing. So don't judge me too harshly for for the old stuff! ;) Congrats on R2R! That's a huge accomplishment!
Great vid!!, Nite core nu 25 head lamp
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll check them out!
Looking back on your hike if you were to do it again would you consider just bringing more snacks with when you leave and maybe grabbing some food quick in Grand Canyon Village and then just turning around
I think that I would still rest, maybe an hour or two and eat a meal then get back to the trail. I think resting really helped but it also prolonged the rest of the hike.
Congrats on yr R2R2R hike and thank you for the advice! I’m just wondering what is the point of hiking in the dark? I know it is cooler at night, but the views along the South Kaibab trail are the most spectacular I’ve ever seen, and you can’t see anything at night! I am sure the North Kaibab trail is awesome too. I am planning to do rim to river to rim in 2025, I am nearly 65 so I guess that may be the only possible way for me. I’ve done it 45 years ago the wrong way (Bright Angel to South Kaibab)😅 and we ran out of water almost at the start of South Kaibab
Thank you!! I’d say that hiking in the dark is more of a byproduct of hiking R2R2R than a choice. With this much mileages its was impossible for me to hike only during day light hours. All in all the hike took me 27 hours start to finish, including my rest. Next year my plan is to do south to north to actually experience the South Kaibab trail! Good luck on your hike in 2025! Be prepared and make sure to train!
@@trailandtravel Thank you! Next time I remember to have enough water. 45 years ago we hiked the last miles in the dark and almost dying of thirst! I understand it is impossible to make such a long hike in daylight, anyway you are certainly in excellent condition. Good luck on yr future hikes too!
Thank You!
I absolutely love your perspective on this hike. I have plans to tackle this same hike the first week of October 2024. I am training, but I have a question concerning how to train for the downhill portions of the hike. I have access to a full gym and I have my own garage gym. I have ventured down and back a mile on both the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trail but never further. What exercises should I incorporate into my routine which will help with the downhills. I have seen a numerous video that have people talking about how the downhill was killing their legs. I want to be prepared and not have the discomfort that others have voiced.
Thank you!! Are you planning on doing R2R or R2R2R?
Id make sure to spend time strength/weight training your legs and going on walk frequently. Walking on a daily basis allows your body to get used to the demand. Hiking down hill requires a lot of deceleration, so id make eccentric (or negative) leg movements a priority, such as step downs, squat and even deadlifts if you have proper technique.
Building upper body strength will be really important when using the poles, especially Upper back muscles. I would highly recommend doing this hike with poles. Ab exercises and stability training will be very helpful to reduce the pressure on you low back. So be sure to incorporate enough core training.
No matter how much training you do your knees are still going to feel it.. but training will allow you to have stronger muscles to support them. I know that was a lot of info! I hope it was helpful!
@@trailandtravel I am undecided on which to do. I know I can easily complete R2R, but the challenge of R2R2R is very very very tempting. I am just going to have to see how my training goes and decide a little later.
that's a great idea. With proper training, nutrition and hydration it's absolutely doable. @@michelleflores053171
Most bicycle lights these days are quite bright (some annoyingly so). Perhaps one could be mounted as a head lamp.
That’s a great idea, I’ll use that next time I do a night hike!
What gear did you use to film your hike?
Great question! I used my camera (Sony A7iii) on the north rim before I started my hike and my drone (dji mini 3). I used my GoPro 10 to film all the hiking.
Be careful limiting or eliminating your hearing in the dark of the night alone on a trail. Need to stay on high alert. We can be vulnerable.
Thanks for looking out. I always had one ear open to listen for animals and creatures.