1. Plan Ahead. 

Research the difficulty and length of your hike before you head out. It’s really important to know the facts about the trail before you head out so that you can prepare the necessary amount of food and water you will be needing. It takes 10 minutes to look it up online. The Grand Canyon visitor center or backcountry office will also have plenty of information to share with you so that you can be as prepared as possible for your journey. Remember, you are responsible for your own safety.

 

2. No food means no energy. Take lots of food and salty snacks.  

Eat more than you normally do. You need enough calories to keep hiking and enough salt to keep you sweating so don’t wait until you’re hungry. Eat small amounts often.

Ideas for snacks to pack:

  • Trail mix
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Pretzels
  • Peanut butter
  • Granola bars
  • Cheese sticks
  • Soda crackers
  • Potato chips

 

 

 

 

3. Pack plenty of fluids.

Always pack more than you think you will need. Just remember the more dehydrated you are, the harder hiking is going to be. The side effects of dehydration are one of the top reasons that people need to be resuced in the canyon. Don’t let yourself be one of those people.

 

4. Take advantage of shade.

Shade is rare on a lot of trails in the Grand Canyon and in the summer it gets very hot. Find the rare tree and take advantage of it. Eat your snacks, drink your water, catch your breathe, prop your legs up, and cool down. When there’s no shade, keep yourself cool with water.

 

 

 

 

5. Hike at coolers times of the day.

Early in the morning or later afternoon are just better times to hike due to the significant difference in temperatures. Just don’t hike at the hottest part of the day, you’re just asking for a miserable time. As much as I wish this fell into common sense, I see people start their journey at 1pm and I don’t see it being a very pleasant experience.

 

6. Regulate your pace. 

Look at it like this: if you are breathing so heavy that you can’t talk then it’s time to slow down. Your body is not getting enough oxygen. Hiking is not a race or a competition with your friends. If you’re friends want to leave and walk ahead of you, how good of friends are theys? Take your time to soak up the beauty around you. Find a pace where you’re not going to wear yourself to the point of exhaustion or to the point of a rescue.

 

 

 

 

7. Know your limits. 

If you feel lightheaded, nauseous, dizzy or any other dangerous symptoms then maybe it’s time for you to sit down for a bit and head back or contemplate if you need to call for help.

 

 

8. Take all your trash with you. 

I’m tired of seeing trash and cigarette butts in one of the most beautiful places on this earth. We are destroying the last natural lands we have and when these are gone we have nothing. So please, take all your trash out or don’t go hiking. And don’t complain about the fees you have to pay to enter the park because that money goes toward hiring people to clean up your mess. You have a duty to keep this planet clean.