Utah-Arizona Camping and Hiking Trip

About the Hikes: Easy to Strenuous hikes, 3 of which are described below

Time: Total trip time = 8 days

Distance: See below

Driving and other Info: 1900mi, 9 stops

Our Route: Route map

Grand Canyon - Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point

About the Hike: Strenuous hike with plenty of elevation loss/gain. Upper elevations are somewhat cooler, but in summer temperatures can soar at lower elevations. Don't attempt the hike unless you are in good shape. Water is available at 1.5 mile resthouse, 3 mile resthouse and Indian Garden.

Time: Start: 11.15am, End: 7pm; total hiking time = 7hrs 45min

Distance: 12.2mi roundtrip; elevation loss/gain: 6785 ft to 3770 ft

Driving and other Info:
Take I-40 followed by Az-64N to the Grand Canyon South Rim. Trailhead is located just west of Bright Angel Lodge. 550mi, 8hrs 15min drive from La Jolla.

Our Hike: Temperatures were cool in the night, but it quickly became warm in the morning by around 8am. Lower elevations are much hotter, with only occasional shade except for Indian Garden, so the biggest problem on this hike is the heat and associated dehydration. This trail is best hiked in spring and fall (also when this trail is most popular). Steep descent for the first 3 mi, then becomes flatter close to Indian Garden. The main trail proceeds to the bottom of the canyon and descends another 800ft to the Colorado River. However, the trail from Indian Garden to Plateau Point is quite flat, with good 360 degree views of the canyon, and a rewarding view down over the River at the end. We saw a number of rafters in the river.

Map of the trail. As usual, preparation is important - good sleep, light lunch, small snacks and drink lots of water along the way. Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are very useful. Some of us were slightly out of shape, so we took longer than usual (we think).

Pictures:

Grand Canyon Trip - Hike to Plateau Point

Queen's Garden-Peekaboo 8 Loop

About the Hike: Moderate. Best times to hike is October. Spectacular thunderstorm vistas and cool weather.

Time: Total hike time = 4hr (+ additional time spent lunching)

Distance: 6.4mi round trip, 600ft elev change

Driving and other Info:
Shuttle to trailhead from visitor center

Our Hike: I think we chose the perfect day to hike this trail, of course it was extremely crowded for the same reason, but still well worth it. The trail takes you into the heart of Bryce Canyon, with other-worldly formations by your side as you walk along the trail. It is tempting to stray off the trail, but be careful about cryptobiotic soil and slippery conditions.

Emerald Pools

About the Hike: Easy hike, but maybe sandy and slippery. Best times to hike are during the Fall or Spring season.

Time: Total hike time = 1.5hr (+ additional time spent in the pool and for photos)

Distance: 2.9mi round trip, 600ft elev change

Driving and other Info:
In Zion national park, take shuttle

Our Hike: Very easy and pleasant hike, with a cool pool to relax your tired feet. Ideal hike to finish up a long day of hikes. We had done many small hikes in Zion and finished up with this one.

Mount Whitney Peak from Lone Pine

About the Hike: Extremely strenuous hike requiring ample preparation for high altitude physical activity. For those with acute altitude issues, the best approach is to hike this over 3-4 days, with sleeping altitudes (camping) at 8600ft (base camp/Lone Pine), 10400ft (Outpost Camp) and 12000ft (Trail Camp), and final summit (14500ft) on the 4th day. Weather conditions are icy and cold for most of the year. Best times to hike are during the months of July, August and September.

Time: Total hike time = 20hrs 10 min

Distance: 22mi round-trip, elevation gain: from 8600ft (trailhead) to 12000ft (trail camp) to 14500ft (summit)

Driving and other Info:
Follow I-215N to I-15N to 395N. The city of Lone Pine is the portal to the Whitney trailhead. Lone Pine is about 160mi up on state highway 395N north of the I-15/395 junction. Take the Whitney portal road 13mi west from 395 (turn left at the only traffic light in Lone Pine). Whitney Portal shop, trailhead and campsites are at the end.

Our Hike: In one word, gruelling. We learnt several lessons on how best to hike this mountain. Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are very useful. We didn't sleep well at Trail Camp and this made our hike all the more tougher.Day 1 Start: 1.10pm, End: 8.15pm, hike time = 7hrs 5min;
Day 2 Start: 7am, Summit: 12.07pm, Start back: 12.30pm, End: 8:30pm, hike time = 13hrs 5min
Map of the trail.

Do
- Acclimatize properly (and slowly)
- Hike about 500-700ft above your sleeping elevation for any particular day
- Hydrate frequently (consume around 4L per person per day in 60-70F weather)
- Consume instant energy foods (e.g. chocolates) and salted foods (e.g. crackers, trail mix) frequently in small amounts
- Breathe properly, good deep inhales and exhales every so often
- Pack your gear in advance, planning for adequate but not overburdening amounts of food and gear
- Prepare for adverse weather conditions, with emergency supplies
- Leave all your camping equipment at Trail Camp while going up the to peak and pick them up on the way down

Don't
- Carry more than 2L of water. Water is available at plenty of locations on the trail and can be easily filtered. At higher altitudes, the snow-melt is pure and requires no filtering. More than 2L of water weighs you down.
- Assume that you can hike it in a short timeframe without proper acclimatization. You will not only have a bad experience, but also will regret not being able to enjoy the beauty of the sierras.

Pictures:

Mt. Whitney Peak Hike

San Bernardino Peak

About the Hike: Strenuous hike with plenty of hiking in thinner air. Upper elevations are cool even in summer, though spring may require snow gear. Don't attempt the hike without proper training. Very similiar to San Jacinto.

Time: Start: 10.20am, End: 8pm, total hiking time = 9hrs 40min

Distance: 15.7mi round-trip, elevation gain: from 5500ft to 10600ft

Driving and other Info:
Follow I-15N to 215N to 10E, take the 38E highway to the Mill Creek Ranger Station. Trailhead is behind the fire station at Angelus Oaks. 126mi, 2hrs 11min from La Jolla.

Our Hike: Temperatures were soaring on the day we hiked this trail. The lower elevations are hotter, but also have plenty of shade, so the biggest problem in summer is bugs. This trail would be best in fall. Steep ascents for about 2 mi, then flatter to Manzanita Springs, followed by steep ascents again to Limber Pine and beyond. There are 3 peaks: San Bernardino peak, East San Bernardino peak and Anderson peak (also confusingly called San Bernardino Mountain). Our goal was to get to San Bernardino peak. Map for all peak locations. Preparation is key, just as with San Jacinto, i.e. good sleep, light lunch, small snacks and water along the way, ascending gradually after 9000ft. Once acclimatized, one can push oneself.

San Jacinto

About the Hike: Strenuous hike with plenty of hiking in thinner air. Generally cool in summer and fall, though spring may require snow gear. Don't attempt the hike without proper training.

Time: Start: 8.45am, End: 8pm, total hiking time = 11hrs 15min

Distance: 17mi roudtrip, elevation gain: from 6280ft to 10804ft

Driving and other Info:
Follow I-15N to 79S, left at 371, left at 74 and right at 243 to Idyllwild, the ranger station is on Pine Crest Ave. Follow Pine Crest and Fern Valley to the end to the top of Humber Park, which is the trailhead.

Our Hike: We did this hike twice. First time was faster, around 7.5hrs. Second time was slower, around 11hrs, mainly due to additional weight and lack of sleep the previous day. We learnt some important lessons on the hike: sleep well before, have a light lunch during the hike and climb gradually after 8000ft. The views are fantastic, but you won't enjoy it if you feel the effects of altitude, so prepare well. The path goes steep-flat-steep, so the last section to the peak is the toughest. The path is rocky and has tree roots cutting across, so watch your step.