My Grand Canyon Camping trip

Hey Guys,

For the first time ever, I will be taking a vacation by myself. I need some time to myself and figured the Grand Canyon would be a great spot to go camping and take my Mountain Bike. I just booked my spot at the Mather Campground on the South Rim. I haven't been camping since 1998 and that was just an overnighter near Turkey Creek in the bed of my old Silverado.

Needless to say, I could use a few honest pointers. I plan to stay 4 nights so any suggestions would be good. I'll have a tent and plenty of warm clothes. I checked and saw it's been dipping down in the low 30's at night. Hope my power outlet in the bed of the truck works good..never used it.

 

Get a nice sleeping bag. First aid kit, flashlight, all the typical stuff. Grill is nice to have. You can also get an ice chest and put dry ice in it. That way you can bring frozen stuff too for some good cookin.

 

+1 on a really good Ice chest you may have to call around to a few stores by either igloo or coleman thats a 5 day extra insulated cooler and since you will have your truck close by the added size and weight shouldnt be an issue.... Also test out whatever you plan on plugging into the bed outlet prior to going, I went camping a while ago and brought a griddle thinking it would be great to good breakfast on but the outlet didnt put out enough power and kept clicking off.

 

Make sure you have a means of communication at all times, since you will be out riding by yourself. last thing you want to do is fall & break your leg with nobody around. Enjoy the trip!

 

those pre-made tortillas that come package, all you have to do is grill them for a few seconds, are a must when i go camping. just throw some eggs and bacon in there, or some carne/steak and roll it up, no forks or knives.

grab more firewood than you *think* you need, cuz you gonna run out, depending on what time you go to sleep. and you gonna need another fire in the cold cold cold morning. bring some banannas or something with potassim(sp?) just in case you start cramping (elevation?) and jerky is great for a little snack before you hop back on the saddle back to camp.

im not sure how the bear activity is out there, but i keep open food, likes chips and snacks inside the truck.

and i always bring a big thing of water to wash my hands (i kind of have this thing about keeping my hands clean {i wash them like 50 times a day}) and to put the fire out, wash the pots and shit.

and something that can make shade if you plan on having a lazy kick back afternoon, and a table to cook/prepare shit on. and depending how far/deep you camping, maybe some extra gas...

 

Thanks guys!! The advice is well appreciated and I will definitely test out my bed outlet. I was planning on using it to charge my mp3 player and also my cell phone. I plan on taking plenty of "back pack" meals and using a propane stove to heat the water. I have 14 gallon of drinking water to start with and a decent sized tent. I'm also stocking up on warm clothes do to the fact it's going to be in the low 30's at night and in the morning. Thank God for the pay shower facility.

CheeseWithTaco, thanks for the tortilla advice, definitely something I did not consider til now..sounds like something I want to try.

As for the mtn bike Nick, I found out that I can only ride it on the roadways. No bikes are allowed on any of the trails at the Grand Canyon. What the frick is that?? I was looking forward to riding my newbie mtn bike and learning how to actually ride on the dirt..God I'm a newb.

 

The last two times I went camping was in freezing and wet weather, not that fun :S

 

Camera... and I don't know if there are any mountain bike trails. This place is soooo nice. The campgrounds are some of the best maintained in the Nat Park system. Enjoy and yes, most all of us are JEALOUS!

 

If you're only using the bed outlet for charging an ipod or cell phone you'll be fine. I've charged my cell phone that way a couple times on the beach when I didn't have my regular car charger with. Have a good time and be safe!

 

I had a great time guys. First time I've ever gone on a vacation by myself. My tent leaked the first night I was there, so I put a heavy duty tarp over it in the morning. It rained all day. I stayed plenty warm though. Had tons of warm dry clothes to wear and managed to cook a good hot meal every night. I loved the propane camping stove I brought, nothing like hot coffee and fresh bacon in the morning. Especially when it's 26 degrees out. The Mather campground was perfect ofr a newb. Everybody around there were respectful and quite pleasant to be around. I would definitely like to make this a yearly thing in the late fall.

 

Glad u had fun made it back safe. Had a friend who went there this past weekend. Pictures?!?

 

x1000000

 

Is that camp ground open all year?

 

Yes, Mather is open year around. Reservations are recommended. It saves check in time. $18 for a tent site, $25 for an RV. Per night. 7 night max. I'll try and get pics up. For some reason my cell phone pics won't upload. Anyone wnat to donate a quality digital camera?

 

Sorry it took so long to get any pics up

 

damn we were just talking about taking a trip to the grand canyon. theres 3 kids that are around 16, one thats 12 and one thats 15 but acts like 10 and none saw the appeal of going there. im 17 and i think this would be fricken awesome.

I may just go with my dad. get a cap for the tacoma, build 2 beds in there and rough it. no camp ground. thats like my dream vacation there as long as i can stand my dad for that long

 

The Mather camp ground is AWESOME. I recommend it.

 

nice pics, it is soooo nice up there. i miss the trips taken with my grandparents when younger

 

awsome view!!, ive never been outside texas (usually travel to mexico to visit family), i dont know much about ur location on the grand canyon, but did u go to the skywalk thing!?