GC Backcountry permit day: permit check was quick
Feb 8-8, 20262 people1 min read
J
Jonathan Cook
1 reports
5.0
Difficulty
4
Scenery
4
Trail Conditions
3
GC Backcountry timeline (rough)
- 6:50 AM: started moving
- +1h: settled into pace and stopped fiddling with layers
- +2h: first real break and water check
- +4h: turned around or started the exit
- finish: tired but not cooked
Conditions: Rim started cold and the canyon floor warmed up by late morning. Main corridor tread was firm and easy to follow all day. Water points were open, but we still carried backup capacity.
Crowds: light. Crew: 2 people.
Nothing surprising, in a good way.
What helped: Take photos of the permit and save them offline. Take photos of the permit and save them offline.
Ratings (1-5): overall 5, difficulty 4, scenery 4, conditions 3.
Conditions at Time of Trip
Feb 2026Weather
Rim started cold and the canyon floor warmed up by late morning.
Trail
Main corridor tread was firm and easy to follow all day.
Water
Water points were open, but we still carried backup capacity.
Crowds
Light
💡Tips from the Trip
💡
General
- •Carry a small trash bag. You will find micro-trash.
- •Take photos of the permit and save them offline.
- •Have a turnaround time before you get committed to the hardest section.
- •Download your map before you lose service.
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