{"id":691,"date":"2011-04-15T22:53:00","date_gmt":"2011-04-16T03:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.crockettclan.org\/blog\/?p=691"},"modified":"2011-07-27T10:09:58","modified_gmt":"2011-07-27T15:09:58","slug":"grand-canyon-through-run-78-miles-on-the-tonto-trail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.crockettclan.org\/blog\/?p=691","title":{"rendered":"Grand Canyon through-run &#8211; 77 miles on the Tonto Trail"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590321.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"255\" height=\"195\" \/><\/p>\n<p>For several years, I have dreamed about doing a very long run through the Grand Canyon.\u00a0 Many ultrarunners run <strong>ACROSS<\/strong> the Grand Canyon and back.\u00a0 I have also accomplished feat that many times.\u00a0 But I\u2019ve had a dream to run the length of the Grand Canyon rather than across it.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/gc.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"384\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Conditions worked out, so I made plans to run the length of the Tonto Trail from South Bass to Hance Rapids, a distance of more than 87 miles in the canyon.\u00a0 I was also interested in establishing a fastest known time for this stretch.\u00a0 Through-hikers have accomplished this in several days, but I have yet to hear about runners accomplishing it without stopping and camping for the night.\u00a0 <em>(Turns out that Scott Jurek and Joe Grant did it last year!)<\/em> I wanted to give it a try and experience the beauty of the amazing Tonto Trail in one stretch.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tonto Trail<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Tonto Trail is the longest continuous stretch of trail in the Grand Canyon.\u00a0 It is arguably also the most scenic.\u00a0\u00a0 The trail goes from Garnet Canyon on the West, to Red Canyon (Hance Rapids) on the East.\u00a0 Trails continue on either side but on each end they become remote \u201croutes\u201d instead of established trails.\u00a0 To avoid doing any out-and-backs, I decided to start my run where the South Bass Trail (coming down from the rim) intersects with the Tonto Trail.\u00a0 I would then head east (up-river).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_708\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-708\" style=\"width: 278px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-708\" title=\"tonto\" src=\"http:\/\/www.crockettclan.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/tonto.jpg\" alt=\"Segment of the Tonto Trail\" width=\"278\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.crockettclan.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/tonto.jpg 418w, http:\/\/www.crockettclan.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/tonto-300x287.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 278px) 100vw, 278px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-708\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Segment of the Tonto Trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Tonto Trail is like a contour line on your map.\u00a0 It weaves in and out of all the side canyons, attempting to stay up on the Tonto Platform about 500-1000 feet above the Colorado River.\u00a0 If you floated down the river from Red Canyon to South Bass Canyon, it would only be about 31 miles.\u00a0 But the Tonto Trail travels nearly three times that distance to reach the same point.\u00a0 Contour lines on maps stay level.\u00a0 The Tonto Trail is not level at all, but rolls and at times takes some tough descents and climbs to cross near the red walls of the side canyon.\u00a0 During this 87-mile stretch I estimate the Tonto Trail involves climbs of about 10,000 feet.\u00a0 Despite its length, the Tonto is the most efficient way along the landscape as it does attempt to maintain a consistent elevation.\u00a0 Short-cuts are always slower.<\/p>\n<p>Over the years, the Tonto trail started as a game trail, then used by Native Americans, then by miners and now mostly by backpackers.\u00a0 Because of its remote nature, in some sections only a few hikers can be found on it during a week.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Warning<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Running on the Tonto Trail is only for those with advanced Grand Canyon and desert running experience.\u00a0 Very fit runners and backpackers have died on the Tonto Trail.\u00a0 Before attempting this end-to-end run, I had already logged 192 miles on the Tonto Trail in segments, all in November.\u00a0 As part of that, I also spent about 55 hours running the trail at night.\u00a0 So I felt prepared, knowing what to expect, and pretty familiar with two-thirds of the trail I would be on.\u00a0\u00a0 No one should attempt this through-run without logging some significant experience in the Canyon.<\/p>\n<p>There is really only one time of the year to do this safely \u2013 April, and probably early April.\u00a0 That is the time of the year when temperatures are good for running AND the seasonal springs are flowing.\u00a0 It could be done in October and November but many of the springs and creeks are dry that time of year which would require hauling heavy water for long distances.<\/p>\n<p>Running the Tonto Trail June-August could be a death sentence.\u00a0 Temperatures can reach 120 degrees in places and there is very little shade.\u00a0 If you thumb through the \u201cDeath in the Grand Canyon\u201d book, you will find many entries of people losing their lives on the Tonto Trail in June-August.\u00a0 Do not take this trail lightly.<\/p>\n<p>What is the trail like?\u00a0 Half of it is rugged and rocky, the other half is smooth but very crooked, widing around all the bushes and cactus.\u00a0 To make things hard, it constantly changes back and forth between smooth and rugged.\u00a0 Going between drainages on the ridges, it is smoother and when it goes in, or needs to cross drainages, it is rugged and reminds me of the tough Zane Grey 50 course.\u00a0\u00a0 You would think that the smooth parts are easier and faster.\u00a0 Not so.\u00a0 These sections are out close to the Colorado River as it is going around to the next side canyon.\u00a0 The problem with these sections is that because of the vegetation and wind, signs of the trail can became much fainter.\u00a0 Without careful attention and experience with the trail it is very easy to lose the trail and end up in a cactus patch.\u00a0 You have to stop, study the surroundings, back up, and carefully find the trail again.\u00a0\u00a0 Using a GPS can help, but is annoying to keep consulting. \u00a0Taking any short-cuts always takes much longer than staying on the trail.<\/p>\n<p>What dangers are there?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Falling off cliffs. There are only a few short sections that exposed near huge cliffs.\u00a0 They don\u2019t last very long.\u00a0 There is less exposure on the Tonto than on the corridor trails used by R2R2R runners.\u00a0 So falling off some cliff at night really isn\u2019t much of a worry.<\/li>\n<li>Getting Lost. Getting lost for hours really isn\u2019t possible because the trail stays on the Tonto Platform above the river.\u00a0 But, you certainly can lose the trail for many minutes which can be very frustrating.\u00a0 Skill needs to be developed how to find the trail by making circles or other such techniques.<\/li>\n<li>Getting injured.\u00a0 This is really the biggest thing I worry about.\u00a0 If I busted an ankle on the trail, it would be many hours or maybe a day or two before help would arrive.<\/li>\n<li>Running out of water.\u00a0 You don\u2019t want to do this on the exposed Tonto Trail.\u00a0 You need to know where the water sources are.\u00a0 Once heat stroke starts setting in, hikers on the trail do stupid things like trying to go down canyons to reach the Colorado River for water.\u00a0 They end up getting stuck on a cliff and die.<\/li>\n<li>Exhaustion.\u00a0 This is the other realistic danger.\u00a0 100-mile race fitness can teach you what to do.\u00a0 Along the way there are bail-out points to climb out of the canyon.\u00a0 Knowing when to bail out is the key.\u00a0 For my run I would be passing by five exit point opportunities to climb out of the canyon.<\/li>\n<li>Snakes.\u00a0 I have yet to run into a snake in the Grand Canyon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>.<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Getting to the start<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/rim.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"547\" height=\"342\" \/><\/strong>I chose to start at the most remote end and finish where I could hitch a ride back to Grand Canyon Village.\u00a0 So my starting point would be at South Bass.\u00a0 However, to reach that point requires a 2-hour long rough dirt road drive.\u00a0 If you shuttle a vehicle, that is 4 hours.\u00a0 So in my twisted logic, I concluded, Why not just run it in about five hours.\u00a0 That would be much more fun.\u00a0\u00a0 I would run from Grand Canyon Village to South Bass Trailhead (20 miles) and then descend down to the Tonto Trail and camp for the first night.<\/p>\n<p>I arrived at the Grand Canyon on Wednesday afternoon and went to the Backcountry office to get my permit.\u00a0 In order to camp down in the canyon, or even hike\/run at night in the canyon, you are required to obtain a permit and pay a fee.\u00a0 Permits were available because South Bass is so rarely used.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Day 1: Getting to my starting point.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The past few days had been very windy.\u00a0 The evening before, there had been 50-mph winds at the South Rim and the Canyon below was very hazy with dust.\u00a0 I got a good night\u2019s rest at a motel outside the South Rim, and waited until morning rim temperatures got above freezing.\u00a0 At 8:30 a.m., I was off, excited to start what would turn out to be a 110-mile running adventure.<\/p>\n<p>I parked my car at the Bright Angel Trailhead and caught the Hermit Rest shuttle.\u00a0 In the shuttle a guy was looking at my crazy get-up with gaiters and a light backpack with a flashlight and small bivy bag hanging on it.\u00a0 I was a funny sight, not your usual tourist.\u00a0\u00a0 I got off the shuttle at \u201cthe Abyss.\u201d\u00a0 From there I started my run on a 4WD dirt road that runs straight, mostly along the Park Boundary.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 541px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590260.JPG\" alt=\"Early into my 20-mile run to the South Bass Trailhead\" width=\"541\" height=\"402\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Early into my 20-mile run to the South Bass Trailhead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It was so great to be out running in the cool morning.\u00a0 The road was fantastic.\u00a0 Because of all the snow the previous weekend, the road was moist and soft, very runnable without mud.\u00a0 I only filled two hand-held water bottles, hoping to refill from snow patches along the way, but I didn\u2019t see any.\u00a0 The snow had already melted.\u00a0 Oh well, the morning was cool, and I was sure to find patches of snow just below the rim at the South Bass trail. Running through the forest was so peaceful and amazing.\u00a0 How great was this!<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 321px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590263.JPG\" alt=\"One of 20 helicopters per hour flying near Hermits Rest\" width=\"321\" height=\"249\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of 20 helicopters per hour flying near Hermits Rest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After a few miles, I heard buzzing that got louder and louder &#8212; helicopters.\u00a0 Only one section of the canyon is open for fly-overs, the section near Hermit and Boucher canyons.\u00a0\u00a0 As I continued running west, I discovered that the road I was running was being used as a flight path for all the helicopters returning to the airport.\u00a0 They all flew toward me, about 20 per hour.\u00a0 It was quite a sight. Finally I got past all that activity and then only heard a dull buzzing behind me.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 541px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590266.JPG\" alt=\"Running on the South Rim toward South Bass Trailhead\" width=\"541\" height=\"423\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Running on the South Rim toward South Bass Trailhead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The road ahead was straight as could be and rolls up and over low ridges.\u00a0 At times I could see it several miles ahead. I came upon an unexpected sight, a car parked on the side of the road.\u00a0 There was a sign on the windshield that explained that they were parked there doing ecology research in the area.\u00a0 If needed, you could just honk for them.\u00a0\u00a0 I guess I could have asked them to refill my water bottles, but they probably wouldn\u2019t have liked that, so I went on.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590268.JPG\" alt=\"Peering over the rim above Turquoise Canyon\" width=\"538\" height=\"404\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Peering over the rim above Turquoise Canyon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After about 13 miles, I decided to take a detour and run a half mile to peek over the rim of the Grand Canyon. The rim is easy to find, just can\u2019t miss a big ditch like that.\u00a0 I stopped and took in the remarkable view of Turquoise Canyon below and thought with amazement that I would be running in and out of that canyon tomorrow morning.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590270.JPG\" alt=\"Desert Flower on the rim\" width=\"538\" height=\"399\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Desert Flower on the rim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I ran along the rim for another half mile.\u00a0 There was no trail, just tracks from elk and deer.\u00a0 I enjoyed blazing my own trail above this wonder of the world.\u00a0 After slow going for awhile, I continued cross-country back to the road.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 536px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590271.JPG\" alt=\"Old abandoned Pasture Wash Ranger station\" width=\"536\" height=\"392\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Old abandoned Pasture Wash Ranger station<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After a couple more miles, I arrived at the Pasture Wash Ranger Station.\u00a0 This remote station has been abandoned for many years.\u00a0 I thought about spending the night there, but knew it would be a chilly night in the 20s up here.\u00a0 I needed to go down into the canyon where it would be warmer.<\/p>\n<p>For the last three miles to South Bass, I ran on the main dirt road.\u00a0 I could see tracks of some hikers who several days ago walked this road in very deep mud.\u00a0 For me, it was dry.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019m glad I changed plans and didn\u2019t come here last weekend after all.\u00a0 That is the problem with doing this adventure in early spring.\u00a0 This road could be impassible to vehicles.\u00a0 However, you could just do it like me, and run to the trail.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 540px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590274.JPG\" alt=\"South Bass Trailhead\" width=\"540\" height=\"412\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">South Bass Trailhead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Finally I arrived at South Bass Trailhead.\u00a0 There were several cars parked there.\u00a0 I had run out of water a few miles earlier and noticed a gallon of water on a picnic table.\u00a0 How lucky is that?\u00a0 As I approached, I noticed there was a guy sitting there.\u00a0 I surprised him and asked if he might have some extra water.\u00a0 He was so kind and offered me the entire gallon.\u00a0\u00a0 I filled up my bottles, and filled up a bladder.\u00a0 He had hiked down and up the South Bass Trail to the river and back today.\u00a0 He was amazed to hear that I had run all the way to the trailhead.\u00a0\u00a0 He had given another guy a ride out here in the morning and I guess I could have hooked up with him too via the backcountry office.\u00a0 Oh well, I sure enjoyed that rim run.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 540px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590273.JPG\" alt=\"At South Bass Trailhead\" width=\"540\" height=\"410\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">At South Bass Trailhead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I told him that I had planned to find snow below the rim and melt it for water.\u00a0 He told me there was no snow, so I felt very fortunate that he was there.\u00a0 (However, it turns out there were snow patches just below the rim in the trees that I could have used, so my plans were valid.)<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 542px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590275.JPG\" alt=\"Looking down toward South Bass Canyon\" width=\"542\" height=\"408\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Looking down toward South Bass Canyon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I bid goodbye and continued my run, now steep downhill into the Grand Canyon on the South Bass Trail.\u00a0 This was the 6<sup>th<\/sup> trail on the South Rim that I have used to go down into the canyon.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590278.JPG\" alt=\"Heading down on the rarely used South Bass Trail\" width=\"538\" height=\"404\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Heading down on the rarely used South Bass Trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I quickly discovered that despite some descriptions, this trail is probably the easiest of the unmaintained trails.\u00a0 The first couple miles of switchbacks were pleasant and were not covered with big rocks like on other trails.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 539px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590285.JPG\" alt=\"Running on the esplanade, still way above the Tonto Platform\" width=\"539\" height=\"410\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Running on the esplanade, still way above the Tonto Platform<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As I was descending I came upon a sweatshirt on the side of the trail.\u00a0 It was pretty nasty, had been ripped by rodents, but I decided to take it with me.\u00a0 It could use it as a soft ground cover to sleep on.\u00a0 I soon reached the esplanade level of the canyon \u2013 a level plateau of red sand.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590286.JPG\" alt=\"Mount Huethawali, seen from the esplanade\" width=\"538\" height=\"404\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mount Huethawali, seen from the esplanade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It was nice to get a break from the steep downhill for about a mile.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 540px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590289.JPG\" alt=\"Desert colors in South Bass\" width=\"540\" height=\"405\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Desert colors in South Bass<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The next descent down to the Tonto was much more rugged.\u00a0 There was some boulder hopping, vegetation to work my way through, and another 1000 feet to go down.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590288.JPG\" alt=\"Looking down South Bass to the Tonto Platform\" width=\"538\" height=\"404\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Looking down South Bass to the Tonto Platform<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I finally reached the junction of the Tonto Trail going west.\u00a0 I continued down toward the east junction, looking for a nice place to camp for the night.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 540px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590292.JPG\" alt=\"My camp for the night in South Bass on the Tonto - tomorrow the real run begins\" width=\"540\" height=\"394\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">My camp for the night in South Bass on the Tonto - tomorrow the real run begins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I soon found some level and soft ground and was ready for a rest.\u00a0 As I unpacked my things, I discovered with shock, that I had dropped my bivy bag somewhere on the trail coming down.\u00a0 (Looking at pictures I took of myself, I could see it working its way out.\u00a0 I probably lost it going through the rough boulder area).\u00a0\u00a0 I had no idea how far up it was.\u00a0 Facing a chilly night in the 40s without it, didn\u2019t sound fun.\u00a0\u00a0 But I still had two emergency blankets.\u00a0 It took them out.\u00a0 One was very big and would work nicely.\u00a0 I also had a garbage bag that I could use for more warmth.\u00a0 So I would survive.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 532px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590294.JPG\" alt=\"Resting after my warm-up run to the Tonto Trail starting point\" width=\"532\" height=\"410\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Resting after my warm-up run to the Tonto Trail starting point<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I was ready to explore a little before dinner, so I ran three miles out and back on section of the Tonto, west of my starting point, where I wouldn\u2019t be running tomorrow.\u00a0 There was absolutely no one else in South Bass Canyon.\u00a0 The nearest person was camping the night in Ruby Canyon about nine miles away.\u00a0 It was both a peaceful and frightening feeling to be so very remote and on my own.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 549px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590297.JPG\" alt=\"My dinner, soup warmed by Sterno\" width=\"549\" height=\"419\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">My dinner, soup warmed by Sterno<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When I am out alone, I tend to worry.\u00a0 I worried that back at my camp, rodents would carry off my food.\u00a0 So I cut my late afternoon run short and returned, finding my camp undisturbed.\u00a0\u00a0 For dinner, I opened a sterno can and used it to heat up some soup in an aluminum cup.\u00a0 I also chowed down on a bunch of quesadillas. It was a wonderful dinner.\u00a0 I had very excited feelings thinking about my epic run that would start in the morning.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 547px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590295.JPG\" alt=\"Rising moon over the Grand Canyon\" width=\"547\" height=\"418\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rising moon over the Grand Canyon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Dusk arrived quickly, at 7 p.m.\u00a0 A nearly full moon rose over the rim and was my bright companion for much of the night.\u00a0 There was nothing else to do, so I went to bed.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if sleep ever came.\u00a0\u00a0 I don\u2019t think it did, but I must have had a few cat naps because the time passed by fairly quickly as each hour I checked my watch.\u00a0\u00a0 I spent the night trying to stay warm and comfortable on the hard ground.\u00a0 I wrestled and adjusted the silver blankets over and over again, blocking out the cold air (mid-40s). \u00a0It mostly worked, but it sure would have been nice to have a sleeping bag.\u00a0 At about 3:30 a.m., I finally got up.\u00a0 It was much warmer moving around.\u00a0 I cooked up some more soup and felt much better.<\/p>\n<p>My feet were already a problem.\u00a0 With over 500 miles on my Hokas, I think they were at end of life for something as rugged as this.\u00a0 I spent time doing a better job taping my feet since blisters were already trying to form.\u00a0\u00a0 As dawn approached, I packed up my things, and cleared up my campsite making it look like no one had ever been there.<\/p>\n<p><strong>South Bass to Boucher (Miles 0-30)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At about 5:15 a.m., my through-run of the Grand Canyon on the Tonto Trail began!\u00a0\u00a0 I still had two full water bottles and I hoped they would last until my first good water at Ruby Canyon, at mile 8.7.\u00a0 My pack felt comfortable, less than ten pounds loaded with: Instant Breakfast, Heed, Reeses, Jelly Bellies, Beef Jerky, Five Hot Pockets, Hammer Gel, and all my other gear.\u00a0 I turned on two GPSs to track the miles and keep my pace up.\u00a0 I had over 400 waypoints in my GPS which would help keep me on the trail.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 521px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/profile.jpg\" alt=\"Elevation profile from South Bass to Boucher Creek\" width=\"521\" height=\"244\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Elevation profile from South Bass to Boucher Creek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I had never run this first 30-mile section before.\u00a0 Its contour was the same as other sections of the Tonto but there was one huge difference.\u00a0 The trail was much, much fainter.\u00a0 It just doesn\u2019t receive much boot traffic.\u00a0 I was surprised to see that there were little weeds growing right on the trail, sometimes making it indistinct from the surrounding terrain.\u00a0 I soon started a running pattern that would go on all day.\u00a0\u00a0 I would try to run fast and then come to a screeching halt, realizing I wasn\u2019t on the trail any more.\u00a0 I would then study the terrain, back up if needed, and get back on the trail, or in extreme cases, pull out the GPS and find the next waypoint.\u00a0 The further I went, the better my navigational skills developed.\u00a0 But still, every few minutes, I would have to stop<\/p>\n<p>My pace was slow.\u00a0 I hoped for a 16:30-mile pace for the first 30 miles, but it just wasn\u2019t going to happen.\u00a0 In addition to the tough trail, when you put a pack on my back, I slow down.\u00a0 Going fast, then slow, then fast, was so challenging.\u00a0 I would get lazy and forget to go fast again.\u00a0 Here is an example of my first few miles:\u00a0 20:23, 16:28, 16:58, 24:55, 16:16, 28:41 (feet fixing), 24:20, 25:19, 37:11 (another stop), 21:05, 18:00, 18:11, etc.\u00a0\u00a0 I really concentrated on trying to get my pace under 20 minutes.\u00a0 It felt like I was running pretty fast, so I was always surprised at the time on my Garmin.\u00a0 It is possible that I was actually going much further because of all the weaving around that wasn\u2019t being picked up.\u00a0 My fastest mile was a 13:44 and I was very proud of that.\u00a0 But then I came into a rugged canyon and it slowed me back down.<\/p>\n<p>Another thing that really slowed me down is the beauty of the canyon.\u00a0 One would be stupid to keep their head down looking at the trail.\u00a0 This is probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I made sure I took in the sights along the way.\u00a0 This meant that I had to stop to take pictures, take some detours to peer down to the river, etc.<\/p>\n<p>Yet one more factor to slow me down is the self-supporting nature of this run.\u00a0 There are no crews or aid stations to help.\u00a0 I had to stop many time to make adjustments to my gear, pull out more food, and stop to fill my bottles.\u00a0 All this takes time and you just can\u2019t do it very fast.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/gemsmap.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"359\" height=\"414\" \/>For the first 30 miles, I would be running through the \u201cGems\u201d of the Grand Canyon.\u00a0 These are a series of huge side canyons that are named after gems, except for \u201cSlate Canyon.\u201d\u00a0 (I don\u2019t think I would buy a ring for my wife with slate.)\u00a0 I crossed Serpentine canyon (mile 3.9) at 6:35 a.m.\u00a0 There is water in this canyon, but it is full of minerals and can give you the runs, so I skipped this water source.\u00a0 Next up was Emerald Canyon (mile 5.3) and Quartz Canyon (mile 7.3) at 7:38 a.m.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590301.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 7, 7:25 a.m. - Cactus Patch.  When I lost the trail, I would have to hop through this stuff to get back on the trail\" width=\"538\" height=\"404\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 7, 7:25 a.m. - Cactus Patch. When I lost the trail, I would have to hop through this stuff to get back on the trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Before Quartz, as the trail extended back toward the Colorado River, the terrain was covered with prickly pear cactus.\u00a0 I knew from past experience, that this is the worst area to lose the trail.\u00a0 Sure enough I lost it.\u00a0 Foolishly, I decided to just bushwhack to the next GPS waypoint.\u00a0 Picky my way through the cactus was a terrible obstacle course. I had to pull some needles out of my shoe mesh. Soon I finally found the trail again and was on my way.<\/p>\n<p>I was already getting warm and I wished I didn\u2019t have to wear long tights.\u00a0 But once I ran the Tonto Trail in shorts and came away with bloody scratched legs and splinters to pick out for the next several days.\u00a0 The tights really protect the legs.\u00a0 Also, if you are in shorts, you really slow down as your try to dodge all the thorny bushes.\u00a0 With long pants, you don\u2019t have to worry and can keep your lines straighter, brushing by the bushes without problems.\u00a0\u00a0 Even going short sleeves is a problem.\u00a0 I did this in the afternoon, and came away with scratched arms.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 547px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590302.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 8.7, 8:28 a.m. - Ruby Canyon, my first water stop of the day.\" width=\"547\" height=\"399\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 8.7, 8:28 a.m. - Ruby Canyon, my first water stop of the day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At 8:15 a.m. I reached my first water source, Ruby Canyon (mile 8.7).\u00a0 I had run out of the water that I had brought down from the rim and was now very thirsty.\u00a0 I filled up and treated the water with iodine and was on my way again.\u00a0 I now noticed some recent foot prints, certainly the guy who camped at Ruby last night.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 545px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590303.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 10, 9:03 a.m. - Peering down to the Colorado River from ridge between Ruby and Jade Canyons\" width=\"545\" height=\"413\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 10, 9:03 a.m. - Peering down to the Colorado River from ridge between Ruby and Jade Canyons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>These first ten miles seems a little less impressive than other sections of the Tonto.\u00a0 The trail didn\u2019t take you all the way out to the river gorge for spectacular views.\u00a0 Finally, I decided to take just a little detour and peer over the steep cliff down to the river about 800 feet below.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 551px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590304.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 10, 9:04 a.m. - Looking across the River to Evans Butte, with Guinevere Castle up and behind\" width=\"551\" height=\"419\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 10, 9:04 a.m. - Looking across the River to Evan&#39;s Butte, with Guinevere Castle up and behind<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As the sun rose higher, it illuminated the cliffs, buttes, and peaks all around me.\u00a0 Viewing these from down in the canyon are even more spectacular than from the rim.\u00a0 I had a feeling of accomplishment come over me, knowing that on my own power, I had run all the way here to see this.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 543px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590305.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 11.8 9:37 a.m. - Looking up to the rim above Jasper Canyon. The Tonto Trail takes me into all these canyons\" width=\"543\" height=\"415\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 11.8 9:37 a.m. - Looking up to the rim above Jasper Canyon. The Tonto Trail takes me into all these canyons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>My feet became a real problem for me.\u00a0 My Hokas just were not keeping the blisters away.\u00a0 I had to stop several times to reapply tape, change socks, and do whatever I could to protect my feet.\u00a0 I know I still had a long way to go.\u00a0 It certainly was nice to always have whatever I needed with me in my aid station on my back.\u00a0 One thing I wished I would have had was a safety pin to lance blisters.\u00a0 It is pretty funny that I didn\u2019t think about all the needles around me in the cacti.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 536px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590307.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 12.5, 9:57 a.m. - Coming out of the head of Jasper Canyon\" width=\"536\" height=\"407\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 12.5, 9:57 a.m. - Coming out of the head of Jasper Canyon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Going deep into each side canyon was always\u00a0 a challenging experience.\u00a0 The trail usually took a dive, and sometimes used switchbacks to descend down and climb back out of the heads of these canyons. Vegetation was always more abundant and greener in these canyons and this time of year, each had at least some water in them. I crossed Jade Canyon (mile 11.3) at 9:26 a.m. and Jasper Canyon (mile 12.3) at 9:47 a.m.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590309.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 13.5, 10:33 a.m.- Entering Torquoise Canyon.  I would meet a loan backpacker here, already setting up his camp for the night.\" width=\"538\" height=\"404\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 13.5, 10:33 a.m.- Entering Torquoise Canyon. I would meet a loan backpacker here, already setting up his camp for the night.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I ran into Turquoise Canyon and it was a beautiful sight.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590268.JPG\" alt=\"My view looking down into Turquoise Canyon yesterday\" width=\"538\" height=\"404\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">My view looking down into Turquoise Canyon yesterday<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I looked up and was able to pick out the area on the rim where I peered down on this canyon yesterday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>I crossed over the creek (mile 14.9) at 10:58 a.m.\u00a0 There I saw a guy setting up his tent.\u00a0 This was the guy who I had been told camped at Ruby Canyon last night.\u00a0 I had caught up with him.\u00a0 I approached him and called out a greeting.\u00a0 He jumped, really startled.\u00a0 You just don\u2019t expect to hear a voice.\u00a0 I apologized.\u00a0 He said that he was already stopping for the day.\u00a0 Tomorrow night he hoped to camp at Slate Canyon if there was water there.\u00a0 He had only hiked about seven miles today.\u00a0 I chatted with him for about ten minutes explaining what I was attempting to do.\u00a0 He was shocked but understood and wished me luck.\u00a0 \u201cWhere\u2019s your sleeping bag?\u201d\u00a0 I explained that I would be running through the night.<\/p>\n<p>I continued on.\u00a0 I knew that I was way behind my planned schedule, now two hours behind.\u00a0 I concentrated harder to keep my pace up and tried not to lose much more time.\u00a0 I always underestimate the difficulty of running fast on this trail.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 533px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590310.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 15, 11:41 a.m. - Castor Temple, near Sapphire Canyon\" width=\"533\" height=\"407\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 15, 11:41 a.m. - Castor Temple, near Sapphire Canyon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I crossed Sapphire Canyon (mile 17.8) at noon.\u00a0 Castor Temple towering above me looked very impressive.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 534px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590314.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 18.8, 12:48 p.m. - Blooming Cactus.  It looks like in a week the whole desert will be blooming\" width=\"534\" height=\"411\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 18.8, 12:48 p.m. - Blooming Cactus. It looks like in a week the whole desert will be blooming<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Back out toward the river, I came upon a cactus in bloom.\u00a0 As I looked closer, it looked like within a few days or a week that the entire desert would be in bloom.\u00a0 That would be an amazing sight.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590318.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 19.3, 12:47 p.m. - Peering over cliff down to Colorado River between Agate and Slate Canyons\" width=\"538\" height=\"404\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 19.3, 12:47 p.m. - Peering over cliff down to Colorado River between Agate and Slate Canyons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I reached Agate canyon (mile 19.9) at 12:30 p.m. and on the way to Slate again peered out down into the impressive Colorado River gorge.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 533px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590321.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 19.8, 1:04 p.m. - Me, running with Charybdis Butte in the background, running into Slate Canyon\" width=\"533\" height=\"407\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 19.8, 1:04 p.m. - Me, running with Charybdis Butte in the background, running into Slate Canyon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On my way toward Slate Canyon the Tonto Platform really opened up wide.\u00a0 I think this was the most impressive location on my run to see the buttes, peaks, etc.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 539px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590322.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 20, 1:11 p.m. - Scylla Butt\" width=\"539\" height=\"408\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 20, 1:11 p.m. - Scylla Butt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I had to stop many times along the way just to gasp and the beauty and take pictures.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 540px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590323.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 20, 1:11 p.m. - Mencius Temple\" width=\"540\" height=\"414\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 20, 1:11 p.m. - Mencius Temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On the way into Slate Canyon, something happened that had never happened before in all my thousands of miles of running.\u00a0\u00a0 I felt a very sharp pain in the ball of my foot that felt like I had been stabbed.\u00a0 What was that!\u00a0\u00a0 Was it a rock?\u00a0 I limped on for another 100 feet trying to figure it out.\u00a0 Finally I just had to stop and take off my shoe.\u00a0\u00a0 Wow!\u00a0 A thorn had gone all the way through the bottom of my shoe, through the insole, and deep into my foot.\u00a0 I took my foot out and spied a point sticking up from the insole. \u00a0I couldn\u2019t get it out of the shoe but with some effort broke it off and hoped that it didn\u2019t leave a point deep in my foot.\u00a0\u00a0 Feeling better I ran on and thought about minimalist runners trying to run down here, bonding with the ancients.\u00a0 \u201cGood luck with that,\u201d was my thought, \u201cI\u2019ll stay in my shoes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I reached Slate Canyon (mile 25.1) at 2:04 p.m.\u00a0 I was relieved to find water there.\u00a0 I was almost out and dreaded running the next hot five miles without water.\u00a0 The afternoon temperatures were in the 70s.\u00a0 Thankfully there was a breeze.\u00a0 Running into a side canyon was always hotter because the sun was in my face and the breeze at my back.<\/p>\n<p>Now it was my turn to be startled.\u00a0 A ranger lady called out a greeting.\u00a0 I stopped for about 10 minutes to talk to her.\u00a0 She was very surprised to see me running and doing so with such a light pack.\u00a0 She had seen R2R2R runners before, but never a through-runner on the remote Tonto Trail.\u00a0 She quickly understood that I had good experience in the Canyon.\u00a0 She was from Moab and was out here doing trail patrol.\u00a0 She was very impressed with how far I had already gone. \u00a0She noticed my Hokas and I explained all about them.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590326.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 26.4, 2:18 p.m. - Scylla Butte and Mencius Temple, coming out of Slate Canyon\" width=\"538\" height=\"404\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 26.4, 2:18 p.m. - Scylla Butte and Mencius Temple, coming out of Slate Canyon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On the trail again, the next five miles to Boucher Canyon were long, exposed and getting hotter.\u00a0 I knew that my solitude would soon be over as I would start running into many backpackers setting up their camps.\u00a0 Views of the river could be seen with the rim far away that I have climbed up before.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 542px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590327.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 29, 3:23 p.m. - Colorado River near Boucher and Hermit canyons, South Rim in the background\" width=\"542\" height=\"413\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 29, 3:23 p.m. - Colorado River near Boucher and Hermit canyons, South Rim in the background<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I could also now again hear the familiar buzz of helicopters and planes as I reached the area that they could fly over.\u00a0 I noticed that they didn\u2019t descend into the canyon, only flew over it.\u00a0 That brought to mind a tragedy many years ago when two planes collided over the canyon killing all aboard both planes.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mapmyrun.com\/routes\/view\/32135422#video\">View a 3D flyover of my route from South Bass to Boucher<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Boucher to Indian Garden (miles 30-50)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/gcmap.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"546\" height=\"388\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I reached Boucher (pronounced Bu-shay) (mile 30.1) at 3:50 p.m.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t quite a 50K and I had taken 10:35.\u00a0 Gee, I have run a 50K in half that time before.\u00a0\u00a0 I was now in familiar surroundings, having visited this area twice before.\u00a0 However, still I took a wrong turn and went an extra 0.2 miles.\u00a0 Oh well.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590328.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 30.3, 4:08 p.m. - Ruins of the Hermits cabin at Boucher Creek \" width=\"538\" height=\"404\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 30.3, 4:08 p.m. - Ruins of the Hermit&#39;s cabin at Boucher Creek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Boucher is a huge canyon and requires a massive climb to get out of it.\u00a0 There were several routes and I was confused about which trail was right.\u00a0 There was water flowing down Boucher Creek.\u00a0 It was dry when I had been there before so I started to wonder if I was going the right way.\u00a0 I passed by the ruins of the Hermit\u2019s cabin which I had not noticed before.\u00a0 Another new thing was the amazing sounds.\u00a0 It sounded like a herd of sheep were in the canyon.\u00a0 But as I looked closer, I discovered the noise was coming from frogs.\u00a0 I would hear this sound at nearly every creek I would cross during the night.\u00a0 During the autumn, I would never hear these frogs in the canyon.<\/p>\n<p>Still confused, I finally came upon a campsite of backpackers.\u00a0 I asked them if I was going the right way.\u00a0 They helped me find the right trail but then stopped me to try and figure out what I was doing and where I was going.\u00a0\u00a0 One guy caught on fast and said he was very impressed with my pace, all the way from South Bass.\u00a0 I helped him understand just how far I was going.\u00a0 I think I left them with their jaws hanging open.\u00a0\u00a0 I could hear them still talking about it as I left.<\/p>\n<p>The climb was hot and tough.\u00a0 When I reached the Tonto Platform again, I could tell that I was already badly dehydrated, even though I had drank a full water bottle just 20 minutes before at the creek.\u00a0 I had early heat stroke symptoms, clammy skin, chills, dizzy, fast respiration, and my left ear was clogged (always does that as I get dehydrated.)\u00a0 I knew what to do and what to expect.\u00a0 I needed to back off my pace, drink a bunch, and take more electrolyes (S-caps).\u00a0 I then just needed to be patient and careful.\u00a0 I felt pretty rotten but continued on.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590329.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 32, 4:40 p.m. - View toward Hermit Rapids\" width=\"538\" height=\"404\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 32, 4:40 p.m. - View toward Hermit Rapids<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I didn\u2019t look forward to the section ahead, the traverse into Travertine Canyon.\u00a0 It is pretty rugged.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 542px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590332.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 32.5, 4:49 p.m. - Down below a rafting company preparing camp for the night downriver from Hermit Rapids.  I am about 700 feet above.\" width=\"542\" height=\"410\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 32.5, 4:49 p.m. - Down below a rafting company preparing camp for the night downriver from Hermit Rapids. I am about 700 feet above.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The trail extended toward the river gorge and I wondered if I would see any rafting companies.\u00a0 I peered over the side and sure enough there was a large company setting up their camp for the night a couple miles below Hermit Rapids.\u00a0\u00a0 I wondered if they could see me above them<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 539px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590333.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 33, 5:13 p.m. - Sun is setting on the Tower of Ra, seen from Travertine Canyon\" width=\"539\" height=\"413\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 33, 5:13 p.m. - Sun is setting on the Tower of Ra, seen from Travertine Canyon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Travertine Canyon wasn\u2019t that bad in this direction, mostly downhill and I made pretty good time.\u00a0 The sun was setting now.\u00a0 I just love to see the canyon as the sun is setting.\u00a0 The shadows come alive<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 542px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590336.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 34, 5:29 p.m. - Looking down to the Hermit Rapids, about 500 feet below\" width=\"542\" height=\"414\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 34, 5:29 p.m. - Looking down to the Hermit Rapids, about 500 feet below<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On the way to Hermit Creek, the trail extends very close to the Colorado River gorge, very exposed in places.\u00a0 I remember the first time I ran this section was at night.\u00a0 I could hear the roar of Hermit Rapids below me but could not see them down in the dark unknown.\u00a0\u00a0 I carefully stayed away from the edge and continued on.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 539px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590337.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 34, 5:33 p.m - Looking downriver as sun sets in the Grand Canyon\" width=\"539\" height=\"410\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 34, 5:33 p.m - Looking downriver as sun sets in the Grand Canyon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Before turning into Hermit, I took another look up the canyon and took in the beautiful sight of the canyon late in the day.\u00a0 As I descended into Hermit, the trail goes above the campsite area.\u00a0 There were many campers down there and they noticed me running and pointed up to me.\u00a0\u00a0 When I reached the creek, I just filled up and went on my way.\u00a0 I arrived there (mile 35.9) at 6:11 p.m.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 540px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590338.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 39, 7:10 p.m. - Sunset in Monument Canyon - 39 very tough miles run during the day.  At night I would run another 28 miles.\" width=\"540\" height=\"409\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 39, 7:10 p.m. - Sunset in Monument Canyon - 40 very tough miles run during the day. At night I would run another 28 miles.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I had readjusted my pace goal during the day.\u00a0 I now hoped to get in 40 miles before dark and do 30 miles before dawn.\u00a0 (The day is two hours longer than the night).\u00a0\u00a0 That still is slow, but would put me at Grapevine Creek at dawn.\u00a0\u00a0 Well, I came close.\u00a0 I reached Monument Creek (mile 39.7) just after dark at 7:30 p.m.\u00a0 I had turned my lights on and the campers at Monument of course noticed my amazing green light.\u00a0 One guy talked to me for a few minutes and mentioned he had not seen anyone continue on today.\u00a0 He wanted to know how far I was going.\u00a0 I just explained that I was going a very long way and would be running all night.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t ask any more questions.\u00a0 I expect he thought I was a crazy person.<\/p>\n<p>It was now much cooler and finally after three hours, I recovered from my dehydration.\u00a0 In fact I felt fantastic.\u00a0 The campers all watched me do the steep climb out of Hermit.\u00a0 I put on a show for them and ran very quickly up the trail until my lights were out of view.<\/p>\n<p>This time on the Tonto Trail, I used both a handheld and a bright headlamp spot light.\u00a0 This combination worked great.\u00a0 I used the headlamp to pick out the cairns far ahead and that really saved me a lot of time and kept me on the trail.\u00a0 But I couldn\u2019t help but keep thinking about how this portion of the trail seemed like a super highway compared to the faint trail I had been on for the first 30 miles.\u00a0 This section of the trail receives traffic just about every day so it was much easier to follow.<\/p>\n<p>I received my second wind and had a blast charging down the trail with my lights.\u00a0 I think at night it is even easier to run this trail fast because the lights do a better job casting shadows on the rocks, making it easier for you to see and avoid them.\u00a0 I reached Salt Creek (mile 43.1) at 9:07.\u00a0 In past years, I\u2019ve had difficulty figuring out where the trail continues on the other side of the creek, but this time I knew what to expect.\u00a0 It isn\u2019t directly across, you have to go up or down the creek a ways to pick it up.<\/p>\n<p>I love running at night.\u00a0 The nearly full moon was out.\u00a0 Seeing the canyon in moonlight is a sight that fails words to describe.\u00a0 It is fantastic.\u00a0 It was great to see all the cliffs even at night.\u00a0 To keep me company at times I sing out my music and echo off the cliff walls.\u00a0 I quickly passed by Horn Creek (mile 47.9) at 10:43 p.m.\u00a0 You don\u2019t want to drink the radioactive water here from the uranium mine above.<\/p>\n<p>Next up was civilization!\u00a0 Indian Garden and the Bright Angel Trail below Grand Canyon Villiage. The lights of the lodges up on the South Rim came into view.\u00a0 Cell phone coverage had greatly improved on the South Rim last year and this year.\u00a0 I decided to make a try and pulled out my phone.\u00a0 Wow, I had a signal.\u00a0 I texted my wife to let her know that I was doing fine and that I would be taking longer than expected, that she shouldn\u2019t worry.\u00a0 The message went through fine.\u00a0 That helped my stress go down.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want people to worry about me if I don\u2019t finish on time.<\/p>\n<p>I was feeling amazing and ran very fast for a couple miles on the easy trail section.\u00a0 Looking up, I could see a lone hiker\u2019s light going up or down the Bright Angel Trail.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure they could see my crazy lights.\u00a0 My headlamp was on red, so I had the red light, green light effect going on.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Indian Garden to Cottonwood Creek (miles 50-77)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/gcmap.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"546\" height=\"388\" \/>I reached Indian Garden (mile 50.4) at midnight.\u00a0 My thoughts were on many fellow ultrarunners who I knew were sleeping up on the rim, soon to start their R2R2R run in a few hours.\u00a0 I opened my pack to put more food in my pockets but was shocked when I discovered that there wasn\u2019t as much food as I thought left.<\/p>\n<p>As I ran on, I tried to figure out how I was going make it to the end on so little food.\u00a0 I thought I only had about 1200 calories left.\u00a0 If I went all the way, that would be only 100 per hour.\u00a0 I knew that I could be mistaken (I was) because I didn\u2019t take the time for a careful inventory, but I decided to cut back my intake for the night.\u00a0\u00a0 I reached South Kaibab trail (mile 55.4) at 1:20 a.m.\u00a0\u00a0 On the way to Cremation Canyon, I was starving.\u00a0 I tried to suck on Beef Jerky and that helped for awhile, but my stomach was telling me that it wouldn\u2019t let me run fast if I didn\u2019t feed it.\u00a0 Finally I just had to bag the idea of holding back food and felt much better.\u00a0 I could always beg food off backpackers in the morning although I really wanted this to be a self-supported run.<\/p>\n<p>I reached Cremation Canyon (mile 58.3) at 1:55 am.\u00a0\u00a0 I hate going through that place because of the rugged climbs and thoughts of the Boston Marathon runner who died here.\u00a0 Out of water, in the summer heat above 100 degrees, she just couldn\u2019t face the climbs to reach South Kaibab two miles away.\u00a0 She instead died trying to go down to the Colorado River.\u00a0 I was glad to get away from that place of death where the Indians used to also take their dead.<\/p>\n<p>In the past two times I ran this section at night, I kept losing the trail between Cremation and Lonetree.\u00a0 So this time I concentrated more.\u00a0 It was very easy.\u00a0 I had no problems and remembered certain turns to take on top of ridges.<\/p>\n<p>I reached Lonetree Canyon (mile 61.6) at 3:27 a.m.\u00a0 I could not find the continuation trail on the other side.\u00a0 I recalled having difficulty in the past, but couldn\u2019t remember the solution.\u00a0\u00a0 I kept going back over and over again to the last cairn, but could not figure things out.\u00a0 I even got all turned around once, thought I found the trail, but ended going up the trail I had just come down.\u00a0 What a waste of time!\u00a0 I struggled for over 15 minutes on this puzzle.\u00a0 My GPS didn\u2019t help much.\u00a0 I knew what direction the next waypoint was, but couldn\u2019t find a trail heading in that direction.\u00a0 Finally I just bushwhacked up out of the creek to the next level and then traveled the direction toward the Colorado River until I finally ran into the trail.\u00a0 I\u2019m guessing I needed to go down the creek some more to find the continuing trail.\u00a0 That waste of time was frustrating.<\/p>\n<p>I now had a long 9.5 miles until the next water source.\u00a0 I hoped that I could make it on two bottles.\u00a0 Using Heed and Instant Breakfast was getting the calories I needed along with some gels.\u00a0 I reached dry Boulder Creek (mile 64.8) at 4:54 a.m.\u00a0 I had now been running for almost 24 hours.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 541px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590339.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 68, 6:17 a.m. - After running 28 miles during the night, this is the first photo of the morning between Boulder and Grapevine Canyons.\" width=\"541\" height=\"411\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 68, 6:17 a.m. - After running 28 miles during the night, this is the first photo of the morning between Boulder and Grapevine Canyons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Dawn arrived as I approached the massive Grapevine Canyon, the longest side canyon that I would have to get around.\u00a0\u00a0 I started to have terrible blister problems and decided to stop for awhile to work on my feet, put on sunscreen, and put away my lights.<\/p>\n<p>As I rested, I readjusted my plans.\u00a0\u00a0 I discovered that I had more food than I thought, but I only had a few S-caps left, not enough to face another hot afternoon down here.\u00a0 My feet were a mess.\u00a0 I taped the problem spots again but they were in terrible pain.\u00a0 This just wouldn\u2019t work.\u00a0 I decided to cut my run short, skip the last ten miles of the Tonto, and climb out Grandview Trail.\u00a0 This was a disappointing thought, but if I did continue, the risk would be much higher and I probably wouldn\u2019t get out until dusk.\u00a0 Instead, I could climb out before it got too hot and finish around 1 p.m.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590340.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 68, 6:17 a.m. - Looking across the deep gorge of Grapevine Canyon.  I would be running above those cliffs in an hour or so\" width=\"538\" height=\"411\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 68, 6:17 a.m. - Looking across the deep gorge of Grapevine Canyon. I would be running above those cliffs in an hour or so<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>With that new plan, my spirits improved.\u00a0 Instead of pushing hard, I enjoyed my remaining hours in the canyon.\u00a0 I love the mornings there as the light appears and brings the canyon to life.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590341.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 68, 6:19 a.m. - Cliffs in Grapevine starting to glow in the morning sun\" width=\"538\" height=\"404\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 68, 6:19 a.m. - Cliffs in Grapevine starting to glow in the morning sun<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Cliffs could be seen glowing in the sunshine.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590345.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 71, 7:11 a.m. - Chimneys as seen from deep in Grapevine Canyon \" width=\"538\" height=\"403\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 71, 7:11 a.m. - Chimneys as seen from deep in Grapevine Canyon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Eerie chimneys could be seen off in the distance.<\/p>\n<p>I reached Grapevine Creek (mile 71.1) at 7:26 a.m.\u00a0\u00a0 A group of backpackers were starting to break their camp and they all came out to greet me with excitement. \u00a0They even took pictures of me. \u00a0Among them were some knowledgeable runners and canyon hikers.\u00a0 They knew exactly what I was attempting and peppered me with questions.\u00a0 They offered me food and I couldn\u2019t resist their dried mangos.\u00a0 They mentioned that they had also camped here last April and wondered if I was one of the guys who were also running that trail then.\u00a0 That was very interesting to me, the first time that I had heard of other runners trying to run the trail end-to-end. That really surprised me because I knew it would have to be a couple very good ultrarunners.\u00a0 <em>(Turns out that those two guys were Scott Jurek and Joe Grant.\u00a0 I&#8217;m in very good company.\u00a0 It looks like they went from South Bass to New Hance in 32 hours.\u00a0 I&#8217;ll find out more.) <\/em>I explained that I was cutting my run short and getting out at Grandview.\u00a0 They all wished me luck and were so friendly.\u00a0 It was nice to see people again.\u00a0 It had been 12 hours since I had seen anyone.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590346.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 73, 8:05 a.m.- Looking back across Grapevine Canyon\" width=\"538\" height=\"404\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 73, 8:05 a.m.- Looking back across Grapevine Canyon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On my way again, I stopped a mile further at Grapevine Spring, filled up again and continued on the long traverse above the cliffs around toward Cottonwood Canyon.<\/p>\n<p>I ran out of water by the time I reached Cottonwood (mile 76.9) at 9:41 a.m.\u00a0\u00a0 I ran the last couple miles hard because I wanted to break 28 hours.\u00a0 My finishing time for this 77-mile segment of the Tonto Trail was 27:56:51.\u00a0 It was great to be done, but I still faced a grueling climb up the Grandview Trail.\u00a0 I have climbed that trail twice before so knew what to expect.<\/p>\n<p>Not wanting to repeat my dehydration blunder from yesterday, I drank 2 \u00bd bottles right there at the creek.\u00a0 It was cold and tasted fantastic.\u00a0 I rested for quite awhile to bring my heart rate and respiration down.\u00a0 It was getting hot.\u00a0 I needed to start climbing to avoid the heat.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 544px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590348.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 78, 10:23 a.m. - Starting the steep climb out to Grandview, looking down to where I have been in Cottonwood Canyon\" width=\"544\" height=\"409\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 78, 10:23 a.m. - Starting the steep climb out to Grandview, looking down to where I have been in Cottonwood Canyon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>My climb began.\u00a0 My feet were it bad shape, but they did much better going uphill than down.\u00a0 When the trail had to go down a little it was so painful that I screamed out at times.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 541px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590349.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 78, 10:23 a.m. - The climb ahead looked like a lot of work.\" width=\"541\" height=\"409\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 78, 10:23 a.m. - The climb ahead looked like a lot of work.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I just pushed on ahead. \u00a0Right before reaching Horseshoe Mesa, I caught up with a guy and his son resting in the shade, doing a day hike from their camp below.\u00a0\u00a0 He asked me if I ran ultras and could understand what I had just accomplished.\u00a0 It\u2019s nice when people understand and don\u2019t give you those blank looks wondering if you are a crazy person.\u00a0 Instead he asked me thoughtful questions about how I accomplished my 77-mile run on the Tonto Trail.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 539px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590350.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 80, 12:15 a.m. - Snow patches under the South Rim.  I needed to get that high.\" width=\"539\" height=\"402\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 80, 12:15 a.m. - Snow patches under the South Rim. I needed to get that high.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>My climb continued.\u00a0 At times it was very slow, but I kept catching and passing hikers going up.\u00a0 Some couldn\u2019t believe I was passing them after I had run all those miles.\u00a0 With a couple miles to go, I had another period of high energy.\u00a0 I could actually run up the steep trail.\u00a0 It was great fun as I left some hikers way behind me down the trail.\u00a0 My feet were in bad pain but my legs were feeling great.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590353.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 80.5, 12:30 p.m.- Old Cobblestone from orginal trail\" width=\"538\" height=\"404\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 80.5, 12:30 p.m.- Old Cobblestone from orginal trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Finally I hit the home stretch, the last few hundred feet below the rim.\u00a0 Day hikers from the rim above started to appear.\u00a0 \u201cLooks like you have come a long way.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes I have, I ran all night.\u201d\u00a0 Before I knew it, the top arrived and I was done!\u00a0 Some backpackers I passed shortly arrived too and congratulated me.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/crockettclan.org\/running\/images\/gc\/P1590354.JPG\" alt=\"Mile 80.5, 12:35 p.m.- Looking down toward my home for the last couple days\" width=\"538\" height=\"404\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mile 80.5, 12:35 p.m.- Looking down toward my home for the last couple days<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Now my task was to get back to my car at Grand Canyon Village.\u00a0 The backpackers weren\u2019t leaving for an hour, so I decided to just start walking out toward the road to hitch-hike.\u00a0 One couple picked me up to take me to the main road.\u00a0 I warned them that I really stunk badly.\u00a0 They said that they didn\u2019t mind, but opened their windows all the way.<\/p>\n<p>Out on the road, it took me ten minutes before a couple from Canada picked me up.\u00a0 I also warned them about my stinky state.\u00a0 They were very kind and even gave me a water bottle.\u00a0 They took my all the way to South Kaibab where I caught a shuttle into town.\u00a0 My car was still waiting for me at Bright Angel Trailhead and I quickly drove to take a shower at Mather Campground.\u00a0 After that, I felt much better.<\/p>\n<p>Well, I came pretty close to my goal, and probably accomplished something no one has done before.\u00a0 I ran the Tonto Trail for 77 miles in the Grand Canyon in 27:56. <em>I suspect Scott Jurek and Joe Grant covered this segment a couple hours faster in 2010, I&#8217;ll try to find out.\u00a0 However, I did it solo.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>After all is said and done, it feels like I finished a tough mountain 100-miler similar to Wasatch.\u00a0 When I add up all the miles, I ran 110 miles over the two days at the canyon.\u00a0 Two days later I still feel drained similar to post 100-mile recovery.\u00a0 I estimate that along that way I climbed at least 13,000 feet.\u00a0 The self-support with a pack makes the entire run that much tougher.<\/p>\n<p>It was an amazing experience and I am so very thankful for being able to experience this dream run.\u00a0 Will I try it again and try to make it all the way?\u00a0 It could happen.\u00a0 I enjoyed it enough that I can\u2019t rule it out.\u00a0 But there are other sections of the canyon that I still haven\u2019t explored.\u00a0 Those areas are also calling for me to run there.<\/p>\n<table width=\"426\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\"><strong>miles<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\"><strong>my time<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\"><strong>time of day<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>South Bass<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">0.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Serpentine<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">3.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">1:11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">6:35:00 AM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Emerald<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">5.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">1:39<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Quartz<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">7.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">2:33<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">7:38:00 AM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Ruby<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">8.7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">3:11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">8:15:00 AM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Jade<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">11.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">4:21<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">9:26:00 AM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Jasper<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">12.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">4:42<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">9:47:00 AM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Turquoise<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">14.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">5:43<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">10:58:00 AM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Sapphire<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">17.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">12:00:00 PM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Agate<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">19.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">12:30:00 PM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Slate<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">25.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">8:49<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">2:04:00 PM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Boucher<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">30.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">10:35<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">3:50:00 PM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Travertine <\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">33.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Hermit <\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">35.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">12:56<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">6:11:00 PM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Monument <\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">39.7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">13:00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">7:30:00 AM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Salt Creek<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">43.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">15:52<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">9:07:00 PM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Horn Creek<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">47.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">17:28<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">10:43:00 PM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Indian Garden<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">50.4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">18:40<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">11:55:00 PM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Pipe Wash<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">53.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">19:24<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">12:39:00 AM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>South Kaibab<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">55.4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">20:05<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">1:20:00 AM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Cremation<\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">58.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">20:40<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">1:55:00 AM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Lonetree <\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">61.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">22:12<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">3:27:00 AM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Boulder <\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">64.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">23:39<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">4:54:00 AM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Grapevine <\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">71.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">26:11:00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">7:26:00 AM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"127\"><strong>Cottonwood <\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"64\">\n<p align=\"right\">76.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"72\">\n<p align=\"right\">27:56:51<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"134\">\n<p align=\"right\">9:41:00 AM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"bottom\" width=\"29\">water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For several years, I have dreamed about doing a very long run through the Grand Canyon.\u00a0 Many ultrarunners run ACROSS the Grand Canyon and back.\u00a0&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-grand-canyon-runs"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crockettclan.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crockettclan.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crockettclan.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crockettclan.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crockettclan.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=691"}],"version-history":[{"count":78,"href":"http:\/\/www.crockettclan.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/691\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":854,"href":"http:\/\/www.crockettclan.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/691\/revisions\/854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crockettclan.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crockettclan.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crockettclan.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}