Bill Ott - May 19, 2003 7:47 am - Hasn't voted
Nobodycan appreciate a trail like this unless they have hiked it themselves, right?
Dave K - May 19, 2003 8:38 am - Hasn't voted
Re: NobodyI've never hiked this trail, but my legs get tired just looking at the photo and imagining the hike out!
Alan Ellis - May 19, 2003 10:38 am - Hasn't voted
Re: NobodyIn this photo, Indian Gardens is at the end of the trail on the left. It's 4.6 miles to Indian Gardens, 9.2 miles RT, with a 3800 ft. climb back to the south rim. You would not believe the idiots who hike down to Indian Gardens, having no idea of the effort it takes to climb back to the south rim. I've done this trail twice, and both times seen people with babies in strollers, women in skirts and sandals, toddlers....you name it. The last time I was there, I watched the NPS helicopter make two trips to Indian Gardens to haul people out. Bet that was an expensive hike!
Go before Memorial Day or after Labor Day to avoid the tourons (tourist/moron).
Alan Ellis - May 19, 2003 11:00 am - Hasn't voted
Re: NobodyHere's a shot of Indian Gardens. Notice the south rim on the top of the photo under the little bit of blue sky.....a long way away!
theplugger - May 19, 2003 11:59 am - Hasn't voted
Re: NobodyAnd this is only the halfway point! Luscious place, this Indian Gardens. Certainly a site for sore eyes (I mean feet) when you're backpacking out. We had backpacked down from the North Rim and camped at Phantom Ranch for 2 days before packing out via the South Rim...exchanging car keys with a friend at the bottom. Looking up at the South Rim from Phantom Ranch created quite a sleep disturbance, 'will I be able to climb out of here??'!! Some tourons had packed down there with some heavy stuff...like a heavy boom box, for instance. We saw them continuing the backpack out from Indian Gardens...they had jetisoned a bunch of stuff, left it right there on their picnic table at Indian Gardens!!
garchov - Nov 4, 2006 3:07 am - Voted 9/10
The switchbacksat this point are called "Jacob's Ladder". Below Indian Garden are the more dreaded (due to the lower elevation and thus heat) switchbacks known as the "Devil's Corkscrew". Pipe Creek runs from the bottom of the corkscrew to the Colorado and many have been tempted to "refresh" themselves in the river at the trail's meeting with it. DON'T!!!! Pipe Creek rapid is just downstream and will not be merciful. Read "Over the Edge...Death in Grand Canyon" for further details of the uninformed and the foolhardy.
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