Grand Canyon South Rim - Preparing For A Summer Visit
The Grand Canyon's South Rim is a great summer destination
. Situated in Northern Arizona, the Rim sits 7,000 feet above sea level, helping to make for comfortable daytime temperatures. It's the inner gorge where you need to take precautions from the heat.May through September are the Canyon's summer season. May, the coolest month, averages 70 degrees in the daytime and 39 at night. July, the hottest month, reaches a high of 84 degrees and a low of 54.
The rim-top climate is well suited for exploring the Park's key lookouts, including Mather Point, Yaki Point, Yavapai Observation Center, Hermit's Rest, and more. It's also a good time to pitch a tent at Mather Campground.
The Park offers a network of trails that go "below the rim." Two of the most popular are Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab Trail, which switchback to the bottom until they reach the Colorado River.
If you decide to hike into the gorge, bear this fact in mind: Temperatures in the Canyon are 20 degrees or more hotter than they are on the Rim. In July, for example, it will be 84 degrees at the top and 106 at the bottom.
Here's some suggestions if you choose to hike into the Canyon;
1. Bring water. Lots of it. If you are in the Canyon in the middle of the day, your body may require up to a gallon of water per hour. Hydration packs are recommended.
2. Get an early morning or late evening start. It's cooler, and, if you plan it right, hike back up during these more temperate times.
3. Bring salty foods. It sounds counter-intuitive, but as you perspire, you lose salts. Many people swear by salty trail mix and bottled water.
4. Dress for heat. Loose fitting clothing (dry-wicking material works great). Full-brimmed hats. Boots and jogging shoes are advised. Steer clear of flip-flops.
5. Sunscreen. Up to SPF 50. Use it often. The sun's rays are strong.
Mentioned previously, do not hike to the River and back in one day. The drop to the bottom is 5,000 feet. That's big, especially when you consider that you'll be hiking it in 106-degree conditions. Some people how attempt this have suffered heatstroke, which is a condition where your body is unable to produce sweat in an effort to cool itself.
Rainfall on the South Rim is minimal. However, there is a "sub-season" called the Monsoon, which goes from July to August. It's characterized by thunderstorms and torrential downpours: One second it's raining buckets and the next it's sunny. In the Gorge, there are flash floods; your best defense is to seek higher ground or not hike the smaller bottom-lying Canyons during storms.
Temperatures are temperate at the very top, making exploration comfortable and enjoyable. Within the Gorge, temperatures spike, especially in July, when the difference between top and bottom is 20-plus degrees. Take a few simple precautions and a Grand Canyon tour can be the trip of a lifetime. Bare this in mind: What goes down must come up. If you prefer to remain at the top, take a stroll on the Rim Trail, a flat, paved trail that gently follows the Canyon's edge. In addition, bring plenty of water, dress appropriately, and walk during early morning and later afternoon. Following these simple guidelines will make certain you have a safe and pleasurable South Rim trip.
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