Grand Canyon R2R2R-alt (AZ)

Arizona, US

The "Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim" (R2R2R) is a world-class route, staring on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, running 5,000′ down to the Colorado River, across a bridge, then 6,000” up to the North Rim. Then back again. Records have been known for decades for doing this on the South and North Kaibab Trails, crossing the river on the bridge near Phantom Ranch. These are recorded here.

The South and North Bass Trails also allow passage from the South Rim to the North Rim. While the elevation/distance profile is very similar, these trails are small and scrappy compared to the "Corridor" Kaibab Trails. Plus, there's no bridge so you have to swim across the river. Buzz Burrell named this the "R2R2R-alt".

GPS Track

R2R2R-alt-Freriks.gpx1.33 MB

FKTs

Standard route

Male

Supported
Rob Krar, Mike Foote	11h 32m 9s	2020-12-31
Eric Senseman, Tim Freriks, Jim Walmsley	12h 20m 54s	2018-12-10
Peter Bakwin	16h 15m 0s	2014-10-18

Unsupported
Jason Hardrath, Nate Bender	13h 44m 17s	2020-12-12
Josh Sanders	14h 0m 56s	2019-11-25
Stephen Anderson	15h 13m 0s	2015-05-30

Female

Unsupported
Suzanne "Sunny" Stroeer, Christin Douglas, Lexi Miller		22h 27m 20s	2020-10-23

Comments

I'm going to attempt this FKT tomorrow morning. I'll be going solo/unsupported (the 2nd known solo traverse and first known night swim for the R2R2R). Should be wild. Will use Garmin & Suunto GPS watches per usual but also take a SPOT tracker (link below). I'll do a write up after wards about the "light and fast" gear set up I've got. I'm jacked to go for this.

SPOT link: https://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0NnT03EZDXJlkxjCQXcsBYW3mzaFIolhE

Josh's excellent report from his failed FKT bid: https://www.joshsanders.net/blog/alt

I'm going to head into the canyon again before this next winter storm hits. I created a new SPOT link (although I think the previous link will still show my new updated tracking?). Fingers crossed the upper rim sections of trail are runnable and not too slippery after the snowfall on Wed/Thu... but hey, there are no bad days in the canyon.

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0i8W07u5WLU…

So stoked to hear how this went man!

Updating for Josh:

He completed the R2R2R-alt in 14h00m56s, with the S Rim to N Rim segment in 5h51m27s. Detailed report here: https://www.joshsanders.net/blog/altredemption

Just finished watching Jamil’s video and while impressive the cowboy’s R2R2R Alt. is hardly unsupported. Thornley on the ground giving them beta.

Looks supported to me.

Yes, and Jamil accompanying them on one side, as well... definitely supported.

if a friend hikes/runs with you for any distance you will be classified as Supported, even if they provided nothing else

This means Josh's time should be the FKT.

Hey this route is on fire 🔥

Looks like @ariazoner attempted this amazing route on October 26th, managing a 17:18:xx

https://www.strava.com/activities/4251968097

Here's whats awesome!

He's announced he is going again!!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHLz3SXFXNq/?igshid=1egupu01g2khf

Follow him on strava and IG for more details.

With stoke,

Jason

On Oct 26, 2020, I completed this route in 17:18:05 starting from the North Rim. This is a good option as the road was in great shape. I've never driven to the South Bass Trailhead but I've heard it's rough and my car rides low. There's also a separate fee to cross the Havasupai Reservation. The temps were 19 degrees and my water froze. I also made a wrong turn just after crossing the river, which you can see here. With much better weather and a familiarity of the route, I returned on Nov 5, 2020, and completed it again starting from the north, in 16:35:15. To my advantage, I switched up the river crossing and spent less time in the water. Not being a swimmer, I carried a pack raft. I think my transitions were fast enough, but wearing a pack certainly slowed me down on the trail. Parts of the North Bass are runnable both ways, but both times, I was unable to run as much as I would've, had I been pack-less. At any rate, this was an awesome trip and I'm thinking about returning for a third go. It's a gamble, but this time I'd try and drive to the South Rim then chill hike down to the river - camp & stash - chill hike back up while doing trail maintenance, then send it the following day. I think this would make a big difference as the South Bass Trail is not as runnable on the up and only half the distance, making it better for carrying the pack. This would also leave me pack-less for all but the last few miles, plus I'd experience the waterless (South Bass Trail) in the beginning and end, instead of in the middle. Speaking of water, sources along the North Bass were running clear and I was able to drink from Shinumo & White Creeks plus the Colorado River! However, the slightest bit of weather could change things dramatically. If attempting this route, planning for the weather and current river conditions is critical to your success. More details, photos, and tips from these trips can be found here. Anyone else thinking about hitting this soon? The current 10 day forecast looks unfavorable but the current FKTs were set weeks ahead. Still time in 2020? According to them, yes. According to Mother Nature, we'll see!

FKT Community,

It is from an endless well of STOKE I announce that Nate Bender (FB and IG) has convinced me to join him on a run through this phenomenal R2R2R.alt route. We both had chats with Sunny Stroeer (FB and IG) and Josh Sanders (FB and IG) about the route, both of whom were gracious and giving in their beta advice.

I chopped up one of my old tri wetsuits from the Ironman days and rented a bike (Zach's Bikes) so we can respect the closure of reservation land by biking some discontinued forest land roads to access the South Bass Trailhead (which we confirmed permissions for) which will be an 8-10 mile adventure each way in itself (no one can confirm if these old roads are even still passible). ...you know it is an adventure when its an adventure just to get to your adventure...

Our attempt will start between 2 hours and 90 minutes before sunrise on Saturday, Dec 12th 2020.
Live tracking here: https://share.garmin.com/natebender

If it goes, this will be my 56th FKT this year (closer to my 59th attempt for the year) so needless to say I am fatigued but this is just too golden of an adventure route to not give it a go with the weather window we have.

with stoke,
Jason Hardrath (IG or FB)
Journey to 100 FKTs

Thanks for announcement. Brrr! With stoke indeed - hope it goes well.

"You can't get lost on an adventure."

Buzz,

It rained. It sleeted. It snowed.

But R2R2R.alt WENT!

It was a FULL VALUE ADVENTURE!....drive 15 hrs to GCNP, meet up with Nate, pile into rental truck, find hidden jeep trail forest road paralleling reservation on forest land, mtn biking to the trailhead, sleeping in sub-20 degree Temps, start 1hr before Sun rise, route finding, super brisk swim, climbing into a snow storm on the north rim, shivering uncontrollably in wet gear while running out of snow into rain, barely getting warm, then diving into a second cold swim to the waning light, climbing like men possessed back into the snow on the south to stay on pace, briefly resting, biking out in snow, then driving the obstacles of the jeep trail (this time snow covered) to return to civilization. 20 hrs of go time from start of R2R2R.alt to return to civilization.

Sleep 3 hrs in car.

Now driving the 15 hrs back home. Wildest weekend trip ever!

Still stoked,

Jason

Route: Grand Canyon R2R2R-alt (AZ)

FKTs

Comments