The Canyon Column

Drilling Suspended Near Grand Canyon

Critics of recent steps by the Forest Service to allow drilling in close proximity to the South Rim of Grand Canyon got some great news recently. On April 4, a federal judge issued an injunction against both the Kaibab National Forest and British mining firm VANE Minerals —effectively putting a halt to uranium exploration that had been approved in December without public comment.

Navajo Point by Mike Buchheit

VANE’s drilling would have represented the first of five major exploratory projects slated for the public lands in the immediate vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park. The unfolding plans had unleashed a flood of opposition from environmental groups, concerned citizens, and local and state politicians. This high-profile battle is likely far from over given the rising price of uranium on world markets. Read more...

See you on the trail!

Mike

Article Archives

Mike Buchheit is a photographer, writer, outdoor educator, and ten-year resident of Grand Canyon National Park. For a visual journey through the Canyon he calls home, visit his Grand Canyon Gallery.

Mike Buchheit at Plateau Point

Planning a Trip to Grand Canyon?

Hit the Trail is dedicated to helping those planning a trip to Grand Canyon and the southwestern United States. Within these pages you'll find information to assist in finding rooms and campgrounds, making reservations, choosing hiking equipment, finding guides and tourist services, as well as providing practical tips and advice to help make your trip a special one.

First the latest news. It is slowly heating up in the southwest, but the springtime winds are keeping temperatures moderate and pleasant for hiking. The national weather service is calling for cooler temperatures this week with highs only getting into the low to mid-70s along the Colorado River. The wind can get rather gusty, making it tough for keeping dirt out of your eyes on the trail and your meals in the campground! If you wear contact lenses, I HIGHLY recommend carrying a pair of eyeglasses to give your eyes a break from the sand and dirt! Check out the Grand Canyon Weather page for current conditions.

To prepare for hiking or traveling in the desert regions of the southwest at anytime, I highly recommend reading Mark Johnson's highly acclaimed The Ultimate Desert Handbook: A Manual for Desert Hikers, Campers and Travelers.

For a full list of topics included on this site, please use the menus to the left. Those topics with arrows expand to an additional menu. A sampling of subjects discussed on this site are:

  • Equipment Guide—what's needed and what's right for you and your particular circumstances. Both backpacking and day hiking are covered. You'll also find tips for making your trip safer, easier and more enjoyable. I'll discuss the special conditions you can experience while hiking in the desert and plateau regions. You'll learn about the extremes in temperature and weather so you can be well prepared for your trip—whether day hiking or on multiple-day backpacking adventures.
  • Equipment Purchase and Rentals - Local and national resources
  • Phantom Ranch - Information specific to the Inner Canyon lodge.
  • Tips & Tricks - Advice from how to tie your boots to training and fitness. Be sure to check out the Readers' Tips & Tricks where readers share their own tips.
  • Grand Canyon Hikers e-Group - A great email forum for finding current conditions and advice on your Grand Canyon hike.
  • Hiker's Links and Resources - Here you'll find links to hiking sites, lodging and transportation, the official national park site, artists' sites, as well as others devoted to the canyon.
  • Lodging and Camping - Everything available for the South Rim, North Rim, Inner Canyon, as well as the connecting highway between the two rims.
  • Mule Rides and Guide Services - Information and links for mule rides, river trips, and hiking guides.
  • Canyon Reading Room - Recommended books that include hiking resources and guides, human and natural History, cookbooks, safety and first aid, and search and rescue books.

To contact me, please use my contact form. Please note that I do my best to answer email, but be aware that I do get quite a bit. If the answers can be found on my web site, I cannot take the time to re-answer these questions. I've also included a Google search engine at the top of each page that allows you to search through my web site for answers to your questions. Please note: I am in no way associated with the organizations mentioned within these pages. I cannot help you with reservations and do not sell anything. This information is provided as a service only.

New information is continually added, so be sure to check back now and then to find out what's new! Now it's time to put on your boots and join me as we Hit The Trail!

Happy Trails!

Denise Traver

"May your trails be dim, lonesome, stony, narrow, winding and only slightly uphill. May the wind bring rain for the slickrock potholes fourteen miles on the other side of yonder blue ridge. May God's dog serenade your campfire, may the rattlesnake and the screech owl amuse your reveries, may the Great Sun dazzle your eyes by day and the Great Bear watch over you at night." - Edward Abbey, Beyond the Wall: Essays from the Outside

Copyright © 1998 - 2008 Denise Traver, Raven & Coyote and its licensors. All rights reserved. Except where noted otherwise, all printed material may be freely copied and distributed subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice. Photographs and artwork may not be copied in any form without the express permission of the copyright holder. Photographs #1 and 2 in the banner used on this site are courtesy photographer Mike Quinn of the National Park Service, Grand Canyon.