On a recent backpack down the South Kaibab Trail, I got my first chance in months to witness the handiwork of the park’s trail crew. The results were impressive indeed. Mother Nature has not been kind to this popular canyon thoroughfare, not to mention foot (and hoof) traffic. Crater-sized holes between wash bars and stone steps were becoming momentum-busting obstacles, if not dangerous tripping hazards.
Last year the National Park Service initiated an ambitious restoration project on the South Kaibab Trail; one that included a temporary ban on passenger mules. My hiking companions and I came upon several trail crew teams laying rock, timber, and dirt fill at several problem locations from rim-to-river. Their efforts made a challenging descent just a little bit easier, especially on those not blessed with a 36-inch inseam!
Thanks trail crew, and keep up the great work!
About Mike Buchheit
