In 2022, Madeleine Bryant and her father, Ned, completed the final leg of the 277-mile trail through the Grand Canyon. The duo had chipped away at the full distance over the course of 17 years, hiking different legs one at a time. But they completed all of the miles together.听

The Grand Canyon gets narrower as you head west toward Lava Falls, and at that point, there is a huge block of sheer black rock right above the river. Most hikers will ascend over this rock, which technically takes them out of the boundary of Grand Canyon National Park. But my dad is a purist. He wanted to hike along the rock as close to the water as possible, to keep us inside the park.

When we reached the rock, we were puzzled about how we’d actually get around it. Then we saw a bighorn sheep climbing along the rock, and we studied the line it took. That’s the route we ended up following. Technically, our entire trek is located within Grand Canyon National Park. And after talking to a handful of others who have completed the entire canyon, we realized we were maybe ninth or tenth people who have completed the canyon to follow that line that the sheep took.

My dad got the idea to hike the entire length of the Grand Canyon back in 1990 when my mom was pregnant with me. They had stopped by the canyon during a road trip, and that was the first time my dad realized you could go hiking in it. He started going on adventures to the Grand Canyon two years later, and I grew up watching him go on these trips. As a kid, all I wanted to do was go with him.

When I turned 14, my dad deemed me old enough to go. We did our first hike that year: down the Hermit Trail, along the to Phantom Ranch, and then up the South Kaibab Trail.

It was not a fun hike. I remember trudging up the South Kaibab Trail and thinking听I’m never doing this again. This is complete bullshit. But after we got home and a few weeks went by, I forgot how terrible and hard it was.

And that’s how our trips to the Grand Canyon began鈥攅very year we returned for a week or so to complete another hike. In year two, we did the . In our third and fourth years we chose more remote routes.

A friend of my dad’s told him that you can complete the entire Grand Canyon traverse by connecting different trails. At first, we said no, but the idea just kind of stuck around in the back of our minds. Eventually, we decided to go for it and started tackling some of the less-interesting routes that we needed to tick off to complete it.

Technically, we did the Grand Canyon out of order: we would do a loop here, a loop there. We did one canyon hike听a year when I was a teenager because we lived in Minnesota. After 2016, we got serious about completing the line and started doing two trips each year.

Here’s the thing: not all of the routes in the Grand Canyon are that fun. I personally really loathe Marble Canyon. It’s the beginning of the Grand Canyon, and it takes you from Lees Ferry to Nankoweap Granaries. It’s small and tight and claustrophobic. In many areas of the Grand Canyon, you get to see the full gamut of rock layers and geology. But in Marble Canyon, the famed doesn’t even appear for several miles.

Plus, Marble Canyon is so narrow that at times you can’t get down to the river. I know plenty of people who love Marble Canyon, but I didn’t like it.

I recently put together a spreadsheet and realized that I’ve spent 328 days in the Grand Canyon with my dad, including hikes and river trips.听 You might think that spending that much time with a parent would be hard, but it’s not. I have a great relationship with both of my parents. My dad and I are buddies, and we always have听a lot to talk about.

Obviously, there are some personal topics you don’t want to talk about with your dad. But we talk about life and politics and work, and we always talk a lot about the canyon. Before each hike, my dad reads guidebooks and puts together this historical research. We will search for Native American archaeological sites or old mining sites. We often discuss the history of the places we visit. At one point, we visited a site from the 1920s where they were going to build a gondola across the canyon. It was crazy to learn about the plan. At another site, we found a tin of 100-year-old candy that was half-full听of old caramels.

Of course, sometimes my dad and I do come to an impasse, usually over directions. Do we go right or left? His mantra is that Maddy is always correct.听

My dad tolerated my whining when I was a kid. But as I grew older, I realized how much I loved going on these trips with him. The Grand Canyon trips shaped who I became as an adult. Completing the line has become something I’m very proud of. The funny thing is that I’m not really a hiker or backpacker outside of the Grand Canyon. It’s the only place I go. When you grow up with the Grand Canyon in your life, it becomes familiar. I know the rocks, plants, and animals, and how everything is supposed to look and feel.

Some people return to the same cabin or vacation rental with their families every year. We go to the Grand Canyon. It’s our second home.

As told to Frederick Dreier. This interview was edited for length and clarity.听

Madeleine Bryant is the co-owner of an environmental consulting agency in Flagstaff, Arizona.听

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With fall and winter on the horizon, it鈥檚 easy to forget about our favorite sun-drenched backcountry trails and campgrounds. But spring will be here sooner than you think鈥攁nd by then, the spots for permit-only adventures may be snapped up.

Many of the country’s most popular hikes, trails, and recreation areas now require a reservation, or maintain a daily quota to reduce crowds and protect delicate ecosystems. Some book up just hours after their reservations open. That means if you daydream of summiting Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, or sleeping in the Grand Canyon, or checking the Teton Crest Trail off your bucket list, you will want to plan ahead.

So, open your calendars, grab a pen, and read on for how to reserve your bucket-list adventure in 2026.

Angels Landing, Zion National Park

What to Know: Angels Landing is a short 4.3-mile hike that ascends 1,800 vertical feet to the top of an ochre-and-rust sandstone pillar. Atop, you’ll see a panoramic view of Zion National Park, the Virgin River, and much of Southern Utah. The National Park Service instituted a permit requirement for this hike in 2022 to ease heavy traffic on the narrow trail, and a reservation is now required throughout the year to ascend past Scout Lookout. Be sure to wear light clothing and carry plenty water due to the desert heat.

Important Dates: A opens one to three months before your hiking date. A day-before lottery is also available. To get a spot in the summer lottery (June through August), you must submit your entry between 8 A.M. on April 1 and 11:59 P.M. MST on April 20. You鈥檒l be notified on April 25 whether or not you got a spot. A smaller lottery opens from 12:01 A.M. MST-3 P.M. MST the day before your hiking date. Expect a $6 application fee.

Reservation Details: Holidays and sought-after weekends are extra competitive, and we suggest applying for a spot on a weekday. The online system asks you to rank up to seven dates, choose a start time (before or after 9 A.M.), and identify group size (up to six) when you reserve. If you don’t get a permit, you can still hike the West Rim Trail to Scout Point鈥攏o reservation is needed and it鈥檚 nearly as spectacular.

Half Dome, Yosemite National Park

What to Know: Prepare to cover roughly 16 miles round-trip with 4,800 feet of elevation gain as you pass beloved landmarks such as Vernal and Nevada Falls and Liberty Cap. After a thigh-burning, gravity-defying cable climb up a steep granite slab, you鈥檒l gawk at the 360-degree view of Yosemite Valley听and the High Sierra from the summit. Competition is stiff for this one鈥� Yosemite instituted a quota in 2010, and only 225 day-use and 75 backpacker passes are issued daily. Sturdy boots and gloves are a must for safety on the cable section, and be sure to keep your photo ID and printed permit handy. You鈥檒l show both at the sub-dome.

Important Dates: The Half Dome cables are usually installed around Memorial Day and remain through mid-October. The opens March 1 and runs until March 31 on Recreation.gov. Hikers will be notified in mid-April. There鈥檚 also a last-minute lottery鈥攁pply for this one online two days before your hike-out date between midnight to 4 P.M. PST and expect to hear back the same day. The application fee is $10.

The runs Sunday-Saturday from mid-November to early May (24 weeks to seven days before your hike-out date). You can also grab a last-minute backcountry slot online from seven to three days before your start date right at 7 A.M. PST. This permit runs $10 per application.

Reservation Details: You get to apply for up to seven dates, so shake it up鈥�. Remember if you鈥檙e an alternate, you can鈥檛 also be the primary permit-holder on another application (or the park will revoke both). For backpackers, only a few wilderness treks can include Half Dome. Be sure to add the Half Dome spur when you pick up your in-person permit. You can also request to add Half Dome to a southbound John Muir Trail itinerary upon permit pickup.

John Muir Trail, California

What to Know: The 211-mile John Muir Trail (JMT)听is a crown jewel thru-hike that passes gems of the High Sierra such as Yosemite National Park, Ansel Adams Wilderness, King鈥檚 Canyon National Park, and Sequoia National Park鈥� and includes bagging 14,055-foot Mount Whitney. This hike usually takes two to three weeks to complete, and it takes in nearly 46,000 feet of elevation gain. Only a third of hopefuls nab a permit through the rolling lottery for peak summer season.

Most people begin the JMT from Yosemite in the north or Whitney Portal in the south, but you can also section-hike from Inyo National Forest. Yosemite is the most popular start and in 2015, the park instituted a 45-person daily JMT exit quota to reduce trail over-use. Have a reliable GPS and lock down your resupply strategy for this one鈥攊t can take a few weeks for the goods to land at . JMT permits aren鈥檛 transferable.

Important Dates:

Southbound (Yosemite to Mt. Whitney):

Check out the from Yosemite National Park on 24 weeks (5.5 months) before your hike-out date (for example, for a July start, apply in January). You鈥檒l be notified within two business days if successful and have three days to accept. Unclaimed passes become available at 9 A.M. PST on a first-come, first-served basis the fourth day. The rolling weekly lottery ends in early May and is $10 per application.

Northbound (Mt. Whitney to Yosemite):

The runs February 1 through March 1. Results are released March 15, and you鈥檒l have until April 21 to accept. Unclaimed slots become available at 7 A.M. PST on April 22 and go immediately, so log on early. Each reservation is $15.

Reservation Details: Smaller groups are more likely to snag a JMT permit. An early or late season start is also a boon鈥� 50 percent of people who apply for mid-September snag one. While the most requested JMT start is Happy Isles to Past LYV, you might be luckier from Lyell Canyon. Just be sure to select 鈥淒onahue Pass eligible鈥� for both.

Mount Whitney releases 100 day-use and 60 overnight passes daily, and a permit is required 24/7 between May 1 and November 1. Select 鈥淢ount Whitney Overnight Zone鈥� on your application to apply for multiple starts.

For an Inyo National Forest permit, apply at 7 A.M. PST 24 weeks before your hike-out date. An additional 40 percent of slots open two weeks before at 7 A.M. PST sharp and run out in a flash. Select 鈥淥vernight Exiting Mount Whitney鈥� on your application to tack on a summit attempt.

Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park

What to Know: This iconic 50-mile, two-lane highway meanders past vibrant peaks, frothy waterfalls, and lush, wildflower-dotted alpine meadows, and usually opens fully by early July. In 2026, a vehicle reservation will be required eastbound from Apgar between 7 A.M. and 3 P.M. MST, June 13 to September 28. Under this system, you can enter in two-hour time blocks and stay in the park for the rest of the day. A reservation is no longer required westbound from St. Mary鈥攁 great Plan B.

Important Dates: The becomes available 120 days prior to your visit date at 8 A.M. MST. This means for an August 10 visit, you should apply on April 10. For multi-day trips, plan to repeat this process for each day you plan to visit.

For those who don鈥檛 nab an advance spot, a limited number of passes free up at 7 P.M. MST the night before. A backcountry campground lottery for up to eight people runs on March 15 from midnight and 11:59 P.M. MST. Unreserved slots are available May 1 – September 30 online on a first-come, first-served basis. This one has a $2 processing fee.

Reservation Details: Log in to Recreation.gov ahead of time and have a flexible backup plan鈥攖his one goes in no time. Popular routes from Logan Pass like Hidden Lake Overlook, the Highline Trail, and Avalanche Lake melt out by mid-July, so summer permit competition is fierce. Grab a weekday in mid-September instead, when the road is still passable but quieter. Any reservation to camp or backpack within Going-to-the-Sun Road (i.e. west of Logan Pass, like Avalanche Creek and Sprague Creek) comes with a vehicle permit. You鈥檙e also allowed to enter from Apgar without a permit before 7 A.M.鈥攇orgeous morning light, fewer people, and open parking make the early wake-up worth it.

Teton Crest Trail, Grand Teton National Park

What to Know: The Teton Crest Trail (TCT) is a 40-mile point-to-point journey over 9,000 feet of elevation gain. Swaying lupine, paintbrush, and eastern coneflower fade into glacier-carved canyons and up jagged granite peaks where moose, elk, bighorn sheep, and grizzlies roam (bear spray is essential). This high-altitude trek peaks between mid-late July and Labor Day, when the high passes are snow-free. Micro-spikes are an ally during the shoulder season due to unpredictable snowfall.

Important Dates: You need the , and the reservation system opens at 8 A.M. MST on January 7 for starts between May 1 and October 31. Walk-ups are available on a first-come, first- served basis one day before your hike-out date in-person only between May 1 and October 31. There鈥檚 a $20 flat permit fee for this one.

Reservation Details: Grand Teton National Park releases one-third of all backcountry zones in advance online and holds the rest for walk-ups. Act fast to scoop up your ideal itinerary鈥� camp zones on the TCT are generally snapped up within the hour. One backcountry permit will allow you to camp for up to ten consecutive nights and is valid for up to six-person groups.

When you apply, select 鈥淢ountain Camping Zone鈥� to see available . The 11 zones on the TCT vanish fast, so map your route in advance and have a solid backup plan. Each camp zone is a few miles long and once in it, you can pitch camp anywhere used before.

The Enchantments Traverse, Washington

What to Know: To experience the otherworldly, tucked-away Core Enchantments Zone鈥� a glacier-carved necklace of placid, ice-blue lakes strung together by a winding creek鈥攅xpect to climb 4,845 feet over 18.5 miles. This includes the grueling Asgard Pass, which ascends 2,000 vertical feet in less than a mile (look out for mountain goats and have an offline map handy). A permit is required May 15th to October 31 and only 24 people are allowed to camp in the Core Zone each day. Beware early-season snow in May and June and pack a head net for mosquito-heavy July. September-early October is a popular time to hike, when the abundant larches turn yellow and set the mirrored lakes ablaze.

Important Dates: The opens February 15 and runs until March 1. Results land March 15 on Recreation.gov. Unclaimed slots become available on April 1 at 7 A.M. PST and go in a flash, so set your alarm. Unlike past years, there weren鈥檛 any walk-ups in 2025. There鈥檚 a $6 fee to apply for this permit.

Reservation Details: The Enchantments are divided into five zones (Core Enchantment Zone, Snow Lake Zone, Colchuck Lake Zone, Stuart Lake Zone, and Eightmile/Caroline Zone). During the lottery, you must choose an entry date, group size (up to eight), and permit zone. Snagging a Core Zone permit is a miracle鈥攑eople have better luck with Snow or Colchuck. Both allow you to hike through the Core Zone, though you must camp in your designated zone. The Core Zone has a per-person quota, while Colchuck and Snow are per-group. Smaller crews therefore have a better shot at the Core Zone, while larger groups should aim for Snow or Colchuck.

Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim, Grand Canyon National Park

What to Know: For many backpackers, the hike from the North Rim to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is a bucket-list trip. Prepare to cover 20 to 24 miles and over 6,000 feet of elevation gain over two to three days among painted redwall limestone monoliths, desert scrub, and aquamarine waterfalls.

There are three places to camp along the Rim-to-Rim corridor (Cottonwood, Bright Angel, and Havasupai Gardens) with limited availability. You鈥檒l need to decide whether to begin at the North or South Rim and whether to follow the Bright Angel or South Kaibab trail when you apply. Hiking North to South has a shorter uphill push, but knee-busting 8,000-foot, 14.3-mile descent along the strenuous North Kaibab Trail. Temperatures can soar in June, July, and August, so consider a hike in mid- to late-May or September through mid-October.

Important Dates: Grand Canyon National Park once a month over a two-week period. The lottery awards you a time slot to apply for a permit four months before your intended hike-out date. Recreation.gov has a helpful chart of lottery dates based on when you aim to depart. The North Rim Entrance Station closes for winter, so Rim-to-Rim is only available mid-May to mid-October. This one has a $10 lottery application fee.

Reservation Details: Those with an earlier date and time slot have more luck with a Rim-to-Rim itinerary, so pump your whole group up to apply. You can find specific backcountry zone codes . The park has limited large-group backcountry availability, so try a smaller group to juice your chances. If you don鈥檛 receive a time slot, log in to Recreation.gov on the first day of the month four months before your hike-out date to try again. Walk-ins are available in-person the day before at the South or North Rim Backcountry Information Centers. You won鈥檛 likely secure the entire Rim-to-Rim corridor this way but can still build an unforgettable Grand Canyon adventure.

The Wave, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

What to Know: The Wave sweeps like a golden, molten brushstroke across the desert and draws thousands of people each year. Only 64 people are allowed to visit this 6.4-mile out-and-back hike daily. If you nab a permit, know The Wave can be both hot and muddy. Carry plenty of water and sunscreen for no-joke spring and summer heat and come equipped with a four-wheel drive for the bumpy road to the trailhead.

Important Dates: opens the first of the month four months in advance (i.e. to hike in June, apply in February) with results the first day of the next month. A daily lottery is available two days before your hike-out date from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. MST. Expect same-day notification and accept by 8 A.M. the next day. You鈥檒l also need to pay a $6 application fee.

Reservation Details: You鈥檙e allowed to choose three dates in the advance lottery, which has the higher success rate. The daily lottery is only accessible from Using the Recreation.gov mobile application will make for a smoother experience. Group size is capped at six people, but only four groups (or 16 people鈥攚hichever comes first) receive the daily lottery, so consider a smaller crew. Dogs can join for The Wave鈥攁dd your furry pal to your permit after you鈥檙e selected. Daily lottery holders must also arrive with photo ID in-person by 8:30 A.M. on hike-out day to pick up the permit and hear the mandatory safety brief.

Kalalau Trail,听 Napali Coast Kauai

What to Know: After 19.8 miles and 6,512 feet of elevation gain, you鈥檒l be glad to relax at secluded Kalalau Beach. Tropical jungle gives way to never-ending views of the jagged, jaw-dropping Napali Coast听on this narrow, adrenaline-filled trail (don鈥檛 look down on Crawler鈥檚 Ledge, where sturdy poles are a lifesaver). Most people camp at Hanakoa (six miles in) one night then press on to wild Kalalau (11 miles in). In the Kalalau Valley, build in time to explore paths to secret swim spots (nestled among guava trees and farm ruins), and hidden sea caves accessible from May-September. Grippy waterproof shoes and a good rain jacket are essential on this one for mud, streams, and steep, slippery descents.

Important Dates: Grab a permit year-round on a rolling basis, 90 days in advance of your hike-out date right at midnight Hawaii Standard Time (HST). You can also snag a walk-up permit first-come, first served from 8 A.M. 鈥� 11 A.M. Tuesday-Thursday in summer. Camping fees are $35 nightly for non-Hawaii residents.

Reservation Details: There is a 60-person daily quota for non-Hawaii residents and that goes fast in summer. It鈥檚 helpful to create an account on ahead of time. You鈥檒l also need to snag parking for Ha鈥檈na State Park at with your permit number. While mild year-round, the dry season generally runs May-September. Storms and slip-outs on the narrow trail are common in the off-season.

The Lost Coast, California

What to Know: The dramatic 25-mile point-to-point Lost Coast Trail spans flat, sandy terrain along one of the few untouched Californian coastlines. You鈥檒l hike on the misty beach with sea otters and elephant seals for isolated miles, hiking in harmony with the tides (which can make some parts of the trail impassable).

Travel southbound from Mattole Beach to Black Sands Beach to keep the powerful coastal wind behind you and be sure to check the often-fickle Northern California weather, which can bring dense summer fog. Layers and spare footwear for wet sand and choppy surf come in clutch.

Important Dates: Reserve first-come, first-served 90 days ahead of your hike-out date at 7 A.M. PST. Walk-up passes are also available for three people per day at the King Range Visitor鈥檚 Center from Monday-Friday at 8 A.M. PST via lottery ($6 per application).

Reservation Details: Grab this one ASAP. The maximum group size for this trail is three people, and the hike generally takes two-four days. The Lost Coast is open year-round, but generally drier and warmer in spring and summer. Double the slots are available between May 15-September 15 as the off-season. Be sure to check a tide map and schedule before you apply to ensure the trail will be passable. NOAA maintains a .

Madison Chapman is a writer and humanitarian worker based in Washington, D.C. with work appearing in The Washington Post and Ms. Magazine. When she鈥檚 not traveling or working, you can find her throwing pottery, practicing yoga, biking, and backpacking with her husband.听

The post Planning the Perfect 2026 国产吃瓜黑料? Here鈥檚 How to Nab a Permit. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

It was supposed to be our short day. Just four miles downstream would take us from Kolb Camp, a scenic cliff-side beach in western Colorado, to听Rippling Brook, our next campsite. To our surprise鈥攐ur backs aching, hands torn, and noses sunburned鈥攖he day would be spent unpinning a very stuck听12-foot raft in a precarious, potentially deadly rapid.

I thought I was prepared for this trip, having completed three multi-week rafting adventures听down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, totaling more than 70 days collectively. But this was my first trip down its sister river, the Green. We targeted the famed Gates of Lodore, a 43-mile whitewater stretch on the Green River, that carves through dramatic canyon walls and is surrounded by mountains soaring skyward to 9,000 feet in elevation. It spans , beginning in Colorado and ending in Utah.

In August, I spent five nights on this section with 19 other boaters鈥攁nd we spent too many hours unpinning boats. Despite the carnage, I found this stretch of the Gates of Lodore to be a perfect adventure for would-be canyon boaters.

New to Canyon Boating? Gates of Lodore is a Perfect Entry

If you鈥檙e intimidated by the long, multi-week aspect of a Grand Canyon rafting trip, and the extremes that a desert river trip entails, the Gates of Lodore is a perfect introduction to whitewater. Whereas a private Grand Canyon rafting trip encompasses 277 miles, spanning up to 26 days, the Gates of Lodore is comparatively short. Completing the full stretch takes anywhere from three to five days.

Because of its fame, obtaining a permit for the Grand Canyon is highly competitive. And on a Grand Canyon trip, challenging rapids can be found throughout most of the river stretch. High points on the Grand Canyon can span up to 8,000 feet in elevation鈥攎uch higher than the tallest peaks in the Gates of Lodore. Access points for emergency bail-outs can be much more difficult in a deeper canyon.

Boaters are less likely to encounter these hurdles in the Gates of Lodore.

鈥淕ates of Lodore is a fantastic stretch to do with a large group because all the difficult rapids are in the first ten or so miles, and then you have stunning scenery with easier water for the rest of your trip. Three pinned rafts in five miles is a great icebreaker for 20 mostly strangers,鈥� Greg Doctor, our trip leader, told 国产吃瓜黑料.听

Doctor said that despite our group’s setbacks and accidents, the only major disagreement our party had was what music to play.

鈥淚t was sort of a dream trip in that we had crystal clear water with fun rapids backed by giant desert sandstone walls, all with perfect weather,” he added.

While Indigenous groups have lived in the region for thousands of years, the river was largely introduced to the Western world when geographer John Wesley Powell ran his famed descent in 1869, shortly before becoming the first person to document rowing the Grand Canyon. A member of Powell鈥檚 group named the Gates of Lodore after the English poem, 鈥淭he Cataract of Lodore,鈥� originally written by Robert Southey in 1820. It reads:

And so never ending, but always descending
Sounds and motions for ever and ever are blending
All at once and all o’er, with a mighty uproar
And this way the water comes down at Lodore

鈥淧in It to Win It鈥� Quickly Became Our River Crew鈥檚 Motto

Although Gates of Lodore is a perfect introduction to canyon boating, this section is also rowdy and fun for experienced boaters. This became apparent after our group popped the floor of one of our rafts, which later resulted in multiple pins.

A 鈥減in鈥� happens when a raft gets physically trapped against an obstacle in the river, commonly a rock. Because the current is pushing directly against the boat, often thousands of cubic feet per second, the immense pressure makes it incredibly difficult to continue downstream.

How do you unpin a raft? The rescue system, often referred to as a pin kit or z-drag, is a complex arrangement of pulleys and lines that provides humans with a mechanical advantage against the force of the river.

During our five days boating through the Gates of Lodore, we encountered two major pinning locations: the Birth Canal at Triplet Falls, as well as Huggy Bear Rock at Hell鈥檚 Half Mile.

Rapids are based on a class system, with Class V being the hardest and most hazardous, often characterized by the most technical features. Rated a Class III, Triplet Falls is about 12 miles downstream of the put-in, and has been the site of . The rapid is surrounded by canyon walls rising 1,200 feet or more above the river and features an undercut wall that can easily trap a body.

So-named for the three large boulders that make the dangerous feature, Triplet Falls is one of the most technical rapids on this section. During a low water trip like ours, the rapid is a bony rock garden that could easily bump a raft off its line. After navigating it, boaters must face the Birth Canal, a narrow slot between two large, undercut boulders. All hands on deck and five hours later, we successfully got the raft unpinned.

Mikey Wrobel, a Colorado-based Class IV+ guide with seven years of experience, said his boat was pinned in large part because the raft鈥檚 floor popped on the first day. With little buoyancy and a heavier-than-usual load, moving dynamically through the current was difficult.

鈥淚 just kept telling myself that it鈥檚 not if I pin, but a matter of when鈥攁nd that day was my day. Three pins and a popped floor on the first day, I feel like most people would throw in the towel,鈥� Wrobel told 国产吃瓜黑料.

鈥淭he pin at Triplet Falls was mentally and physically straining, but everyone on this trip was amazing, and everything turned out okay,” he added.

Our second mishap happened at Hell鈥檚 Half Mile, a Class IV rapid close to a quarter-mile long. Large boulders clog the entrance of the rapid with a mid-stream rock named 鈥淟ucifer,鈥� notorious for pinning boats. Our wrap actually occurred at a much less devious-sounding feature鈥擧uggy Bear. It鈥檚 at the bottom of the rapid, right where you think you鈥檙e in the clear, and greeted one of our boats with open arms. This unpin took about an hour or so, and we were able to run the rest of the rapid鈥攁nd the river鈥攗nscathed.

We pinned, we partied, and we truly embraced all that this unique landscape had to offer.

A Duality of Intimacy and Isolation

The success of a trip depends on the capability of your team. Over the course of our multiple pins, our crew bonded and battled its way through the canyon.

We also made sure we adhered to the basic advice for running rivers. Make sure you’re equipped with the right gear and prepared to handle disaster should it strike. In rapids, always wear your personal floatation device (PFD) and helmet. Know how to use your gear, especially if you carry a throwbag, and practice humility. Rapids are potentially life-threatening situations and should be taken seriously.

鈥淔ind mentors, take a swiftwater rescue course, and never forget that humans cannot breathe underwater. Be humble鈥攔iver running is for fun; it is not a bicep measuring contest,鈥� said Doctor, who is also an emergency physician with special interests in wilderness medicine and drowning resuscitation.

Both intimate and isolating, a multi-day river trip allows for a deeper connection to the surrounding environment while offering near-complete isolation from the external world. This dynamic of connectedness and disconnectedness on the river has stood the test of time.

During his journey down the Green River, Powell described the special light unique to a canyon, writing that 鈥渁t noon the sun shines in splendor on vermilion walls鈥� and the canyon opens, like a beautiful portal, to a region of glory.鈥�

鈥淭his evening, as I write, the sun is going down and the shadows are settling in the canyon鈥� and now it is a dark portal to a region of gloom, the gateway through which we are to enter on our voyage of exploration tomorrow, what shall we find?鈥� he continued.

That intrigue and mysteriousness still rest in the canyon walls today. As any boater can attest, a river trip is one of those truly primitive experiences where one can completely disconnect from the world and enjoy the presence of those around in a largely inaccessible, yet breathtaking, landscape. For some, it鈥檚 a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For others, it鈥檚 a way of life. It鈥檚 up to you to choose.

The post Can鈥檛 Commit to a Month Rafting the Grand Canyon? Meet Its Sister River. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Geysers in Yellowstone National Park are facing a new, unassuming threat. Plus, a 30-year-old woman has just broken the speed record for the Grand Teton trail. 国产吃瓜黑料 has you covered in this edition of our news roundup for the week of September 8.

What鈥檚 the Latest Threat to Yellowstone鈥檚 Geysers? Hats.

Geologists in Yellowstone National Park are reporting an unusual threat to the area鈥檚 hydrothermal areas. According to a report from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) observatory, lost hats are infiltrating the park鈥檚 hot springs, geysers, mudpots and fumeroles.

These aren鈥檛 just dollar-store hats either. The USGS estimates that headwear collected this year is worth over $6,000.

The park鈥檚 specially trained Geology Program is charged with cleaning up more than 10,000 iconic hydrothermal areas in Yellowstone National Park, including Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful. The team is constantly battling a daunting array of human litter鈥攊n 2025 alone, they have already collected 鈥渕ore than 13,000 pieces of trash, 4,000 rocks and sticks, and over 300 hats.鈥�

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A Man Is Dead After His Car Plunged into the Grand Canyon

On Sunday, September 7, Park Service officials received reports of a car driving over the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and then plunging 300 feet to the rocks below. According to a report, the driver was killed in the fall.

NPS identified the individual as Steven (Drew) Bradly, 27, of Federal Heights, Colorado. Authorities said that Bradley drove his car into the canyon near the South Kaibab Trailhead at approximately 12:40 P.M.

The NPS said it is investigating the incident alongside the local medical examiner. No additional information is currently available.

It鈥檚 not the first time this year that a driver has perished in a crash at the famed canyon.

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There鈥檚 a New Speed Record on the Grand Teton. This One Is Legit.

Let鈥檚 get this out of the way: runner Jane Maus avoided all shortcuts, cutoffs, and trail bypasses while breaking the speed record on Wyoming鈥檚 13,775-foot Grand Teton on August 22. She specifically avoided the shortcut that got trail runner Michelino Sunseri into trouble with the National Park Service in 2024.

Maus completed the entire journey in 3:45:34. Her time shaved 21 minutes from the previous fastest time, which was set just three days prior by a Canadian runner named Jazmine Lowther. Fastest Known Time (FKT), the body that scrutinizes record attempts, accepted Maus鈥� ascent as legitimate, making her the new record holder on the route, which is now called the Grand Teton Modern Route.

国产吃瓜黑料, chatted with Moss to learn more about her allure for chasing the speed record and her decision to go for speed.

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The post This Week in News: Yellowstone鈥檚 Latest Threats and a New Speed Record on the Grand Teton appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

On Sunday, September 7, Park Service officials received reports of a car driving over the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and then plunging 300 feet to the rocks below.

On September 8, the NPS published on the incident, which claimed the life of a Colorado man.

NPS identified the individual as Steven (Drew) Bradly, 27, of Federal Heights, Colorado. Authorities said that Bradley drove his car into the canyon near the South Kaibab Trailhead at approximately 12:40 P.M.

“Park rangers responded immediately and recovered the body, which was located about 300 feet below the rim. It was transported to the rim by helicopter and then transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner鈥檚 Office,” wrote NPS in a .

The NPS said it is investigating the incident alongside the local medical examiner. No additional information is currently available.

It’s not the first time this year that a driver has perished in a crash at the famed canyon. In February, a 2 after driving into the canyon just east of the Yavapai Geology Museum on the South Rim. Officials recovered the man’s body and his car 1,000 feet below the rim.

In October 2021, off the canyon’s western rim near the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

The South Kaibab Trailhead is a from the park Visitor Center鈥攏o private vehicles are allowed at the trailhead. Located 15 miles from the iconic Phantom Ranch, the South Kaibab Trail is a popular tourist destination offering expansive views of the canyon.

According to the , car accidents are the second leading cause of unintentional death in the national park system. On average, one person a week dies on NPS roadways. To reduce the risk of injury from a vehicle crash, NPS has compiled .

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The River Guide is an outdoor archetype, a sunburnt romantic whose everyday existence is a bucket list adventure for the rest of us. They read inscrutable water, navigate person-eating hazards, and exude a natural connection to the canyons through which they guide us鈥攁nd, in the Grand Canyon, all of that gets turned up to 11. Cindell Dale has guided 鈥渢he Big Ditch鈥� since the early 1980s, part of the second generation of women who broke a glass ceiling that dictated women weren鈥檛 capable of piloting the Cadillac of white water: the dory. These 16-foot, v-shaped wooden boats are the preferred craft of many Grand Canyon guides, and listening to what Dale has learned after more than 40 years piloting one through one of the seven natural wonders of the world is the next best thing to sitting in her boat.

The post What Life in the Grand Canyon Tells Us About Life Everywhere Else, With Cindell Dale appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Scientists researching the Grand Canyon recently found fossils of a never-before-seen species of the so-called penis worm, an animal which, as discerning readers may have guessed, bears a remarkable resemblance to a certain piece of human genitalia.

The new species, called Kraytdraco spectatus, was discovered by Giovanni Mussini, a paleontologist and doctoral student from the University of Cambridge, while he was leading a research expedition down the Colorado River in 2023. He published his findings on July 23 听Science Advances.听

Over a period of several weeks, Mussini floated the Colorado in a dinghy with other scientists, scraping rock samples from the walls of the Grand Canyon, specifically a layer of shale known as the Bright Angel Formation. Mussini was looking for evidence of life from the middle Cambrian period, roughly 500 million years ago. Upon returning to Cambridge, he dissolved his rock samples in hydrofluoric acid to find the fossils inside.

鈥淐ollection itself is not too challenging,鈥� Mussini . 鈥淪ometimes you are on a cliff, you know, quite exposed. You risk falling down. But what is actually quite time consuming is the digestion process, fizzing up all this material in acid and finding out whether you picked something good. That took quite a few months.鈥�

Among Mussini鈥檚 findings were the expected mollusks and crustaceans, but also an entirely undiscovered species of penis worm.

Based on its fossilized remains, Mussini and his colleagues believe the penis worm was between six and eight inches long, and like all penis worms, ate using a retractable proboscis, like the xenomorphs in Ridley Scott鈥檚 Alien films. This proboscis was lined with twin circular layers of teeth, one hard and rough, another soft and feather-like.

At the suggestion of a colleague, a die-hard Star Wars fan, Mussini named his discovery Kraytdraco spectatus, after a burrowing, desert-dwelling monster called the krayt dragon, which appears in the spin-off Disney+ show The Mandalorian.

鈥淭he peculiar thing about it is that it combines these heavy duty scraping teeth, we think, with these more delicate, more feathery looking teeth with branching filaments,鈥� Mussini said. 鈥淲e think this kind of combined apparatus suggests some division of labor.鈥� Mussini and his colleagues believe the sharper teeth would first be used to rake food from the mud and sand, and then the second layer of soft, feathery teeth would act as a filter, separating the worm鈥檚 food from the substrate.

Though it鈥檚 predominantly dry and arid today, during the Cambrian period, the Grand Canyon was a shallow sea, and a hotbed of habitable and resource-rich environments. 鈥淢ost of our other exceptional Cambrian fossilization sites tend to record ecological backwaters,鈥� Mussini explained, 鈥減laces that were poor in oxygen or nutrients or food availability. Whereas in the Grand Canyon, you had this abundance of photosynthesis going on. A lot of oxygen meant animals could invest more [resources] into producing the kind of sophisticated adaptations that we see in the fossils we described.鈥�

Scientifically, penis worms are called 鈥減riapulids,鈥� a nod to the Greek god of fertility, Priapus. All worms in the phylum Priapulida are 鈥渦nsegmented,鈥� meaning their bodies are not divided into repeating sections or segments, like an earthworm, and are instead smooth and round. They are marine creatures, living in mud and shallow water. Some feed on other small living matter like algae, plankton, arthropods, and other worms, while others simply eat detritus: loose, dead organic material in the sediment.

Priapulids were incredibly diverse in prehistoric times, and were one of the dominant predators of the Cambrian period. Only around 20 species of priapulid exist today, however, and modern penis worms have decreased in size dramatically from their ancestors. Unlike the six to eight-inch Kraytdraco spectatus, most priapulids alive today measure in the millimeters.

Although penis worms were named based on their resemblance to a human genitalia, these phallic creatures actually have been around far longer than actual penises. According to fossil records, penis worms existed at least 100 million years before .

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The Dragon Bravo wildfire continues to burn on the northside of Grand Canyon National Park, closing access to visitor services on the canyon鈥檚 North Rim for the remainder of the season. As of July 24, the blaze had scorched 23,082听acres, making it the largest active wildfire in a national park so far this season, and the fifth-largest in recent history.

According to Rob Roy Williams, the Operations Section Chief for the Southwest Area Incident Management Team, the fire is currently 26 percent contained, with 998 people fighting to keep it under control.

Fortunately, the South Rim鈥攚hich contains the bulk of the Grand Canyon National Park鈥檚 accommodations, restaurants, and tourist attractions鈥攈asn鈥檛 been affected. 鈥淭he news headlines are a bit confusing, but the Grand Canyon is not closed,鈥� Joelle Baird, Grand Canyon National Park鈥檚 Public Affairs Officer, told 国产吃瓜黑料. 鈥淭he South Rim is open and welcoming visitors as usual.鈥�听

There are some caveats. Whether you鈥檙e going hiking, camping, whitewater rafting, sight-seeing, or all of the above, here鈥檚 what you need to know if you鈥檙e planning to visit the Grand Canyon in 2025.

Where Is the Fire in the Grand Canyon?

On July 4, in the wilderness of northern Arizona, lightning ignited what became known as the Dragon Bravo fire. Wildfires in that region are part of the natural ecology, and Dragon Bravo was not initially considered a threat to infrastructure. But wind and weather conditions changed and the fire rapidly grew in size and intensity. By June 11, Dragon Bravo had reached the developed area of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The North Rim is a remote, mostly undeveloped section of Grand Canyon National Park, located a four-hour drive from the tourist amenities on the South Rim. According to Baird, the North Rim sees only about 10 percent of the Grand Canyon鈥檚 5 million annual visitors.

The Dragon Bravo fire鈥檚 status is updated daily on the . Williams also gives a daily operations update by video, and posts it on the Southwest Area Incident Management Team鈥檚 Facebook page.

On July 9, lightning ignited a second wildfire, the , on the Kaibab Plateau, located about 35 miles north of the Dragon Bravo fire (and the Grand Canyon鈥檚 North Rim), near the Arizona-Utah border. The fire is not currently threatening Grand Canyon National Park. As of July 24, White Sage had burned 58,980 acres and was 75 percent contained.

What Damage Has the Fire Done to the Grand Canyon?

On July 12, the Dragon Bravo Fire destroyed the only guest lodge on the North Rim, the , a National Historic Site. In addition to the iconic main lodge overlooking the canyon, the fire also burned a portion of the lodge鈥檚 100-plus听guest cabins.

The flames also engulfed more than a dozen Grand Canyon National Park employee residences, along with administrative offices and storage sheds. 鈥淭he full damage assessment has not been completed, but the estimate is 70 to 80 total structures,鈥� Baird said.

No lives were lost. Park staff and guests had already been evacuated from the North Rim. But the loss of the iconic Grand Canyon Lodge, which dates back to the 1920s, is profound. The lodge鈥檚 owner said in a statement, 鈥淎s stewards of some of our country鈥檚 most beloved national treasures, we are devastated by the loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge and numerous other historic buildings at the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. We are grateful that all our employees and guests have been safely evacuated, and we join the National Park Service in mourning the loss of these iconic and beloved structures.鈥�

Why Are There Closures on the Bottom of the Grand Canyon?

Phantom Ranch, the only lodging at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and the adjacent Bright Angel Campground are currently closed to both park staff and the public because of poor air quality from the fire. 鈥淲e have had several very large spikes in unhealthy air quality down at the bottom of the canyon due to smoke inversions,鈥� Baird said.

Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground were initially closed on July 12, when the Dragon Bravo fire burned Grand Canyon National Park鈥檚 water treatment facility on the North Rim, leaking chlorine gas into the air.

As explained in the park鈥檚 : 鈥淐hlorine gas is heavier than air and can quickly settle into lower elevations such as the inner canyon, posing a health risk. Due to the risk of exposure, park authorities immediately evacuated firefighters from the North Rim and hikers from the inner canyon, and closed access to specific areas within the inner canyon. All river trips were instructed to bypass Phantom Ranch.鈥�

Baird confirmed that the chlorine gas was no longer an issue. 鈥淚n general, during warm temperatures, chlorine gas dissipates really quickly,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e had a hazmat team from Flagstaff come in and do assessments last week. They determined that it is no longer an active threat for chlorine gas exposure.鈥�

The issue is now the smoke inversion. Baird said the park has set up air quality monitoring equipment on the inner canyon floor and is monitoring it daily. The intent is to open Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground as soon as air quality levels are consistently safe.

The three trails that lead to these amenities, including the North Kaibab Trail, the South Kaibab Trail, and the Bright Angel Trail below Havasupai Gardens, are also closed until the inner canyon air quality improves.

Can You Still Hike the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim?

The traditional route for hiking the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim is to take the North Kaibab Trail to either the South Kaibab or Bright Angel trails. With the current closures, this route is no longer an option.

It is possible to hike rim-to-rim using alternate trails, but Baird advises against it. She said that while the distances may be similar, the alternative pathways are more strenuous. 鈥淭hey have a lot of exposure, they鈥檙e in the full sun, they don’t have water along them, and they don’t have emergency phones.鈥�

Baird added, 鈥淚t鈥檚 best to wait for inner canyon air quality to improve so you can use the standard corridors.鈥�

Can You Still Whitewater Raft in the Grand Canyon While There鈥檚 a Fire?

For whitewater-rafting tour operators, the Dragon Bravo fire hasn鈥檛 been a factor, and isn鈥檛 expected to have any negative impacts this season. The Colorado River, which flows for 277 miles through the canyon floor, is more than 5,000 feet below the burning on the North Rim. 鈥淥ur trips are not affected by the fires at all,鈥� Art Thevenin, veteran river guide and manager of , told 国产吃瓜黑料.

Thevenin said there has been a small amount of smoke, depending on the wind pattern, but not enough to be concerning. 鈥淔rom what we’re seeing, we’re not having any abnormal effects from the fires,鈥� he said. Thevenin recommends that guests with serious respiratory issues check with their doctor.

For guests traveling the river on DIY trips, remember that Phantom Ranch in the inner canyon is closed due to air quality, which means there鈥檚 no longer a ranger stationed there, or access to the small clinic. 鈥淩iver trips are going to have to be even more self-sufficient because there is not any staffing down at Phantom Ranch at this time,鈥� Baird said.

What Is Safe to Do at the Grand Canyon?

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon has not been affected by the fire. All of the South Rim鈥檚 half-dozen are open. The 听is running its regular programming and ranger-led activities, from nature walks to star-gazing. Nothing has changed at the (or its stunning vantage point).

鈥淎s tragic as it is that we lost the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim and a lot of the historic buildings up there, over here on the South Rim, we thankfully have the world’s greatest fire block between us and the fire,鈥� Grant Mohn, co-owner of , told 国产吃瓜黑料.

Mohn says all the trails on the South Rim, with the exception of the South Kaibab Trail, are open, as are the campgrounds. The only difference on the South Rim is that Grand Canyon National Park has upgraded its normal summertime fire restriction from Stage 1 to a Stage 2. Under Stage 1, you can only have a campfire in a designated campfire ring. Under Stage 2, no fire of any kind is allowed in the park, including campfires, barbeque grills, and smoking.

Baird encourages visitors who had trips planned to the North Rim to consider the South Rim instead. 鈥淲e have rooms available and vacancies at all the lodges on the South Rim,鈥� she said.

Travelers can check Grand Canyon National Park鈥檚 for real-time conditions, and stay updated on closures and alerts on its .

The post As Wildfires Continue to Burn at the Grand Canyon, Here’s What Travelers Need to Know appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.