Switching out people at Phantom is logistically complex and costs your trip nearly a day. Also, the Park’s $100 per person fee applies to every person, whether they hike in or out, so your fees can go well over $1,600 with a passenger exchange. You will have to schedule your rendezvous date and time before you launch and then make it happen. Most 16-day trips pass Phantom (mile 88) on Day 6. With the exception of the Roaring 20’s, Marble Canyon moves slower than most of the rest of the river, meaning you will have a few long days to get there even on that schedule. If you have people hike in and/or out of your Grand Canyon River trip, here are a few tips that may help it go more smoothly.
Camp the Night Before the Exchange
You need to camp close to Phantom Ranch to set it up best. In order to get to an appropriate camp, your trip will need to talk with other private and commercial trips and discuss your schedule and needs. Cremation or Grapevine are good camps for the night before the exchange. Grapevine is large enough to sleep two groups – if you ask nicely. There are two camps at Cremation, upper and lower, above and below the riffle. Stop at the upper site before committing to the riffle, because you can’t see if anyone is in the lower site from above. Camping is not permitted anywhere near Phantom. See the Restricted Areas section of the regs.
If you have people hiking IN only, then you can camp at many of the camps upstream such as Hance or even Cardenas, and still make a lunchtime rendezvous at Phantom. The inner canyon starts at Hance and the river miles go quickly. The slow part is scouting and flipped boats: know your group’s patterns.
Hiking In
Hikers IN need to start down the trail at the break of dawn (5am) on the day of the exchange. The downhill hike takes just as long as the uphill hike (7-9 hours). Don’t be fooled; a vertical mile is strenuous either way. Hikers IN would be wise to send a drybag with the trip from Lee’s Ferry, to avoid carrying their entire kit down the trail. Another important tip: trip your toenails a few days before the long downhill walk.
Hikers IN should be able to get to Phantom Ranch by lunchtime. Down by the river, you can sleep in, rig and drift down to Phantom at your leisure, go up and get a beer or ice cream at the bar, make phone call, and top off your water jugs while waiting. The Ranch is a ½ mile walk from the river, but the pay phone, flush toilets and water faucet are closer to the boats.
Day hikers do not need a backcountry permit and overnight camping is not necessary for this hike. If any of your group wants to camp overnight at Indian Gardens or the Bright Angel Campground at Phantom Ranch, a backcountry permit must be sought well in advance of the trip. Park penalties for unpermitted camping are stiff. There is drinking water available at several locations along the Bright Angel Trail, however hikers should carry enough water to go several hours in the heat without a re-supply, as well as ample food.
You may plan to meet your incoming folks at Pipe Creek, where the Bright Angel Trail reaches the river. The trail continues upstream on river left to the bridge below Phantom. Don’t miss the eddy at the creek mouth!! It’s small and at the top of the rapid, river left. If you didn’t plan this ahead of time, you may need to send someone up to the trail to let the hikers know you are there, and perhaps also have someone walk down from Phantom to be sure you don’t miss them on the riverside section of the trail. This saves them 1.5 miles of hiking up to the bridge. Be sure you have a solid plan before you split up the boats!
Hiking Out
For your hikers OUT, have one boat wake up as early as possible. Rig and float your uphill hikers to Phantom Ranch or Pipe Creek at first light. In summer especially, hikers need the early start to minimize their exposure to daytime heat. Have the carry plenty of water, snacks, and a lunch.
Getting to and from the South Rim
Public transportation between Phoenix, Flagstaff and the South Rim is available through Groome Transportation (928-350-8466). People hiking in should be able to get into the Park without paying the Park fee by having some proof that they are joining a river trip (which has already paid park entry fees). To facilitate an early trail start, most folks sleep the night before at one of the Grand Canyon Lodges near the Bright Angel Trailhead. Call the GCNP Central Reservation Switchboard (Xanterra Parks and Resorts) at (888) 297-2757 to arrange lodging well in advance, since space is limited.
If you have both hikers IN and Out, you can use a private car for the shuttle to the South Rim. Have the hikers IN give the keys and car location to the hikers OUT when they intersect on the trail. Or make sure the hikers OUT have keys and know where cars are stored.
You may choose to have private vehicles relocated to or from the South Rim by River Runner’s Shuttle Service (928-564-2194). The shuttle service charges Park entry fees in addition to shuttle fees and gas costs.
Camps After the Exchange
Odds are good that on the day of your exchange you will be running Horn rapid late in the day and hoping to camp before Granite, Hermit, Crystal, and the Gems. This day, more than any other day, it pays to communicate nicely with commercial and private trips. There aren’t a lot of camps down there; so, if you do find an open camp, it would be wise to take it instead of holding out for Granite or Bass which will probably be in use by the time you get there. There are a few camps below Horn that are not on the map.