Halfway down the South Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park, in mid-August of 1994, I started to seriously question my dad’s sanity.
If you’re not familiar with the trail, it’s the steeper of the two that lead down into the canyon from its south rim, descending 4,780 feet at an averge grade of 22 percent (think San Francisco streets), and has no water and very little shade. Lugging a pack weighing a little over half my own bodyweight, my 10-year-old self found the conditions rather brutal, but my dad explained that August was the only time we were able to get a permit – and that we were lucky to get it. It was only when we reached the comfort of our jam-packed campground that I realized he was right.
Permit and lottery systems help protect the nation’s most popular parks from overuse, as well as provide an uncrowded experience for those who are committed enough to participate in the system. Another plus to lotteries is that the upfront fees charged go to support the park, even if you don’t win, as does the additional fee you’ll be charged if you do win. And for those of us who dream of experiencing some of the last great places on earth, all the effort is worth it.
So, here are a few tips to give you a leg up on the sizable competition scrambling for a ticket to take in some of Mother Nature’s greatest treasures.
Flexibility is key.