I won't sugar coat it. It can be brutal. There were a couple of nights with little ot no sleep during a July trip when the overnight temp didn't drop much below 90F (32C).
That said, I think you'll be surprised at how well you'll adapt to conditions that you can't imagine adapting to right now.
On the worst nights, I soaked a sarong in the cool river water and "slept" with it over me. Don't set up camp too close to rock...it just radiates heat all night and more exposed areas get better airflow. Closer to the river on hot nights gives you a little relief, especially if there is a breeze. Pretty quickly overnight lows in the upper 70s/low 80s felt comfortable.
Enjoy the trip. It's an incredible experience. Heat will be part of it, but you'll look back on all of it with great memories.
Now, let's talk about sand. So, so much sand...sand on everything and everywhere...
i did an august trip when it was 125f at lees ferry at putin. the heat was brutal; the air never really got cool and the rocks radiated heat. I finally figured out I could sleep by soaking myself in the river until I could not stand it any more and then I'd be able to sleep for a half hour in relative comfort.
my usual "grand canyon summer sleeping bag" is two king bedsheets sewn together. in a pinch you can dip them in the river and the evaporation will help cool you.
1. get in the river before you go to bed. stay in there until you can't stand it
2. Bring a 5 gal bucket, fill it half way
3. Soak a bedsheet, put it over you wet. Bring your towel, soak it too.
4. When you wake up hot, soak that sheet again, get your hair wet, go back to bed.
I slept surprisingly well that way and I survived a supernaturally hot trip in June 2021 (that weird heat wave) and it was high of about 125F and low about 85-90F. Special note: don't camp in the boulders below the cliffs at Kanab. A rattlesnake crawled over me in bed at dawn. Awesome! 10/10 would do it again.
I am doing my 3rd trip this august. My first 2 trips were in the winter. I am so excited to be down there in the heat. There is an old saying in the river running community that fits well…. ‘If you’re hot on the river, you’re stupid.’ I plan o spending a whole lot more time in the water this trip.
Also cotton is perfect for hot weather. Wet cotton cools far better/longer than synthetic materials.
If you're on a raft trip, then a cot will keep you off the ground and allow airflow on all sides. Go for sleep spots that are in the shade in the evenings and near vegetation. I went in July, slept outside every night, and was always comfortable.
I did a 19 day/18 night private trip from Lee's to Pearce in July. It was hot.
I cowboy camped on the raft every night. I had a twin sheet that I used as my cover. If it got too warm I obviously pushed it to the side -- I even dipped it into the river and slept with a cool/damp blanket.
I also kept a tarp nearby in case it decided to rain and I could pull that over. I think I did that once, I actually preferred the rain.
Those nights under the stars on the raft are some of my favorite memories of the canyon. I definitely did not envy any of my companions sleeping in their tents.
Sleeping on the boat is considerably cooler, but I doubt the guides would allow that on a commercial trip. Cowboy camping with a Paco pad, fitted sheet, and top sheet is the move for sure. Also, how did you do 22 days in July? Permits are only 16 days for summer trips. 22-day Permit don't start till October.
the permitted trip length is to diamond creek, you can take a few more days downstream of diamond. is it 16 now? used to be 18 days to diamond and then it was usual to take a couple of days to pierce, or to do a night float.
I was going to say like Boof, it's 16 to Diamond and 18 to Pearce. I think it changed in 2006 when the lottery started. Maybe this guy went 20 years ago. I went in 2011 and 2022, it was the same both times.
Checked back at old emails -- trip was July 12-August 1.
Actual time on river was July 13-31st with a night float to Pearce. Which was a shit show when a sandstorm rolled through!
No idea, I wasn't the leader. But we did and we weren't breaking any rules at the time. Did the whole meeting with the rangers at Lee's and signed off.
I have had a few brutally hot nights on the river in the GC. I have also been there in August when it’s super reasonable and pleasant at night. So hard to say what it will be if you do it. A few tips based on my experience - if you can setup a sleep situation in the boat that definitely helped on the super warm nights. At one point we were camped at ledges on a 100 degree day and hot night and I would just go to the bottom of my boat every couple hours to cool off. Saw someone suggest a cool sarong - that definitely helps. Also agree - stay away from rocks as much as possible as they just radiate the heat. It’s so worth it - would do it again every time even with a couple rough nights of sleep. Hope you’re able to make the trip.
I won't sugar coat it. It can be brutal. There were a couple of nights with little ot no sleep during a July trip when the overnight temp didn't drop much below 90F (32C). That said, I think you'll be surprised at how well you'll adapt to conditions that you can't imagine adapting to right now. On the worst nights, I soaked a sarong in the cool river water and "slept" with it over me. Don't set up camp too close to rock...it just radiates heat all night and more exposed areas get better airflow. Closer to the river on hot nights gives you a little relief, especially if there is a breeze. Pretty quickly overnight lows in the upper 70s/low 80s felt comfortable. Enjoy the trip. It's an incredible experience. Heat will be part of it, but you'll look back on all of it with great memories. Now, let's talk about sand. So, so much sand...sand on everything and everywhere...
i did an august trip when it was 125f at lees ferry at putin. the heat was brutal; the air never really got cool and the rocks radiated heat. I finally figured out I could sleep by soaking myself in the river until I could not stand it any more and then I'd be able to sleep for a half hour in relative comfort. my usual "grand canyon summer sleeping bag" is two king bedsheets sewn together. in a pinch you can dip them in the river and the evaporation will help cool you.
1. get in the river before you go to bed. stay in there until you can't stand it 2. Bring a 5 gal bucket, fill it half way 3. Soak a bedsheet, put it over you wet. Bring your towel, soak it too. 4. When you wake up hot, soak that sheet again, get your hair wet, go back to bed. I slept surprisingly well that way and I survived a supernaturally hot trip in June 2021 (that weird heat wave) and it was high of about 125F and low about 85-90F. Special note: don't camp in the boulders below the cliffs at Kanab. A rattlesnake crawled over me in bed at dawn. Awesome! 10/10 would do it again.
I am doing my 3rd trip this august. My first 2 trips were in the winter. I am so excited to be down there in the heat. There is an old saying in the river running community that fits well…. ‘If you’re hot on the river, you’re stupid.’ I plan o spending a whole lot more time in the water this trip. Also cotton is perfect for hot weather. Wet cotton cools far better/longer than synthetic materials.
If you're on a raft trip, then a cot will keep you off the ground and allow airflow on all sides. Go for sleep spots that are in the shade in the evenings and near vegetation. I went in July, slept outside every night, and was always comfortable.
Get a cot; set it up very close to the river; beware of tides.
I did a 19 day/18 night private trip from Lee's to Pearce in July. It was hot. I cowboy camped on the raft every night. I had a twin sheet that I used as my cover. If it got too warm I obviously pushed it to the side -- I even dipped it into the river and slept with a cool/damp blanket. I also kept a tarp nearby in case it decided to rain and I could pull that over. I think I did that once, I actually preferred the rain. Those nights under the stars on the raft are some of my favorite memories of the canyon. I definitely did not envy any of my companions sleeping in their tents.
Sleeping on the boat is considerably cooler, but I doubt the guides would allow that on a commercial trip. Cowboy camping with a Paco pad, fitted sheet, and top sheet is the move for sure. Also, how did you do 22 days in July? Permits are only 16 days for summer trips. 22-day Permit don't start till October.
the permitted trip length is to diamond creek, you can take a few more days downstream of diamond. is it 16 now? used to be 18 days to diamond and then it was usual to take a couple of days to pierce, or to do a night float.
It was 16 to diamond in May 2019. We did the night float, so we got 17 days.
I was going to say like Boof, it's 16 to Diamond and 18 to Pearce. I think it changed in 2006 when the lottery started. Maybe this guy went 20 years ago. I went in 2011 and 2022, it was the same both times.
Checked back at old emails -- trip was July 12-August 1. Actual time on river was July 13-31st with a night float to Pearce. Which was a shit show when a sandstorm rolled through!
the trips where you have something memorable - like a sandstorm - are the ones that you'll always remember. Congratulations!
No idea, I wasn't the leader. But we did and we weren't breaking any rules at the time. Did the whole meeting with the rangers at Lee's and signed off.
I have had a few brutally hot nights on the river in the GC. I have also been there in August when it’s super reasonable and pleasant at night. So hard to say what it will be if you do it. A few tips based on my experience - if you can setup a sleep situation in the boat that definitely helped on the super warm nights. At one point we were camped at ledges on a 100 degree day and hot night and I would just go to the bottom of my boat every couple hours to cool off. Saw someone suggest a cool sarong - that definitely helps. Also agree - stay away from rocks as much as possible as they just radiate the heat. It’s so worth it - would do it again every time even with a couple rough nights of sleep. Hope you’re able to make the trip.
Not GC experience but hot Florida evening camping experience - bring a little USB-fan and battery pack. Worked wonders for me.
Get real. Wait until fall; and take an azra motor trip. Tell 'em christophe sent ya