This is the Trip Report Album of the New Hance-Grandview Loop in the Grand Canyon November 23-November 26.

The New Hance Trail is highly scenic, but is considered one of the three most difficult trails in the Grand Canyon and the New Hance-Grandview Loop is considered to be the most difficult loop along the Tonto Trail.

Kessler, my four year old son and I decided that the New Hance-Grandview Loop would make a nice Thanksgiving outing. Since Kessler is an experienced hiker and very confident in rock scrambling and since the trail is easy to get a permit for since it isn’t crowded, it seemed like a good choice. Kessler was ready and experienced enough for something more challenging than the standard routes on most of the Colorado 14ers and was very excited for the trip. He has been hiking up to 13 or more miles a day on occasion, but we knew we couldn’t make those distances on these routes. Although we carried ropes and a child harness, we found that these were not needed.

It was a great trip and a spectacular route! See the trip report below:

TRIP REPORT

Images

Above Hance Creek

Top of Redwall

Above Hance Rapid

Climbing out the Grandview Trail

Hance Trail

East Grandview

Hance Trail through the Coconino

Four Year old Kessler climbs out of Cave of the Domes

Hance Creek

East Grandview Route

Route to Cave of the Domes

[ View Gallery - 14 More Images ]

Comments

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Viewing: 1-8 of 8

lisae

Pretty Amazing Shots!

Voted 10/10

Kessler's back pack is almost as big as he is.

Do you get nervous watching him on exposed terrain? I remember having to turn my back when my son was little, because it made me so uncomfortable watching him scramble around and climb trees.

Posted Nov 27, 2006 9:45 pm


	Scott	Re: Pretty Amazing Shots!
	Hasn't voted	Do you get nervous watching him on exposed terrain? There were some exposed sections, but I don't have any photos of them because I was holding Kessler's hand during them! Yes, it is always a concern and I am very animate about his safety and much care is taken. We took a rope and harness on the route, but it wasn't needed. I teach him all I can on how to be safe and he is learning much. It's when he is older that we will really have to worry!
		Posted Nov 27, 2006 9:53 pm


	lisae	You're
	Voted 10/10	probably correct, that you will have to worry when he is older. Kessler is lucky to have you as a teacher/parent.
		Posted Nov 27, 2006 10:13 pm

JFox

Awesome Scott!

Hasn't voted

Looks like you and Kessler had a great time!

Posted Nov 28, 2006 1:42 am


	Scott	Re: Awesome Scott!
	Hasn't voted	Indeed! He's ready to go again!
		Posted Nov 28, 2006 1:45 am

Dan Leonhard

inspiring!

Voted 10/10

Sounds like it was a very cool father/son outing. Beautiful place too!

Posted Nov 28, 2006 9:12 pm

ColoradoScott

New Hance to Grandview

Hasn't voted

Great trip report, Scott. My wife and I did that loop over 4 days and 5 nights last March. We had a foot of snow to contend with on the upper 1,000' of both trails and descended New Hance's redwall in a rain/snowstorm. We spent two nights at Hance Rapids and then moved to Hance Creek. Hance Creek is dark and has east and western redwalls that really block the sun; but it was the biting flies and cedar gnats there that really motivated us to carry water and make a dry camp way out on the Tonto Platform North of Grandview Mesa. We then ascended from the Tonto up the North Grandview trail (not very hard, just steep) and across the mesa (I wanted to summit Grandview's highpoint, but that will have to wait) and we continued up to the rim. A great trip, and I can't wait to do more there. Congrat's to you and Kessler and thanks for bringing back great memories.

Posted Nov 29, 2006 12:30 am

aemter

Thank you!

Voted 10/10

Thanks for the trip report, Scott! My daughter is 20 months old and I'm just aching for the time when we can go on trips and she can carry a bit of weight (as I see your son is doing). I really enjoyed the pictures and enjoy hearing of other dads who are on the trail with their children.

Posted Nov 29, 2006 10:15 pm

Viewing: 1-8 of 8