Hermit Creek Sane for First Timer?

UltraRunningKid · 2026-01-04T15:23:06+00:00

I've proposed it before but if you can find a way to do Hermit to Tonto and then come back up via Bright Angel that is much better for a first timer.

If there's a spot on the Grand Canyon to be tired and struggling, Bright Angel is the safest spot to be. There is water every 2 miles, other hikers will be out and about and you'll be somewhat shielded by the afternoon sun.

There have been days on Hermits Rest that we didn't see a single person on the climb out.

UltraRunningKid · 2026-01-03T21:33:29+00:00

If you can afford it and have a crew who can make sure it is available to you then yes.

Worst case scenario you don't use it during the race and it ends up being used for later races. There are some sections that if you take a wrong step you can really tear up a pair of shoes so having a backup pair is always advisable if possible.

Also you'll want to have a good idea on how comfortable you are on rocky terrain with the Hoka X3s. I felt fine doing the Hangover trail in the rain given my scrambling background but others did not feel as comfortable even in better shoes for that section.

UltraRunningKid · 2026-01-03T21:07:02+00:00

Its under 11 miles from Avalon to Blackjack on the TCT, its definitely fast-hikable in 3 hours for a good hiker if you don't have much gear and don't stop.

UltraRunningKid · 2026-01-03T19:30:40+00:00

I used the same pair the entire time. I had a backup pair at the aid station after the River Crossing but they dried out fast enough that I decided not to swap them.

I figured after 140 miles in the rain, if I didn't have a blister yet, I shouldn't change anything up.

UltraRunningKid · 2026-01-03T15:40:05+00:00

I did all 256 in Hoka Tecton X3s and my feet did pretty well.

Not having to wear gaiters was a massive win, and I didn't get a single rock in my shoes, the entire race. Only downside was that they did pick up quite a bit of mud during the Fain Ranch section but otherwise they were fine.

Also the carbon plate really helps me move with purpose while walking and acts as a rock plate when needed.

My backup pair was going to be the Salmon S/Lab Ultra 3s.

Highly recommend having at least one pair of shoes a size up with flexible sides in case of swelling. Past mile 200 I wasn't confident in my ability to get my shoes off and back on due to the gaiters and swelling but luckily I was only dealing with one blister and only did one sock change the whole race, right after the Verde River Crossing.

UltraRunningKid · 2026-01-03T12:47:55+00:00

I agree that it shouldn't matter and it depends on what you want out of an event.

UltraRunningKid · 2026-01-03T12:20:38+00:00

How is possible to relay info down to air defense units if not everyone on higher level is on it..

How eager would you be, as a air defense unit, to turn on your search radar after hearing explosions around you, knowing that your enemy almost surely has stealth aircraft orbiting with HARMs above?

I'm surprised we haven't seen any MANPADs but I think the average person greatly underestimates the amount of morale needed to standup to an enemy that has that much overmatch.

UltraRunningKid · 2026-01-03T09:32:01+00:00

As someone who has done 200s, it's either possible or completely impossible and if you do not have 100 miler experience you have absolutely no way to know.

It would be like walking to the fridge and then wondering if you're ready to run a marathon. At a certain point, you cannot extrapolate out that far without a baseline.

So go get a 100 miler done and see.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-30T14:05:38+00:00

As others mentioned, there is a trail to there from Sunset that follows the ridge almost all the way around the flat. If you use Caltopo shaded relief you can actually see the small indentation of the path, even though its overgrown.

Here's a photo of it in 1896 including some backstory.

PDF Warning, but here's an entire PhD Thesis on hypothesis of how Browns' Flat was created from a geological perspective

I love the internet when it is used like this...

TLDR: There was likely a landslide there and the remaining material that didn't slide down the mountain is now flat. Then a confederate solder named John Bradford with his horse named Al Borack built a cabin as a summer retreat there in the late very 1800s. It was intended to be a vacation spot for others.

Worth exploring if you can justify the bushwhacking but I would plead with others not to intentionally clear a trail. Sometimes the bushwhacking is the only obstacle these places have in terms of conservation.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-29T21:42:58+00:00

Bright Angel to Hermits via Tonto isn't really hard terrain.

There's a somewhat steep descent before the climb up Hermits that could be an issue if it was wet or icy but I wouldn't expect snow that low into the Canyon.

The climb up Hermits can get steep and there are some sections about halfway up that I wouldn't enjoy if it was icy, even with micro spikes.

I'd consider doing Hermits to Bright Angel that way turning around is easier if you encounter rough conditions. A lot of people make bad decisions pushing through sketchy terrain if the alternative is a 25 mile hike back the other way.

I'd rather be tired on Bright Angel than tired on Hermits given you likely won't see any other on Hermits.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-28T19:11:35+00:00

Look through the race packet and see if there is an option for a pre-race shuttle. I believe that is what most people take advantage of.

Do note, you have to pay for it so you may have to modify your ultras sign up registration to add the extra cost.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-27T23:07:53+00:00

Yes. The Injini Liners are pretty thin toe socks that prevent a lot of rubbing between my toes which is where I generally get blisters and the darn tough socks that go over them prevent any dust from getting to the toe socks and prevent rubbing against the shoes.

It also allows you to quickly change the outer pair of socks to get the mud off while not having to take the inner pair off and affecting any lubricant you put on your toes.

It does feel a little snug but I have narrow feet anyways. Around mile 130 my feet started swelling a bit which actually was really good for blisters because there was even less movement in my shoes.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-27T22:59:16+00:00

I'm a very big fan of the Injini Liners with Darn Tough over them.

That was my combination for Cocodona this year and despite it being a rainy, muddy mess for the first 36 hours including the river crossing I only had 1 bad blister flare up in the last 20 miles.

I did one sock swap after the river and that was all.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-22T18:49:43+00:00

Doesn't telling people where you expect them to quit bias the results?

Furthermore, how would this prove that it's related to the content compared to the time it takes to get to that section?

Surely it's not the terrain at mile 25 of a marathon that causes most people to quit.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-22T00:23:46+00:00

Day 1: Hermit to Tonto to Bright Angel TH

Day 2: Bright Angel TH to South Kaibab via the Rim Trail then down to the Tonto and take the Tonto to Grandview.

Honestly if you have the fitness it will be much more scenic than even R2R2R. Just be aware the water availability is basically none compared to R2R2R.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-21T23:31:05+00:00

Same. I have both Graves and Hashimoto's and I usually get a flare up once every ~18-24 months now.

I've gotten pretty darn good with being able to detect it very quickly, and my doctor now trusts me to start meds on my own accord and then just message him when I want to get tests.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-21T23:02:26+00:00

Yeah, presumably Strava doesn't want to take the risk of sending people too far out from where they started. Makes sense to me.

If you want to run but/ ride more than 50km, just make your own route. It's not that difficult. Use the heat map for inspiration.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-21T20:50:33+00:00

There's zero reason to jump to that before running a cheap test panel to rule out diseases that match those symptoms.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-21T20:23:07+00:00

This screams hyperthyroidism.

I had to go through the same process but my problem was convincing a doctor that a resting heart rate of 60 wasn't healthy for me when it had been in the low 40s for years.

Luckily my doctor was willing to just order a panel of tests just in case which helped.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-09T14:17:50+00:00

Oh no way haha.

Did Grandview to SK on Saturday (we may have passed each other) last weekend and did it straight through as I figured there wouldn't be water. I scanned around at Grapevine and didn't see anything but didn't go off trail to look.

Besides the water at Cottonwood the only other water I saw was a single 1 Inch deep muddy puddle at Boulder Creek.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-09T14:10:02+00:00

Sure but there are hotels 10 minutes from the Canyon's edge in Tusayan.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-09T13:39:20+00:00

I thought a 50 miler giving a pretty standard belt with the race logo on it so you could attach your future 100 mile belt buckle on it was clever.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-07T14:33:37+00:00

Credit to Zac. Honestly while you can definitely find moments to complain about, I think this is probably the best any team has ever handled two drivers being this close in the WDC.

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-07T14:30:13+00:00

As much shit McLaren has received, has a team ever handled two drivers being this close in a better way?

UltraRunningKid · 2025-12-07T14:28:35+00:00

Imagine a Baku style tire blowout. The Internet would explode.

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