I may have missed it but in what month did you do this hike? I saw just a bit of snow/ice at the beginning of Tanner so I'm assuming sometime in April? Would you recommend a different month since the temps at the river were so high?
@smoothatlasАй бұрын
March 31, 2022 was the start date. Yes there was snow near the rim. My hike should have begun 2 days earlier but a snowstorm arrived and I decided to wait out the snow and I am glad I did. You can clearly see the leftover snow from the storm. My original plan had me going down the Beamer Trail to the Confluence so I "dropped" those two days of the original planned hike to avoid hiking through a snowstorm my first day. Every year the river temps in Spring are slightly different. Sometimes it's pleasant in early March. Try to be flexible with your plans if you wish to avoid bad weather but you run the risk of not getting your original itinerary. When I was at the GCNP in 2019 there was snow until the first week of June and it was very cold the last 3 weeks of May. March and April are good bets for mid-day river temps in the 80's and rim temps 25-55...maybe even 65 degrees. Then there is Autumn. It gets cold after Halloween.
@user-mk5rs2kc8cАй бұрын
There have already been numerous rescues in North Arizona from dehydrated hikers and it isn't even summer yet. Almost all of them were straight up fools. One of them brought only a 16 oz bottle of water on the south Kaibab trail in the Grand Canyon, and apparently said to his hiking companion that, "he didn't need anymore and that this wasn't that hard." There is a pump near and at Phantom Ranch, but he didn't even come close to making it and that was going DOWN hill. Don't be one of these idiots thinking you know what is what and coming vastly unprepared. You don't... He had to be taken up on mules after the NPS staff got to him. Don't be that one.
@smoothatlasАй бұрын
Thank you for watching! I hope you enjoy my other videos. June 4, 2019 at 7pm while hiking out on Bright Angel, I witnessed a female hiker at the River Rest House with one flimsy plastic grocery bag and one small bottle of water wearing a t-shirt and shorts and a nasty sunburn. Temps inside the canyon were dropping fast with a storm approaching that night. Park officials arrived soon after I found her. She needed a rescue.
@gthornton95763 ай бұрын
Hope you’re doing better. Perfect videos. Hoping for more! Cheers.
@smoothatlas3 ай бұрын
Thank you very much! A car accident two weeks after this 2022 trip has delayed any new content. Then leap year February 29, 2024 (my birthday) I headed back for more and did the Salt Trail down to the Little Colorado River. Winds were 40+mph then it rained creating slippery conditions. I fell numerous times, I had another brand new Sawyer water filter fail (3rd in a row now) and I called for a helicopter rescue. Video coming soon.
@thedeafcattledog86083 ай бұрын
I recommend the Grayl water filter for water that may be contaminated with viruses. That's what I'm planning to bring with us when we hike at the GC this summer (since I already have it and I think it's the best). I researched the crap out of filters when I went on a school trip to a third world country a few years back. It was the best one I found, you can basically drink sewer water after filtering through it (and that was pretty much the water quality available where we went, ugh). The Grayl is easy to operate, easy to avoid cross contamination because of it's design, and filters viruses, bacteria and more importantly - parasites! You don't want a parasite...
@smoothatlas3 ай бұрын
Thank you! The Grayl filter is very nice. My only concern is the 20+ ounces and $220 for the device.....ouch & ouch! Last month I had another BRAND NEW SAWYER WATER FILTER FAILURE while hiking the Little Colorado River that ended with a helicopter rescue because the water filter failed. I was injured, but I could have waited a few days for my injuries to subside and then hiked out, but when the brand new Sawyer water filter did not work I had no way to filter water for those few days and I called for help. In January 2022 I purchased 3 Sawyer water filters and so far ALL of them have failed in some way. Little Colorado hike that ended with a helicopter rescue; video coming soon. Thanks again!
@JourneyontheTrail4 ай бұрын
Excellent trip video despite the illness you got hit with! Thanks for sharing!
@smoothatlas4 ай бұрын
Thank you!! Disinfect your backcountry water while at the Grand Canyon and maintain save hygiene throughout the park. If you are anywhere public (buses, grocery store, railings, etc.) disinfect your hands. Norovirus transmits easily (air, water, surfaces) and can linger for 12-24 up to 48 hours.
@fredmaguire885 ай бұрын
Great video work! Loved your introspection at Ghost Rock.
@smoothatlas4 ай бұрын
Thank you very much! It is a very beautiful location to connect with whomever was here before us.
@ZacchaeusNifong5 ай бұрын
This is by far, the best video of the Thunder River / Deer Creek Loop in the Canyon. Simple, and to the point. Minimal discussion, and just hiking. The way it should be. If there were (are) things we should know as an audience, he mentions it. Other than that, you be the judge. It's easy to see for yourself the terrain, the water options, (or lack thereof lol) and the remainder of the conditions. Thanks for sharing this. (Edited: P.S. What pack are you carrying? It looks like there are solar panels on it.)
@smoothatlas4 ай бұрын
Thank you! Excuse my delayed response, I was at the Grand Canyon. My pack is an Arcteryx Alta 75L from 2009. The solar panel is called a LightSaver Max from powerfilmsolar.com. I purchased late 2021 for $399 and today they cost $669. I rigged up some 1/8" bungee cord to attach the LightSaver Max to the pack. The LightSaver Max has an 18,000mAh internal battery. I would drain the internal battery the first night recharging my gear and then day 2-3-4 of the hike, the sun would charge the internal battery enough (20-30-40%) to only charge my phone and Garmin inreach and then "maybe" 1 or 2 camera batteries; but mostly the LightSaver Max would only capture enough energy to charge my phone and Garmin. While using the LightSaver Max from November through May, it would take 1.5 to 2 days to recharge to 100% IF IT NEVER MOVED, so hiking it would take longer to charge. I also carry 2 (sometimes 3) Anker 325 Power Bank batteries with 20,000mAh.
@JP-jn2yx5 ай бұрын
This video is criminally underrated. Most try to make the trail fit a story or narrative the creator has ideated. You simply present the trail as it is. Don't change a thing.
@smoothatlas5 ай бұрын
Exactly!!! Thank you!!! I try to capture the environment as-is and put the viewer on the trail along with providing whatever intel for your future hike/trip. I'm headed back this year to create more videos. Thanks again! "criminally underrated" hahaha!! Sofa-king-awesome!
@jasonboze5 ай бұрын
awesome video, hope the foot is better. Around 26:00 what program do you use to layer those or is this all one shot. Great work.
@smoothatlas5 ай бұрын
Yes, I discovered the foot issue was from a 2020 car accident injury. @26:00 - Adobe Premiere. 2 shots: first is video with bats flying around and text describing the environment then it fades (basic fade transition in Adobe Premiere) into a time lapse with the moon shadow crossing the canyon followed by the rising Milky Way. The time lapse is created with LRTimelapse / Adobe Lightroom / Adobe After Effects. I leave the camera as is, stop the video, set up a time lapse and then I fade the two shots together in post production. I create this type of transition in most of my videos. I am glad you enjoyed the video!! Thank you!
@kimbruns20845 ай бұрын
Wow...! This is the first video I watched of yours and you do a fantastic job of putting the viewer on the trail. Simply beautiful. The GC is my favorite place and your videos are going to be my go to place to be there when I can't be there. Love the background music, just perfect. Thank you very much.
@smoothatlas5 ай бұрын
Thank you! "Putting the viewer on the trail" was one of my creative goals for these videos. The wide angle lens and full frame camera are required to achieve that perspective. More videos/hikes happening this year-2024.
@jasonboze6 ай бұрын
great videos. really well done.
@smoothatlas6 ай бұрын
Thank you and great to hear!
@user-hx6ef9bt2m6 ай бұрын
I have a comment to make. It's very educating and beautiful your shooting with the camera, but it's also very tiring. Because when you do all these long shots in very difficult places, you have to go back to get your camera.You are also diabetic,for that reason i could imagine that the task will be even more difficult and given that you have to deal with the heat . I would like if you could tell me your opinion💖💖💖
@smoothatlas6 ай бұрын
Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed the video. Diabetes only has a negative effect on my physical activities when my diabetes is out of control. I do everything I can to maintain a consistent blood sugar level and as long as I am physically fit to complete a hike and my blood sugar is under control, there are no issues with diabetes. I can control my diabetes in any environment and I know exactly how to recover quickly from an unexpected low blood sugar event. The "more difficult" part is the extra weight in my backpack to maintain my diabetes. I carry extra water close to my insulin to keep the insulin cool and then some extra sugary snacks to avoid a low blood sugar emergency. That weight adds up and is a PIA. I hope you enjoy the other videos from 2022 and I have more to come soon.
@mulsanne2156 ай бұрын
Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm planning a similar trek in April, so this was very useful. I will be extra careful with my water! Did you ever determine what the problem was with your filter?
@smoothatlas6 ай бұрын
Thank you! I am glad the video was useful! More hikes/videos to come. GCNP now warns that all backcountry water must be disinfected. I will provide a link: www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/safe-water.htm#:~:text=Filtration%20alone%20is%20not%20sufficient,time%20to%20kill%20any%20organisms And NO I did not determine the cause of the issue. I purchased a new Sawyer filter, tested 2 days before my next hike and I also purchased the Katadyn BeFree and I carried both for the other 2022 hikes/videos. The BeFree failed on my Grandview to Bright Angel hike. Link: kzread.info/dash/bejne/oX9rpq9um9XFitI.html For my next hikes I plan to treat the water with a Steri Pen and/or Aquatabs. We will soon see how that goes. Thanks again and have a great trip!
@wanderworm6 ай бұрын
Your video is beautiful and I'm sorry illness averted your planned itinerary. I would like to get on this trail in April 2024 and am solo as you were. How did you shuttle from where you left your car to where you started/ended your hike depending on if your car was at the start or finish of the hike?
@smoothatlas6 ай бұрын
Thank you and I am glad you enjoyed the video! Shuttle? Private shuttle/taxi service is illegal within the park. The park rangers at the Backcountry Office told me to "make friends" and also hitchhiking is illegal yet it was repeatedly recommended. I tried everything for several weeks; asking the staff at all the hotels and restaurants and the taxi service at BA Lodge and literally walked around asking anyone and everyone offering $100 for the ride. I was stood up three times, numerous "yes I will" then no call backs and I had to reschedule 4 hikes due to this issue holding up my itinerary for 5 weeks. I arrived at GCNP Feb 15th and my first hike wasn't until March 21st! Extremely frustrating and absolutely derailing my plans. I wish I had a better answer other than my ridiculous experience and finally getting lucky. Try Facebook group "Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers" and best of luck! If you find something miraculously changed, PLEASE reply back or contact me. Thanks again!
@wanderworm6 ай бұрын
@@smoothatlas thanks for letting me know all this. I live in eastern Canada so it’s difficult to plan something like this. How frustrating this must have been for you and thanks for the tip on the facebook group.
@mattpelofske46326 ай бұрын
Hey I'm a insulin-dependent diabetic and I'm wondering what you eat in camping on the trail how many carbs how many units of insulin you're taking if any at all stuff like that it would make an interesting video I hike and backpack a lot and struggle with low carb foods to eat I'm going to start making my own backpacking meals for a lower carb healthier alternative anyway another great video would love to hear some insights
@smoothatlas6 ай бұрын
Thank You! I considered a "Type 1 Diabetes While Hiking" video but I chickened out, unsure of what I wanted to contribute to KZread. My next hikes, coming in 2024, I will put something together and explain my diabetic process for the duration of the hike. Thanks again!
@mattpelofske46326 ай бұрын
This is a great video it really highlights how experienced people and strong hikers can still have issues in the Grand Canyon in a way it's like an educational video for people that spend a lot of time in the wilderness
@smoothatlas6 ай бұрын
Thank you! For this to be my first KZread video...I was very devastated; but I thought the experience was educational and worthy enough to pass along. I want to create honest videos. Be careful what you wish for. Thanks again and glad you enjoyed!!
@claudiabenter64637 ай бұрын
Wunderschöne, eindrucksvolle Landschaft. Gut gefilmt und sehr schönes Video, dezente Musik. Erste Klasse, danke schön.
@smoothatlas7 ай бұрын
~ "Beautiful, impressive landscape. Well filmed and very nice video, subtle music. First class, thank you very much." Ich freue mich, dass es Ihnen gefallen hat! Danke schön! I am glad you enjoyed! Thank you!
@ricardotorres87717 ай бұрын
Congratulations on another stunning backpacking video. Great camera work overall, can’t say enough. You produce the best backpacking videos on the Grand Canyon, for sure. And you educate all of us about diabetes, I don’t have it but can understand a lot more about it by having watched your videos. Thanks for the work, very nice. Oh yeah, the time lapses are stunning.
@smoothatlas7 ай бұрын
Thank you! Your comments are inspiring!
@ricardotorres87717 ай бұрын
If I could give this post 1,000 thumbs up, I would. Outstanding, well done, my respect, sir.
@smoothatlas7 ай бұрын
You are awesome! I am glad you enjoyed and I hope your adventure goes smoothly. More videos coming soon.
@stephendehaan83068 ай бұрын
Great video. I have hiked down to Deer Creek on two separate trips. Watching you traverse the "narrow" spot in the Narrows brought back memories of high anxiety. For some reason that spot just spooked me.
@smoothatlas8 ай бұрын
Thank you! More adventures to come! Yes I agree and exactly why I wanted to capture that section on video for others to know. That short narrow section just felt wrong. Dust, sand and and pebbles are on every surface with NO good hand holds and the drop is deadly. Now that I am aware, next time I will remove the water bottles from the side pouches of my backpack and slim down my waistline a bit more to squeeze through.
@WelshFargoAway8 ай бұрын
Great video ! I did the North Kaibab in August and I had severe gastro issues after I got to Phantom Ranch. Couldn't eat or drink. Suffice it to say the hike back up, especially after Cottonwood was brutal. I usually have gastro issue in the backcountry but not to that extent.
@smoothatlas8 ай бұрын
Thank you and thanks for watching! Not an easy place to be sick and very frustrating to have these experiences/hikes/videos to start my youtube channel. There were no water issues on the North Rim. UV filter added for all future hikes!
@douglasmanning60928 ай бұрын
Wow and you had to climb back down and get your camera at Papago wall and back up again. Take your pack off for that?
@smoothatlas8 ай бұрын
I am glad you enjoyed the spectacle!
@gather.sip.flourish9 ай бұрын
Glad you made it! Your cinematography skills are great! Wish I had the same talent!
@smoothatlas9 ай бұрын
Thank you! Check out my other videos. This first hike/video was a disaster. Thanks again for watching!!
@DKELLOWAYKelloway9 ай бұрын
Excellent work. The extra effort chasing the camera and high quality resolution make it a must watch to the end. Thanks.
@smoothatlas9 ай бұрын
Good to hear! I am glad you enjoyed! More to come.
@iliansanchez99929 ай бұрын
I like your adventures.
@smoothatlas9 ай бұрын
Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed. More on the way.
@iliansanchez99929 ай бұрын
Great job 💯👌
@smoothatlas9 ай бұрын
Thank you very much!!
@jasonboze11 ай бұрын
Excellent Video...was that Mary had a little lamb on a cactus?
@smoothatlas11 ай бұрын
Yes! Thanks for watching! I'll be heading back soon. More content coming ASAP.
@neilsantarella185611 ай бұрын
When the videography is very good, no need for distracting/annoying music or lots of talk to fill in. Outstanding!
@smoothatlas11 ай бұрын
Thank You! I am glad you enjoyed! More content coming ASAP.
@austinado1611 ай бұрын
Wow!! What a gnarly situation to wind up in. I'm glad you made it out, and feel so bad for you that you had to go through all that, plus spend months recovering fully. The quality of the video is just flat amazing. The amount of distance and time that you added in order to get all those shots just crushes my soul a little. I've been running that same route since 2015, sometimes twice a year, and I just can't imagine going back and forth to a camera, let alone with all the gear and equipment you had. Extremely impressive!
@smoothatlas11 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching! Aquatabs for all future hikes in GCNP. I am glad you enjoyed the video quality. I did not mean to crush your soul but flattered at the same time and inspired to create more soul crushing content. Twice a year for 8+ years...awesome!! More content coming ASAP.
@austinado1611 ай бұрын
@@smoothatlas Saw a news story yesterday that was completely lacking in detail, as always, but they said that there is now an e coli outbreak in the water at the Grand Canyon and all water should be boiled. Of course they couldn't provide important facts like: Were they talking about the water in Bright Angel and other creeks. Were they talking about the water coming out of the pipeline. Were they talking about the water that's available at faucets and in hotel rooms, etc.
@gthornton9576 Жыл бұрын
All videos are like actually being there in person. Great!
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thank you very much! I tried to achieve that type of perspective with the wide angle lens so thanks for noticing one of my creative goals.
@garymoore3446 Жыл бұрын
Awesome !!!
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thank you and thanks for watching!
@flyvtec04 Жыл бұрын
Great job! 👍🏽
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thank you and thanks for watching!
@kvaaron Жыл бұрын
Thank you, sir! What time of year did you do this hike?
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
You are very welcome! May 11, 2022. More details in the description. Thanks for watching!
@DaveHoffmancowboyhiker Жыл бұрын
You're a machine! Do you recommend any water treatment besides the filter?
@DaveHoffmancowboyhiker Жыл бұрын
The footage was beautiful! I'm impressed you kept filming!
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thank you! I felt guilty for getting sick and obligated to keep recording. My first video was a disaster!
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thank you! I have heard "machine" for many years regarding drumming so it is nice to hear again regarding hiking! All GCNP water treatment requires disinfection. You need a filter that will kill viruses or a UV light or chemical treatment. The Sawyer or Katadyn squeeze filters will not filter viruses. This link is from the GCNP website: www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/safe-water.htm
@kristaleyez2404 Жыл бұрын
My new favorite KZreadr ❤ I watched this video several times as part of my research for my upcoming Escalante trip. The best!
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Most excellent to hear! Thank you! My goals are to document the trail and provide an immersive visual description so that others can better evaluate their circumstances before taking on these challenges.
@lenbackus71989 ай бұрын
@@smoothatlasExcellent detailed aid for me as I am doing this trip 3/24...
@DaveHoffmancowboyhiker Жыл бұрын
I'm so glad you got out! Hope you're back to normal now!
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thank you! Future videos/hikes are in the works.
@DaveHoffmancowboyhiker Жыл бұрын
By the way, your van is super kool!
@lizkemna269 Жыл бұрын
When do you take this hike? Beautiful video. 🎉🎉🎉
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
June 9, 2022. Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed!!!
@DaveHoffmancowboyhiker Жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing! Jealous by the way! Do crows usually warn humans of snakes? Or is it that they like individual people?
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
I wish I spoke Raven. The Ravens are very smart and the park rangers warn that Ravens know how to unzip or unbuckle backpacks and it is easier for them to poke holes in the dyneema backpacks.
@chillpill83 Жыл бұрын
Did you do any particular training for these hikes?
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Not really and I live in Texas. I do not go to a gym and I try to work outside often. When I drive I do not use the AC. I did play drums for 35+ years so that probably helped. I recommend walking with a 20+ pound backpack 3 miles, 3x per week at a pace of 3 MPH for at least 3 months. The more hills/stairs the better. Tall parking garages are helpful.
@chillpill83 Жыл бұрын
@@smoothatlas Been training for thunderfalls in late April, so nice to see someone with the same fitness as me lol. Thanks!
@chillpill83 Жыл бұрын
Great video - how much weight were you carrying?
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching! 40 pounds.
@bobkavanagh3701 Жыл бұрын
Nice to see other T1Ds hiking the Grand Canyon
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@latehiker1168 Жыл бұрын
Hey man - thanks for sharing your adventure with us. I am so thankful and appreciate it very much. In a few weeks my hike to Thunder River and Deer Creek will start. I've been planning this for months and your great video helped me a lot. A question about your great shots: Are the night time lapses out of camera or edited? What settings did you choose on your camera? It would be great if you had a few more tips. Aperture, shutter speed, ISO, interval. Thank you and greetings from Berlin/Germany
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching and it is good to hear the video helped because that was one of my goals, to help better understand the Grand Canyon. All of the time-lapses are captured RAW with a Canon 5DIV and a 16-35mm f2.8 lens then developed and edited using LRTimelapse, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro. For my camera lens combination: f2.8, 25 second exposure, iso 3200-3600 and the intervalometer captures an image every 30 seconds. I change the battery every 2.5 hours and it takes 3-4 batteries to capture the night sky from 10pm to 4am. Night time camera settings can vary with full moon versus new moon and this is were practice and educated, improvisational guess work come into play. It also helps to know the sky and where the Milky Way and Moon will be located for the predicted capture dates so you know what direction to point the camera and how to set your composition. I use www.timeanddate.com/ to predict what the sky "may" look like. Best of luck on your Thunder River Deer Creek hike!
@latehiker1168 Жыл бұрын
Thanks a lot for the tips. That sounds like a lot of work in the post-processing of the material. But it was definitely worth it, because the end result is awesome.
@MarioLoco03 Жыл бұрын
When was this video taken?
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
May 21, 2022 - information is in the description. Thanks for watching! I'm curious why you ask?
@littleBIGGRiggs Жыл бұрын
Another beautiful hike with some breathtaking views, thanks for letting us tag along. See you in the next one
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thank you and thanks for watching!
@ervinslens Жыл бұрын
Absolutely stunning content my friend, composition is just outstanding here. Well done 🎥🔥
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thank you very much!
@ervinslens Жыл бұрын
This is absolutely spectacular presentation my friend. You created something special and magical here. Pure perfection 👌👌👌
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thank you very much! "Pure perfection"...wow!...morale boost!
@danandshellythomas Жыл бұрын
So, in difficulty, how would you rate this hike compared to Tanner, Escalante, Grandview hike?
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching. Compared to the Escalante route, this loop is about the same difficulty and maybe a bit easier.
@ronwood7155 Жыл бұрын
I am amazed that you went alone down that trail, good on you!! In 1967 I went on that hike with my Boy Scout troop.. I was 14, it was tough back then, also. We were about 6 of us with lousy equipment. We made the hike to Thunder River in one day, stayed a few days, and left in one day. We encountered 2 rattlesnakes, which unfortunately never saw another day. Kids back then!! LOL My Father was raised on Mt. Trumbull and Hurricane, which are very close to the Grand Canyon. I am a farmer in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Thanks for your film, it brought back memories.
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thank you! I can barely imagine doing this in 1967 or 1867 or 10,000 years ago.
@awitnessuntoallnations Жыл бұрын
Wow! Great job capturing your adventure! Appreciate all the effort that went into getting these awesome hiking and scenery shots. Thanks for taking us along and sharing the overwhelming beauty of the Grand Canyon. Glad we found your channel! Keep up the great work! 👍
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thank you! Future videos are in progress. Thanks again.
@danandshellythomas Жыл бұрын
Having done this hike three times, I realize just how much extra energy you have to use to make these videos. You climbed Papago to the top and then had to backtrack to retrieve your camera. That alone is a feat itself. Just enough narration with excellent visuals. If your still at the canyon, try Boucher Trail, it's a bugger as well.
@smoothatlas Жыл бұрын
Thank you! Yes Boucher is on the to do list.
@kristaleyez2404 Жыл бұрын
I did Boucher last year May 2022 during the Norovirus scare . I made a last minute addition to my water treatment - Iodine . You are going to like that trail !
Пікірлер
I may have missed it but in what month did you do this hike? I saw just a bit of snow/ice at the beginning of Tanner so I'm assuming sometime in April? Would you recommend a different month since the temps at the river were so high?
March 31, 2022 was the start date. Yes there was snow near the rim. My hike should have begun 2 days earlier but a snowstorm arrived and I decided to wait out the snow and I am glad I did. You can clearly see the leftover snow from the storm. My original plan had me going down the Beamer Trail to the Confluence so I "dropped" those two days of the original planned hike to avoid hiking through a snowstorm my first day. Every year the river temps in Spring are slightly different. Sometimes it's pleasant in early March. Try to be flexible with your plans if you wish to avoid bad weather but you run the risk of not getting your original itinerary. When I was at the GCNP in 2019 there was snow until the first week of June and it was very cold the last 3 weeks of May. March and April are good bets for mid-day river temps in the 80's and rim temps 25-55...maybe even 65 degrees. Then there is Autumn. It gets cold after Halloween.
There have already been numerous rescues in North Arizona from dehydrated hikers and it isn't even summer yet. Almost all of them were straight up fools. One of them brought only a 16 oz bottle of water on the south Kaibab trail in the Grand Canyon, and apparently said to his hiking companion that, "he didn't need anymore and that this wasn't that hard." There is a pump near and at Phantom Ranch, but he didn't even come close to making it and that was going DOWN hill. Don't be one of these idiots thinking you know what is what and coming vastly unprepared. You don't... He had to be taken up on mules after the NPS staff got to him. Don't be that one.
Thank you for watching! I hope you enjoy my other videos. June 4, 2019 at 7pm while hiking out on Bright Angel, I witnessed a female hiker at the River Rest House with one flimsy plastic grocery bag and one small bottle of water wearing a t-shirt and shorts and a nasty sunburn. Temps inside the canyon were dropping fast with a storm approaching that night. Park officials arrived soon after I found her. She needed a rescue.
Hope you’re doing better. Perfect videos. Hoping for more! Cheers.
Thank you very much! A car accident two weeks after this 2022 trip has delayed any new content. Then leap year February 29, 2024 (my birthday) I headed back for more and did the Salt Trail down to the Little Colorado River. Winds were 40+mph then it rained creating slippery conditions. I fell numerous times, I had another brand new Sawyer water filter fail (3rd in a row now) and I called for a helicopter rescue. Video coming soon.
I recommend the Grayl water filter for water that may be contaminated with viruses. That's what I'm planning to bring with us when we hike at the GC this summer (since I already have it and I think it's the best). I researched the crap out of filters when I went on a school trip to a third world country a few years back. It was the best one I found, you can basically drink sewer water after filtering through it (and that was pretty much the water quality available where we went, ugh). The Grayl is easy to operate, easy to avoid cross contamination because of it's design, and filters viruses, bacteria and more importantly - parasites! You don't want a parasite...
Thank you! The Grayl filter is very nice. My only concern is the 20+ ounces and $220 for the device.....ouch & ouch! Last month I had another BRAND NEW SAWYER WATER FILTER FAILURE while hiking the Little Colorado River that ended with a helicopter rescue because the water filter failed. I was injured, but I could have waited a few days for my injuries to subside and then hiked out, but when the brand new Sawyer water filter did not work I had no way to filter water for those few days and I called for help. In January 2022 I purchased 3 Sawyer water filters and so far ALL of them have failed in some way. Little Colorado hike that ended with a helicopter rescue; video coming soon. Thanks again!
Excellent trip video despite the illness you got hit with! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!! Disinfect your backcountry water while at the Grand Canyon and maintain save hygiene throughout the park. If you are anywhere public (buses, grocery store, railings, etc.) disinfect your hands. Norovirus transmits easily (air, water, surfaces) and can linger for 12-24 up to 48 hours.
Great video work! Loved your introspection at Ghost Rock.
Thank you very much! It is a very beautiful location to connect with whomever was here before us.
This is by far, the best video of the Thunder River / Deer Creek Loop in the Canyon. Simple, and to the point. Minimal discussion, and just hiking. The way it should be. If there were (are) things we should know as an audience, he mentions it. Other than that, you be the judge. It's easy to see for yourself the terrain, the water options, (or lack thereof lol) and the remainder of the conditions. Thanks for sharing this. (Edited: P.S. What pack are you carrying? It looks like there are solar panels on it.)
Thank you! Excuse my delayed response, I was at the Grand Canyon. My pack is an Arcteryx Alta 75L from 2009. The solar panel is called a LightSaver Max from powerfilmsolar.com. I purchased late 2021 for $399 and today they cost $669. I rigged up some 1/8" bungee cord to attach the LightSaver Max to the pack. The LightSaver Max has an 18,000mAh internal battery. I would drain the internal battery the first night recharging my gear and then day 2-3-4 of the hike, the sun would charge the internal battery enough (20-30-40%) to only charge my phone and Garmin inreach and then "maybe" 1 or 2 camera batteries; but mostly the LightSaver Max would only capture enough energy to charge my phone and Garmin. While using the LightSaver Max from November through May, it would take 1.5 to 2 days to recharge to 100% IF IT NEVER MOVED, so hiking it would take longer to charge. I also carry 2 (sometimes 3) Anker 325 Power Bank batteries with 20,000mAh.
This video is criminally underrated. Most try to make the trail fit a story or narrative the creator has ideated. You simply present the trail as it is. Don't change a thing.
Exactly!!! Thank you!!! I try to capture the environment as-is and put the viewer on the trail along with providing whatever intel for your future hike/trip. I'm headed back this year to create more videos. Thanks again! "criminally underrated" hahaha!! Sofa-king-awesome!
awesome video, hope the foot is better. Around 26:00 what program do you use to layer those or is this all one shot. Great work.
Yes, I discovered the foot issue was from a 2020 car accident injury. @26:00 - Adobe Premiere. 2 shots: first is video with bats flying around and text describing the environment then it fades (basic fade transition in Adobe Premiere) into a time lapse with the moon shadow crossing the canyon followed by the rising Milky Way. The time lapse is created with LRTimelapse / Adobe Lightroom / Adobe After Effects. I leave the camera as is, stop the video, set up a time lapse and then I fade the two shots together in post production. I create this type of transition in most of my videos. I am glad you enjoyed the video!! Thank you!
Wow...! This is the first video I watched of yours and you do a fantastic job of putting the viewer on the trail. Simply beautiful. The GC is my favorite place and your videos are going to be my go to place to be there when I can't be there. Love the background music, just perfect. Thank you very much.
Thank you! "Putting the viewer on the trail" was one of my creative goals for these videos. The wide angle lens and full frame camera are required to achieve that perspective. More videos/hikes happening this year-2024.
great videos. really well done.
Thank you and great to hear!
I have a comment to make. It's very educating and beautiful your shooting with the camera, but it's also very tiring. Because when you do all these long shots in very difficult places, you have to go back to get your camera.You are also diabetic,for that reason i could imagine that the task will be even more difficult and given that you have to deal with the heat . I would like if you could tell me your opinion💖💖💖
Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed the video. Diabetes only has a negative effect on my physical activities when my diabetes is out of control. I do everything I can to maintain a consistent blood sugar level and as long as I am physically fit to complete a hike and my blood sugar is under control, there are no issues with diabetes. I can control my diabetes in any environment and I know exactly how to recover quickly from an unexpected low blood sugar event. The "more difficult" part is the extra weight in my backpack to maintain my diabetes. I carry extra water close to my insulin to keep the insulin cool and then some extra sugary snacks to avoid a low blood sugar emergency. That weight adds up and is a PIA. I hope you enjoy the other videos from 2022 and I have more to come soon.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm planning a similar trek in April, so this was very useful. I will be extra careful with my water! Did you ever determine what the problem was with your filter?
Thank you! I am glad the video was useful! More hikes/videos to come. GCNP now warns that all backcountry water must be disinfected. I will provide a link: www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/safe-water.htm#:~:text=Filtration%20alone%20is%20not%20sufficient,time%20to%20kill%20any%20organisms And NO I did not determine the cause of the issue. I purchased a new Sawyer filter, tested 2 days before my next hike and I also purchased the Katadyn BeFree and I carried both for the other 2022 hikes/videos. The BeFree failed on my Grandview to Bright Angel hike. Link: kzread.info/dash/bejne/oX9rpq9um9XFitI.html For my next hikes I plan to treat the water with a Steri Pen and/or Aquatabs. We will soon see how that goes. Thanks again and have a great trip!
Your video is beautiful and I'm sorry illness averted your planned itinerary. I would like to get on this trail in April 2024 and am solo as you were. How did you shuttle from where you left your car to where you started/ended your hike depending on if your car was at the start or finish of the hike?
Thank you and I am glad you enjoyed the video! Shuttle? Private shuttle/taxi service is illegal within the park. The park rangers at the Backcountry Office told me to "make friends" and also hitchhiking is illegal yet it was repeatedly recommended. I tried everything for several weeks; asking the staff at all the hotels and restaurants and the taxi service at BA Lodge and literally walked around asking anyone and everyone offering $100 for the ride. I was stood up three times, numerous "yes I will" then no call backs and I had to reschedule 4 hikes due to this issue holding up my itinerary for 5 weeks. I arrived at GCNP Feb 15th and my first hike wasn't until March 21st! Extremely frustrating and absolutely derailing my plans. I wish I had a better answer other than my ridiculous experience and finally getting lucky. Try Facebook group "Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers" and best of luck! If you find something miraculously changed, PLEASE reply back or contact me. Thanks again!
@@smoothatlas thanks for letting me know all this. I live in eastern Canada so it’s difficult to plan something like this. How frustrating this must have been for you and thanks for the tip on the facebook group.
Hey I'm a insulin-dependent diabetic and I'm wondering what you eat in camping on the trail how many carbs how many units of insulin you're taking if any at all stuff like that it would make an interesting video I hike and backpack a lot and struggle with low carb foods to eat I'm going to start making my own backpacking meals for a lower carb healthier alternative anyway another great video would love to hear some insights
Thank You! I considered a "Type 1 Diabetes While Hiking" video but I chickened out, unsure of what I wanted to contribute to KZread. My next hikes, coming in 2024, I will put something together and explain my diabetic process for the duration of the hike. Thanks again!
This is a great video it really highlights how experienced people and strong hikers can still have issues in the Grand Canyon in a way it's like an educational video for people that spend a lot of time in the wilderness
Thank you! For this to be my first KZread video...I was very devastated; but I thought the experience was educational and worthy enough to pass along. I want to create honest videos. Be careful what you wish for. Thanks again and glad you enjoyed!!
Wunderschöne, eindrucksvolle Landschaft. Gut gefilmt und sehr schönes Video, dezente Musik. Erste Klasse, danke schön.
~ "Beautiful, impressive landscape. Well filmed and very nice video, subtle music. First class, thank you very much." Ich freue mich, dass es Ihnen gefallen hat! Danke schön! I am glad you enjoyed! Thank you!
Congratulations on another stunning backpacking video. Great camera work overall, can’t say enough. You produce the best backpacking videos on the Grand Canyon, for sure. And you educate all of us about diabetes, I don’t have it but can understand a lot more about it by having watched your videos. Thanks for the work, very nice. Oh yeah, the time lapses are stunning.
Thank you! Your comments are inspiring!
If I could give this post 1,000 thumbs up, I would. Outstanding, well done, my respect, sir.
You are awesome! I am glad you enjoyed and I hope your adventure goes smoothly. More videos coming soon.
Great video. I have hiked down to Deer Creek on two separate trips. Watching you traverse the "narrow" spot in the Narrows brought back memories of high anxiety. For some reason that spot just spooked me.
Thank you! More adventures to come! Yes I agree and exactly why I wanted to capture that section on video for others to know. That short narrow section just felt wrong. Dust, sand and and pebbles are on every surface with NO good hand holds and the drop is deadly. Now that I am aware, next time I will remove the water bottles from the side pouches of my backpack and slim down my waistline a bit more to squeeze through.
Great video ! I did the North Kaibab in August and I had severe gastro issues after I got to Phantom Ranch. Couldn't eat or drink. Suffice it to say the hike back up, especially after Cottonwood was brutal. I usually have gastro issue in the backcountry but not to that extent.
Thank you and thanks for watching! Not an easy place to be sick and very frustrating to have these experiences/hikes/videos to start my youtube channel. There were no water issues on the North Rim. UV filter added for all future hikes!
Wow and you had to climb back down and get your camera at Papago wall and back up again. Take your pack off for that?
I am glad you enjoyed the spectacle!
Glad you made it! Your cinematography skills are great! Wish I had the same talent!
Thank you! Check out my other videos. This first hike/video was a disaster. Thanks again for watching!!
Excellent work. The extra effort chasing the camera and high quality resolution make it a must watch to the end. Thanks.
Good to hear! I am glad you enjoyed! More to come.
I like your adventures.
Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed. More on the way.
Great job 💯👌
Thank you very much!!
Excellent Video...was that Mary had a little lamb on a cactus?
Yes! Thanks for watching! I'll be heading back soon. More content coming ASAP.
When the videography is very good, no need for distracting/annoying music or lots of talk to fill in. Outstanding!
Thank You! I am glad you enjoyed! More content coming ASAP.
Wow!! What a gnarly situation to wind up in. I'm glad you made it out, and feel so bad for you that you had to go through all that, plus spend months recovering fully. The quality of the video is just flat amazing. The amount of distance and time that you added in order to get all those shots just crushes my soul a little. I've been running that same route since 2015, sometimes twice a year, and I just can't imagine going back and forth to a camera, let alone with all the gear and equipment you had. Extremely impressive!
Thanks for watching! Aquatabs for all future hikes in GCNP. I am glad you enjoyed the video quality. I did not mean to crush your soul but flattered at the same time and inspired to create more soul crushing content. Twice a year for 8+ years...awesome!! More content coming ASAP.
@@smoothatlas Saw a news story yesterday that was completely lacking in detail, as always, but they said that there is now an e coli outbreak in the water at the Grand Canyon and all water should be boiled. Of course they couldn't provide important facts like: Were they talking about the water in Bright Angel and other creeks. Were they talking about the water coming out of the pipeline. Were they talking about the water that's available at faucets and in hotel rooms, etc.
All videos are like actually being there in person. Great!
Thank you very much! I tried to achieve that type of perspective with the wide angle lens so thanks for noticing one of my creative goals.
Awesome !!!
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Great job! 👍🏽
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Thank you, sir! What time of year did you do this hike?
You are very welcome! May 11, 2022. More details in the description. Thanks for watching!
You're a machine! Do you recommend any water treatment besides the filter?
The footage was beautiful! I'm impressed you kept filming!
Thank you! I felt guilty for getting sick and obligated to keep recording. My first video was a disaster!
Thank you! I have heard "machine" for many years regarding drumming so it is nice to hear again regarding hiking! All GCNP water treatment requires disinfection. You need a filter that will kill viruses or a UV light or chemical treatment. The Sawyer or Katadyn squeeze filters will not filter viruses. This link is from the GCNP website: www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/safe-water.htm
My new favorite KZreadr ❤ I watched this video several times as part of my research for my upcoming Escalante trip. The best!
Most excellent to hear! Thank you! My goals are to document the trail and provide an immersive visual description so that others can better evaluate their circumstances before taking on these challenges.
@@smoothatlasExcellent detailed aid for me as I am doing this trip 3/24...
I'm so glad you got out! Hope you're back to normal now!
Thank you! Future videos/hikes are in the works.
By the way, your van is super kool!
When do you take this hike? Beautiful video. 🎉🎉🎉
June 9, 2022. Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed!!!
Thanks for sharing! Jealous by the way! Do crows usually warn humans of snakes? Or is it that they like individual people?
I wish I spoke Raven. The Ravens are very smart and the park rangers warn that Ravens know how to unzip or unbuckle backpacks and it is easier for them to poke holes in the dyneema backpacks.
Did you do any particular training for these hikes?
Not really and I live in Texas. I do not go to a gym and I try to work outside often. When I drive I do not use the AC. I did play drums for 35+ years so that probably helped. I recommend walking with a 20+ pound backpack 3 miles, 3x per week at a pace of 3 MPH for at least 3 months. The more hills/stairs the better. Tall parking garages are helpful.
@@smoothatlas Been training for thunderfalls in late April, so nice to see someone with the same fitness as me lol. Thanks!
Great video - how much weight were you carrying?
Thanks for watching! 40 pounds.
Nice to see other T1Ds hiking the Grand Canyon
Thank you!
Hey man - thanks for sharing your adventure with us. I am so thankful and appreciate it very much. In a few weeks my hike to Thunder River and Deer Creek will start. I've been planning this for months and your great video helped me a lot. A question about your great shots: Are the night time lapses out of camera or edited? What settings did you choose on your camera? It would be great if you had a few more tips. Aperture, shutter speed, ISO, interval. Thank you and greetings from Berlin/Germany
Thank you for watching and it is good to hear the video helped because that was one of my goals, to help better understand the Grand Canyon. All of the time-lapses are captured RAW with a Canon 5DIV and a 16-35mm f2.8 lens then developed and edited using LRTimelapse, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro. For my camera lens combination: f2.8, 25 second exposure, iso 3200-3600 and the intervalometer captures an image every 30 seconds. I change the battery every 2.5 hours and it takes 3-4 batteries to capture the night sky from 10pm to 4am. Night time camera settings can vary with full moon versus new moon and this is were practice and educated, improvisational guess work come into play. It also helps to know the sky and where the Milky Way and Moon will be located for the predicted capture dates so you know what direction to point the camera and how to set your composition. I use www.timeanddate.com/ to predict what the sky "may" look like. Best of luck on your Thunder River Deer Creek hike!
Thanks a lot for the tips. That sounds like a lot of work in the post-processing of the material. But it was definitely worth it, because the end result is awesome.
When was this video taken?
May 21, 2022 - information is in the description. Thanks for watching! I'm curious why you ask?
Another beautiful hike with some breathtaking views, thanks for letting us tag along. See you in the next one
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Absolutely stunning content my friend, composition is just outstanding here. Well done 🎥🔥
Thank you very much!
This is absolutely spectacular presentation my friend. You created something special and magical here. Pure perfection 👌👌👌
Thank you very much! "Pure perfection"...wow!...morale boost!
So, in difficulty, how would you rate this hike compared to Tanner, Escalante, Grandview hike?
Thanks for watching. Compared to the Escalante route, this loop is about the same difficulty and maybe a bit easier.
I am amazed that you went alone down that trail, good on you!! In 1967 I went on that hike with my Boy Scout troop.. I was 14, it was tough back then, also. We were about 6 of us with lousy equipment. We made the hike to Thunder River in one day, stayed a few days, and left in one day. We encountered 2 rattlesnakes, which unfortunately never saw another day. Kids back then!! LOL My Father was raised on Mt. Trumbull and Hurricane, which are very close to the Grand Canyon. I am a farmer in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Thanks for your film, it brought back memories.
Thank you! I can barely imagine doing this in 1967 or 1867 or 10,000 years ago.
Wow! Great job capturing your adventure! Appreciate all the effort that went into getting these awesome hiking and scenery shots. Thanks for taking us along and sharing the overwhelming beauty of the Grand Canyon. Glad we found your channel! Keep up the great work! 👍
Thank you! Future videos are in progress. Thanks again.
Having done this hike three times, I realize just how much extra energy you have to use to make these videos. You climbed Papago to the top and then had to backtrack to retrieve your camera. That alone is a feat itself. Just enough narration with excellent visuals. If your still at the canyon, try Boucher Trail, it's a bugger as well.
Thank you! Yes Boucher is on the to do list.
I did Boucher last year May 2022 during the Norovirus scare . I made a last minute addition to my water treatment - Iodine . You are going to like that trail !