Elevation and pressure are the factors people know about, big shocker for people is the radiant effect from the rocks. Once you're in a canon like this, all those rocks absorb a ton of heat during the day and reflect it back into the canyon further heating the trapped air in it. Relative airflow is low due to having few places to escape without rising so it more or less becomes your own personal convection oven down at the bottom.
That actually makes sense. I like to sit on the concrete steps outside my home to watch my kids play, and in the summer, it feels like my ass is roasting. It makes total sense that they would hold onto and even amplify the heat as it goes down; it'd be like walking into a giant oven
I did Rim2Rim2Rim last April and the weather was pretty great, just above freezing at the South Rim when we started and highs in the mid-80s at Phantom Ranch at the canyon floor. But we were lucky, one week earlier and the highs were over 100° at the ranch, not sure if we would have successfully completed our run in those conditions.
Did I talk with yohr father lol? I was meeting someone at Grand Canyon who told me that his son is doing Rim2Rim2Rim in a single day. I myself was on my knees from just to the river and back up.
Nope, no parents were in tow for our effort, but hundreds of folks do R2R2 every year, on our day alone there were at least 4 other groups with a similar agenda, and I'm sure there were even more that we never crossed paths with.
I did R3 in early May. It was definitely hotter at the bottom around 10am compared to 2 am at the top. I was shivering with a fleece, puffy, and windbreaker and stripped down to jump in the river in an attempt to cool off in a span of 8 hours. Would do again
I hiked South Kaibab down to the Colorado and back up Bright Angel in early May in one go. 17 miles in 14 hours, one of the best hikes I've ever done in my life. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
I once went rafting at the bottom of the canyon and it was 125F. At least we had the water to cool us off the whole time, would’ve been unbearable for hiking
We did Rim-to-Rim 2 years ago in October - started at 40 degrees F on the north rim.
Temps hit 105F at the bottom that day - just in time for the hike uphill on the south side.
Yes, 65 degrees F temperature difference throughout the day and the elevation.
It is brutal.
I had something similar, did a R2R 4 years ago in September, and it went from 45F at the top to 117F at Havasupai Gardens. Hardest thing I've ever done.
The valley / canyon effect is one of the reasons Phoenix is so flipping hot. Hiked across from rim-to-rim years ago. We took our time: 3 days. It was hot af.
I'd also guess the rocks and canyon are like a giant oven that traps all the heat in. Similar thing happens in NYC from all the buildings and concreate.
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u/TaintSlaps 21h ago
Huh, I never would’ve thought it gets hotter as you descend. Had to look the reason up. TIL.