Soon after moving to Tucson in 1978 I visited the Grand Canyon and immediately fell in love with it. I returned often and soon took up backpacking to get into the backcountry. Over the years I've gone in from every trailhead and explored a number of off-trail routes. Below is a summary of some of these trips. Trip reports and pictures are available for most. Older images are scanned from slides. Click the image or link to go to each trip's page.
Spring 2013. South Canyon, our last trip
Mileage: 14
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, Gary Defraia, Cam Skold, Mary Filen, Rick
Trip Report by Cheech Calenti
Mileage: 14
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, Gary Defraia, Cam Skold, Mary Filen, Rick
Trip Report by Cheech Calenti
Spring 2012. South Rim, Monument Creek to Hermit Trail.
Mileage:23
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Dan Defraia, Gary Defraia, Emily Perryman, Brian Keck
Trip Report by Dan and Gary Defraia
(Photos need fixing on this page!)
Mileage:23
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Dan Defraia, Gary Defraia, Emily Perryman, Brian Keck
Trip Report by Dan and Gary Defraia
(Photos need fixing on this page!)
Spring 2009. South Rim, New Hance to Grandview.
Mileage: 22
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Gary Defraia, Dan Defraia, Chris Defraia, John Avello, Jennifer Romano, Caroline Wheadon
Trip Report by Dan Defraia
(Photos need to be fixed on this page!)
Mileage: 22
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Gary Defraia, Dan Defraia, Chris Defraia, John Avello, Jennifer Romano, Caroline Wheadon
Trip Report by Dan Defraia
(Photos need to be fixed on this page!)
Spring 2008. South Kaibab to Cottonwood and back
Mileage: 46
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Ginny Ralston, Mike and Anne Crowley, Janice
Trip Report
(Wrong photo, this one is Grapevine Canyon!)
Mileage: 46
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Ginny Ralston, Mike and Anne Crowley, Janice
Trip Report
(Wrong photo, this one is Grapevine Canyon!)
Spring 2007. Monument Point to Deer Creek and our Kwangunk Hollow
Mileage: 40+
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Gary Defraia, Dave Armet, Shawn Nock
Trip Report by Dave Armet
Mileage: 40+
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Gary Defraia, Dave Armet, Shawn Nock
Trip Report by Dave Armet
Spring 2006. Down the South Bass trail and east across the Tonto plateau to the Hermit trail.
Mileage: 47
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Cam Skold, Anne Skold, Jeremy Ralston
Trip Report By Anne Skold
Mileage: 47
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Cam Skold, Anne Skold, Jeremy Ralston
Trip Report By Anne Skold
Spring 2006. Havasupai
Mileage: 22
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Nick Calenti, Tony Calenti, Shelley Dillon, Casey Dillon, Haley Dillon, and some friends of theirs!
Trip Report
Mileage: 22
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Nick Calenti, Tony Calenti, Shelley Dillon, Casey Dillon, Haley Dillon, and some friends of theirs!
Trip Report
Spring 2005. The Royal Arch Route
Mileage: 40
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, John Avello, Gary Defraia, Shawn Nock
Trip Report
Mileage: 40
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, John Avello, Gary Defraia, Shawn Nock
Trip Report
Spring 2004. South Rim to Cottonwood and beyond
Mileage: 46
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, John Avello, Gary Defraia, Susan Calenti, Emily Perryman, Jesse, Rob Reed, Ginny Ralston, Bill
Trip Report
Mileage: 46
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, John Avello, Gary Defraia, Susan Calenti, Emily Perryman, Jesse, Rob Reed, Ginny Ralston, Bill
Trip Report
Fall 2003. South Bass to the Boucher Trail
Mileage: 43
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Gary Defraia
Trip Report
Mileage: 43
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Gary Defraia
Trip Report
Spring 2002.Tanner Trail to the River
Mileage: 23
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Cam Skold, Dan Skold, Gary Defraia, Dan Defraia, John Avello Trip Report by Dan Defraia
Mileage: 23
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Cam Skold, Dan Skold, Gary Defraia, Dan Defraia, John Avello Trip Report by Dan Defraia
Spring 2001.Bright Angel to the Hermit
Mileage: 23
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Mike Calenti, Linda Furlani
Trip Report
Mileage: 23
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Mike Calenti, Linda Furlani
Trip Report
Spring 2001.Havasupai
Mileage: 29
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, John Avello, Linda Avello, Carly Avello, Katie Avello, Mike Calenti, Linda Furlani, Mary Beth Calenti, Gavin Labate, Susan Calenti, Garrett Perryman, Emily Perryman, Tony Calenti, Dan Dillon, Shelly Dillon, Casey Dillon, Haley Dillon
Trip Report
Mileage: 29
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, John Avello, Linda Avello, Carly Avello, Katie Avello, Mike Calenti, Linda Furlani, Mary Beth Calenti, Gavin Labate, Susan Calenti, Garrett Perryman, Emily Perryman, Tony Calenti, Dan Dillon, Shelly Dillon, Casey Dillon, Haley Dillon
Trip Report
Spring 2000.Thunder River and Tapeats Creek
Mileage: 28
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, John Avello, Gary Defraia,Chris Defraia,Dan Defraia
Trip Report
Mileage: 28
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, John Avello, Gary Defraia,Chris Defraia,Dan Defraia
Trip Report
Spring 1999.Havasupai
Mileage: 23
The Hikers: Cheech, Tom, Ginny Ralston, Jeremy Ralston,Tim Ralston,George and Evie Holthis, Tim Metzold, Bob and Marcie, Robin and ?
Trip Report
Mileage: 23
The Hikers: Cheech, Tom, Ginny Ralston, Jeremy Ralston,Tim Ralston,George and Evie Holthis, Tim Metzold, Bob and Marcie, Robin and ?
Trip Report
Fall 1998.Havasupai
Mileage: 25.3
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, Dan Dillon, Shelly Dillon, Weldon and Karen, Jeff and Kim
Trip Report
Mileage: 25.3
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, Dan Dillon, Shelly Dillon, Weldon and Karen, Jeff and Kim
Trip Report
Spring 1998.New Hance Trail west to the South Kaibab Trail.
Mileage: 40
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, John Avello, Gary Defraia
Trip Report
Mileage: 40
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, John Avello, Gary Defraia
Trip Report
Fall 1997.Thunder River, Tapeats Creek, and Deer Creek.
Mileage: 26
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, John Bernardo, Mike Brehm, Cheryl Underwood-Brehm, Jim Vanderslice, Frank Hays, Brian Hays, Rick Kroc
Trip Report
Mileage: 26
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, John Bernardo, Mike Brehm, Cheryl Underwood-Brehm, Jim Vanderslice, Frank Hays, Brian Hays, Rick Kroc
Trip Report
Fall 1996.Up and Down the Boucher
Mileage: 22
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, John Bernardo
Trip Report
Mileage: 22
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, John Bernardo
Trip Report
Spring 1996.Down the Tanner, west along the
Escalante Route to the New Hance.
Mileage: 38.4
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, John Avello, Gary Defraia, Tony Ligamari
Trip Report
Mileage: 38.4
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, John Avello, Gary Defraia, Tony Ligamari
Trip Report
Fall 1995.Down the Bright Angel trail, west on the Tonto plateau to
Hermit trail
Mileage: 21
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, Dave Armet
Trip Report
Mileage: 21
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, Dave Armet
Trip Report
Spring 1995.Down the Bright Angel trail and
east along the Tonto plateau to Horseshoe Mesa
Mileage: 33.7
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Cam Skold, John Avello
Trip Report
Mileage: 33.7
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Cam Skold, John Avello
Trip Report
Fall 1994.Kaibab trail to Bright Angel campground.
Mileage: 22
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, Mike Calenti, Linda Furlani
Trip Report
Mileage: 22
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, Mike Calenti, Linda Furlani
Trip Report
Fall 1994.Down the New Hance and west across the Tonto plateau to Horseshoe Mesa. Up the Grandview
Mileage: 22
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Cary Sadowski, Gene Sweeney
Trip Report
Mileage: 22
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Cary Sadowski, Gene Sweeney
Trip Report
Spring 1994.Down the South Bass trail and east across the Tonto plateau to the Hermit trail
Mileage:46.4
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, John Avello, Dave Armet
Trip Report
Mileage:46.4
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, John Avello, Dave Armet
Trip Report
Fall 1993.Down the South Bass trail to the river and back. (PLACEHOLDER FOR PHOTO
Mileage: 20.5
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, Fred Edson, Margie Puerta
Trip Report
Mileage: 20.5
The Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti, Fred Edson, Margie Puerta
Trip Report
Fall 1985.Down Bright Angel, two nights at Indian Gardens.
Mileage:22.5
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston
Trip Report
Mileage:22.5
The Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston
Trip Report
1981, 1983.Two trips to Havasupai
1981 Mileage: 28
1981 Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti
1983 Mileage: 22
1983 Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Ginny Ralston, Chris Ralston, Tim Ralston, Gail Scheer
Trip Report
1981 Mileage: 28
1981 Hikers: Tom Ralston, Cheech Calenti
1983 Mileage: 22
1983 Hikers: Cheech Calenti, Tom Ralston, Ginny Ralston, Chris Ralston, Tim Ralston, Gail Scheer
Trip Report
- Best times to hike the inner canyon
- General guidelines
- Mileage chart of our expeditions
- The official Escalante Route description. This is the description for the Escalante Route, as provided by the Back Country Office. We used it during our Spring 1996 trip and found it very accurate and useful. In a few places I've added editors notes in italics to clarify things a bit. The description makes a lot more sense and is easier to follow if you take the route from east to west.