Presentation Title
8 Survival Tips From a Grand Canyon Rescue Ranger1Grand Canyon
National Geographic Visitor Center 450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon,
AZ, 86023 Phone: 928-638-2468
223,217,31
1
Who is Bil?On the eve of his retirement, Bil Vandergraff, Grand
Canyons most experienced search-and-rescue ranger, sits down for a
career debriefing and explains why you should absolutely hike in
wet cotton and never leave home without cold pizza.2Grand Canyon
National Geographic Visitor Center 450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon,
AZ, 86023 Phone: 928-638-2468
223,217,31
2
Here is Bil Vandergraff3Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor
Center 450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023 Phone:
928-638-2468
223,217,31
3
Bil loves the Grand CanyonBil Vandergraff walked into the Grand
Canyon backcountry in 1990 and never left.4Grand Canyon National
Geographic Visitor Center 450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ,
86023 Phone: 928-638-2468
223,217,31
4
In his 25 years as a SAR ranger, he logged 3,600 missions in the
busiest national park for rescues, 10,000 backcountry patrol miles,
and more than a few opinions on whats wrong with hikers
today.5Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center 450 State
Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023 Phone: 928-638-2468
223,217,31
5
In June, Vandergraff retired, having helped develop the park
systems SAR manual and been awarded the Harry Yount Award, the
highest honor given to rangers by the NPS. 6Grand Canyon National
Geographic Visitor Center 450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ,
86023 Phone: 928-638-2468
223,217,31
6
He shared his wisdom on searching for the missing, saving the
injured, finding the dead, and not pampering the whiners.7Grand
Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center 450 State Route 64 Grand
Canyon, AZ, 86023 Phone: 928-638-2468
223,217,31
7
Learn to Help YourselfWhat we deal with more than anything is
people who say they cant, Vandergraff says. They cant hike out.
They cant keep going. Have the psychology to get yourself out of
the canyon.8Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center 450
State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023 Phone: 928-638-2468
223,217,31
8
Take the time to Study UpThoroughly research the terrain in
which you will be traveling and become intimately familiar with the
topographic maps. In addition, ask park rangers for information
about water availability and other route specifics.9Grand Canyon
National Geographic Visitor Center 450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon,
AZ, 86023 Phone: 928-638-2468
223,217,31
9
Always Outsmart SummerWhen daytime temps reach the triple
digits, Vandergraff recommends wearing cotton and keeping it wet.
All the gearthe com- ponents that many people believe are critical
to safe backpackingbecomes superfluous when hiking in the Grand
Canyon in summer, he observes. 10Grand Canyon National Geographic
Visitor Center 450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023 Phone:
928-638-2468
223,217,31
10
How to Deal with the Heat
Wear the right clothes. Choose apparel made of breathable,
moisture-retaining fabrics (like cotton) for your hike. And dont
forget a hat that shades your face.11Grand Canyon National
Geographic Visitor Center 450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ,
86023 Phone: 928-638-2468
223,217,31
11
Escape the Flash FloodsWatch the weather. The best way to escape
a flash flood is to avoid one altogether. Check the forecast over
the entire drainage of the area youre visiting.12Grand Canyon
National Geographic Visitor Center 450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon,
AZ, 86023 Phone: 928-638-2468
223,217,31
12
Try to Avoid FallingBoot up. Wear boots or trail runners with
good traction. Choose deeper lugs for softer ground and sticky
rubber soles for trips on rocky terrain or slickrock. In both
cases, ensure the tread is in good condition and the soles arent
delaminating.13Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center 450
State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023 Phone: 928-638-2468
223,217,31
13
Downsize your BackpackOverpacking is the root cause of much
hiker misery. Think of enjoying your time on the trail as the goal
rather than luxuriating in camp, he advises. Along with that
lighter pack, Vandergraff encourages first-time Grand Canyon hikers
to also scale back on distances.14Grand Canyon National Geographic
Visitor Center 450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023 Phone:
928-638-2468
223,217,31
14
Most Dangerous Places in the Most Dangerous Park Tonto Trail
Long and utterly shadeless, the Tonto Trail has few water sources,
all unreliable.Corridor Trails Because of their easy access, the
Bright Angel Trail and the North and South Kaibab Trails claim a
lot of lives, mainly due to cardiac arrest.The Colorado River
People, mainly from river trips, go down to the water to pee, or
maybe theyve had too many cocktails. For whatever reason, they fall
in and the current takes them.15Grand Canyon National Geographic
Visitor Center 450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023 Phone:
928-638-2468
223,217,31
15
Visit us at the Grand Canyon National ParkGrand Canyon National
Geographic Visitor Center450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ,
86023Phone: (928)638-2468
Group Reservations and Special Events:Phone: (877)239-3235Fax:
(928)638-2807E-mail: [email protected]
Visitor Center Hours of OperationMarch - October open 8:00 am
-10:00 pmNovember - February open 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
16Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center 450 State
Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023 Phone: 928-638-2468
223,217,31
16
