Reservations - Continued

Now that I've sobered up a bit I can start to think about finishing up the reservation 'request' process.

Monday, May 22, 2006.

Scene - It's mid-morning and I've just checked my email to find that there is no availability at Phantom Ranch on our requested dates.  Thankfully, I didn't have to wait the 72 hours for a denial, but it's still disappointing.  Now the email is cordial enough but it says outright, "that it is easier for our guests to make reservations via telephone".  Okay, I'll bite.  I know from my previous experience in 2003 trying to book mule trips that if you can be a little flexible on dates you can probably still get a reservation.  I decide to pick up the phone and call, maybe they have one night available instead of 2.....yeah, right! 

They are pretty much full the entire month of November and do not have ANY male dorm availability until December 18!! 

TIP - You can begin booking your time with Phantom Ranch up to 13 months in advance and it is recommended to do so!  Your chances of getting the dates you want are better, they fill up fast and they don't keep a waiting list!

Now what??  Back to the drawing board??  Scrap the whole idea??  Keep in mind I have made (and paid for) the reservation at El Tovar, so it's going to be a pain to change/cancel that....not to mention what is my credit card statement going to look like with all of this.  (sigh)

I email Darren the 'denied' email and of course his response is, "How 'bout Bright Angel campground?  It's beautiful." 

I'm sure it is beautiful, but we all know how fond of camping I am.  It was torturous enough for me to agree to stay in the "dorms", now you want me to 'camp'?  Outside??  UGH!

I do not respond to his email, but I do start researching that possibility (with a little bit of hope that we won't have to do that).

If you read yesterday's entry, you already know that to make a reservation at one of the campsites one has to go to the National Park Service website (NPS).  I head there and start reading the instructions about how to apply for the 'backcountry permit'.  That term just ruins it for me, it invokes thoughts of dirt, and no shower.....sigh.....  Anyway, as it turns out you cannot apply for the 'backcountry permit' prior to 4 months of the month you are applying for.

Great.....one website tells you to book 13 months in advance and the other one won't even look at your request unless it is within the 4 months prior to your arrival!  WTF?!?!?  That is one of the reasons I am already finding this process to be as painful as the blisters you'll end up with on your hike!  Maybe even more so!

Anyway, I printed out the 'request form', on which I have to choose 'alternate' camping/date arrangements if my first request is unavailable.

FYI - You cannot fax (or mail) your request until the first day of the month 4 months prior to your arrival date.  i.e. I cannot fax my request for November until July 1.  (they even have a chart on their website).  Also, you must pay by check or credit card at the time of the request, if your request is accepted than payment is NON-REFUNDABLE.  (now it's only $5 per person, per night + $10 fee, but non-refundability is always annoying to the consumer)

I have put an appointment on my calendar to fax the request on July 1, in the meantime we have to really work hard to get in shape for such a strenuous hike and HOPE that we don't get denied!!

TIP - If you stay at Bright Angel campground (which is only 1/2 mile from Phantom Ranch) you can reserve your meals at Phantom Ranch.  Therefore you can have a hot meal (cooked by someone else) and not have to worry about carrying that much food in your pack, thus lightening the load.  Also, for a $55 charge you can reserve pack mules to carry your backpack out for you!  This is only available to those hiking out same day from Phantom Ranch or Bright Angel Campground.