Thank you so much for your valuable suggestions!  I will heed your words of advice!

Best to you in 2007.

Chris

> The permits are available on the first of the month 4 months in advance
> of your trip. To get the days you want, plan on filling out a request
> form (available from the GC web site) and Faxing it at 12:01 AM on the
> first day of the month. For May I believe that would be Jan. 1. The
> permits for popular campsites and spring months are in high demand. The
> same goes for Phantom Ranch. We tried for an April date two years ago 2+
> months in advance and couldn't even get a meal reservation. Do not under
> estimate the demand, or you could be disappointed. We were unable to get
> the camps we wanted last Oct. and we requested mid-week over a month in
> advance. We ended up hiking down Hermit Trail spending two nights and
> coming back out the same. Had a good time but not the rim to rim
> experience we had hoped for.
> There s a shuttle service from rim to rim it runs once a day, about $70
> each way, check for the times.
> Just a side note Hermit Creek Trail, is a tough hike down and back, much
> harder than the corridor trails.
> Lots of luck, hope you get the permit the Canyon is an awesome place to
> hike.
> --- In grandcanyon@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Bechard" wrote:
>>
>> Hello:
>>
>> Myself and three other very experienced hikers are planning a rim-to-
>> rim hike from the North Rim via the North Kaibab trail, staying
>> overnight at the Phantom Ranch (to avoid having to haul camping
>> gear), then up Bright Angel to the South Rim. We wish to do this the
>> weekend before Memorial Day (5/19-5/20/07).
>>
>> I have been told to seek permits/reservations for this hike six or
>> more months in advance, but when I go to the Backcountry Office site,
>> they say permits can only be made 4 months in advance.
>>
>> Any recommendations as to how to proceed to have our best chance at
>> success in securing a permit? Any recommendations as to how to get
>> back to the North Rim? Anywhere else to stay at the South Rim other
>> than El Tovar (heard this was very hard to get a reservation at.)
>>
>> Do you think it would be better to go in the early fall than in the
>> spring?
>>
>> Any and all assistance would be most appreciated! I live right next
>> to Rocky Mountain National Park and would be more than happy to help
>> anyone out with logistics in this area.
>>
>> Many thanks!
>>
>> Chris Bechard
>> Estes Park, Colorado