You\’ve purchased your Grand Canyon chopper and you\’re excited as heck to get up in the air. Before you buckle up, Make sure you first create a list of items to bring. Here\’s what I suggest you take to make your flight picture-perfect:

All Year Long

Extra batteries. It\’s a picture-taking gold mine up there. Stock up on batteries. Digital cameras and camcorders burn through them. Make sure your memory stick is empty or has lots of space left, and bring a spare.

Extra Film. Depending when you go, you\’ll be facing various lighting conditions, take film with different ISO speeds. Expect to shoot no less than a roll both before and after the trip. Allocate no less than three rolls for aerial shots.

Hat & Sunglasses. The Arizona sun is intense and strong. Carry powerful UV sunglasses, preferably ones that wrap along the shape of your face. Include a brimmed hat to shield against burning from the sun – many of today\’s helicopters use 180-degree windshields.

Sun block and Chap Stick. Take SPF 50 sun block, even on over cast days. Use liberally. Weather conditions can be dry and windy – an ideal combination for chapped lips.

Summer Season

Comfy walking shoes. You may be able to get by with flip flops on air-only flights. I\’d play it safe and put on a good pair of walking shoes or cross-trainers, particularly if you take a tour that includes, for example, the Grand Canyon Glass Walkway, a smooth-water float trip, or a bottom-descent.

Light, loose clothes. The Grand Canyon is hot, especially in July. I would recommend wearing a shirt made of wicking fabric. Avoid tank tops. Jeans will also protect you from sun and wind. Windbreakers are usually a good idea.

Water. I can not over-emphasize bringing water. Temperature conditions are regularly over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Carry a quart or more. Not staying hydrated can lead to lethargy and perhaps heat stroke.

Wintertime

Gloves and Scarf. The canyon can get wicked cold. You need to keep as much of your own body heat as you can.

Hat. Your head is responsible for probably the most heat loss. Cover it. I suggest carrying a \”beanie\” that you can roll down over your the ears. Look to get one made from wool or fleece.

Coat. I\’ve seen people show up in t-shirts. Not really a good idea. The canyon\’s standard altitude is 5,000 feet. Snowfall is common. Bring at the very least a medium-weight coat.

Layers. An example of this is putting on a t-shirt, shirt, sweatshirt, and jacket. In the event the weather warms, you take off a layer. It\’s a very effective means of keeping comfortable during cold weather.

Last Words About Weather

Choppers used in National Park tours feature climate-controlled cabins. These systems work well against heat and cold. Whatever the case, you must still come prepared because:

1. You will be outdoors making the transfer to the aircraft

2. If your trip features a ground segment, you will be exposed to either heat or cold.

Summing Up

Flying in a Grand Canyon helicopter above the West Rim or South Rim is the trip of a lifetime – if you are prepared. Triple check your camera equipment and make certain you\’ve extra batteries, film, and memory sticks. During the summer, it is all about protecting yourself from the sun and staying hydrated. During wintertime, dress in layers to keep warm. Set aside time to come up with a checklist of items to bring. Doing so nearly guarantees you\’ll be comfortable before, during, and after your flight.

Author Bio: Mr. Kravitz is a travel journalist who writes about Grand Canyon tours. Go here for his list of the Top 3 Grand Canyon Helicopter tour operators. Ratings are based on quality, safety and price. His reviews have saved a lot of people a lot of money. Time for you to benefit from them, too.

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon, grand canyon helicopters, grand canyon tours, grand canyon travel, grand canyon vacati