I did South to north and then back to south when I was a teenager. Me, my brother , dad, and two friends. Went during spring break in March. Snowing on the south rim and it was pretty warm by the time we reached Indian Gardens 4 miles in. Went all the way to the campgrounds across from Phantom Ranch. Next day went to the next campground headed up the north side but I can’t remember the name of that one now. Stayed there three days because there was snow over the trail about a mile from the north rim. We would hike up from that campground to a ranger cabin and fish in the creek. Take a nap in the hammocks at the cabin, pull some carrots, onions, etc from the garden that was just coming up from the previous year. We made a nice soup with dehydrated turkey and water cress from the creek. The cabin wasn’t open yet. It was a fun trip. Especially hiking back from the cabin and seeing two naked women out sunbathing on a giant boulder! Great time for a teenage boy. Hiked back to Phantom Ranch and stayed the night. Back to Indian Gardens where we were supposed to camp one more night but opted to hike all the way out. That last 4 miles was brutal.
Hiked the New Hance trail a few years before this trip and it’s labeled as primitive. The trail would disappear sometimes and we had to follow our own path lined up with the stacked rocks a few hundred yards ahead of us. Fun trip but very dangerous for a first GC backpacking trip. It was me, two brothers, my sister, dad, and a close friend who taught at our local high school. That was back in the days of MRE’s and no freeze dried or dehydrated meals. Those things were heavy!