Grand Canyon...

[Kitten]

Well, yesterday-- the last field day of my geology field program-- I went on an epic 14+ mile hike in the Grand Canyon. What a way to end ten weeks in the field! I highly recommend a Grand Canyon trip to anyone attending TAM 4 who has an extra day or two.

We camped two night on the south rim of the canyon and enjoyed the most beautiful views.

My mapping partner and I hiked down to the river and back in one day (despite all the signs on the way down that tell you specifically not to do so) and also spent some time at Plateau Point sketching the formations on the other side. The way down was a breeze-- we practically ran down the canyon. The way up... well, let's just say I'm glad I'm in much better shape than I was ten weeks ago.

Seriously, though, the Canyon is incredible. If you haven't seen it, go see it!

Tomorrow, to Vegas then home!

 

[Soapy Sam]

Kitten, about twelve years ago I went down the Bright Angel Trail. I was with a friend- a geologist as well- who decided it was too hot (early September) to go all the way. I had lunch at the river, headed back to the lip of the inner canyon, where I met my friend, dithering. I said it would be daft not to go down all the way, so I accompanied him back down, then back up again. I had stashed several litres of water on the way down, but by the time we reached the upper water station he was going purple. (I was just back from 5 weeks in the Empty Quarter. It seemed pretty cool to me.) The problem of course is that all the hard work comes at the end of the day, so you have to conserve energy and water.

I remember sitting in the water station where a young guy from NY, - maybe 21y.o., was holding forth about how crazy it was to go down and back in one day. There were two Brits and several Germans there- most of us close to twice his age. All of us had been down and back. Lots of water, pace yourself and know your limits are the rules. I suspect you and your group are probably a great deal fitter than many of your contemporaries.

And you're right- Everyone should do it once. (Heartily recommend the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River too. Not so deep, but more comprehensible.)

 

[Hutch]

I agree that the Grand Canyon is, well, Grand...maybe Yellowstone equals it in terms of sheer awe.

As for walking I went down the Bright Angel trail for about 20 minutes..it then took me nearly and hour to go back up (forgot we're at about 4500' above sea level there, you really do need to be in shape and pace yourself.

I would caution that it will be January, the Canyon rim is well above Sea Level, and it has been known to get snowed in, so check the weather report before you go.

If you do go, Meteor Crater is about a 1-1/2-hr drive east of Flagstaff, and is worth a visit.

 

[Kopji]

If you are interested in a great Grand Canyon day hike, Grandview trail to Horseshoe Mesa and the 'Cave of the Domes' is cool. Horseshoe mesa is a small "U" shaped mesa at a higher altitude then the 'river overlook' off Bright Angel so not so tough. Sits about halfway between the rim and the Tonto. No water though. The trail was built to service an old copper mine so was well made. There is some interesting machinery here and there. The trailhead is not hard to find or follow and drops right off Grandview Point on the south rim. As long as you don't camp overnight no permit is needed.

A good rim to river 'loop hike' is to go down the Kaibab trail, and up the Bright Angel. The Kaibab is very steep, but several miles shorter than the BA.

I did this in my foolish youth during a warm February. The Kaibab is in the sun the whole way and very clear, but the Bright Angel was ice packed the upper third and a hellish slippery hypothermia inducing slog out.

 

[Kopji]

Did you see the condors?

 

[Kitten]

True, Sam. We've been in the field for ten weeks, so if we haven't figured out how to pace ourselves by now, some of us probably wouldn't be here.

Actually our motto is: "Don't Die!" because of some early, somewhat scary (yet later funny) incidents...

We also went to Meteor Crater and were able to walk all the way around the rim with a guide. They wouldn't let us go in the crater, though... too bad... definitely worth seeing, though.

Kitten, about twelve years ago I went down the Bright Angel Trail. I was with a friend- a geologist as well- who decided it was too hot (early September) to go all the way. I had lunch at the river, headed back to the lip of the inner canyon, where I met my friend, dithering. I said it would be daft not to go down all the way, so I accompanied him back down, then back up again. I had stashed several litres of water on the way down, but by the time we reached the upper water station he was going purple. (I was just back from 5 weeks in the Empty Quarter. It seemed pretty cool to me.) The problem of course is that all the hard work comes at the end of the day, so you have to conserve energy and water.

I remember sitting in the water station where a young guy from NY, - maybe 21y.o., was holding forth about how crazy it was to go down and back in one day. There were two Brits and several Germans there- most of us close to twice his age. All of us had been down and back. Lots of water, pace yourself and know your limits are the rules. I suspect you and your group are probably a great deal fitter than many of your contemporaries.

And you're right- Everyone should do it once. (Heartily recommend the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River too. Not so deep, but more comprehensible.)

 

[Patricio Elicer]

We also went to Meteor Crater and were able to walk all the way around the rim with a guide. They wouldn't let us go in the crater, though... too bad... definitely worth seeing, though.

Then the crater itself is a restricted area?. Did they give you any reasons for that?

 

[Zep]

Oh, I'm going back to Grand Canyon after TAM! Got it all planned out! One of the highlights of my trip... Alas, we won't have enough time for me to do one of the trails down and back, but I do intend to go at least part way down Bright Angel - maybe only a mile or so though. I'll bet it will be 20 minutes down, 200 minutes back! I'm going to have to get in better shape beforehand, it's clear!

 

[Hutch]

Then the crater itself is a restricted area?. Did they give you any reasons for that?

IIRC, there is no real road or 'safe' trail to get to the bottom, so the risk is considered to high in these days of lawyers (there is a small building down at the bottom, however, you can see it from the observation point).

The REAL reason is because there is a secret military base build under the crater studying the alien UFO wreckage from the crash that made the Crater in the first place...

 

[Soapy Sam]

Also, to be honest, the crater is best appreciated in toto , from the visitor centre. There would not be much to see down in there and like any desert environment, its a sensitive ecology.

I wouldn't have minded hiking the rim a bit.

Kitten I envy you this trip and your youth. I think I've seen much of what you have, but only over several trips over several years. You will remember this for the rest of your life.

"The best geologists are the ones who've seen the most rocks." _Prof Donald.R.Bowes (repeatedly ) 1973-77. (and probably still).

 

[Kopji]

Meteor Crater is privately owned and I hear is full of rattlesnakes. They used to not let anyone hike around the rim. Was it a special tour? Whatever, I'm jealous.

Proud site of one of Arizona's great tourist traps.

 

[Patricio Elicer]

Meteor Crater is privately owned...

by Mr. Barringer?

 

[kittynh]

I say, take a helicopter ride!!!

OK, I'm a city girl at heart.

Snakes, see, and giant lizards and spiders. Oh that sounds like fun.

The only reason I would hike the rain forest on Puerto Rico was that I was assured it was the only rain forest in the world with no dangerous snakes.

Honey, remember, you can tell ME about the alien bodies! I won't tell!

 

[cosmic]

I was also in the canyon last August. Sixteen of us on five rafts for 18 days-- quite a trip. Here are some tetrapod tracks from the permian (approx. 400MY)-- if I've identified them properly. Just my amature best guess though! Any geologists out there?

 

[Checkmite]

I will be leaving Tuesday night, and the Dam/Red Rock thing will be happening Monday morning, so I'll have a day and a half to burn. If someone wants to take me to the Grand Canyon, that would be cool.

 

[Kitten]

I was also in the canyon last August. Sixteen of us on five rafts for 18 days-- quite a trip. Here are some tetrapod tracks from the permian (approx. 400MY)-- if I've identified them properly. Just my amature best guess though! Any geologists out there?

Rafting the canyon... I'm jealous!

Are you a geologist, Cosmic?

I shouldn't be too jealous, though, as I've had such a great geology trip. Can't believe I'm flying home tomorrow.

 

[Hutch]

I will be leaving Tuesday night, and the Dam/Red Rock thing will be happening Monday morning, so I'll have a day and a half to burn. If someone wants to take me to the Grand Canyon, that would be cool.

Joshua, the trip to the Canyon is a very tough one-day thing. The drive is 5-6 hours IIRC each way from Vegas and once you get there you will want to spend many hours looking.

Also, I figured that the dam would take us about 4 hours (1hr out, 2 hrs there, 1 hr back) and the Canyon about 3-4 hours driving/walking. Include lunch and oyu're talking a pretty full day.

However, if somebody else wants to do it to, go for it. There is nothing else like it in the world that I've seen.

 

[cosmic]

Rafting the canyon... I'm jealous!

Are you a geologist, Cosmic?

Actually no. Just a physicist. I was hoping a geologist on the forum could identify these tracks-- I extrapolated my guess from some pamphlets and guide books that we took with us.

 

[Twilek]

I would have liked to hike the rim of Meteor Crater, but I don't recall if such an outing was even being offered when I was there. It did get to see a compact little thunderstorm make it's way across the thing towards us tho, which was quite fascinating.

Funnily enough, I will be seeing the Canyon in a couple next week. Just a day trip (like last time), no chance to hike or raft or mule ride the area, but I'm still looking forward to it. The look on my husband's face seeing it for the first time will be worth the trip.

We're also taking in a Penn and Teller show at the Rio Thanksgiving day evening. It's going to be a great week!