180 Days To Go - Blacktail

Grand Canyon 2010 from Uncage the Soul Productions on Vimeo.

TL Report: Check out this amazing short video of the canyon above. It's only 2 mins but the effects are incredible.

It was nice to see a bunch of people on the trip at the house this holiday season. I think we've set the menu; however, I have a few questions to ask Moenkopi about food preparation before it's finalized. Simple and easy is better than complex and time consuming. I'd like us to spend as little time as possible in the kitchen. Not only would we rather be out exploring/hiking, but the heat will be such that we don't want to spend a lot of time leaning over a hot grill/dutch oven/etc. So, no aforementioned dutch oven meals and no baked deserts. Also, simple eat and go breakfasts will be the norm. I must say it's hard to contemplate the heat when I'm looking at 11 inches of snow outside right now!

Hiking the incomparable Blacktail Canyon





Blacktail Canyon



Mileage This Week: River Mile 119-121.At River Mile 120.6 we'll reach our camp for Day 9, Blacktail Canyon. My goal is to combine our camps with awesome hiking opportunities as much as possible, and this is one of those opportunities. From camp, there is easy access into Blacktail Canyon which is well know for it's amazing acoustics. If anyone has any musical talent, this is a great place to demonstrate! This narrow slot canyon is made of beautiful layers of Tapeats Sandstone, which is a favorite among river runners. Martin and Whitis's river guide states "The hike is really short, about 1/2 mile round trip. From camp, follow the path leading into the drainage. Walk up the drainage and you will quickly enter a deep Tapeats slot canyon. You will have to climb around or wade through a few pools to reach the chockstone in the back of the narrows. There is a permanent trickle of water here. If you look,  you'll see the roughly 550 million year old Tapeats Sandstone resting on top of the 1.6 billion year old Vishnu Schist. You can touch both rock layers and span over one billion years of mission geological time, this is called the Great Unconformity" (more below on the great Unconformity).



At Blacktail Canyon the river takes a turn to the East and runs straight, and mostly flat for 2 miles. This section is called Conquistador's Aisle and is named for the Spanish explorers who were the first Europeans to see the Grand Canyon from it's rim. 



Pool in Blacktail Canyon



"In my case, saving the world was only a hobby.   My *vocation* has been that of inspector of desert water holes."

                                             - Edward Abbey

Tapeat's Sandstone

GC History: Tapeat's Sandstone - This layer averages about 545 million years old and is composed of medium-grained and coarse-grained sandstone. Ripple marks formed by ocean waves of an early Cambrian sea are common in the upper layer. The Tapeats is similar to the Redwall in that it forms a barrier between upper and lower reaches of the Canyon that can only be traversed where a fault has caused its collapse. The color of this layer is dark brown and it contains numerous fossils of sealife.



Hands spanning 1.2 billion years of missing time -
The Great Unconformity, Blacktail Canyon

 Ok, so what exactly is the Great Unconformity? Blacktail Canyon is a fabulous place for rafters and kayakers to wallow in the wooziness one feels when faced with the reality of deep time. Here "The Great Unconformity" is easily accessible on a short hike up Blacktail canyon.

A "unconformity" is a geological term that describes a gap in the geological record in a body of rock.

Powell, who, besides being a pretty kick ass explorer, was also a noted geologist. When he visited Blacktail canyon, Powell recorded a  rather large unconformity in the canyon wall.  He dated the Tapeats Sandstone (which is the most distinctive feature of the canyon) at about 500 million years old. However the Vishnu Schist rock directly below the Sandstone was much, much older. It dated to an astounding 1.7 billion years old. This represents a gap of almost 1.2 billion years in the rock record. Put your hands on the Tapeats and another on the schist and you'll span over a billion years of missing time, called the Great Unconformity.


Equipment/Camp/Info Check: Organizational Philosophy


I read this on the rafting GC wiki for River Runners For Wilderness. Something to ponder....

What is the philosophy of your trip? Is this a trip where your meals are so elaborate that you’re washing dishes in the dark? Is this a trip where everyone competes to be the last one to breakfast every day and the last one to get their gear down to the boats?

Or, is this a trip where when you get to camp, everyone helps unload the rafts (all of them), then helps set up the kitchen first so the cooks can start cooking, and only then, heads off to set up their personal camp. Is everyone Looking for ways to help in camp so that everyone has more time to play during the day, thinking Dawn is the best part of the day, and you had better not sleep through it? There's no right or wrong answer here, just asking.

The trip is 16 to 25 days long or more. You can spend it drifting with the current, or taking long side hikes, or relaxing. Or you can spend it poorly organized, drunk every night, sleeping in every day, and rowing downstream to make up time. The choice is up to the collective karma, with tone-setting by the trip leader. The point is, to minimize on-river conflict, it's important that everyone has the same sheet music and can play the same song, all trip long, whatever the song may be.

Drunk Dish washing on the canyon.






Bill has written a blog entry on trip philosophy for next week's blog. Have a great week everyone!



Next Deadline: Final trip balance is due February 15th.

10 ways to get ready for a Grand Canyon rafting trip

TEN WAYS TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR A RAFTING TRIP IN GRAND CANYON


10. One week before the trip have a yard of sand delivered to your home. Sprinkle liberally in bed, dresser drawer, kitchen and bath counters. Fill your salt shaker, cereal boxes, sugar bowl and use as usual. Place garbage can lid with sand in front of fans and run them continually at maximum speed.

9. After renting a projection tv, illuminate the walls and ceiling of your bedroom and play old Dracula movies—especially the snake, scorpion, and bat scenes.

8. Have your friends form a long line and systematically pass the contents of your home out the front into the back door of your house.

7. Between your mattress and box spring, place 2 or 3 medium-sized rocks. Try to sleep as usual for 18 nights.

6. With a large meat tenderizer practice beating beer cans down to the size of a hockey puck.

5. Sit on the hood of your car while riding through the car wash.

4. Line your sandals with sand paper and spend 2 hours a day on the stair master.

 

3. Drape the allotted contents of your grocery bag on the bushes and rocks of your backyard. Twice a day practice changing while your neighbors watch.

2. With 22 friends standing in the shallow end of a swimming pool, practice looking nonchalant as you carry on a conversation and pee simultaneously.

1. Poop in your upstairs waste basket and with your pants around your ankles run downstairs and pee in your tub.

Right to Risk - GC trip for individuals with disabilities

This is an amazing documentary trailer (about 3 mins)  of eight individuals with disabilities on a 15 day whitewater rafting journey through Arizona's Grand Canyon

More Elves Chasm Photos





Tapeats Sandstone at Elves Chasm

We won't have time to hike this far up past Elves Chasm,
but this is the Royal Arch that Royal Arch Canyon is named for.



187 Days to Go - Elves Chasm



 This was the cover photo of the 2010 Christmas card from Grand Canyon Private Boaters Association.
 This stunning photo of river mile 34 in Marble Canyon is from
"The Grand, The Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, A Photo Journey"
by Steve Miller. www.newwaverafting.com/TheGrand



TL Report: Merry Christmas! We hope everyone is having a safe and joyous holiday. It's hard to believe that our trip is only 6 months away. Time is flying....

Some housekeeping:

1. If you are on our trip, it's your last opportunity to have input on the menu for the trip by taking the food survey (link is now working). Please do so now as we are working on the menu right now.
2. Remember that the final balance due date was moved from Jan 15 to Feb 15.  I am going to pay off the trip soon after. As I mentioned before, let's all make a promise to one another that money will be a boring subject without any drama involved (please).
3. Is everyone getting into shape? If you ever had a reason to spend time in the gym, this is it! Start on your inclines and rowing machine now :-).
4. Start thinking about acquiring the gear you are going to need. Don't put it off until right before the trip. Check out Sierra Trading Post for good deals.
5. Have you made your airline/campground/non-trip lodging reservations?
6. Exchange folks: Do you need to set up shuttle from Flag to the South Rim or visa versa?  Arizonashuttles runs shuttles 3 x a day from Flag to the South Rim and from the South Rim to Flag. The cost is $24 each way with advanced reservations. Be sure to synch up your air travel with the shuttle before buying tickets.
7. Exchange folks: Now is a good time to coordinate gear between the 1st half folks and the 2nd half folks. Things like chairs/paco pads/cots can be handed off from one person leaving the trip to the folks arriving. Email me for help with this.
8. Do you have any questions or concerns? Email me or make a comment below.

What the Grand Canyon forums are chatting about this week: Water shortages in Lake Mead. Lake Mead is the reservoir at the bottom of GC. It is currently at 38% of capacity according to a recent article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. This may affect our trip as there may be a move to release more water from Lake Powell (at the top of GC) to help with water levels in Lake Mead, meaning more water on the river for our trip.  Check out this link if you'd like to read the Review-Journal article.

Elves Chasm with Stephen's Aisle running laterally.

Mileage this Week: River Mile 116-118. At River mile 117.2 we will hike up Royal Arch Canyon and check out the incomparable Elves Chasm (below).





A short hike brings us to one of the most superlative sights in Grand Canyon, Elves Chasm. This enchanting fern glen was named by John Wesley Powell on his first trip exploring the canyon. This charming grotto is filled with maidenhair ferns and clear falling water and seems like a lush, green oasis in the middle of the desert.

We will definitely be spending some time here, swimming in the pool and climbing through the cave at the back of the falls to jump off the first teir into the pool. Christopher Smith, my friend and a professional photographer, gave me a beautiful photo of Elves Chasm for my birthday after our 1994 trip. It hangs in my living room and is one of my favorite pictures :-).

Stephen's Aisle

After Elves Chasm, we will enter Stephen's Aisle at river mile 116.9. This straight 2-mile north-south section of river marks the end of the Upper Granite Gorge. Their are no rapids in this section, but the scenery is absolutely superb.

GC History: Stephen's Aisle is named for Estevan (c. 1500 – 1539) (also known as  "Black Stephen", "Esteban the Moor",) who is considered to be the first black explorer of the American Southwest.

Stephen the Moor

American Explorer: Esteban, an enslaved North African, made the first contact with the native peoples of what is now the American Southwest. Fraught with misunderstandings, that encounter led to Esteban’s untimely demise in 1539 and prefigured the violence that would characterize the Spanish conquest and subsequent colonization of the region.


Esteban’s experience as a survivor of the failed Pánfilo de Narváez expedition to Florida in 1528 made him a natural choice to lead an exploration into the fabled lands of the north. Fleeing from fierce attacks launched by the Apalachee, Esteban and his master, Captain Andrés de Dorantes, along with Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and thirteen others, sailed west through the Gulf of Mexico on quickly constructed barges. They landed on a sandbar off Galveston Island where Karankawa Indians enslaved the explorers, four of whom survived and managed to escape five years later, in 1534. In 1536, the survivors and their retinue of six hundred Indian escorts came across a Spanish slaving expedition, a chance meeting that ended their eight-year-long, 15,000-mile sojourn.

The seemingly miraculous return of the intrepid survivors turned the attention of Spanish colonizers in Mexico toward the mysterious north which had long been rumored to harbor a treasure to rival that of the Aztecs. When the three European survivors refused to lead an expedition to the north, Don Antonio de Mendoza, the Viceroy of New Spain, engaged the services of Esteban, purchasing him from Dorantes. Protocol demanded, however, that a slave could not lead an expedition. Hence, Mendoza persuaded a Franciscan friar, Marcos de Niza, to at least nominally head the venture.

The group set out in 1539. By prior agreement, Esteban traveled several days ahead of Fray Marcos, leaving behind him a trail of crosses of varying size, corresponding with his findings. Esteban returned to his previous roles as healer, interpreter, go-between, and “son of the Sun.” Convinced of Esteban’s healing powers, some 300 natives joined his retinue and provided him with numerous presents. All went well until he reached Hawikuh, a Zuni pueblo (in present-day New Mexico). He sent a message ahead, stating that “he was coming to establish peace and heal them.” Pueblo elders responded with a warning: he must not enter the village.  Esteban ignored the warning and was killed by the Zuni. The tribe had regarded him with mistrust, partially because his medicine gourd was trimmed with feathers from an owl, a bird that symbolized death to the Zuni.

http://www.blackpast.org/?q=gah/esteban-1539

Equipment/Camp/Info Check: Cots



Roll-A-Cot

If you've ever been on a wilderness trip before, you know that within a few days everyone's sleep patterns change and when the sun goes down, most folks retire for the night (unless you are working on your 4 cases of beer like Elaine). Early mornings are the rule so we can get on the river before the heat, and subsequent wind, hits in the afternoon. It's going to be hot in July (perhaps I've mentioned this before?) and I've read trip reports mentioning how hot the sand is when you are trying to sleep. In fact, after we received our permit in March, Bill and I were down at the outfitters store at NOC and met a newer staff member, who in the same sentence as "Congrats on your permit" also threw in "I was in the canyon last July, you'll definitely need to get a cot." Never having camped with a cot in my life, I was doubtful - until I started reading blogs on summer trips. Conventional wisdom is the sand doesn't start cooling down until midnight (if at all). Needless to say, I bought a cot. They run the gambit from inexpensive ($30) to way expensive. After a little research, I decided to buy a decent one - a Camptime Roll-A-Cot from from Mountain Sports ($104 with free shipping).

If you are going to bring a cot please BE SURE it folds down like the one pictured. For safety reasons a humongous cot that can't be stowed under a raft hatch (I.E. folding lawn chair) may end up left behind at Lee's Ferry.

Next Deadline: Final trip balance is due February 15th.

Condor News for 12/2010

If you've been following the Condor posts in this blog, here is the latest update from the NPS.

December 2010 Condor Update from Marker Marshall, Grand Canyon NPS Naturalist Ranger

Population Numbers from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, as of September 30, 2010:

World Total: 373
Wild Population: 197
CA: 104 (including 3 chicks)
Baja: 19 (including 2 chicks)
Grand Canyon: 74 (counting one chick, now fledged)
In Captivity: 176 (counting birds in temporary captivity)

A new-born condor is seen preparing to take off
for the first time from its nesting area in this 2003 photo.

Hello Condor Enthusiasts--

I've revised the condor chart due to some recent changes. Specifically: Two new birds were released on November 26. Both are one-year-olds: male 520/J2 from the San Diego Wild Animal Park, and female 537/J7 from the Los Angeles Zoo. Also, the four birds missing since last winter or spring have been given up for dead. Those birds were 4-year-old females 404/E0, 414/E1 and 426/E6, and 3-year-old male 454/F4. All were captive-bred birds.

Eddie Feltes of The Peregrine Fund reports that condors are being trapped in the baited release pen at Vermilion Cliffs, as they come down from the high country when snow covers gut piles and carcasses. This trapping occurs every year to test the birds for lead poisoning at the end of deer and elk-hunting season. A number of the birds trapped thus far have shown elevated lead levels and are being or have been treated by chelation (shots of a calcium compound that binds and removes the lead, usually twice a day for a week).

As the weather worsens, many condors are rediscovering the low, south-facing cliffs and proffered carcasses around the Vermilion Cliffs release site. Others are still finding food on the North Kaibab National Forest, in the western portions of Grand Canyon, and in Utah. There have also been a few recent condor sightings at the South Rim and in Zion National Park. For those who really want to see a condor, in winter the Navajo Bridge on route 89A is one of the more likely spots to search, being low elevation and not far from the release site, and offering relatively close-up views. Of course people should always stay at least 150 feet away from condors, and report to The Peregrine Fund any condors that display a lack of caution toward humans.

Interested in more information on Condors in Grand Canyon? Check out this book from Amazon.

Condors in Canyon Country: The Return of the California Condor to the Grand Canyon Region [Paperback]

Sophie A. H. Osborn (Author)

194 Days to Go - Walthenberg

TL Report: Thanks to the folks who have already filled out their food survey. If you haven't, and  you are on our trip, please fill out the food survey located here before the end of December.

I just read a really interesting article on the fight to have packrafting accepted in GC. I'd never heard of this sport, but basically you combine hiking in to remote areas with an inflatable raft, then running the river for a bit, you then hike out with the raft. The following article is a fascinating back and forth email conversation between the head river ranger at GC, Steve Sullivan, and Roman Dial, who was seeking a packrafting permit in late 2007. After reading the resolution of the issue, I am more assured  than ever that the Colorado through GC is in good hands.




What the Grand Canyon forums are chatting about this week: 

The Grand Canyon Private Boaters Association (GCPBA) site is now up and running. It has been down for quite awhile as it was being upgraded. It looks wonderful. This is important to us because they ofter River Trip Insurance (more on this in future blog posts) and support private boating access on the Colorado River through Grand Canyon. Membership is $30/yr. Here's what Marshall, one of the GCPBA board members, had to say on the forum this week:

Hey Folks - the NEW gcpba.org site is up and running. The GCPBA store is
open for business, forums are working, archives are back on line, trip tips
and the paddling insurance program is accessible. It's been a long haul, and 

a labor of love, but you can now post your photos in the photo gallery for

all to see, the forums support attachments, there is a feature that tells

you what phase the moon will be in on any given date for planning night

floats and hikes. Many new and cool features, and it's blazing fast thanks

to the new software that drives it.

We are busy adding content and features to the site, so look for new stuff

to be posted. We'll announce major updates here on yahoogroups and thru our

Newswire mailer.

Look for a new publication from GCPBA, to be added soon. Our new publication

gets a new name - "On the River" to reflect the change from the days of the

twenty five year "Waiting List" we private boaters were exiled to before the current Colorado River Management Plan, which doubled the number of launches for non-commercial trips and evened out user days between non-commercial and commercial users was fought for and adopted in 2006.



Grand Canyon Private Boaters Association logo



Mileage This Week: River Mile 113-115. At river mile 112.8 we'll run Walthenberg Rapid, class 6 (out of 10) at 14 foot drop. This rapid is made by a debris fan from Walthenberg Canyon on river right. A large mid-channel hole may be bypassed on the shallower and rocky right side or by going left of the hole into some big waves.

I found this great photo of Walthenburg Rapid (left) taken on 12/29/1956 at 3600 cfs. Of course this was pre-dam.  We will most likely run this rapid between 8,000-13,000 cfs.

At River mile 113.6 we will pass 113 mile rock, a mid channel schist fin. This rock marks the end of Adrenaline Alley, (river mile 75-114) which has the largest concentration of rapids on the river. While the continual nature of the rapids drops off at this point, there is still lots and lots to do, and some very challenging rapids coming downstream (Lava, anyone?).

GC History: Walthenberg Rapid is named after John Waltenburg or Walthenburg (both spellings are listed) who worked with William Bass for about 18 years on his asbestos mine.

Equipment/Camp/Info Check: Sun Hats
You need a couple UV protective hats with a wide brim and a chin strap (for the wind) during the trip. Something that can be crushed (and spring back to life), is white, and dries quickly, is ideal.  Remember that the sun will be intense and it you don't have a hat and a couple pairs of cheap sun glasses (they will be lost, crushed, and scratched guaranteed - so don't go expensive), you will be unhappy.


Next Deadline: Final trip balance is due February 15th. If your trip status changes at anytime (ie, need to do a half instead of a whole trip), please let me know as soon as possible so we can fill your ½ space. This will lower your cost.

201 Days To Go - Shinumo Creek

Bass Rapid from North Bass Trail



 

TL Report: I have posted a food survey on the blog in the right hand column at the bottom of the "Pages" section or you can find it here. If you are a member of our trip, please take it before December 31st. We will be working on the trip menu over the holidays.  Pls note that just about everyone who's ever been on a GC trip feels the food is way over the top (anyone remember wasting half a day during our Nankoweap layover making Lasagna from scratch?) so we will be shooting for easy-to-prepare meals. I'd rather be hiking that slaving over a hot stove, how about you?

What the Grand Canyon forums are chatting about this week:



1. Kindles in the Canyon: There seems to be universal love for Kindles in the canyon. One charge lasts for about a month so recharging isn't a problem. If you like to read, this is a great thing to bring along (with a clear waterproof bag and a flotation thingy).
2. Garbage: Putting a cap full of bleach in the garbage to keep the bags from smelling. I'd never heard of this, but Bill says his NOC trips did this in Chile on the Bio Bio back in the day. We will definitely utilize this method to keep the garbage bouquet under control. Also, there was a very good reminder to avoid foodstuff with large amounts of remnant garbage (like watermelon or Styrofoam soup containers). This is a really good point and something I will keep in mind when setting the menu.

3. Health questionnaires: Closer to the trip, I will be sending out a public and private health form.  One is what you don't care if people know and the other sealed envelope will be stored in the major first aid kit. It is only to be opened in an emergency and it will be returned to you unopened at the end of the trip.



The waterfall at Shinumo Creek







Mileage This Week: River Mile 109-112. At river mile 109.2 we will enjoy a respite from the sun by hiking up beautiful Shinumo Creek (don't confuse this with Shinumo Wash/Silver Grotto at river mile 39). There is a great waterfall here (see above) just a short, easy walk upstream.

Another 2 miles up Shinumo Creek lies William Bass' Camp (who's William Bass? See last week's post). There are cool relics left of his early 1900's camp along the creek (more on this below). 

 



Humpback Chub



Shinumo Creek is noted for it's warm, clear water, making it ideal for trans-location of the endangered Hump Back Chub. We talked about this little guy upstream at the confluence of the Little Colorado River.  If you are interested in the NPS's efforts to save this rare fish and their attempts to introduce them to another site in the GC, check out this link for humpback chub information.



At river mile 111.5 we will pass Hakatai Canyon where William Bass mined for asbestos.This site is closed to visitation due to the obvious health hazard.

William Bass and helper “high grading” asbestos ore at Hakatai Canyon circa 1900. Bass would later be paid well for the asbestos when shipped to France and other locations to be used to fireproof theater curtains.
Credit: Grand Canyon National Park Museum Collection



Relics at Bass Camp



GC History: The Bass Trail System

The Bass Trail was originally constructed by William Bass during the late 1890s. It was a rim-to-rim route for the western area of the Grand Canyon. Bass originally developed the South Bass trail to transport asbestos ore to the South Rim. The North Bass Trail later completed the rim to rim route. The North Bass Trail is considered to be the most difficult of the main trails in the Grand Canyon. 

Here's what the NPS has to say on the North Bass Trail:

The North Bass Trail is possibly the quintessential Grand Canyon trail combining thrusting faults, diverse geology, and an introduction to one of the region's mythic pioneers: William Wallace Bass. Explorer, trail builder, miner, family man, and tourist entrepreneur, in many ways Bill Bass personified that rugged breed that ventured into the unknown to claim a life from the wilderness. Walking in the footsteps of a man like Bass is humbling. His trail will quickly confuse the unprepared and inexperienced, but strong and knowledgeable canyon hikers will appreciate the woven complexity of the area's history, geology, and ecosystems. Forest and upland shrub frame white hoodoos near the rim, while slickrock sections and small waterfalls wait to enchant the hiker further down.



Relics from Bass Camp

As the trail approaches the canyon floor, the canyon widens to offer stunning views and the vegetation shifts to a combination of riparian and low desert scrub. Hikers headed to the Colorado River will have to crisscross Shinumo Creek several times before reaching the historic Bass camp. The profusion of artifacts is startling—household implements, mining tools—each telling a story about the lives that Bill Bass touched. Nearby, Bass tended a canyon orchard filled with fig, peach, and apricot trees. Sit for a spell and imagine the aroma of sun drenched peach trees. How many hikers have eaten a fresh peach at the bottom of the Grand Canyon? The North Bass Trail has a well deserved reputation as one of the most difficult and demanding canyon trails, enjoy with caution. 

A 1907 newspaper mailed to Bill Bass
at "Grand Canyon, Ariz," was found
 at an inner-canyon mine site. The prospector likely
wanted something to do
 after a hard day with pick and shovel.

Credit: Bob Hostetler

I love this last part:

Much of the trail is marked by cairns. Follow cairns at your own discretion…in doing so, you assume that the person who placed them was not lost.

Great, I'm glad the river only goes in one direction!

William Bass supplemented his prospecting by offering lodging and tours into the Canyon. He built this darkroom on the South Bass Trail for professional photographers to use.

Equipment/Camp/Info Check: Flotation Straps. Rule of thumb here is don't think you can get away with cheap ones. They sink. For your expensive camera or electronic equipment, buy something decent. Natch.

Next Deadline: Final trip balance is due February 15th.

208 Days To Go - Bass Camp



Bass Camp, Night 8



Waterproof, Shockproof, Dustproof, Freezeproof
is what they say, but  we haven't used it yet
so don't buy one just because we did!

 TL Report: I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I know our family did. My brother in law, Mike, did such a great job cooking that I told Bill he needed to be head of one of the cook teams on the trip! But I'll tell you right now we aren't roasting a whole turkey in the Grand Canyon. :-)

Be sure to remind your loved ones that items on the equipment list make great Christmas gifts! Bill and I are giving each other a Pentax W90 waterproof camera, and don't tell them but the kids are getting Kindles (30 days reading on one charge!) to keep them in literature while we're out West for almost 6 weeks (Annie, don't tell Cooper or Rye will find out).

Also, we just found some great UV 60 white long sleeve shirts for the kids and me at REI on sale.


Mileage This Week: River mile 107-109. At river mile 108.5 we will run Bass Rapid, class 4 (out of 10). At River mile 109 we will camp at Bass Camp (see photo at top of blog) if it isn't too hot. We will have had a HUGE day by the time we hit camp. We may have only run 14.6 river miles since breakfast,  but we'll have squeezed in a lot of whitewater during the day, including Granite, Hermit, Crystal and The Gems. I guarantee everyone will be exhausted by the time we hit the beach!


Here's a 360 video of the Bass camp and camp life in general. This is pretty on target for what to expect.




Bass is known for being one of the nicest beaches on the river, however it gets a lot of sun. If the day is crazy hot, we will probably camp just upstream and across the river at the Ross Wheeler Camp below.

The Ross Wheeler boat and Camp. You can see the glorious afternoon
shade on this side of the river.

GC History:

The Ross Wheeler - One of the Grand Canyon Historic Boats.
Due to the dry desert environment, history is preserved in the Canyon. One such historical item is the Ross Wheeler boat. The Ross Wheeler was built in 1914 by Burt Loper (see this previous post). This small, tippy and very heavy boat was used by 3 men in a failed attempt to run the canyon in 1915. The group abandoned the boat, and it was later used here by William Bass (see below) to ferry items back and forth across the river.

 
William Bass (1848-1933)



Bass at the So Rim



Bass camp and rapid are named for William Bass who moved to the GC in 1883. Curiosity and prospecting brought him to the South Rim, where he spent the next 41 years of his life. Bass came to GC to prospect, but soon turned to tourism as his main source of income. He built a crude camp along the South Rim, and he promoted the camp through home made

lantern slides that were displayed throughout the country.



In 1894, Bass guided a young woman named Ada Diefendorf to the beautiful waterfalls in Havasu Canyon. A short while later, Bill and Ada were married and Ada became the first white woman to raise a family on the South Rim. But life in GC was never easy. In addition to household duties such as cooking and cleaning, Ada wrangled horses, cared for livestock, and hiked three days to do laundry in the Colorado River.




The inscription reads, "Though his ashes lie on Bass Tomb,
His spirit is everywhere in the Canyon he loved."

 

In 1926, at the age of 77, Bass sold the claims to his land holdings and moved to Wickenburg, Arizona. By the time he left, he had built more roads and Canyon trails than any other individual in GC history. William Bass was cremated and per his request, his ashes were scattered in the GC over Holy Grail Temple which is also known as Bass Tomb. Bass has a granite marker in the GC Pioneers Cemetery at the South Rim (right) as well.



The Bass info came from this book,
 which I really like. Here is a link.





Equipment/Camp/Info Check:  Warm Weather Shirts. As I mentioned above, the kids and I just each got a UV protection shift. It's up to you, but I'd be thinking about this. Here are some of the things to look for.

1. Sun protection fabric (at least UV40 the higher the better)
2. Long Sleeves
3. Vents
4. Moisture wicking
5. Light weight

Here is just one example of a shirt that might work from REI.


Next Deadline: Final trip balance is due February 15th. If your trip status changes at anytime (ie, need to do a half instead of a whole trip), please let me know as soon as possible so we can fill your ½ space. This will lower your cost.