TL Report: I put some new stuff on the blog this week. There is now a campsite itinerary page on the right hand column. This page lists the camps we are shooting for. Of course a lot depends on whether we will actually get a particular camp. Factors that might affect this would be our activities of the day (hiking/scouting rapids/wind/etc) and whether another trip on the water is camping there already. Most of the campsite names are linked to photos of that specific camp. You can click and see where we’ll be staying that night. Thank you, Annie, for providing the website that I used for the photos and thank you, Stevie, for providing input on campsites. This camp itinerary also lists what activities we’ll experience each day, such as hikes, sights, and notable rapids. I tried to plan for short river miles on heavy hiking/playing days like Matkatamiba, Deer Creek and Havasu. Typically, the river current runs 4 miles/hr, and we will run between 5 and 25 river miles a day. We will also run several big rapids (Granite and Lava, for example) first thing in the morning to take advantage of higher water levels/cooler morning temps for scouting. First thing? Yep, SPLISH SPLASH! GOOD MORNING! Who needs coffee with that kind of adrenaline rush?
I also added a calendar to the Trip Dates/Deposit Deadlines page. Just to be clear (and I’ve tried to be REALLY clear on this) a whole trip is 3 weeks long. A half trip will still take you 2 weeks, especially if you are planning on the 2nd half, which is longer than the first. If you are one of those visual people that need a calendar versus words on a page to figure out your timeline, take a look.
Now that we’ve decided on our itinerary, I’ve set a date for the Phantom Exchange. It will be on July 5th. That means anyone hiking in at Phantom will need to be at the South Rim on July 4th to hike down Bright Angel Trail in the early morning hours of July 5th. This also means if you are hiking out at Phantom, you will do so on July 5th up to the South Rim.
Speaking of July 4th, I’m pretty sure fireworks are prohibited by the NPS (trash/fire hazard).
What the GC Private Boaters Assoc is chatting about this week: One of the forum members posted a link to figure out the moon phase during our trip. And good news, we should have a full moon during our float across Lake Mead. We are really fortunate in this as we'll have light for the night float and it's supposed to be really beautiful.
GCNPS publishes guides to the North Rim and the South Rim several times a year. Here are the new ones if you are in the mood to peruse what’s going on in the park right now. (I know, I know, it’s not about the river, but sometimes you just need a GC fix anyway you can get one.)
Mileage this week: River miles 17.2-20. Click below to see a video of a group of folks this March rowing House Rock Rapid (class 4-7) at river mile 17.2. Not the best of runs, but it gives you an idea of the rapid.
Finally at River mile 20.5 we have beautiful North Canyon. I’ve never hiked here and I’ve always wanted to, so we’ll definitely stop to enjoy the shade and the hike.
GC History: The California condor is regarded as one of the rarest birds in the world. Condors were a common resident of the Grand Canyon judging by bones, feathers and eggshells found in caves where they once nested. A dramatic range reduction occurred over the last 10,000 years. By 1982, the total population had dwindled to just 22 birds. Extinction loomed.
What's Being Done to Save the Condor?
As a result of the continued downward spiral of the condor population, one of the longest wildlife recovery efforts ever attempted began. After being placed on the federal endangered species list in 1976, a captive breeding program began. But in the wild, condor numbers continued to decline until by 1985 only nine wild birds remained. A controversial decision was made to bring all remaining condors into captivity, and the last wild bird was captured on April 19, 1987. With successful breeding, the captive condor population increased dramatically from 27 birds in 1987 to 150 in 2000.
In December of 1996, six young captive-bred condors were released into the wild in Arizona from a site in the Vermilion Cliffs, just north of Grand Canyon National Park. Subsequent releases have occurred every year since then. The world total of condors today is over 320, more than half of which are in the wild.
Currently, over 70 condors soar over Grand Canyon, especially during the summer. Condors, being curious, are attracted to human activity. If you see a perched condor, do not approach it or offer it food; just enjoy this remarkable sight! If you haven’t yet seen a condor in the wild, keep on the lookout from your next Grand Canyon trip. You may appreciate the majestic scenery of Grand Canyon all the more for knowing that it provides important habitat for one of the world’s most majestic—and most endangered—bird.
Equipment Check: What will the oar rigs look like?
The 18-ft self bailing Moenkopi rafts come equipped with everything we'll need. Paco Pads are stored on the two deck hatches (that also make great sleeping areas). Stern covers make for easy rigging (top, right). In the pix to the left you can see the chair bin under the hatch (chairs are impossible to pack/safely secure so they need their own space). On the high side pix to the right (can anyone identify the rapid?), you can see how the bags/equipment/ammo cans are rigged. That is what you are looking at, right?
Next Deadline: $500 per person is due September 1st. 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, don't wait for the next deadline.
Comments, questions, concerns? Email me or use the comment link and I’ll post you back.
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