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.