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| Permit in the mail! |
TL Report: A couple of things to report:
- Welcome to Steve Liebig's friend, Lynne, who will be joining us from Lee's to Phantom! We are looking forward to spending time with you!
- Our official river permit has been filled out, (it feels like I've signed my life away in blood), the permit check has been written, and both are on the way to the NPS.
- Also, next week, I'll payoff our outfitter, Moenkopi. :-)
What the Grand Canyon forums are chatting about this week: Service Dogs in GC. There is a LONG thread on the feasibility of having a dog on a river trip. River Permits was contacted by a list member (and, no, it was not me!) and while service dogs are not allowed on the river, they are allowed on hiking trails.
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| The rope access to Olo Canyon. If you can't climb it, you can't hike it! |
Mileage This Week: River Mile 145-147. At river mile 146.1, we'll pass one of the funkiest yet hardest side canyons to assess. Olo Canyon (as I recall, Olo means horse in a language not my own).
We have great video of Olo Canyon on our last trip with Baxter, Bill R, Elaine, and Beaz swimming in the pools and sliding down the stream beds. Access is difficult as you have to climb up a hanging rope about 20 feet hand over hand to get to the mouth of the canyon. As I recall, I may have stayed at the rafts pilfering cookies while no one else was looking.
Just in: Apparently you can access this canyon by climbing up the downstream wall (to the right of the rope). Any brave takers?
Just in: Apparently you can access this canyon by climbing up the downstream wall (to the right of the rope). Any brave takers?
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| The mouth of Olo Canyon (without the rope). Look how tall the canyon walls are in this side canyon. |
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| The crazy tight pull in for Matkatamiba. This site is extremely popular and we will have to share space with other river trips. |
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At River Mile 148.4, we'll hike up Matkatamiba Canyon. This is one of the funnest (and I don't think that's an actual word, but it works for me) hikes we will do. Matkatamiba, or "Matkat" as it's affectionately known, is one of the loveliest side canyons in GC. It has graceful, swirling Mauv Limestone walls that are a marvel to behold, and a treat for any photographer.
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| Matkat narrowness |
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| Matkatamiba |
After navigating the narrow mouth of the canyon, the walls ope up into a large patio or rotunda with elegant ledges and maidenhair ferns.
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| The Matkat patio |
Rambling thru the patio is a small clear shallow stream. The tradition here is to make "butt" dams by sitting your group down, butts side by side and attempt to block the upstream water in any which way you can. When the water starts to breach your dam, everyone stands up and the wall of water rushes down the canyon. I know it sounds silly, but this really is fun, fun, fun.
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| Butt Dams at Matkat |
GC History: Matkatamiba was named after a Havasupai family.
Equipment/Camp/Info Check: River Facts:
River Depth: The river varies from inches to about 90 feet. Remember that river depth can change dramatically in a few inches.
How Wide: Width ranges from 76 ft at Granite Narrows, River Mile 136, to about 750ft at Mile 193. The average is 200-300 feet.
How Cold: Water released from Glen Canyon Dam is about 46 degrees F., warming to approx 50 degrees at Phantom, 60 degrees at Lake Mead.
How Fast: The river may reach speeds of 10-15 mph at steeper rapids. Average smooth speed is 3-4 mph.
Elevation Loss: The Colorado thru GC drops on average 8 feet per mile for a total of 1,709 ft in the 280 miles we will run.
River flow: The river flow is measured in cfs or cubic feet per second. This is the number of cubic feet of water passing a particular point at a given second. The lowest documented flow since Glen Canyon dam was constructed is 1,000cfs in 1977; the highest 92,000cfs in 1983. Pre dam highs may have exceeded 240,000cfs in the 1800s according to flood debris.
- Belknap's Waterproof Grand Canyon River Guide
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