The day had arrived. I was to join a Grand Canyon rafting-canyoneering hybrid trip. I had been on the first of these, 5 years earlier. After a day of scrambling in the Arches area, I met Hank at the outfitters, in Flagstaff. We were to hike down to Phantom Ranch the next day, from the South Rim. The trip had started at Lee’s Ferry 9 days before. Hank and I were on board for 16 days in the middle
We drove from Flag to the South Rim, in Dan and Lindsey’s van and camped on National Forest land. We were set up well in the lap of luxury, by our friends. Good thing too as the temperature was 21 degree’s that morning. We met Chris P. and Bill who were also joining the trip. I invited Sara and Chris G. to join us for the day. Somehow we missed connections with Sara, but Chris joined us for the canyon and hiked out the same day. His skill was helpful, as many on the river trip, while first rate backpackers and hikers, were not always experienced with technical canyons, let alone C rated (flowing water) canyons. He made several new friends on the day and I suspect he will find his way onto exploration trips in the canyon, in the future, with the prime Grand Canyon exploration group.
Those leaving the trip, along with most of the folks staying on the trip, hiked up from the river to the top of the canyon, where our small group, met them coming down from the rim, before 10 AM. We had about 12 folks and split into two groups for the canyon. Hank, just on the trip for 3 hours was immediately promoted to leader of one of the groups.
It turned out, that water was quite high and ‘pushed” us around a bit. It took most of the day to make the descent. When it was over, Chris G. headed up, a few folks along went off on their own cross country trip, inside the canyon and us folks new to the trip, tried to integrate into the new routines….which was to hike down to the river, join a boat and ride through Horn Rapid, one of the canyon’s larger rapids. Then to camp for our first night and help as we could with meal preparations.
So many routines to grasp. So many new names to place with faces. For the next 15 days, I would have no contact with the outside world, privileged to join one of the premiere adventures in the world, with its most adventurous practitioners. Pictures?
Tame elk on the rim
Hank and Chris G.
Long way down
Bandito Dan Ransom, sad to be headed out
Rich Rudow…superstar
Rickie Dee
Bill Church, plying his trade
Can you see Rich manning the anchor up and left of the rapper?
Chris F.
Doug
Chris P
Bill with the sharp eye
Down to the river
Dale, the permit holder. Thanks Dale
Felicia and I beg onto Rickie Dee’s boat….decades a rafting guide
DNally and the P brothers
Sun going down
Horn Rapid (corrected)…game on
The full album of pictures?
https://picasaweb.google.com/108034287150978265447/GardenCreek3816#
Dan Ransom
Radness. Wish I could’ve joined you for the day. Nice level of flow too!
Bill
I got a few keepers from Garden…….
hank moon
PigPen muddyin’ the whole place up again. Tsk…
Ram
I have fallin down…and I can’t get up!
or
You can’t fall from the bottom?
ratagonia
Can’t fall off floor! Floor is SAFE!
Mike
Nice pics bro. Thats Horn not Hance Rapid.
Bill came in at the same spot last year. The legendary Sonny Lawrence was sporting his usual level of extremely high stokeage, jumping from boat to boat just before the rapid. Then he slipped and fell in! Bill looked shocked, but didn’t miss a beat and strong-manned him back into the boat just before the start of the rapid. Welcome to the team Bill, its gonna be a long ride.
Bill
I think @Sonny Lawrence knew I was a bit nervous about running Horn so he decided to jump in 30 seconds before the tongue to help me redirect my focus. Thanks for that Sonny, it actually worked.