Grand Canyon - Day Four

Our original plan was to hike for six days and exit the canyon at the South Kalbab trailhead.  With a weather update of dropping temperatures, wind/rain storms plus snow warnings and that we were 'three men, two rain jackets and one tent'  we decided to exit today via the Grandview Trail.

Followed the Tonto trail to the steep Page Spring trail that lead to a junction with the Grandview trail which we then followed up to the rim.   The upper reaches of this trail were still icy and it would have been really nasty with a layer of snow too.

I caught a ride back to the Visitor Centre, came back to fetch the lads, stopped at the first McDonalds then proceeded to Flagstaff where Ken and Dale picked up a rental car for further adventures and I drove back to Palm springs.

All in all and absolutely fantastic trip and already looking forward to returning!

Tonto/Page Spring Trails junction

Climbing to this gap

Looking back down towards Page Springs

Looking towards the rim - 2.5 hrs away

Icy steps just below the rim at Grandview trailhead

The next morning at Flagstaff Motel six

Grand Canyon - Day Three

Leaving the Ecsalante Route and joined the Tonto trail that climbs to then follows the contours of the Tonto Platform.  Our first obstacle of the day was ascending the bluff just about our campsite.  We lined the packs up tricky bit.

Ken leads the tricky bit

The second obstacle was descending the scree slope on the other side.

Next was a bush wack along the river bank to Hance Rapids where we topped up our water and watch some rafters descent the river.

After this it was a day steady climbing with spectacular views.  Our destination was Hance Creek which was the only water source after leaving the Colorado River. 

Leaving the river 

Up to the Tonto Platform

One step back to a 1000 ft drop!

Following the side canyon the head of which is Hance Creek and our stop for the night

Looking down to our campsite at Hance Creek.  The winds really howled down this side canyon.

Camp three

View into the side canyon from camp

Bedding down

Grand Canyon - Day Two

Today we turned left at the Colorado River and followed the Escalante route.  This was another challenging and rewarding day which included lots of riverside walking, up and downing, some scrambling, rain squall, lining packs, bush wacking along the river.  We had two long detours from the river as side canyons blocked ability to follow the river directly.

Early start

Raining

Side canyon detour - trail seen on right rim edge

Scrambled down this to exit the canyon along the bottom

Ken bush wacking alone the river

Camp tonight was at the Papago canyon beneath a huge rock overhang.

Very pleased with new solo MEC Spark 1 tent

For the first time I can remember I developed a blister and it was a whopper on the inside of my right heel.  Tired the old Camino trick of piercing the blister with a needle and leaving a length of thread to allow it to 'wick' and not reform while still keeping protective skin intact.

Grand Canyon - Day One

Lipan Point to Colorado River - 16 km

After parking our car at the Visitors' Centre in the village at 0700 hrs we caught a ride to the trail head at Lipan Point.  Tim, our driver, offers this service and Ken has used him for previous hikes.

Our general plan is to hike into the canyon and move in a westward direction and returning to the rim near our car in six days.

The Tanner trail starts at Lipan Point and descends steadily and remorselessly for 5500 ft over 16 km to our destination at the Colorado River.  There is no water on this route and a group we met that was caching water for the return hike at the half way point during their decent.  The Tanner has two steep sections - at beginning and the 'Redwall' band about half way down.  Sore legged and tired we reached our campsite for the night at Tanner Rapids around 1600 hrs.

Last rest stop before the bottom

Funny story... Dale and Ken both supplied Aquatabs for purifying our drinking water.  One table per litre of water.  We prepared some clear Colorado River water and after waiting the half hour for the tabs to work we gave it the taste test and it was crazy strong.  Like hot tub water.  Upon closer inspection we found that they had both inadvertently bought the much stronger one tab per twenty litre tabs.  No problem, we just chopped up the tablets to 1/20th size before using.

Ken and Dale settled into their bivy bags and me into my solo tent by the time darkness fell around 1900 hrs.

Rock slide across the river