Photo: John Melville Jewels of the Grand Canyon, Arizona Highlights:
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Trip Number: 08053A Price: $1,095 Deposit: $200 Capacity: 9 Rating: MS Leader:
The Trip  Photo: John Melville The Grand Canyon is one of our national treasures, awesome in its grandeur, magnificent in its beauty. On our eight-day backpack, we will experience this spectacular natural wonder intimately, traversing country rarely seen by visitors. The area we will hike is rich in human, geologic, and natural history, and the vistas are breathtaking. If you've seen the Grand Canyon from the rim or from the maintained corridor trails and still want to see more, this may be the trip for you. Up-close, we'll see the multiple geo-logical layers exposed over the ages as the Colorado River cut its way through this rugged landscape. This trip will not be a "death march." We'll have lots of time to admire and photograph the spectacular scenery. Our itinerary will be flexible, determined by water availability along our route as well as the abilities of participants. You should be prepared to carry between two and six quarts of water each day, along with 10-15 additional pounds of commissary gear.  Photo: John Melville Temperatures will likely be warm -- in the 60s to low 90s during the peak heat of the day at the bottom of the canyon. Low temperatures in the canyon should be in the 50s or 60s. Temperatures along the rim may range from the 20s at night to the mid-60s during the day. Snow at night is a possibility on the Rim. We will generally hike during the morning hours, before temperatures reach their peak. While April is generally a relatively dry month, participants should be prepared for rain in the canyon and, possibly, snow at the rim.
 Photo: John Melville Our 44-mile adventure will begin and end at Grand Canyon Village, on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. We will meet the afternoon before day one to eat, distribute comissary, fill water bottles, and take the two hour shuttle to our pre-trip campsite at the South Bass Trailhead. Following an early morning breakfast, we'll head eight miles down the unmaintained South Bass trail to our camp, near Bass Rapids. Depending on the fitness of our group, we may follow our descent with a layover day to explore, watch the rafting parties, or just enjoy the stunning scenery. From Bass Rapids, we'll head eight miles to Ruby Canyon, passing through beautiful Serpentine Canyon along our way. Our next day will find us meandering along the Tonto trail, for a little under six miles to our camp at Turquoise Creek. Next, our longest day will find us hiking nine rolling but beautiful miles to Slate Creek. Then, we'll hike about five miles to our campsite beside the Colorado--Boucher Rapids, named after one of the Grand Canyon's pioneer settlers.  Photo: John Melville Our last days here will take us to the historic Hermit Camp, then on to a final day hiking the Hermit Trail back to the South Rim. Once at the South Rim, we'll take a Park Service shuttle back to our cars at the backcountry office parking lot. All participants are invited to join together for a final meal (not included in trip price) at a restaurant in one of the South Rim's historic lodges to share memories, trip highlights, and laughter. Getting There The outing will begin and end on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The nearest airports are Flagstaff, Arizona (77 miles; 1.5 hours); Las Vegas, Nevada (275 miles; six hours); Phoenix, Arizona (245 miles; 5.5 hours); and Salt Lake City, Utah (528 miles; 12.5 hours). A campsite has been reserved for our group prior to and after our trip. Lodging on the South Rim prior to or after the trip can be obtained through Xanterra Parks and Resorts. Call (303) 338-6000 or see their website: www.xanterra.com All participants must make their own travel arrangements. Individuals interested in ride-sharing should contact the leader, who will gladly assist in coordinating carpool plans.
 Photo: John Melville Our first meal will be dinner before day one, and our final meal with be a trail lunch on the last day. Trip menus will feature easily prepared, lightweight, and hearty back-packing fare. We may not be able to accommodate special dietary requirements. Please check with the trip leader. All foods and preparation equipment will be supplied. Participants will take turns preparing meals, under the guidance of and with the assistance of the leaders. Participants need to supply their own personal eating utensils. All water will come from creeks or streams and must be purified. All participants will recieve non-iodine purification tablets. Please do not buy any filters or equipment before talking with the leader. The Park Service requires that all trash be packed out. This includes used toilet paper. Ziploc-type bags containing some dry bleach placed within a tightly-fitted plastic container will serve the purpose odorlessly (and will be provided). A small trowel for digging "cat holes" will be supplied.
This trip is rated moderate/strenuous (MS). The rigors of desert hiking combined with the stresses of long ascents and descents makes it imperative that all participants be aware that this trip may involve a higher level of difficulty than they may be used to. If you have previously hiked in the Grand Canyon without difficulty, you should have a good sense for the difficulty of this outing. We will hike trails unmaintained for the past 80 years but still in generally good shape. The first and last days will involve significant losses and gains in elevation, while the rest of the trip will be along the rolling western Tonto Trail. It is important to realize, however, that hiking even moderate trails here may seem significantly harder than other trails you're used to hiking. The steepness of the first and last days, rim altitudes, and the challenges posed by desert hiking make proper conditioning prior to this trip essential. Daily backpacking distances will range between six and nine miles. If you are in good physical condition you should be more than able to enjoy this trip. Beginners should contact the leader prior to committing to this outing. If you are not in shape, you may have difficulty enjoying this trip. For a great description of what it's like to hike in the Grand Canyon, please read the first chapter of Sharon Spangler's excellent book (see References, below). Please do not hesitate to contact the leader if you have questions regarding the difficulty of the trip.
A comprehensive listing of recommended equipment will be mailed to each participant after sign-up. These items include a backpack (internal or external), sleeping bag, sleeping pad, light tent or tarp, water carrier (70 ounces) and two additional two-quart water bottles, boots, clothing for temperatures between 60-90 degrees, wide-brim hat, bandana, poncho, flashlight, eating utensils, suntain lotion, and lip balm. It is very important that all personal items be kept to a maximum of 25 pounds, including clothing, sleeping bag, backpack, and all other gear.
Maps: Books:
This book contains a description of the South Bass and Hermit trails on which we will be hiking. Perhaps more importantly, its excellent first chapter gives a very accurate sense of how it feels to hike a route for which one is not adequately pre-pared. Websites:
Conservation This trip will afford each of us the opportunity to reflect on the meaning and value of our National Park system. We will have informal readings each evening on Grand Canyon topics. Among other things, we'll discuss John Muir's visit to the Grand Canyon and John Wesley Powell's voyages of discovery down the Colorado, as well as the effects of increased backcountry usage and search and rescue issues caused by park misuse. We'll also have an opportunity to discuss changes that have resulted from the building of Glen Canyon Dam.
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
John has hiked extensively in the Grand Canyon as well as in other parts of Canyon Country. For those who would like to gently stretch their imagination, physical abilities, sense of adventure, and understanding of our natural world, he welcomes participation on this adventure.
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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The canyons of the Southwest are John Melville's favorite places in the world. Though he started backpacking relatively late in life, John loves introducing others to this wonderful hiking destination. He takes pride in designing trips with enough challenge to leave participants with a sense of accomplishment, but leisurely enough that they will really feel the natural beauty of the surroundings.