Photo: Ken Oettle Grand Canyon Ramble, Arizona Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08208A Price: $1,195 Deposit: $200 Capacity: 9 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Rebecca Hein The Grand Canyon is one of the most awesome sights on Earth, and we’re going to help you get ‘up close and personal’ with this natural wonder! As you experience the canyon without a heavy backpack, you’ll receive a thorough introduction to this national park. We’ll traverse main corridor (and some lesser-known) trails; visit the Museum of the Grand Canyon National Park and other rim attractions, and explore areas that the park's 4 million annual visitors seldom experience. This trip will appeal to members interested in human, geologic, and natural history. Our meals will feature backpacking fare, and participants will take turns cooking. This trip is designed to whet your appetite to further explore the canyon and perhaps "graduate" from daypacking to backpacking.
 Photo: Ken Oettle Day 1: On our first day at the Grand Canyon, we'll meet for lunch and introductions at Mather Campground. After we pitch our tents and get our camp set up, we'll begin our adventure by doing some light hiking on the rim. We'll view the canyon from various locations, including Yavapai Observation Station and Mather Point. We'll return to camp for a dinner and the evening's activities. Day 2: Following an early start, we'll complete the rim trail, taking time to learn about the history of the Grand Canyon Village Historical District, which includes examples of Mary Colter's architecture. That afternoon we'll have a private tour of the extraordinary Museum Collection of the Grand Canyon National Park, which has been collecting artifacts since 1919 and now has more than 800,000 items. We'll see amazing pottery, stunning photos, stick figures, fossils, and many other treasures. Day 3: After a hearty breakfast, we'll take the shuttle bus to South Kaibab trail, where we'll start our first hike in the Canyon. We'll have lunch at “Ooh Aah Point” (at the one-mile point), and, depending on how we feel, we'll either hike on to Cedar Ridge (for a round trip of three miles) or return to the trail head. After our hike, we'll head back to camp for dinner and more evening activities. Day 4: Today we'll get another early start and head towards Grandview Point, where we'll descend into the Canyon on a series of steep, narrow switchbacks. Our destination this day will be the Coconino Saddle, approximately 1.5 miles from the trailhead. In the evening, after dinner, we'll attend a ranger talk on the rim. Day 5: This morning we'll head to Kolb Studio, where we'll enjoy a private tour of the facilities! After that, it's Bright Angel Trail, the most popular trail in the Grand Canyon .Lunch will in the park by the railroad, where you'll be able to see the charming Grand Canyon Railroad cars, and then the rest of the afternoon will be free for shopping, walking, or photography. Once back in the campsite, we'll enjoy our dinner and evening activities. Day 6: We will carpool to Desert View. We will spend the day there and tour the Tusayan Ruin and Museum. Shoshone Point will be on our way home. The views are priceless! Shoshone Point is often used for "canyon weddings." After lunch and a day of touring, we will head back to the campsite, pack a picnic dinner, and carpool to Yavapai Observation Station for a stunning Canyon sunset. Day 7: This will be our last day at the Canyon, as our trip ends after breakfast. Getting There The nearest airports are Flagstaff (90 miles) and Phoenix (230 miles), Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada (280 miles). There are also shuttles to the Grand Canyon from the Flagstaff Amtrak Station.
We will be base-camping at Mather Campground on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Restrooms and showers are available. Participants provide their own tents, sleeping bags, day packs, and eating utensils (a dish and cutlery). Meals will be vegetarian-friendly. Special dietary requirements may not be able to be accommodated. The first meal will be lunch on day one and the last meal will be breakfast on the final day of the trip. Participants will take turns preparing meals with the guidance and assistance of the leaders. All food and kitchen gear will be supplied.
The steep uphill climbs of some of the hikes will challenge your endurance, and the downhill sections will give your knees a workout. Some may be affected by the altitude (one of the highest points at the Grand Canyon is Desert View, which is 7,438 feet in elevation). Proper conditioning prior to this trip is essential.
A comprehensive list of recommended equipment will be mailed to each participant after sign-up. Essentials include a day pack with waist belt, sleeping bag rated to 30 degrees, sleeping pad, tent, broken-in boots and clothing suitable for range of temperatures from the 40s through the 70s.
Grand Canyon National Park maps and books can be purchased from many outdoor shops or from the Grand Canyon Association through their web site at www.grandcanyonassociation.org. Books: Spangler, Sharon, On Foot in the Grand Canyon: Hiking the Trails of the South Rim. Pruett Publishing, 1989. Kaiser, James, Grand Canyon – The Complete Guide, Destination Press, 2005. Websites www.nps.gov/grca/grandcanyon/index.htm Conservation The Sierra Club sponsors outings so that members can experience new places,
people, and activities. We aim to heighten awareness of the global environment,
thereby encouraging participants to take action to protect both our world and
its inhabitants, human and otherwise
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.
Leader:
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
|
A new Sierra Club leader, Terri Oettle has enjoyed hiking for several years, and was a staff member on last year’s Grand Canyon Ramble. She’s lived all over the world (including England, Greece, Alaska, and Germany) and has enjoyed some terrific Sierra Club adventures to Newfoundland, California, Sedona (Arizona), and the Grand Canyon. She loves the outdoors, and really enjoys spending time with nature.
Marti Greason began leading Sierra trips 10 years ago on the east coast of Florida. Since that time, her interest has grown in leading folks to all different areas of the United States and abroad. She likes to expose participants to new landscapes, different cultures, and just plain being outdoors where you can touch the soil and marvel at Mother Nature. Marti has traveled to Europe on many occasions, and also to the Orient and the Holy Land. Her modes of travel range from backpacking to business travel. Her outdoors love started when she was a young Girl Scout. She lives in Tucson, Arizona, where she is a docent at Tohono Chul Park. She recently retired from the federal government and looks forward to having more time to enjoy the outdoors.