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Trip Number: 12307A
Price: $575
Deposit: $100
Capacity: 15
Staff: Charles Schulz
Highlights:
- Spend a week on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon
- Enjoy evening programs gazing at the stars
- Help maintain and enhance the Grand Canyon's North Rim infrastructure
Includes:
- A great campsite
- Hearty, filling meals prepared by a chuckwagon cook
- A day off to hike on the North Rim
The Trip
Photo: Susan Signaigo
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon not only offers unique, expansive, breathtaking
views of one of the world's largest canyon, it is now the host of one of the
biggest, open-to-the-public, stargazing parties on the planet! By day you can
take in views that'll take your heart away. At night we'll have an extraordinary
opportunity to view the sky through several telescopes set-up by the Phoenix
Saguaro astronomers! See an informative slide show before the sun goes down
-- then step outside to see a star-filled sky. This annual gathering is a great
place for the layperson to learn about planets, stars, and galaxies as the host
group loves to inform and educate their audience.
The less visited North Rim has much to offer you as a Sierra Club member, from
beautiful old Ponderosa pine to the quacking Aspen, and if you're a flower lover
you're in a for a pleasant surprise! Many plants are in bloom in June; Lupine,
Indian Paintbrush, White Geraniums and Cliffrose to name a few.
As Sierra Club members we will have a chance to share the responsibility for
ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to form their own connections
with the Grand Canyon National Park. We will be providing much needed support
and help in maintaining and enhancing the Grand Canyon' s infrastructure on
the North Rim.
The Project
The Project will involve various projects on the North Rim. This could include
assembling and painting picnic tables or brushing trails and improving campgrounds.
Each day will start with eating breakfast, packing lunches for the day, and
getting work assignments. All tools, equipment, and training in the use of tools
will be provided by the Grand Canyon Park staff.
Itinerary
Photo: Susan Signaigo
We will meet at the North Rim Campground on the afternoon of day one. That
time will be spent setting up camp and exploring the Grand Canyon North Rim
area.
The workday begins at 8:00 a.m. We will travel to the worksite and perform
various tasks related to maintaining the North Rim infrastructure. At the end
of the workday, showers are a short walk from our campsite. Dinner is ready
at 6:00 p.m. and afterward you will have plenty of time to make it to the evening
star parties at the North Rim Lodge.
Wednesday will be our day off. You can reach many of the North Rim trails easily
from our campsite or you can use the day to take it easy. The trip will end
before noon on day seven.
Getting There
You are responsible for your transportation to and from the Grand Canyon North
Rim campground. The cost of this transportation is not included in the price
of this trip. The closest airports with regular commercial service are in Las
Vegas, NV; Salt Lake City, UT; and Phoenix, AZ. There are also smaller regional
airports in Flagstaff and Tusayan, AZ and St. George, UT. These might also meet
your transportation needs. In any case it is suggested that you contact other
attendees with the possibility of sharing transportation costs from any of these
airports. Transportation while at the Grand Canyon will be provided by the park
service. More detailed information regarding routes to the North Rim will be
provided to those who sign up for this trip.
Accommodations and Food
The first meal will be dinner on the first day. The last will be breakfast
on the final day.
The trip staff prepares menus, and every effort is taken to accommodate various
dietary needs. Any special needs -- especially food allergies -- should be noted
on the questionnaire sent to you. Meal preparation will be directed by staff
and assisted by trip members. All trip members can plan on one full day of commissary
chores. Mealtimes and daily commissary assignments will be posted and announced
on the first day.
We will be camping in a developed campground area. You will need to bring a
tent, pad, and sleeping bag and whatever else you may need for your comfort.
Showers are only five minutes away.
The normal temperatures this time of year dip down to freezing at night. During
the day temperatures can rise to over seventy degrees. However, temperatures
have been known to drop to as low as 5 degrees during the night at this time
of year. You need to be adequately prepared for such fluctuations.
Trip Difficulty
Photo: Susan Signaigo
This will be a moderately strenuous trip. Be in good shape and prepared for
lots of hard work and fun. Anyone who doesn't live in mountain/high desert environs
must have a healthy respect for the altitude. Many concerns about having an
enjoyable trip are tied to the altitude. At 8,000 feet, your lungs must work
harder to get extra oxygen. This accelerates water loss, even before you add
a little healthy perspiration.
As your body strives to adjust, the altitude may affect your attitude. You
may experience common, but not long-lasting symptoms, such as headache, fatigue,
or mild dehydration. The physical impact of high-altitude exertion cautions
all of us to work at our own pace and rest when necessary. No one will be pushed
past his or her limits -- the need to accomplish a goal does not preclude doing
so safely and in an orderly manner.
If you haven't seen your doctor in the last five years, schedule an appointment.
Please ask him or her to sign the medical questionnaire. Minor medical conditions
are no impediment to having a full, enjoyable experience. Also, do not forget,
all participants must have a current tetanus shot. This vaccine -- currently
given in the combination Diptheria + Tetanus -- is in short supply. If you require
a shot or booster, contact your physician. You should not go on a service trip
without this shot.
We will work six to eight-hour days on most days. A day off will allow volunteers
to hike, explore, photograph, and sightsee the surrounding area.
Equipment and Clothing
Trip members are expected to furnish their own day pack, comparable to a student
book bag, not a fanny pack. Bring at least three one-liter/one-quart containers
for carrying water, your own supply of moleskin and Band-Aids, sunscreen, insect
repellent, and lip balm. Bring clothes and boots (not running shoes) that are
comfortable. Bring clothes that are broken-in but not worn out, and that can
be easily layered for warmth and removed as the day's temperature increases.
The only special item you must bring is a good pair of gloves. Gloves, like
boots, serve best when broken in early.
References
- Butchart, Harvey, Grand Canyon Treks.
- Blakey, Ron and Wayne Ranney, Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau.
- Aitchison, Stewart, Grand Canyon 's North Rim and Beyond: A
Guide to the North Rim & the Arizona Strip.
Conservation
The three developed viewpoints on the North Rim offer a sense of looking across
the expanse of the canyon, rather than into its depths. Views of the Colorado
River are rare and distant. But these intriguing views calls out to many visitors
as they explore the less often visited North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Because this area is not as often visited, the services and facilities at this
location are a bit more primitive. For this reason and because of the harsh
winters that can be visited upon the North Rim, extra effort has to be put into
the maintaining of the North Rim facilities. Our volunteer time will be spent
helping maintain this unique area for the use of all who take the extra effort
to visit this side of the Grand Canyon.
Trip Price
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.
Staff
Leader:
Charlie Schulz has lived in the Southwest for more than 40 years and has hiked extensively in Arizona, Europe, and Mexico. Since retiring, hiking has become an even more important part of his day, making him a useful resource for information on hiking in the Southwest. He has participated in numerous Sierra Club service trips in the Southwest.
E-mail: crs1944@cox.net
Co-Leader:
Audrey Cullen is from Minneapolis and is an avid hiker and outdoors person. She has been a leader on other trips as well as this and brings a wealth of experience to help make the trip enjoyable for everyone.
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips