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The Trip

The Grand Canyon is one of our national treasures, awesome in its grandeur and magnificent in its beauty. Unlike the South Rim, which has over five million visitors each year, the North Rim is much less visited due to its isolated location and short six-month season. The North Rim, at an elevation of 8,250', is 1,000' higher than the South Rim and offers a unique view of what is more than a great chasm carved over millennia through the rocks of the Colorado Plateau. It is a view that looks over vistas that reach all the way to the San Francisco Peaks to the south, and beyond Powell Plateau to the west. The Grand Canyon we visit today is a gift from past generations. When we're not working on our trail project, we'll be able to take time to enjoy this gift by watching the changing play of light and shadows. We will be working in an area where three deserts converge (Great Basin, Sonoran, Mohave) and where the nearly extinct California Condor was recently reintroduced, making this a very unique setting rich in natural history.

The Project

Our work project will entail 4.5 days of trail maintenance on the existing 18-mile Rainbow Trail in the Kaibab National Forest on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Alternatively the Forest Service may have us work on the construction of a new trail in the same area, provided the public hearing process is completed and the Forest Service is granted the necessary permits to proceed.

Itinerary

We'll meet at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 1st at the Forest Service Tanglefoot Work Center on the outskirts of Fredonia, Arizona where we'll get acquainted, meet Forest Service staff, eat dinner, and camp under the stars. The next morning, we'll get up at the crack of dawn and carpool approximately 70 miles to our remote base camp, get organized, have a tool safety presentation and start working on our project. It may be necessary to leave some of our vehicles at the Tanglefoot Work Center as there will be limited parking at the base camp. Wednesday through Saturday we'll work on our project and enjoy the vistas to the west overlooking Tapeats Amphitheater. There is not a backpacking component to this trip.

Our "play day" will be Sunday, October 7. Those up for a challenge can get up at first light and accompany the leader to the North Kaibab Trailhead and day hike into the Grand Canyon for lunch at beautiful Roaring Springs and then hike out in the afternoon. This is a challenging day hike of 10 miles and 6,000' in elevation change, but well worth the effort. If you're looking for relaxation, you can laze around base camp, read a book, take a well-deserved nap, hike along the Rainbow Trail, or carpool 40 miles to the Grand Canyon National Park North Rim Lodge and rent a bike. Our trip will end the morning of Monday, October 8 after breakfast.

Getting There

This service project takes place in the remote backcountry where we will work from a base camp. The Forest Service recommends high-clearance vehicles to reach the base camp where we'll camp in personal tents. There are no natural water sources in the area so the Forest Service will be transporting in water for our drinking, cooking, and washing needs. As previously indicated, we will meet on October 1st on the outskirts of Fredonia, Arizona, which is near the Arizona/Utah border. The leader will send a map and additional information about the meeting location, camping, and motels in the area. Transportation to/from the trip is each participant's responsibility, but the leader will facilitate carpooling by sharing participant names, contact information, and travel plans as it becomes available. The closest and usually least expensive airport to fly into is Las Vegas, Nevada followed by a 195-mile drive to Fredonia. Flagstaff, Arizona and Salt Lake City, Utah are alternatives.

Accommodations and Food

All trip meals are provided beginning with dinner on October 1st and ending with breakfast on October 8. Please come with the attitude that food is part of the adventure. We provide healthy, delicious, and nutritious vegetarian-friendly meals, planned to ensure adequate protein with occasional meat on the side. We have a very experienced and delightful cook on this adventure and everyone will take turns in helping with food preparation and clean-up in our group commissary. Trip menu planning is complex and considers there may be no refrigeration and that food must be compactable for storage so critters don't eat the store. Before applying for the trip, people with food allergies and/or strong food preferences must contact the cook to see if accommodations are possible.

Trip Difficulty

This will be a moderately strenuous trip as we'll be at an altitude of 8,250' and the work project will be physically challenging. You will enjoy this trip if you are in good physical condition and are comfortable with the challenges and simplicity of living outdoors. Typical fall temperatures range from the 70s during the day to the 40s at night with minimal rainfall. If we encounter an early winter storm, as the 2011 trip did, we could be working in several inches of snow and freezing weather. Thus, it's important to plan for all kinds of weather.

Equipment and Clothing

The leader will provide a detailed equipment list to registered participants. You should have a day pack large enough to carry lunch, several liters of water, a first-aid kit, etc. as we will be doing lots of hiking to and from our worksites. Plan on wearing layered clothing so you can stay comfortable in a wide range of weather conditions. Also plan on bringing comfortable, well-broken-in boots and two pairs of work gloves. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the leader for advice.

References

Maps:

The leader will send you the names of the USGS Topo maps for the area. You won't need to purchase the maps as the leader will have copies, as well as a copy of the Kaibab National Forest map.

Books:

• Powell, John Wesley, Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons.
• Fletcher, Colin, The Man Who Walked Through Time.
• Buchart, Harvey, Grand Canyon Treks.
• Steck, George, Grand Canyon Loop Hikes.

Websites:

• Grand Canyon Association: http://www.grandcanyon.org
• Kaibab National Forest: http://www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, and encourages grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward greater understanding, advocacy, and participation in the goals of the Club. On this trip we will discuss the impact of scenic overflights, water releases, species reintroduction, visitor use fees, etc. We will also teach and follow Leave No Trace minimum-impact techniques and have a participatory environmental/conservation session where we'll share environmental issues in our hometowns/regions and discuss environmental issues in the Grand Canyon ecosystem. Participants will be encouraged to identify issues they feel passionately about and to join regional environmental organizations. The trip leader will help facilitate discussions and provide information on regional environmental organizations working to protect the Grand Canyon and surrounding area.

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:

Doug Pilcher lives in sunny Phoenix, Arizona and has been a volunteer staff member in the Sierra Club National Outings program for over 10 years. He has organized, led, and cooked for service trips in Colorado, Washington, Wyoming, Montana, Arizona, California, and Canada. He has more than 20 years of extensive backpacking experience, has advanced first-aid training, and is a graduate of the Colorado Outward Bound School. When not traveling the world with his soul mate Stacey, he works as a management consultant. Personal interests include anything outdoors, hiking, biking, photography, and volunteer work.

E-mail: doug@pilcheretal.com

Cook:

Maureen Kurtz lives in a historic neighborhood in downtown Durham NC and has been a cook for service trips since 1997. In addition to volunteering for service trips both locally and nationally, her other current interests include living car-free, historic home renovation, gardening, and taking care of her own dog, cats, and chickens, as well as foster pets. She has previously lived in the southwest, and is really looking forward to a return visit to this beautiful area!

E-mail: mpkurtz2009@gmail.com

Maureen and Doug have previously worked together on a Sierra Club Service Trip in Glacier National Park, Montana.

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Carpooling
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback
• Wilderness Manners