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Grand Canyon 2005
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Grand Canyon Backpack - Day 3
The Tonto: Hance Creek to Grapevine Canyon (Continued)
After lunch we were off again. The Tonto trail continued winding its way west, contouring out towards the Colorado and then in and out of a few minor sidecanyons. There were lots of long rectangular [Tapeats sandstone] slabs of rocks lying on the slopes of the canyon. Two such slabs spelt out "TI", so I told Shannon that the hills really are alive with music! (as in "ti, a drink with jam and bread...." , from the Sound of Music song, "Do Re Mi")
courtesy BConnell
Cottonwood Creek Side Drainage
Coffin Canyon?
Can you spot the 'ti'?
courtesy CDoucet
'TI' closeup
Jenn on Tapeats
Sego Lily
Hiking through Nature's Garden
Graceful Lily Bouquet
Exiting Cottonwood Canyon
The tonto trail, after heading out of Cottonwood Canyon, skirted the edge of the Granite gorge, the deep ravine-like cleft that is (in this section) the very bottom of the Grand Canyon, and which contains the Colorado River. There are fantastic cliff overlooks, and the dark and mysterious vishnu schist rock is clearly visible (it forms the sides of the steep inner gorge).
The Granite Gorge
The Granite Gorge (annotated)
Cottonwood creek meets the Colorado
The Granite Gorge
It was this big...
Andrew and Brian on edge of Gorge
The next major sidecanyon to the west on the Tonto was Grapevine Canyon, one of the largest sidecanyons on the south side of the Colorado. Even though it is only one of countless sidecanyons in the Grand Canyon, it by itself is a very large canyon, with its own substantial "sub-side canyons", if you will. Gives you a good idea of how immense the Grand Canyon really is!
Rest break
Nodules in Tapeats Sandstone
Heading into Grapevine
Part of the trail leading into Grapevine became quite sloped, and instead of running flat and cut into the slope, the trail sloped at the same angle as the ground. This and the fact that the trail ran fairly close to the edge of a very high cliff of Tapeats Sandstone meant that extra care was in order. It was a bit trickier to walk on, and Shannon slipped twice, causing a fair bit of road rash (or should we say "trail rash"...). In any case, that was the first and last day Shannon wore shorts. The falls, combined with countless thorny bush and cactus scratches, were a signal to her that maybe shorts were "what not to wear" while hiking on the Tonto.
Heading into Grapevine
Heading into Grapevine (annotated)
The other side
Unhappy slipper
Ms. slippy, part deux
courtesy BConnell
Exciting bit of trail
Nearing Grapevine Campsite
East fork Grapevine Creek
Video Clip: Hance Creek to Grapevine Creek
We arrived at the Grapevine campsite at about 2:30pm. I could see that this camping spot was spectacular! It had a couple of nice trees and a creek running through it (the Eastern fork of Grapevine Creek, actually). Shannon, Caroline and I took advantage of the creek, and cleaned up in the freezing but refreshing water. Brian later on decided to clean up, but later revealed his regret at having done so, as he was looking forward to 5 days of grime when he got out! His hair sure did look nice after! There was lots of time to rest and relax at this camp...do some reading...have a massage (thanks Caroline!) ...and engage in generally sillines over dinner time. When the sun went down and it got dark we did a little light painting (which you can see in the pictures). Shannon, Caroline and myself were the artists.
East fork Grapevine Creek (annotated)
Desert Nymphs
Brian's little home in Grapevine
A little more mystery
Dinner at Grapevine Camp
Multi-colored light painting
A little advertising...
Nighttime workings
Video Clip: Grapevine Creek Campsite
Interactive Trackmap with Photo points - Hance Creek to Grapevine Canyon - Click map to view
Interactive Trackmap with Photo points - Hance Creek to Grapevine Canyon - Click to view
Backpack Day 3: Hance Creek Campsite to Grapevine Canyon
Start Time: 7:21a.m.
End Time: 4:26p.m.
Duration: 9h4m
Distance: 15.89 km (9.87 mi)
Average Speed: 1.8 km/hr (1.1 mph)
Start Elevation: 3650ft (1113m) *
Max Elevation: 3971ft (1210m) *
Min Elevation: 3522ft (1073m) *
End Elevation: 3530ft (1076m) *
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain: 356ft (109m) *
Total Elevation Loss: 556ft (169m) *
 
 
* : +/- 75 feet
Elevation Graph
 
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