Desert Southwest 2014 Trip Planner - September 2014

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Desert Southwest 2014 Trip Planner

September 2014

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[Oct 1, 2014] - Our Desert Southwest 2014 trip is now complete. Thanks to everyone who participated! This planning page is now out of date, but I'm going to keep it around for archival purposes. The start of the pictures and trip report can be found by following this link (or use the table of contents).

Welcome to a planning page I've put together for our Desert Southwest 2014 trip (at the moment, tentatively scheduled for Sep 18-28, 2014).

[April 13, 2014] - I'd like to start off with the planning of the potential Grand Granyon Backpack. This is important because backpacking in the Grand Canyon requires a backcountry permit. Permits are limited, and we stand a far better chance of getting our desired itinerary if we apply on the first day of the application period for the September permits. That first day of the application period for September permits is May 1, 2014. So, we need to nail the planning for this down so that I can make the required permit application.

I think the best combination of consensus, satisfying of stated goals, and "do-ability" - given our group and its capabilities - is a backpack that traverses the Canyon (from rim-to-rim). The other option I had floated - the so-called "Escalante Route" Grand Canyon backpack - is probably a bit too rough for this trip (although I really want to do it at some point). I've presented two options here for a rim-to-rim backpack: a 4-day / 60-ish km variant, and a 3-day / 35-ish km variant. Both are depicted graphically in the track-maps below, along with estimated distances per day.

Please examine these two trackmaps below, along with the distance data for each. They should help give you some mental context regarding the two backpacking ideas. Note that we could also consider doing these backpacks in the reverse direction, from the North Rim to the South Rim. Input welcome on this (or any other idea you might have).

Trackmap - Proposed GC Backpack Option 1 - click map to view

Trackmap - Proposed GC Backpack Option 1 - click to view

Proposed Backpack Option 1, Day 1 (part 1)

6.02 km (3.74 mi)

(Track color: )

Proposed Backpack Option 1, Day 1 (part 2)

12.58 km (7.82 mi)

(Track color: )

Proposed Backpack Option 1, Day 2 (part 1)

17.04 km (10.59 mi)

(Track color: )

Proposed Backpack Option 1, Day 2 (part 2)

3.64 km (2.26 mi)

(Track color: )

Proposed Backpack Option 1, Day 3

10.24 km (6.36 mi)

(Track color: )

Proposed Backpack Option 1, Day 4

7.65 km (4.76 mi)

(Track color: )

Trackmap - Proposed GC Backpack Option 2 - click map to view

Trackmap - Proposed GC Backpack Option 2 - click to view

Proposed Backpack Option 2, Day 1 (part 1)

6.41 km (3.98 mi)

(Track color: )

Proposed Backpack Option 2, Day 1 (part 2)

7.39 km (4.59 mi)

(Track color: )

Proposed Backpack Option 2, Day 3

12.95 km (8.05 mi)

(Track color: )

Proposed Backpack Option 2, Day 3

7.65 km (4.76 mi)

(Track color: )

As I see it, here are the pros and cons of each variant:

Option 1 : 4-day / 60-ish km variant (endpoints: Grandview Trailhead, North Kaibab Trailhead):

endpoints: Grandview Trailhead (7400 feet), North Kaibab Trailhead (8060 feet)
low point: Colorado River, 2400 feet
Pro: more time backpacking!
Pro : Offers a good long sample of the true "Tonto Trail" experience.
Pro: More solitude, minimizes time in potentially busy main trail corridor.
Con: Harder. One extra day required. One day over 20km
Con: requires an extra day.

Option 2 : 3-day / 35-ish km variant:

endpoints: South Kaibab Trailhead (7200 feet), North Kaibab Trailhead (8060 feet)
low point: Colorado River, 2400 feet
Pro: takes less time, less effort (than option 1)
Con: almost entirely on so-called "corridor" trails. Less true Grand Canyon wilderness experience.
Con: none of the "expansive" Tonto trail experience.

Here are some relevant pictures to whet your appetite / give you an idea of what is along these proposed routes:

Example of Tonto Trail Hiking

Example South Kaibab Trail

Footbridge over Colorado

North Kaibab Trail

Ribbon Falls

I'd like to point out that there is one important requirement for this rim-to-rim backpack to work: we need a method to shuttle around between the rims. It is a solid 340 kilometre drive between the south rim and the north rim (or north to south, depending on the direction in which we decide to do this). Fortunately, we have a potentially unique situation where a portion of our trip group may choose to forego the backpack and instead perform a number of more leisurely day activities. If we can line up these activities with our backpacking time, we may be able to have those not backpacking take all of the vehicles on a leisurely 3 to 4-day trip from the North Rim to the south Rim. Here's an example scenario:

Let's say a group of us opt in to do the backpack, and a group of us opt out:

Day 0 (south rim): everybody stays together at south rim main campground
Day 1 (south rim): backpackers start out. Non-backpackers spend a leisurely day strolling on trails along rim (very easy, wheelchair and stroller accessible). Perhaps drive along the south rim drive, stopping and visiting various viewpoints. Stay an additional night at south rim main campground.
Day 2: backpack day 2. Non-backpackers start the drive (with however many vehicles we have, one designated driver in each) around to the north rim. Along the way, stop at various attractions (e.g. ruins at Wupatki National Monument, historic Cameron, possibly attend Navajo-led tour of Antelope Canyon near Page, Historic bridge over Colorado at Marble Canyon).
Day 3: backpack day 3. Non-backpackers complete drive to North Rim, obtain site at North Rim main campground. Spend the day enjoying the high altitude forested plateau edge walks along the North Rim. Meet backpackers as they emerge at North Rim trailhead.

[placeholder for future items] Thoughts / Planning for Zion area outings: Lady Mountain - Subway - Orderville - Mountain Biking - West Rim 2-day backpack

If you have any thoughts / questions, I encourage you to use the message board embedded into this page. It doesn't require any sign-on, and we can use it as a nice, centralized repository of our thoughts. The message board is available as a link on the left-hand sidebar or at the bottom of the page.

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(last message posted on Thu. Jan. 29, 15:15 EST 2015 by George)