Desert Southwest 2014 - The Checklist Edition - The Short Report - September 2014

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Desert Southwest 2014

The Short Report

This page exists as an alternative to the multi-section, forty-two page main trip report. Yeah, forty-two pages. If just the thought of that exhausts you, there's an alternative here: On this page, you'll find a succinct set of three pages' worth of images along with a bit of text to give you an overview and a few highlights.

Note: If you've come here and are looking to read the main trip report, this isn't it! Please go here instead.

A Big Gang

We were a large number on this trip - thirteen in total. We were composed of two main sub-teams, if you will: Chris and Gillian Hatko, along with their two young daughters and with friends Alana and Sandra. On the other team were many of the regulars you've seen on other trips: myself, Jenn, Pu, Caroline, Brian, Roland, and Stephanie.

Stopover in Vegas

We arrived in Las Vegas early during the day, and for a change, we spent a nice afternoon/evening in the city. The next day, we took our time once again, getting supplies and stopping along the way between Las Vegas and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, where we would be undertaking our first adventure - a 3-day rim-to-rim traverse of the canyon, from south to north.

Days 1 and 2 - Las Vegas to Grand Canyon and Start of Backpack

We had two unexpected events thrown at us on the first day. We witnessed a single-car rollover crash on the way to the Grand Canyon, for which we stopped and gave assistance; and Sandra and Alana's flight was unexpectedly delayed, causing some scrambling and re-jigging of itineraries to get everyone together for the start of the backpack. Fortunately, everything worked out relatively positively. By 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, we were all gathered together and ready to head down into the Grand Canyon from the South Kaibab Trailhead.

courtesy BConnell

courtesy JInnes

Chloride Visit

Rollover Aftermath

Grand Canyon Dawn

courtesy RHanel

Departing Campground

Across the Plateau

The Fellowship is Ready

Owing to a fairly late start, we had to maintain a reasonably brisk pace down the South Kaibab Trail. The upper part of the trail is mostly on or near the crest of a ridge, and as a result, has exceptionally good views - especially if you are hiking downhill.

courtesy RHanel

courtesy PChen

Starting Cedar Ridge Section

O'Neill Butte

Redwall Switchbacks

By the time we arrived at the Tonto junction - about 2/3rds of the way down, the skies had clouded over, giving us some respite from the increasing heat we were experiencing as we descended. From there, we descended over the "Tipoff", down into the Inner Gorge of the Grand Canyon. After many more switchbacks, we reached the Colorado River and crossed via one of the two suspension footbridges. Hot and tired, we had a nice long break at Bright Angel Creek near Phantom Ranch.

Approaching Tonto Junction

A Trail through Shale

Down to the Black Bridge

courtesy JInnes

Crossing the Colorado

Phantom Ranch

The itinerary we created had us camping "at-large" on a desert bench not too far above Phantom Ranch, along the Clear Creek Trail. As we ascended this trail and neared our camping location, the threat of bad weather materialized into a late afternoon thunderstorm. Fortunately for us, along the Clear Creek Trail we only experienced a few brief intermittent rainshowers (we could see that other areas up on the rim got a lot of rain). We arrived at the at-large camping area just before sunset, allowing us to set-up in the light.

courtesy RHanel

Stormy Late Afternoon

Campsite at sunset

Day 3 - Grand Canyon Backpack, Day 2

We were able to relax a bit on the second day of our rim-to-rim traverse backpack in the Grand Canyon. We had only a moderate distance to hike and only a moderate amount of elevation change to overcome. And, we didn't have any time constraints or deadlines. As a result, we moved along at a more relaxed pace. We made a superb side-visit to uniquely-shaped Ribbon Falls.

Our objective for the day was a park service backcountry campsite known as Cottonwood Camp. Situated partway up the North Kaibab Trail, it was the perfect spot to position ourselves for the subsequent day's climb out to the North Rim.