October 2005 Grand Canyon

In October 2005, I went on another Grand Canyon Field Institute trip. This time to the Nankoweap Creek area, via the Nankoweap Trail. I've tried to sign up for this trip for five years I think - this time I signed up early, to make sure I got on. As it turns out, this was a great things - it was not only an awesome trip but Sally (the trip leader) is taking a break from this class next year so I might have had to go by myself if I hadn't gone on this trip!

Because this is a trailed and well used area, I'll post locations along with the photos. PLEASE learn about and follow Leave-No-Trace practices when you visit any wilderness area, and leave the place better and less impacted than when you found it. It's not just about carrying out your trash and toilet paper, but not using soap in any stream, not bathing in streams, not stepping on cryptogrammic soil, and many other things.

ALSO, please remember that the Grand Canyon can be a bad place for an accident - just twisting an ankle could be life threatening at if you are unprepared for 120 degree days with no shade or nights cold enough to freeze a water bottle hard while your friends go 100 miles to get to the nearest phone or place with cell coverage. I've had to rescue people before, as well as watch a couple die. The first is not fun, the second is, um, really not fun. In addition, get a permit and make sure good people know when you are going to finish your trip and who to call if they don't hear from you shortly after your scheduled exit.

On each day of a backpack, I write a fair amount of my thoughts and feelings in a small journal. The accounts for each hiking day below are transcribed with only minimal editing (mostly grammar and spelling).

In any case, onto the pics and journal entries..... Double-click to enlarge any picture. NOTICE: The pictures here are currently posted at full resolution for my friends who were on the trip. Most are around 700k, though some are upwards of 1500k. Don't double-click on pictures if you have a dial-up connection if you are in a hurry... I've included a few great shots (and a number of others) even though most of these scenes can't be captured in a picture.

I was going to work out at 4pm, then drive to Amarillo, but decided that if I did, with showering and cleaning up I wouldn't be on the road until 6pm. Given Friday rush hour traffic, that it's over a five hours drive, and I didn't want to drive much over the speed limit, I decided that working out would be a bad idea. I was on the road before 4, took 190 to 35 to 380 to 287 to Amarillo, I got there around 9:30, filled up for $2.39⁹, watched the news (finding out I had stopped at the cheapest gas in town), and wend to bed.

Up early and starting from Amarillo, today was and easy day. Since driving 65 didn't save much gas, the speed limit on I40 is 75 most of the way, and I found I had a nasty vibration from 68-75, I went 80 much of the way to Gallup, where I stopped and filled up for $2.89⁹. I had seen some $0.40 cent cheaper gas earlier on in a couple (Native American) reservations, but didn't know what I'd see as I left the interstate and headed into Arizona. I found out that if I'd only gone 20+ miles to Window Rock AZ I would have had much cheaper gas. Remember that on the way back.

I took 264 to 180 to 89 to Page. I didn't use a map from Dallas to Page. Maybe I have been here too much.... I arrived early, drove around looking for where I could crash in my car, and caught the 7pm movie at the local , Flight Plan. A fun movie, glad to see it, but what a stupid plot - 110% unrealistic. Went to bed early so I could get up at 5am and drive to meet the others. Gas in page was $2.89⁹.