Welcome to Grand Canyon September 2013 Trip

Arrived at Lee’s Ferry about 12:30pm and nobody was there yet but as we were driving back to the Navajo Bridge, we passed the Canyon REO truck so we turned back around. We started to rig the rafts and everybody seem to arrive about the same time to help with the rigging. Ben Dove from Canyon REO, our outfitter, helped us load up our 5 18-foot rafts. Around 5:30pm we threw everything left in our rafts and floated a half mile down to the boater’s campsite to pitch our tents. There was one other private group leaving the same time but they were only going to Diamond Creek in 21 days where as we were going to Pierce’s Ferry in 24 days. We all met for dinner at Marble Canyon lodge and then back to the campsite to get a night’s sleep before our put-in the next morning.

Saturday March 9

Ben Dove set up breakfast at 7am and talked to us about all the rafting equipment. The ranger met both our groups at 9:15 and talked about an hour and a half. We finished rigging our rafts and got on the river at noon. My oar popped out of the oar lock at our first major rapid Beaver Creek and Bill and I got pretty wet. We camped at Brown’s Inscription Mile 12.1. We never did find the inscription. On dinner duty with Bo and Polk so did not get to bed until 9pm.

Sunday March 10

Got up 5am because my watch switched to standard time. Cooked big egg breakfast and left camp at 10am. Did House Rock rapid our big rapids for the day. One boat stayed and did a hike at Ryder Canyon. Camped at North Canyon Mile 20.7.

Monday March 11

Left camp at 9:30 and did the Roaring Twenties rapids. Ted flipped three times in the Inflatable Kayak (IK) and we needed to rescue two paddles and the IK. Stopped for lunch at Redwall Cavern and camped at Nautiloid Canyon Mile 35.

Tuesday March 12

Earliest start yet at 9:15. Ted is flipping his IK a lot and is always cold. No sun today but not that cold. Camped at Upper Nankoweap Mile 53.1. Rain and wind that evening but food crew still got us a good lasagna dinner.

Wednesday March 13

Most people hiked the granaries before we left at 11am. Stopped at Little Colorado and it was very muddy which means the river will be brown the rest of the way. Bad wind last 3 miles and camped at Carbon Canyon Mile 65.1.

Thursday March 14

5 people hiked the Carbon-Lava Canyon loop in the morning so we did not leave camp until 11:30. Visited Unkar Ruins and camped at Nevills Mile 76.1. My oar popped out again Nevills rapids. Rick went for a swim when his boat went over a pour over at Basalt Rapids. He is the only one on the whole trip to be thrown off a boat.

Friday March 15

Josh’s last day on the river and it was his birthday. He was IKing a lot the last couple days. Ran a bunch of big rapids Hance, Sockdolager, and Grapevine and all our boats made it thru fine. Rick made a birthday cake in the dutch oven for Josh and it was delicious. Camped at Upper Cremation Mile 87.7.

Saturday March 16

Hung out at Phantom Ranch and Boat Beach waiting for Dan and Kristi while Josh hiked out. Filled up all our water containers. Dan had a hard time with ice at the top and had a few falls so it took him a while to get down at 4pm. The phones did not work at Phantom Ranch and this is the first time I could not give Laura a call from there. Camped at Across Pipe Creek Mile 89.5.

Sunday March 17

Did three major rapids Horn Creek, Granite and Hermit with no problem. Stopped and swam at Shinumo Creek and Falls. Camped at Upper Crystal Mile 98.7 and 5 people did a hike up Crystal Creek.

Monday March 18

Everyone made it thru Crystal rapid. I hit the wall on my left run. Did all the Gem rapids and stopped at Walthenberg Mile 112.8.

Tuesday March 19

Got off by 9:50 and hit Elves Chasm. People had fun jumping off the rocks into the pools. Camped at Fossil Canyon Mile 125.4 and we plan to have a layover day to repair Tim’s raft that has a hole in one of the tubes.

Wednesday March 20

Our first layover day and we patched Tim’s raft. We had to unload and flip it over. We let the patch dry overnight. Ted did most of the work applying the glue and patch. It held for the rest of the trip. There was about a 4 inch gouge in right rear tube and bubbles came out. 10 people hiked up Fossil Canyon.

Thursday March 21

Re-rigged Tim’s raft after the patch job. Got on the river at 10:15. Just the boatman did Bedrock rapid and everyone else walked around since we flipped two boats here the last time. Bad hail, rain, lightning, thunder and wind so we pulled over and let the storm pass. Everyone was pretty cold. Camped at Racetrack Mile 134.2.

Friday March 22

7 hikers left camp at 7am for the Thunder River-Deer Creek loop hike. Stopped at Christmas Tree cave and then on to Deer Creek. Filled all our water containers with the electric pump and filter. Camped across the river at OC Mile 137.1. We left a raft at Deer Creek for the hikers and they got back at 4pm.

Saturday March 23

9:15 start and made good time. Stopped at Matkatamiba for a hike. Lunch late at Matkat Hotel and then Upset Rapid. Camped at Ledges Mile 152,1.

Sunday March 24

Got an early start 8:45 and spent 3 hours at Havasu Creek, a lot of young backpacked from Supai Campground. Camped at National Canyon Mile 167.

Monday March 25

Left camp late 11:00 after some hiked up the canyon. Camped at Above Anvil Mile 177.

Tuesday March 26

Left at 8:45 and everyone made it thru Lava Falls Rapid fine, the biggest rapid in the canyon. Made good mileage and camped at Parachant Mile 189.9

Wednesday March 27

Second layover day. Hike up canyon and see Book of Worms. Played King of Tokyo.

Thursday March 28

Earliest start at 8:35 and stopped to pump water at Spring Canyon Mile 204.6. Pumpkin Springs for lunch and on to Upper 220 Camp.

Friday March 29

8:35 start and Alison did a hike at Mile 222. Passed Diamond Creek and saw the other group taking out. Stopped at Travertine Falls but 3 of our boats missed the pull-in for Travertine Canyon. Camped at a rocky Separation Canyon Mile 240.

Saturday March 30

8:45 start and did 24.8 miles. Tons of helicopters and tourist on the Hualapai Indian Reservation at Quartermaster Canyon and saw the skywalk. Floating lunch. 4 people on two IKs went on a short hike. Camped at Mile 264.8.

Sunday March 31

8:30 start with a stop at Columbine Falls. Another floating lunch. Camped at Mile 279 a mile from Pierce’s Ferry.

Monday April 1

Quick breakfast and on the river by 8. Derigged all the rafts and just got done when Canyon REO truck showed up. Good lunch of Fried Chicken and then we all hit the road to go back home. Great trip with great group of people!

Welcome to our 'organizing the trip' web site. Please let me know if you have things to add or want changed. Latest Status of the trip listed in reverse chronological order...

03/06/2019 Unfortunately D.A. came down with bronchitis and has to back out of our trip. Tom has redone Food/Potty/CleanUp assignments (PDF) with one less person.

02/25/2019 Tim's Mileage Planner (PDF) for this trip by popular demand.

02/17/2019 Tim's latest update to our plan.(PDF).

01/18/2019 Food/Potty/CleanUp assignments (PDF) along with our menu (PDF) for the trip.

01/17/2019 Tim's update to our plan.(PDF). Trip is full 18 people, 14 full trip and 4 half trip.

12/19/2018 Two links from Canyon REO our outfitter with their descriptions. Tim added 'Hold off on the personal gear one. I will take another inventory in January of our PFDs and Dry Bags and determine how many are needed. If you can borrow either from a friend, that would be great. There is no point in renting chairs. It is much cheaper to just buy one. For those that want Paco Pad this is where you would reserve them, but hold off until January.'

Please follow the link below and fill out our Personal Rentals Form and reserve your individual PFD, Dry Bag, Paco Pad, and New Chair rentals. You can pay for your personal rentals once you arrive at REO. If we are not meeting you at Canyon REO prior to your trip, you can call our office to make payment. Call or email Canyon REO if you have any questions.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1uaP_kx53gXt6qgovzwFeN6YCvUt6MDhBNjyYEJ2_R3U/edit

This next link will take you to our Vehicle Shuttle and Storage Form. As with the previous form, anyone who needs a vehicle moved and/or stored should follow the link and fill out the form. This form will help us collect details about your vehicle and what services you require. From there, we will contact vehicle owners directly to iron out the details. Once again, final payment can be made when we see you at our office or over the phone prior to launch.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rx1c99ioBod_kL1jnp11tnlUPaUTLvB_qsUbts4mEgo/edit?usp=drive_web

12/16/2018 Tom sent out an email with a food questionnaire (PDF). Please respond in a week so he can work up our menu. See Canyon REO Menu Planner (PDF) for all our food options.

12/10/2018 Added two links to the top of our link list below.

12/5/2018 Tim's update to our plan.(PDF). Trip is now full 18 people, 14 full trip and 4 half trip.

10/23/2018 Tim's update to our plan.(PDF) Full payments are due 10/31 for the trip.

10/7/2018 Tim's update to our plan.(PDF) Full payments are due 10/31 for the trip. National Park River Regulations.

09/30/2018 Updated latest people who have committed to the trip, added links and PDFs from our outfitter Canyon REO.

03/11/2018 Our initial plan (PDF) for our trip done up by Tim.

02/23/2018 Alison Van Dusen wins our lottery trip and she is the only one of us to win the lottery.

Saturday March 9 Trip
Tim Strauch, Trip Leader and Boatman 18 foot raft

Tom Strauch, Boatman 18 foot raft and Food Organizer

Alison Van Dusen, Lottery Winner this trip

Polk Burleson, Boatman 18 foot raft

Ross Mckenzie, Boatman 18 foot raft

Mark Sutton, Boatman 18 foot raft

Bob Jackson

Melinda d'Ouville

Brian Daily

Ted Caragozian, inflatable kayak

Benjamin Mayer

AJ Fedoruk

Bill Barnes

Rick Raymond

Josh Raymond, first half of trip

Kristi Moen, second half of trip

Dan Raymond, second half of trip

Wait List

Riley Kennedy

Canyon REO links and PDFs for our trip

* the Grand Canyon River Courtesy brochure (https://grcariverpermits.nps.gov/pdf/BeCoolBrochure.pdf)

* the Action Guide to Preservation, Colorado River (https://grcariverpermits.nps.gov/pdf/GRCA_ActionGuidetoPreservation.pdf)

Other videos and links