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Rim to Rim Grand Canyon ascent to Indian Garden Day 3 – Part 6

Amy on silver bridge Bright Angel trail Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAmy on Silver Bridge
We said good bye to new made friends from the trail and Phantom Ranch. Our third day on the trail, we headed for the Silver Suspension Bridge to cross the Colorado River and begin our ascent to Indian Garden camp.
Colorado River Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDownstream Colorado River
Before the completion of the Glen Canyon Dam in 1963 the Spanish named Rio de Colorado carried as much as 380,000 tons (345,000 metric tons) of sediment per day. Today, the river carries only about 40,000 tons (36,300 metric tons) daily. This has caused erosion where deposition should occur.
Colorado River Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaUpstream – Silver and Black Bridges
The Black Bridge was completed in 1928 allowing people, and mules, to easily cross the Colorado River. The Silver Bridge was constructed in the late 1960s to support the pipeline carrying water from Roaring Springs to the South Rim.
Desert Big-horn sheep Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDesert Bighorn Sheep along Colorado River
Only my second sighting of the Bighorn and my first photos! From the South Rim these acrobats are frequently seen jumping from one skimpy ledge to another along the canyon walls. They can scramble up a sheer cliff face at 15mph (24 kmph).
Devils Corkscrew Bright Angel trail Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDevils Corkscrew along Bright Angel trail
After 1.6 miles (2.4 km) of relatively easy River Trail we began to climb 1360 feet (414 m) over 3.1 miles (5 km) to Indian Garden Camp by way of the appropriately named Devils Corkscrew back through the Vishnu Schist and desert environment.
Vishnu schist Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSchist with granite and quartz intrusions
Once I got a pace going I didn’t stop very often to take photos.
Indian Garden camp Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaIndian Garden Camp
After we’d set up camp at Indian Garden we had time to explore the area.
Johnson Jumper spider Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJohnson Jumper
Several seep springs in the area provide adequate water for the large Cottonwoods.
Jan Garden Creek Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJan along Garden Creek
And the same creek that watered crops for people from the past offered respite for us.
Jan and Amy Plateau Point trail Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJan and Amy
After we had dinner, prepared by Jan, we took another hike to watch the sunset at Plateau Point. No we aren’t masochists; this was only 3 miles (4.8 km) round trip, almost level and no packs.
Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, Indian Garden Camp, National Parks and Monuments , , , , , 19 Comments

Hiking Grand Canyon 2009 Part 5

North Rim & Plateau Point
After I had a sleepless night at Indian Garden—I don’t sleep well on the ground—and oatmeal for breakfast, our crew was suppose to wait for the South Rim Rangers to hike down with sandwiches for lunch. They weren’t expected until after noon and I became concerned about how long it would take me to hike the remaining 4.6 miles (7.4 km) 3060 feet (933 m) up.

North Rim, Plateau Point, Indian Garden (green in middle) & 3-mile house
I talked my boss into letting me leave at 11am, as I am the slowest hiker. And good thing, as I met the South Rim folks about 1:30pm at 3-mile house where there is water and toilets.

North Rim & 1.5-mile house
And that put me hiking up Jacob’s Ladder during the heat of the day, which is certainly not recommended to visitors. So glad it wasn’t the high heat of July or August which can easily reach triple digits.

South Rim
I just kept plodding along at my slow yet steady pace and trying not to look up at how far I still had to go.

South Rim
The last stretch is a series of tight switchbacks that traverses the green area between the Redwall limestone walls.

Condors
I was almost at the top when some other hikers pointed out what might be Condors soaring above the canyon.

Condor
Sure enough, when a couple of them landed we could see the radio tags on their wings, just too far away to ready the numbers.

I made it
I topped out on the South Rim at 6pm. The boss arrived 10 minutes later and she’d left 3-mile house at 3pm. Everyone else trickled in within the next hour.

From the top
In the morning at training you could certainly tell who’d hiked as we all walked a little like Frankenstein.I made it and didn’t even suck air, like last year. So I’m ready to do it again. Who’s with me?

 

Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, National Parks and Monuments , 17 Comments

Hiking the Grand Canyon 2008 Part 2



After hiking down to the bottom of Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch, reservations required, I didn’t see the river until I left the bunkhouse at 6am to hike out of the canyon and up to the South Rim.

Bright Angel Bridge
Two foot bridges cross the Colorado River. East of camp .5 mile the Kaibab Suspension Bridge leads to the South Kaibab Trail which climbs just under 5,000 feet along a ridge in about 7 miles to top out on the South Rim near Yaki Point. This route offers no water or shade.

Bright Angel Bridge
The Bright Angel Suspension Bridge carries hikers and the transcanyon water pipe across the Colorado River. Water from Roaring Springs is gravity fed to Indian Gardens then pumped to the South Rim supplying all water needs.

Colorado River
I opted for the slightly longer 9.3 mile Bright Angel Trail with three nicely spaced water sources. Then I didn’t have to carry the added weight of four large bottles full of water.

Devils Corkscrew
After crossing the bridge, the sandy River Trail winds above the Colorado for 1.5 miles before veering away from the river up the Pipe Creek drainage to a series of switchbacks called the Devils Corkscrew.

The trail tops out onto the Tonto Plateau to follow Garden Creek to Indian Garden, about a 1500 foot climb. This is a great stopping point to eat, fill water containers and rest for the final 4.6 mile climb up to the top.

Mules at Indian Garden
If you don’t feel up to hiking the canyon you might consider riding a mule. But no matter how you get there and back, something is going to hurt.

Gaelyn with North Rim on horizon
A side trip from Indian Garden 1.5 miles on the Plateau Point Trail leads to a dramatic view of the canyon and river below. Many day hikers make the 12.2 mile round trip from the South Rim.

Looking up to the South Rim
I didn’t add those extra miles.

Jacobs Ladder
After the first rather gentle half mile, there’s a series of tight switchbacks called Jacobs Ladder that continues a 2860 foot climb.

Three-mile house on upper right green ridge, green patch on the flat is Indian Garden
Three-mile House was a welcome sight to stop, rest, eat and fill water bottles. And it meant only 3 miles to go.

Almost to the top
There’s another rest shelter 1.5 miles further up the trail. From there I was so tired I basically walked 60 steps and stopped, 60 steps and stop. In fact being it was Cinco de Mayo I repeated a mantra, “salty crusty Margarita.” I was on the trail for 12 hours, granted not hiking the entire time. I stopped a lot to eat, drink, rest and take photos. I certainly wasn’t the first of my fellow rangers to make the rim, but I wasn’t the last either.After a meal, long soak in a bathtub and a good night’s sleep, I could barely walk in the morning. Yet I attended three days of training before returning to the North Rim to prepare for the summer season.

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

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Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, National Parks and Monuments , , , 27 Comments

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