DAY 1Lees Ferry to 19 ½ mile camp
DAY 219 ½ Mile Camp20.5 North canyon hike Roaring 20’s32 Stanton’s cave33.3 Redwall cavern36 bridge of sighs39.7 marble canyon damRainfall waterfalls43.3 Anasazi bridge50 mile camp
DAY 350 Mile Camp52.4 Nankoweap Ck & Granaries61.7 Little Colorado72.9? Unkar delta75.3 Nevills Camp
DAY 475.3 Nevells Camp77.1 Hance Rapid79.1 Sockdolager Rapid88.1 Bridge & Phantom ranch90.8 Horn Ck Rapid93.9 Hermit Rapid98.2 Crystal Rapid101-106.5 Gemstone Rapids108 Metal boat117.2 Elves Canyon = Cave jump109 Bass Camp?
DAY 5?109 Bass Camp120.6 Song canyon=Blacktail Canyon131.1 Bedrock Rapid132.3 Deubendorff Rapid135.6 Granite Narrows = 76ft136.9 Deer Creek Falls = tall waterfall/patio137.12 OC/9mm camp
DAY 6137.12 OC/9mm Camp149.9 Upset Rapid156.7 Havasu Canyon168 Fern Glen Camp
DAY 7168 Fern Glen Camp178 Lava Pinnacle/Vulcan’s Anvil179 Lava FallsHot lunch187.4 Whitmore Helipad213 Pumpkin Spring216 Camp
DAY 8216 Camp 225.9 Diamond Ck Takeout
DAY 10 Lees Ferry Put In19 ½ Mile Camp
• The night before leaving, our group met at the Flagstaff Doubletree • AZRA personnel helped introduce everyone, and went over trip logistics• Everyone received their “blue” (camp stuff) and “white” (river stuff) dry bags• A variety of merchandise was available for purchase• We bought another water bottle (rather than count on our Camelbaks) and a sarong
(convinced it would be good shade & cooling if dunked in river water)
(not our group, stolen from web…)
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 4
DAY 5DAY 6
DAY 7
DAY 8
19 1/2 mile (River left)
50 mile (River right)
Nevills main camp (75.3 River left)
Bas
s (1
09
Riv
er r
igh
t)
OC
’s a
ka 9
mm
(1
37
.12
Riv
er le
ft)
Fern
Gle
n (
16
8m
i Riv
er r
igh
t)
Three Springs (216 River right)
While it was stressed that “plans are made to be broken” – here’s where we actually ended up camping each night
Here come 7-8 slides with my various attempts to map the river….
Detailed Maps & pictures of river campsites can be found at https://grandcanyon.usgs.gov/gisapps/adopt-a-beach/index.html DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 4
DAY 5DAY 6
DAY 7
DAY 8
DAY 3
120 110
130
140
150
160
170
100
90
90
.8 -
Ho
rn C
reek
Rap
id (
7-9
)
93
.9 -
Gra
nit
e R
apid
(7
-8)
95
.5 -
Her
mit
Rap
id (
7-8
)
98
.2 -
Cry
stal
Rap
id (
7-1
0)
10
1.1
-10
6.5
Gem
rap
ids
11
7.2
-El
ves
Ch
asm
13
5.6
-G
ran
ite
Nar
row
s
13
6.9
-D
eer
Cre
ek F
alls
15
7.3
-H
avas
u C
anyo
n
88
.1 -
Kai
bab
Bri
dge
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
11.4 - Soap Creek Rapid (5-6)
8.0 - Badger Creek Rapid (4-6)
14.5 - Sheer Wall Rapid (2-3)
17.1 - House Rock Rapid (4-7)
32.0 - Stanton's Cave33.3 - Redwall Cavern
36.0 - The Bridge of Sighs
43.3 - Anasazi Bridge
52.4 granaries
72.9 Unkar delta7
7.1
Han
cera
pid
s
79
.1 S
ock
do
lage
rR
apid
s
I was interested in the names of the rock formations that we passed… So I got 1:100000 topo maps from https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/viewer/#8/36.213/-112.129 And river miles from https://grandcanyon.usgs.gov/gisapps/adopt-a-beach/index.htmlAnd combined them to get what I think is a pretty accurate topo map with miles and some major features marked. If you want, you can select it and enlarge it to see more details!
19 1/2 mile (River left)
50 mile (River right)
Nevills main camp (75.3 River left)
Bas
s (1
09
Riv
er r
igh
t)
OC
’s a
ka 9
mm
(1
37
.12
Riv
er le
ft)
Fern
Gle
n (
16
8m
i Riv
er r
igh
t)
The two parts are enlarged a bit on the next 2 slides
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
11.4 - Soap Creek Rapid (5-6)
8.0 - Badger Creek Rapid (4-6)
14.5 - Sheer Wall Rapid (2-3)
17.1 - House Rock Rapid (4-7)
32.0 - Stanton's Cave33.3 - Redwall Cavern
36.0 - The Bridge of Sighs
43.3 - Anasazi Bridge
52.4 granaries
72.9 Unkar delta
77
.1 H
ance
rap
ids
79
.1 S
ock
do
lage
rR
apid
s
Temples of Apollo,
Venus, Juno & Jupiter
Templ
eButte
Zuni
Point
Horseshoe Mesa
Angels’Gate
VishnuTemple
0
19 1/2 mile (River left)
50 mile (River right)
Nevills main camp (75.3 River left)
Start
120 110
130
140
150
160
170
100
90
90
.8 -
Ho
rn C
reek
Rap
id (
7-9
)
93
.9 -
Gra
nit
e R
apid
(7
-8)
95
.5 -
Her
mit
Rap
id (
7-8
)
98
.2 -
Cry
stal
Rap
id (
7-1
0)
10
1.1
-10
6.5
Gem
rap
ids
11
7.2
-El
ves
Ch
asm15
7.3
-H
avas
u C
anyo
n
88
.1 -
Kai
bab
Bri
dge
S Rim Visitor Center
IsisTemple
Zoroaster
Temple
BrahmaTemple
BrightAngel
Canyon
Confucius
Temple
HorusTemple
Tower of Ra
Hermit’sRest
DoxCastle
Montezuma
Point
Explorers’Monument Mt
Huethawali
MasonicTemple
13
5.6
-G
ran
ite
Nar
row
s
13
6.9
-D
eer
Cre
ek F
alls
Bas
s (1
09
Riv
er r
igh
t)
OC
’s a
ka 9
mm
(1
37
.12
Riv
er le
ft)
Fern
Gle
n (
16
8m
i Riv
er r
igh
t)
Mile 2.8 - Cathedral Wash (2)
Mile 4.2 - Navajo Bridges
Mile 8.0 - Badger Creek Rapid (4-6)- First significant rapid in
Marble Canyon with a large pour over in the center right
Mile 11.4 - Soap Creek Rapid (5-6)
Mile 12.1 - Brown's Riffle (2) On July 9, 1889, the President of the Denver, Colorado Canyon and
Pacific Railroad, Frank Mason Brown, drowned at this point when the boat he was in capsized. He
was not wearing a life jacket.
Mile 14.5 - Sheer Wall Rapid (2-3)
Mile 17.1 - House Rock Rapid (4-7)- The second large rapid in the Canyon. A large
hole on the left side of the river forms at most water levels, necessitating a right run. Mile 17.7 - Redneck Rapid (3)
DAY 1: AUGUST 3rd 2017Lees Ferry to 19 ½ mile camp
...
.
...
.....
..
..
..
..
.Mile 17.7 - Redneck Rapid (3)
Mile 17.1 - House Rock Rapid (4-7)- The second large rapid in the Canyon. A large hole on the left side of the river forms at most water levels, necessitating a right run
Mile 14.5 - Sheer Wall Rapid (2-3)
Mile 12.1 - Brown's Riffle (2) On July 9, 1889, the President of the Denver, Colorado Canyon and Pacific Railroad, Frank Mason Brown, drowned at this point when the boat he was in capsized. He was not wearing a life jacket.
Mile 11.4 - Soap Creek Rapid (5-6)
Mile 8.0 - Badger Creek Rapid (4-6)-First significant rapid in Marble Canyon
Mile 4.2 - Navajo Bridges
Mile 2.8 - Cathedral Wash (2)
Mile 0.2 - Paria River Riffle
Mile 0.0 - Lee's Ferry
DAY 1: AUGUST 3rd 2017Lees Ferry to 19 ½ mile camp
Up at 5:30AM, we loaded the bus to
where we’d meet the river
No pre-trip jitters evident here!
We got our first view of the river from The Navajo
Bridges-looks pretty tiny eh?
The original 18ft wide bridge (now pedestrian) was built in 1929.
The 44ft one was built in 1995.
Both are tied for 9th highest bridges in the US
Funny how different the bridges look in Google Maps….
We put in at Lees Ferry – about 5 miles upstream from the bridges - the “only place in hundreds of miles from which one can easily” access the Colorado River from both sides:
The crossing is named for John Doyle Lee who operated a ferry there from 1872-1928.
Loading the rafts went smoothly But four buckles on these life jackets? Seems like a lotUnless…
10:20
We met our
guides
Rachael Rankin(a critical care nurse when not rafting)
Chris & Kaelin Zielinski(Chris grew up in Bangor, Me!)
Owen Ludwig(from Damariscotta, Me!)
Wryht Short
Rachel seemed happy to be underway…See the raft
See how clean and dry it isRemember that
And we’re off!
Yippee! We survive the first rapids!
Oh wait, those weren’t real rapids?Those were the Paria Riffle?
Hmm…
Wait a minute…The Navajo bridges looked a lot
bigger from up top….
This could get interesting…
And I thought he rocks were supposed to be next to the river?
(10 mile rock from Kaibab?)
Might as well introduce the rocks: Only 3 “layers” appear near the Navajo bridges
• That’s right, the youngest rocks at the canyon are 250,000,000 years old!
• Any newer rocks have long since eroded away
• (You know how ‘disposable’ new things have become…)
name type source Age (my)
Thickness (ft)
Kaibab limestone ocean seds 270 350Toroweap Sandstone beaches 273 250Coconino sandstone beaches 275 300
270mya
273mya
275mya
1:43 The first of many yummy lunches!
Sandwiches are eaten at the river’s edge so
scraps are washed away – rather than
contributing to red ant problems
After lunch – more river…See the rocks staying out of the river…Good rocks!
1:48
More good rocks!
1:53 1:48
• A Century Plant – named for its long life • Of course they do no
live 100 years, more like 30 or 40. But a “Four Decades Plant” is not a catchy name.
• At the end of its life, the agave grows this shoot, which can grow up to 35 feet tall. It will flower soon. Then it will die.
• It’s also known as a Sentry Plant, because the spear looks like the spear of a Roman Sentry.
1:57
More good rocks
See….You can even get up close
They don’t bite!☺
13 mile?
2:18
Float, float, float your boatGently down the stream…
2:19
Wait, you want us to do what? Well, it is cozy…
See the wavesBe afraid
Be very afraid…OK, save a little fear
Bigger ones are still to come
See Rachel look serious
2:43
Mile 8.0 - Badger Creek Rapid (4-6)- First significant rapid in Marble Canyon with a
large pour over in the center right.
“Run down the tongue in the center of the river. There’s a
big hole along the right edge of the tongue. Look for a
smooth horizon line with a slight hump to it just right of
center at the top of the rapid. The hole is right behind the
horizon line hump. The entrance to the rapid is turning left
and tends to push you off to the right towards the hole so
make sure that you don’t go into it. To the right of the hole
it’s all rocks and ledges and to the left of the tongue there
are many rocks too. “
Mile 11.4 Soap Creek Rapids
The river turns to the
left just before the
rapid causing the boats
to go too far right
unless approached
correctly. As you
approach the rapid stay
close to the left shore
and pass to the left of a
large rock near the left
shore. After the
shoreline turns left stay
just to the right of the
eddy line. This will line
you up with the tongue.
Soap Creek Rapid is
two to three times as
long as Badger and the
waves are bigger.
3:04
Mile 12.1 - Brown's Riffle (2) On July 9, 1889, the President of the Denver, Colorado
Canyon and Pacific Railroad, Frank Mason Brown, drowned at this point when the
boat he was in capsized. He was not wearing a life jacket.
Mile 14.5 - Sheer Wall Rapid (2-3)
Mile 17.1 - House Rock
Rapid (4-7)- The second
large rapid in the Canyon.
House Rock Rapid is a great raft flipper. The rapid turns hard right and there are two holes on the outside of the turn. All
the water feeds into the holes so you must be rowing HARD right all the way down the rapid. Row 90 degrees to the
current (not just 90 degrees to the shoreline). When leaving the scouting beach it's best to row backwards and get to the
right of the tongue. If you're in the tongue your bow willget turned downstream and you'll end up trying to row uphill and
end up hitting the holes. There’s a small curler right at the top of the rapid on the right side of the tonguIdeally, you want
the back of your boat going over that curler as you pull toward the right. Don’t dig your downstream oar into the water too
deep, as it may hit a rockand come at you like a rocket. Use your upstream oar to keep your ferry angle. Go sideways over
two small pour-over’s on the right hand side and you are through. At flowabove 17,000cfs, there’s an easy right hand run
along the right shore. This rapid is much easier to run in the afternoon when the water from the dam is higher
Mile 17.7 - Redneck Rapid (3)
Bad rock… from Supai formation (boulder narrows mile 19)
Maybe it came from up there?
2:55
Know (250mya gray-white Kaibab)The (255mya yellow-gray Toroweap)Canyon’s (260mya white sand Coconino)History (265mya red erodible Hermit)Study (285mya red to tan Supai)Rocks (335mya Redwall)Made (515mya Muav)By (530mya Bright Angel)Time (545mya Tapeats)
Home for the night:“19.5 mile camp”
After claiming campsites and unloading the rafts, we settled down to relaxing & chatting…And then learned the tricks of river camping….
One table (stretch) held a 1st aid kit, electrolyte mix, a cooler of fresh water, and the ever=present hand-wash station
From the raft came a well-organized kitchen
And yes, a charcoal grill & grillmeister (and photobomber)!
A gas stove with Chef Rachel
Dishes wen to the dishwashing station: trash bucket, cold wash, hot wash, hot rinse,
bleach rinse
And cans went to the “recycling station” – drop the heavy thing on your cans and watch them almost disappear
After dinner….
Guests for dinner?5:55
END DAY 1