Grand Gulch - Finished!

PaleoRob · Post by **PaleoRob** » Dec 14 2008 1:16 pm

Alright, in addition to the 4th SAPDR ( viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3663 ) I'm looking at a March Grand Gulch backpacking trip, and wondering if anyone would be interested in coming along. I've got permits for the 28th-30th, in Bullet, out Government, for four people. We can get more if needed. We'll be averaging about 6.5 miles a day, with our first day being the longest, about 7.5 miles with the remainder of the 12.5 miles taking place over the other two days. Total mileage is about 20.
For some information about Bullet: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1283
Anyone?

Vaporman · Post by **Vaporman** » Dec 14 2008 8:15 pm

That's a sweet area and I've only hiked there once so far... I'm not much of a backpacking, but keep in the loop.

Sredfield · Post by **Sredfield** » Dec 15 2008 6:51 am

When did they start requiring advance permits? I've been there several times and just got the permit at Kane Ranger Station.

PaleoRob · Post by **PaleoRob** » Dec 15 2008 7:07 am

Peak season (Spring and Fall) advance permits are highly suggested. When we went Bullet-Kane the other year, we went that way as opposed to Kane-Bullet because there were no entry permits for Kane on our date of choice. This was in January. There are walk-in permits, but I'd rather be sure...

Randal_Schulhauser · Post by **Randal_Schulhauser** » Dec 15 2008 9:17 pm

Rob - This is one of the treks on my MUST DO list. The timing could be problematic with planned business travel mid-March book-ended by El Camino del Diablo Feb.20-22 and Painted Desert (SAPDR) April 11th viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3663.

Does it cost $$$ to get permits? Would like to at least have you hold a spot for me until my travel plans are firmed up...

PaleoRob · Post by **PaleoRob** » Dec 15 2008 9:45 pm

Yeah, but it is only $8/person, so no big deal for me to do so. I'm starting to lean towards the Bullet-Government option with the dates being the last weekend in March: 28th-30th.

PaleoRob · Post by **PaleoRob** » Dec 23 2008 7:24 am

If I could get some firm yeses by the end of the month so I can get permits, that would be awesome.

PaleoRob · Post by **PaleoRob** » Dec 31 2008 7:57 pm

Alright, so I got 4 permits. Looks like a couple of folks are interested after I last checked the thread. No worries. We should be able to get more permits if needed, but I need to know soon - or have y'all get the permits yourselves. Anyway, if you are committed, let me know so I can mark off one permit for you!

rushthezeppelin · Post by **rushthezeppelin** » Dec 31 2008 10:41 pm

If I end up getting the right Spring Break I can 100% guarantee that I'll be onbaord (depending on when you started class at my school you get a different week off ><). Even if I don't get the right one I might just take that monday off anywho and just get notes off a classmate if it's even needed (hopefully I wont have a test on that day or anything ><).

Randal_Schulhauser · Post by **Randal_Schulhauser** » Jan 02 2009 8:12 pm

Rob - Mike Mattes

(gotta get him to log in and click that COMMITTED button) and I can commit to that weekend. Looking forward to this "MUST DO" adventure...

RANDAL

PaleoRob · Post by **PaleoRob** » Jan 02 2009 8:35 pm

Excellent! Glad to hear it Randal! Rushthezeppelin, hope you can make it as well - let us know as soon as you know for sure! That's an unusual spring break schedule.

rushthezeppelin · Post by **rushthezeppelin** » Jan 02 2009 11:03 pm

Ya....we have an all around weird schedule. My 2 week "Summer" break is in late August ><

mattem1 · Post by **mattem1** » Jan 03 2009 3:53 pm

Rob,

Sounds like a great hike! It appears that there is access to water every day which is a definite plus. Also, I got a cute little Gigapower stove for Christmas that I'm anxious to try out. I'm looking forward to this hike!

Mike Mattes

rushthezeppelin · Post by **rushthezeppelin** » Jan 05 2009 12:59 am

I love my gigapower stove. I got the combo that came with the titanium pot and spork that fits together in a nice neat package with 2 fuel canisters. Doesn't boil as fast as a jetboil but I'm never in a huge hurry at camp and it seems to be pretty good at fuel conservation even without the windscreen.

oliverr99 · Post by **oliverr99** » Jan 05 2009 7:12 pm

Ok, I like to go. I can probably take the Monday off. Is there any chance I could carpool with someone? I live in the North Phoenix area. Maybe swing by and pick me up. I am on the way...

I know it is far off, but I like to ride along with people.

rushthezeppelin · Post by **rushthezeppelin** » Jan 05 2009 8:18 pm

oliverr99 wrote:Ok, I like to go. I can probably take the Monday off. Is there any chance I could carpool with someone? I live in the North Phoenix area. Maybe swing by and pick me up. I am on the way... I know it is far off, but I like to ride along with people.

Is trailhead access 4wd only? If not I can take my little kia that gets 44 mpg so it won't cost much.

PaleoRob · Post by **PaleoRob** » Jan 05 2009 9:03 pm

The road to the Bullet trailhead is suitable for low clearance (did it with my Jetta last year). According to the BLM, the road to Government should be passable if the weather is good and has been graded. We'll have to car shuttle, so I'm bringing our 2wd Explorer, which should do the job alright.

Randal_Schulhauser · Post by **Randal_Schulhauser** » Jan 05 2009 9:51 pm

Rob - is this a true loop hike or a shuttle (from Bullet Canyon TH to Kane Gulch Ranger Station)? If a shuttle, can always leave the low clearance vehicle at the Ranger Station...

Continue north on 261 past the Bullet Canyon road. Drive a further 7 miles until reaching Kane Gulch Ranger Station. You need to reserve permits ahead of time, up to three months early, for spring and fall. Permits need to be picked up and paid for on the day of your trip. After collecting your permit, fill up your water bottles, leave one car at Kane Gulch, and drive the 7 miles back to the Bullet Canyon road (this time on your right, just past the Snow Flat road). Follow the road to the parking lot and trailhead.

BTW - I'll be driving my F-150 up to Utah with Mike Mattes. Tentative plan is to get on the road early afternoon on Friday 3/27 and stop in Flag to have dinner with my daughter before continuing on to Mexican Hat UT where we'll stay in a hotel that night. That will allow for a decent start time on Saturday 3/28. Expect to complete the backpack some time late afternoon on Monday 3/30 before getting on the road back to Phoenix (and a very late arrival home that evening). :yuck:

Thoughts?

PaleoRob · Post by **PaleoRob** » Jan 06 2009 7:17 am

It's a shuttle hike; I included the Bullet-Kane loop description because we'll be going in Bullet, but we won't be coming out Kane.
Bullet Trailhead: http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?L ... =-109.9515
Government Trailhead: http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?L ... =-110.0858
So we will have to do some shuttling. I'll be calling BLM closer to the hike to get better road conditions etc. One or more of us will need to go up to Kane Gulch Ranger Station in the morning to pickup out physical permits. I am planning on car camping either somewhere on the Rez, in the Mexican Hat desert, or up on Cedar Mesa (depending on when I can leave Page) Friday night, so I'll probably swing by early Saturday, so we can hit the trail as soon as everyone shows up and we shuttle cars around. Not sure if we want to make Bullet trailhead or KGRS our meeting point yet...any thoughts anyone?

Randal_Schulhauser · Post by **Randal_Schulhauser** » Jan 06 2009 1:58 pm

Know its a ways off yet, but the Kane Gulch Ranger Station makes sense to me. Rendezvous time???

Grand Gulch - Finished!

Grand Gulch - Finished!

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