2011 Rainbow Bridge Spectacular

[PaleoRob]

Another one of those "you asked for it, now you'll get it" deals.
Rainbow Bridge via Redbud Pass. New information added 3/26/11.
Okay, so here's the deal. 13 miles from Rainbow Lodge to Rainbow Bridge. Hit the trail on the 2nd. Spend the first day hiking to First Water, about 8 miles in. Second day we'll head down to the bridge and back to camp as a dayhike. On the 4th, we'll hike back to our trucks. We'd meet in Page early on the 2nd - details to be PMed to participants. Friday night gathering and pre-hike meet and greet recommended.
Cost: Navajo Nation hiking permit= $5/day/person. Navajo Nation camping permit = $5/person/night. Total = $25.
Early April can get very cold, and there still remains the possibility of a snowstorm, so plans might be canceled or changed depending on weather. Obviously that will be discussed as the date gets closer.

[big_load]

The dates are in a possibly feasible range for me.

[PaleoRob]

Excellent. The 3rd happens to be my birthday, which is why I chose it.

[oliverr99]

hmmmm I will let you know! I will add my name is an interested!!! Thanks for posting this Rob. I know we all talked about this trip!

[PaleoRob]

Yep yep. I'm also planning on posting up another Grand Gulch trip for mid-March (spring break). Watch this space. ;)

[Sredfield]

Are you doing this in and out, or semi-circumnavigation of Navajo Mtn with a shuttle? There's a tough climb back out if you are going in from the Goldwater Lodge site.

[PaleoRob]

In-and-out via the old Lodge trail, yeah.

[nonot]

Awesome, I'm going to find a way to attend! Are the dates set in stone? April 3-5 hike, meetup on night of April 2?

Also for others:

April 2nd: Friday
Apr 3-4 weekend
April 5th: Monday

Is anyone familiar with water sources for this route: location and reliability?

[oliverr99]

I think the Grand Gulch would be better for me, depending on dates. I will keep an eye out for it, thanks for letting me know! ;)

[big_load]

Grand Gulch is high on my list, too.

[PaleoRob]

I'd like the dates to stand as they are, just for birthday reasons.
Water is supposed to be available at the old camp just upstream from the bridge like a mile or so. Not sure about other sources.

[Sredfield]

More than you want to know . . .
http://hikearizona.com/TL.php?ID=2854

[writelots]

Sounds good. I'm willing to try whatever in terms of itinerary... could even add a day if it comes to that. Sounds like the perfect time to check the area out!

[Randal_Schulhauser]

Rob;

What do we know about reliable water souces along the route? Presume Lake Powell near Rainbow Bridge will be one of them... ;)

[PaleoRob]

There's at least one spring upcanyon from the bridge that should have reliable water. I'm going to dig into local sources here to find out about others along the trail. Don't know how much I'd want to drink out of the Lake unless we get desperate...

[nonot]

Rob, when will you be getting the permits for this hike? Is there a certain time you need a commitment/$$?

[PaleoRob]

Since you can buy permits at the Antelope Canyon entrance station, we'll be getting permits the day-of. So if you come, you pay then.

[Randal_Schulhauser]

Rob;

John Day (dayjk1) will be joining us. He's the gentleman in this photo => http://hikearizona.com/phoZOOM.php?ZIP=19212

RANDAL

[azbackpackr]

I seriously would have a better chance of doing this if someone wanted to carpool. Trouble is, Springerville is not really on the way to Page for most folks. And my one backpacking gal pal who lived here moved to Oregon.

[azbackpackr]

Ok, Rob, I signed up! I am going to put in for the personal leave at work today. Do you have a projected cost per person? Doesn't the permit cost something?