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| Backpack | 13.62 Miles |
5,291 AEG |
| | Backpack | 13.62 Miles | 2 Days | | |
| 5,291 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | As I type this, I am sitting in a hotel ballroom in San Diego. It’s a work conference and I am wearing gym shorts and a tshirt because it would be impossible for me to get a pair of slacks and a real shirt on. I’m cracked out on Benedryl and it takes just two applications for me to empty a tube of hydrocortisone cream. People are looking at me as if I’m a leper! 
You see, I did some research after this hike and learned that the word “vasey” (as in Vasey’s Paradise) isn’t really some guy’s name, but is actually an old Navajo word meaning plant of the red death. Modern linguists interpret its historical definition to mean what we now know of as poison ivy. This is a very rare plant in the Grand Canyon, and it never occurred to me to look for it. It is also spring, and the plant was leafless, making its identification even less likely. 
And my body is covered. Arms and legs, stomach and chest. Fingers, ears, and neck. Somehow my back was spared, so I’ve got that going for me. I'd upload a photo of my body but I swear I get a little ill when I look in the mirror (yes, I realize I invited all kinds of comments here!)
So, if you ever go here, learn from me. Don’t climb to the top of the falls, seeing the source up close is not worth it!
Luckily, the allergic reaction to poison ivy doesn’t usually occur for a day or two, so the trip itself was great!
The route down to the canyon bottom is not for the faint of heart or inexperienced. It involves a few climbs and hands are required extensively. Once in the canyon, the going is easier, but still slow due to the bouldered terrain and lack of actual trail. After 6.5 miles you reach the river, where a beautiful beach and secluded camping area await.
I managed to procure a few beers from a rafting party that stopped at the beach for a while before setting off downstream once again.
The gate at Stanton’s cave is huge, and a marvel of engineering. Vasey’s paradise is a beautiful area but like a kid at the museum, look but don’t touch!!
Spent a fun night with the crew before getting a good night’s resr and hiking out in the morning. Surprisingly the ascent took the same amount of time as the descent, probably because there was no way to go fast downhill.
Good to see Larry and his 65lb pack again, and to inaugurate Rachel (and her 5lb pack) and of course Bootsie. Thanks to 9L for doing all the planning and legwork.
The ride home featured the requisite stop at Nimarcos for pizza and wings, and a lot of sleepy, drooly passengers.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I gotta try to contact my doctor again. I need some steroids, stat. |
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| I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
