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| Backpack | 51.10 Miles |
8,205 AEG |
| | Backpack | 51.10 Miles | 6 Days | | |
| 8,205 ft AEG | | 55 LBS Pack | | |
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Setup and Master Plan
6 Days/5 Nights in Grand Gulch, averaging roughly 6-8 miles per day, with additional side Trips and Scrambling to view Ruins... 
I got an invite from Paul a couple of months before he posted it as an Event...He's never Hiked with me before and I was thinking there was no way I could do this...He said it was a piece of Cake, mostly level with just some elevation on the last day to get out...I talked to Alex when he was in town, and he agreed. Both Paul and Alex were very encouraging and supportive. Alex and I have Hiked before, so I knew we were pretty compatible as far as Hiking goes, and I started to take the Bait...  Paul posted it as an Event with limited slots, so I knew I didn't have much more time to commit...I knew that a chance of a Trip like this would be very rare...Everything seemed to be going well with me, so I bit...Trepidation didn't go away, however...  Then I went to the point of No Return and volunteered to drive...No backing out now... And so I began amassing the gear and trying to Train for it, as some of you have seen from recent Triplogs... 
I managed to pare down the Pack Weight from 55 to 45 lbs after the first "Training" Trip...Didn't matter, by the time I was done packing enough food and gear for 6 days I was right back up to 55 lbs... Soooo, Friday night at Valley of the Gods, I took advantage of the vast experience I was with, and myself and the rest of the Crew played a game..."Of the "Kitchen Sink" in Pam's Pack, what can she get rid of...???" Got rid of a few things, probably only shedding about 2 pounds, which I promptly replaced with my old Camera, since I now had the room....
Had trouble sleeping that night, even though I was tired...The stomach was really churning now...My biggest fear??? Not being able to keep up and holding up the rest of the Crew...  My lack of Self Confidence was really rearing it's ugly head... 
DAY 1
Moment of Truth...It's do or die time... The Anxiety had built up really high, but it probably saved me the first day, as somehow it translated into Energy, and that, with Fresh Legs from no Hiking for a week, allowed me to keep up most of the day...The Shuttle arrived and took us to the Collins TH. The Driver was pretty knowledgeable about the area and even stopped to show us some Ruins along the way.... 
And then it was on.... The Pace was pretty fast for me, but I think the rest of the Crew had pretty minimal "waits" for me that day... The Country was gorgeous...It was as awesome as I had hoped...Didn't take too many pictures, simply because of the Pace, but the Views will stay burned in my memory for many years to come... 
And then, after a couple of quick miles, it was time to immerse in the Ancient History that the Gulch is so well known for...Saw a couple of Ruins up to this point that were not accessible and then dropped the Packs and our excellent Guides, Paul and Alex, took us on a side Trip for some Pictographs and Ruins...It was amazing...I had yet to experience the extent and quality of sites like these, before this Trip!!!  After an hour or so, we returned to the Packs and took a nice shaded Break...The Rangers at the Station had told us that they were expecting record heat for the next few days, and we could feel it...Seeking Shade whenever possible during the middle of the Day. It got pretty warm in the exposed areas...
The "Levelness" of the Hike that Paul and Alex "described" wasn't quite on the Level... Quite a bit of "Up and Down" Crossings as you wound your way through and around the Creek. And then there was Sand....I commented that one of my Training Hikes should have been in California on the Beach, as well as climbing more than a few Sand Dunes, just to give the Legs the workout they needed for some of these Sandy areas...  Certainly can't complain about the workout I got on this Trip though...  Hit another Ruin and then made it to our first Camp...Got some Water filtered, did a little troubleshooting with my Sawyer Squeeze Filter to try and make it more efficient to use and succeeded...Relaxed the rest of the Day, with the assistance of Ibuprofen, which, aside from the Crew and the Energy Drinks I brought, became my best Friend on this Trip... The Crew influenced me into "Cowboy Camping" that night for the first time, and it was good!!! Very few bugs to worry about and it sure kept things more simple...
DAY 2
Body is a bit tired from the Day before and so I lagged a bit behind the rest of the Group most of the Day...But they were really good sports about it and for that, I was extremely grateful...  You guys Rock!!!  The Geology in this place is amAZing! The Wind, Water and Sand Erosion has really made this a very special place!!! Visited some more Ruins and just marveled at how all of this Architecture and History could have stayed so intact for sooo many years, despite what Mother Nature and Man has done to the place... Got to one Ruin that I don't think Alex had even done and after sizing it up, I decided it was "doable" and took off... It turned out to be "doable" and after I yelled down to Alex about the large Pictograph I encountered upon topping out, he and Lani came up as well...Thought I had "scored" a pair of nice Minolta Binoculars on the way up, but ran into the Owner who was also in the area and returned them... Explored that whole shelf. Most of the Ruins were toast at this one, except for a couple at the east end.
Reached the area where Paul wanted to Camp that night only to find it already occupied so we pressed on...Water was available, but pretty silty in this area. Paul and I scouted ahead for a bit and we got separated for awhile as I went a bit farther in search of good Water. I returned to where we were apparently were going to camp that night and after a few minutes, the rest of the Crew showed up, having doubled back to a different Watering hole. Turns out I missed a Fox sighting right there next to Camp.  Lots of Birds around though, mostly staying hidden in the Cottonwood Trees, although I stalked a few rooting around in the leaves...I would hear a Hawk occasionally, but they seemed to stay near the top of the Mesa for the most part and were hard to pinpoint....Lots of Deer sign, but didn't see one the whole Trip...
With the light bantering going on during dinner, I found out that a Pool had been started. The rest of the Crew was taking bets on what items I would start throwing out of my pack and leaving by the wayside to lighten my load... By the end of the Trip, I know they were secretly hoping that it was my Jetboil, as they all seemed to like it. Alex even took up the rear the last day on the climb out, hoping to score it.... As it turns out, they all lost... 
Cowboy Camped again that night...The nights were actually pretty warm and my 25 degree bag was overkill for most of the night, but there was just a touch of chill in the air in the mornings, so I know I couldn't have gotten by with just my summer liner either. We actually had Dew on everything the next morning, although most mornings were drier...
DAY 3
I am feeling the fatigue, no doubt about it, and was getting discouraged with my performance...The Crew was priceless though, staying positive and supportive. What an awesome, understanding, patient group they were, I can't say enough... Really wanted to take more pictures, but felt too pressured to try and keep up...(The Pressure was all self-induced, by the way) Really dragged today and the heat wasn't helping, but I know everyone was feeling the heat as well. The ups and downs through the Creekbeds continued with some Bushwacking thrown in for good measure... Paul and I wore shorts the whole Trip and by the end, it looked like we'd been through a War...I always seemed to open up some new wound and bleed before each day was over... Someone mentioned that they thought they saw some Poison Ivy, and the paranoia of everything with 3 leaves took over in a few spots... (So far, I've proven to be immune, so I just plow through it all, )
Saw some really cool areas and Ruins again today. Stopped for a break at the Entrance to Dripping Springs Canyon and Paul went up a ways to try to find good Water, but couldn't find the Spring and suspected it was dry. We continued on to Step Canyon. Paul ended up finding us a really sweet Camping spot with clear, fresh, running Water...You Rocked Paul!!!
DAY 4
I am now in uncharted Territory. I have not hauled a heavy Backpack for more than 3 days before... I'm now in the Bonus Round... My physical being has never been a morning person, so it takes me awhile to get the Body warmed up and in a groove, so I'm behind again... I've now in the acceptance phase however, and just try to find my Pace and not kill myself in the process...I think I ended up being more efficient this way and it seemed to work out for all concerned, so I threw some of the proverbial weight off my shoulders and relaxed some.... At least for the first couple of hours.... I won't go into the details, it's not important, but somehow, all 5 of us missed a turn...
We got to a really, really, familiar landmark and I stopped and started to question...Those of you that have Hiked with me know what that means...I know that I have driven some of you crazy with that... For once, it was justified and after Alex and Paul did some consulting, we got on the right course...It made for a bit more mileage than we planned on, but on a couple of positive notes, the area we turned around in was a really cool spot and after recovering from the Trip, I can say that it was one of my Favorite areas, Geologically speaking...And although it was a little discouraging and daunting at the time, I ended up Backpacking a personal best of 12+ Miles.... By the time we hit Camp in Bullet Canyon that afternoon, we were all done, although somehow Paul and Lani found the energy to follow a couple of Hikers up Canyon to a Spring they found...
We saw some great Ruins today as well as more awesome Country. I made use of the Tripod I insisted on taking on the Trip, and took it up to one of the Ruin sites for some Group Pictures...
We all got some Water filtered and pretty much collapsed...There were some Ruins above us that Alex showed me from below later, but I just didn't have the energy to do more than admire them from a distance.... We took a Vote later that turned out to be unanimous...We were going to go up Bullet and see the Primo Ruins up there, but the day had kinda thrown us for a loop and it was decided to skip them and not put in another 12 mile day the next day...I was fine with that, as those Ruins can be accessed with a Dayhike or Overnight Backpack at a future date...I don't think even the hardiest of our Crew wanted to do 2-12 Mile Days in a row...
I slept in my Bivy the night before and set it up again for tonight, simply to avoid the Dew problems in the morning and the Ants, that were becoming more prominent in our Campsites...
DAY 5
I'm beginning to think I might actually make it through this Trip without collapsing and dying on the spot... Fatigue has been replaced by numbness.... It turned out to be a short day since we elected not to do the 4 miles up and down Bullet. I think everybody was still a little tired from the day before, although Paul is still a frickin' Mountain Goat...
Did a short side Trip to the Green Mask...Very, very Cool!!! The Pictographs were amazing...
This ended up being my biggest day of Photos of the Trip...
Got to Camp at Split Level Ruins and got settled in...Had been in Camp a couple of hours and suddenly there's a Party...A Backpack Group of High School kids with a couple of adults walked up the Trail...There were at least 10, probably more...The adult leader seemed very disappointed that we already had the Campsite, but they wanted to still go up and see the Ruins, so they all dropped their brand new Backpacks on the ground and went up...Well, most of them did...Some of them went further down the Trail with the adults to find another Campsite...It got pretty noisy for awhile unfortunately...And to make matters a little more annoying, some of the Teens hung around on the Ledge for quite awhile and found it amusing to launch rocks off the edge... ](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall") Needless to say, we were all biting our tongues, not really keen on starting anything, since it appeared that they would be Camping very nearby...
After watching Alex wander around the Cliffs above, and waiting for the Light to get better, Paul and I headed up to the Ruins...Really Nice!!!! Lots of Pics of that one...And the Geology that surrounded us on this particular night was awesome as well. I tried to get a Pano of the Overhead view, but it was too hard to do, so you'll have to settle for one overhead shot...
The kids were still chucking rocks so once we got back down, we got out of the line of fire. It continued for a little while longer and then the adults showed back up and gathered everyone and all of their gear back up and took off down the Trail...No chance of Solitude tonight, as they camped just down the Creek and the kids were climbing all over the Rocks with their headlamps, shouting and laughing...We took amusement in planning revenge after they were all asleep, but of course, didn't follow through. But the planning was fun!!! Thoroughly enjoyed looking up at the views above and following two Hawks that kept circling and vocalizing in the Cliffs way above us....
DAY 6
Another Moment of Truth...9+ Miles with some Elevation Gain on this day, climbing out...Prepared as best I could mentally for this, but it was still daunting to think about...
Visited The Fortress and then Hiked on. We stopped briefly at Turkey Pen, but everyone elected to bypass with Energy Conservation in mind...Stopped again at Split Junction Ruins and Alex, Paul and Linda headed up...Again, these Ruins could be accessed with a Day Hike, so I wasn't too concerned about missing them this time. I was no longer feeling fatigued or numb, pain was starting to settle into my Right Knee and Middle Back, as the Bod decided that numb wasn't working and started vigorously protesting everything I'd been putting it through the last 5 days.... I'd been watching and taking care of Hot Spots on my feet, but today, even with Duct Tape, I could feel one going into a full blown blister....As nice as these new Merrells of mine fit, I won't be getting this model again...I've had very few problems with blisters in the past...I think I need something a little stiffer....
So, with the climb out still ahead, I double up on the Ibuprofen and slam an Energy Drink
(also Lifesavers this Trip)and try to rest...
Paul and Linda return and we almost gang up on a poor solo Hiker coming down the Trail with a fresh apple in her hand... She was really nice, but once she saw us evil eyeing her apple, she disappeared down the Trail pretty quick...  Alex returned and we set off once again...And then the climb began...It was steep in places, but actually no worse than I had done on my Highline Trip, albeit a bit longer... Alex brought up the rear hoping to see that Jetboil drop somewhere along the Trail... Beautiful area up through Kane Gulch...
Lost track of Paul and Lani after awhile and then Linda...Had a Route Finding issue during the latter part of the uphill and got a little frustrated. I was getting pretty beat and took a Break while Alex went on ahead. Took a few minutes, had an Oxygen stick, got my mind back in the Game and took off again...Within 300 Yards, the Trail flattened out and became level, smooth sailing and I found my pace quickening somehow...Met up with the Group in a nice, shady area with a wonderful Rock...I was then informed that we were less than a mile from the Vehicles and that the uphill was over...Needless to say, I literally collapsed on the Rock in utter relief that somehow, I was gonna make it!!! It was then that I informed them that I won the Pool...I didn't even "dump any fuel (aka Water)" as Paul put it, before my Crash Landing on the Rock....
Took a small break here and then the "Horse going back to the Barn" mentality set in and I pulled from a Reserve somewhere and was hugging the Escape in less than 25 minutes...
And somehow, to our delight, my blocks of Ice in the Cooler, although melted had still kept everything cold and that Water was incredible...And the Dew was the best I have ever tasted!!!
After cleaning up a little in the Parking Lot and resting for a bit, we headed out...Stopped for what was to be just a brief minute in Kayenta, but turned into a Vehicle Repair Clinic as Paul's Vehicle blew a Coolant Hose...We got pretty acquainted with the Napa Store in Kayenta... Luckily, Paul had tools and was able to somehow replace the hose, even though it was in a very difficult spot...I have to comment that the people at Napa were awesome!!!! They closed at 5, but the Owner came around the back where Paul was working and told him that if he needed anything at all, to just come to his residence behind the store and he would make sure he got it...Phenomenal People at this Napa.... We got Paul rolling again and stopped in Flagstaff at the Beaver Street Brewery and pigged out!!! Yum!!! Linda footed the whole bill, Thanks Linda!!!!! Said goodbye to Paul and Lani here and headed for Phoenix. One rest stop at Cordes Junction with a couple of Laps around the Car and a smoke, and we hit town. Dropped Linda and Alex off and made it home about 1:00 A.M. Friday morning...Exhausted, but happy...
Final Thoughts
Epic...What else can I say??? I fought the negative inner demons and with the help of some wonderful friends, new and old, I won!!! As a bonus, I was with great company, and saw some spectacular Country and incredible History...
Knowing what I know now, would I do it again??? With patient, supportive, understanding friends like that???? In a heartbeat.... Paul, thanks a ton for all of the planning, emails, the invitation, the laughs and support... Alex, looking forward to our next adventure, Thanks for all of the incredible info and knowledge you shared...You were awesome!!! Linda and Lani were great as well!!!
I only have one regret and it's not really a regret...I should have kept a Journal...My short term memory sucks!!! The Ruins and which name goes with which Ruin and which Ruins we saw on what day, became a blur pretty fast, so I will be unable to "Label" which Photos are of what Ruin...Once Alex sees the Pics, he'll be able to help me out and I'll get their names in the Captions then....
Not sure about the Stats, I used these from Paul's Triplog. There was a lot of up and down, so it's very possible that everything is close...Paul went places I didn't go, and I went places he didn't go, so it probably all averages out...
The Water Reports I will leave to Paul and Alex...Something else I lost track of....
Photos
Ya....I've knocked off almost 300 Photos from this Trip and still have 250ish...Not sure how much farther down I can cut and still share this remarkable area with you all...Be ready, if I get sick of downsizing, I may just drop a pretty big Bomb on you guys. For all I know, it may even be a HAZ Record.... They may go up tonight, if not, tomorrow night for sure...
Epic... |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Tons of Globe Mallow, and Cacti Blooming with other Wildflowers showing their stuff sporadically as well...Even the Salt Cedar was Blooming.... |
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| Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming, "Wow What a Ride!" |
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