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September, 2000 - North Bass, Shinumo Amphitheatre, Lancelot Point. |
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Trip number 20 - June, 1998 : GCPS picnic, GC Star Party, Indian Gardens Hike
Trip number 21 - December/January, 1998 : South Kaibab, Utah Flats, North Kaibab & Bright Angel
Trip number 22 - March, 1999 : South Kaibab, North Kaibab, Clear Creek, Bright Angel
Trip number 23 - September, 1999 : Dripping Springs dayhike
Trip number 24 - October, 1999 : Swamp Point, Muav Saddle, North Bass Trail & Shinumo Creek
Trip number 25 - June, 2000 : Grand Canyon Pioneer's Annual Picnic
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There were some nice trips leading up to trip 26. Robin and I did a late December/early January trip down to Phantom Ranch, which included a few days exploring Utah Flats and upper Phantom Canyon and also a day hike up to Ribbon Falls. I also did another trip over to Clear Creek where I did come more exploring of the side canyons back there as well as a day hike up to the saddle between Wotan's Throne and Angels Gate. There was also a failed attempt at this very same trip in the previous year.
The 1999 trip was a disaster with my first ever digital camera going for a dive into a pool of water. Not fun. Then there was a banged-up knee. Luckily I aborted and did not attempt to continue. I was hoping the re-do would go better. There were some changes to the plan from the start. I decided not to spend the first night at Teddy's Cabin and to get a little further in along the North Bass Trail. I had problems on the first day at all and made it to very close to the top of the Redwall descent. The second day had me getting to the top of the Tapeats Gorge with plenty of time to seek out the route in Redwall Canyon. There were a couple of tricky climbs but I managed to find that and knew it would save me a lot of the time that I lost on the previous trip. The camping spot for that second night was gorgeous and it still lives in my memory. Day three started off perfect and I made it up Redwall Canyon and back up onto the Tonto no problem. There were still some problems with route finding beyond that as there really is no trail and I didn't see any cairns marking a route. I had plenty of time though and just kept following the path of least resistance until I did finally come to something that looked more trail-like. I did manage to spot one cairn which gave me a little confidence that I was going the right way. I felt really good when I rounded the bend south of Holy Grail Temple above Shinumo Creek and started heading north. It was a very nice afternoon and the views were magnificent. I got to my camp at the confluence of Merlin & Mordred Abyss relatively early. I had a very night's sleep next to the running water and day four started off well. I was nervous about this one because I knew that the creek was very brushy and it going to be difficult to make forward progress in places. There was no turning back though as going back the way I came would take even longer than going forward. It was a lot of work. A lot of creek crossings and a LOT of brush flighting. No real route, just follow the creek. Still I made pretty good time and was at camp again with plenty of time to spare. The hike from my camp that day up to Abyss Cave is one of my fondest memories of any Grand Canyon trip. I would love to go back and visit again some day but it is so much hard work to get there. Day five was a real challenge going up the northwest fault ravine to the saddle between Elaine Castle and Lancelot Point. A lot of climbing and a few tricky climbs. I was very happy that I had decided on two days to go from the Merlin & Mordred confluence as the plan for the previous year had only one day for it. The hardest part for the rest of the trip was no more water except what I had been carrying with me. I had planned on attempting to climb Elaine Castle but I was exhausted from the climb to camp and just decided to rest up as much as possible for the final day. The saddle was covered with manzanita and scrub oak and it looked like it continued for a good portion on the route I would need to get out of here. More brush fighting. No turning back. I had a very nice night up on the saddle with only the wind to listen to, very different from the nights down below close to the creek. The thing I remember was the brush and fighting through. There was no path to follow though sometimes, in places, I almost looked like one. I doubt many people come up this was so it was more likely something created by the critters that life up here, mule deer or bighorn sheep. I knew where I had to be and just had to work my way over there. Once I got to the ascent ravine it was just a matter of following the breaks to the top. In a little more than three hours from camp I was on the rim at Lancelot Point. I really enjoyed the walk through the ponderosa forest to the Point Sublime Road and it was more or less just a relaxing walk and trying to stay on the proper compass heading to reach the road where I wanted to. For a time I remember thinking of trying to shortcut to the north and get directly to the Swamp Ridge Road, and maybe saving some miles, but the route was uncertain and I just decided to stay the course. Once I hit the road it was an easy road walk back to the car. This was definitely one of my favorite Grand Canyon adventures. The full trip report is here. |
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Next >> Trip number 27 - September, 2000 - Nankoweap Trail & Nankoweap Butte
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