Little Colorado Gorge in the Winter?

[lostlandscapes]

Hi everyone. My friends and I have some time off in mid-January and are contemplating a thru-hike of sorts from Lipan Point in GCNP to the Little Colorado Gorge, exiting via Salt Trail Canyon. Anyone been through this area in winter? My main concern is with the LCR and exit out of Salt Trail Canyon. Most of the trip reports I see are from spring or fall so it makes me wonder if it's not a place to be in January. A few questions:

1. Is there any chance of finding ice in Salt Trail Canyon? From what I understand it's already a steep route with a little exposure, and that's one thing that would give me a little pause. My hope is that since it's a bit lower in elevation than the south rim and also that it's a south facing canyon that we should be alright.

2. Is there a general rule-of-thumb for being sure the water in the Little Colorado will be running blue (i.e. not brown)??? I think I read somewhere that if it hasn't rained in Cameron in 10 days, that the water should be pure. Any legitimacy to that claim?

If anyone has any words of wisdom or experience in that area, it'd be much appreciated!

[chumley]

The reason you don't see many winter visits is that you will have to get wet to cross the LCR while heading upstream. That's usually a cold proposition in winter (or requires you to haul a bunch of extra gear you won't need any other time)!

I don't know for sure, but ice is highly unlikely, even in the most sheltered areas and the narrow chute at the top. It's below 5500 feet. Of course, winter storms do occur where the snow level drops well below that, and it can absolutely snow inside Salt Trail Canyon. But I would expect any accumulation to melt within a few days. If you get a rare snowfall of more than a few inches at a very low elevation, I could see the possibility of it sticking around for a few weeks in isolated spots. I just think this would be a very rare instance and not one I would plan around. Just keep an eye on weather for a couple of weeks ahead of your trip...

...which you'll be doing anyway if the color of the LCR flow is that important to you. Runoff on the plateau is very fickle. Keep an eye on the USGS gauge in Cameron (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/uv/?s ... 0065,00060). If it's flowing there, the river is for sure to be running brown all the way to the confluence. It takes at least a week of zero flow at Cameron before it's all cleared up downstream. Keep in mind that the LCR drains a huge amount of land, and even if there's no flow at Cameron, there could still be runoff elsewhere into the canyon that muddies the water. Therefore, the stream gauge at Cameron is NOT a guarantee of blue water downstream.

Since winter is the "rainy season" in Arizona, it is another contributing factor for people not often making winter trips to the LCR. Because when it rains or snows, there's usually runoff. And subsequently muddy water.

Another thought to ponder: if it has rained (or snowed above 5000 feet) the dirt roads on the reservation leading to/from the Salt Trailhead may be a muddy mess that requires 4wd. It is also possible that the tribe closes dirt roads after winter storms to prevent ruts and other road damage caused by driving in the mud. I would suggest checking with the tribe if I thought you could get reliable information about that, but I don't. :roll:

The Cameron stream gauge site linked above also provides historical data for research purposes. Seasonal flows are generally from winter snow melt from the White Mountains and summer monsoon storms. But local winter rains can change things in a hurry, and predictions are not reliable by looking at historical data.

If you look at the photos from triplogs here on HAZ, you'll see that there are several trips where people were seeing blue water one day, only to have the river flash overnight leaving a muddy mess!

It's an amazing canyon, and while there's no doubt that the blue water is a highlight, it is beautiful even if the water is brown. The hike you are talking about is a "popular" one amongst people who like that kind of thing (an admittedly small group!). I think there's a user or two on HAZ who have done it, and I know of a handful who have it on their wish list.

Good luck, and keep us posted

[toddak]

I've done the reverse route, but not in winter. If the days are mild it could be good, but windy/stormy/cold is more likely. Going upstream in the LCR would probably be a chore, I probably crossed the river a dozen times or more and it wasn't easy even going downstream. Getting blue versus brown water is a crap shoot, looking at the gage for the past few winters there are periods in Dec and Jan where the LCR flashed. I doubt ice would be a problem but I would carry a pair of over-the-show traction devices anyway.