Grand Gulch - Finished!

[PaleoRob]

Alright, in addition to the 4th SAPDR ( viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3663 ) I'm looking at a March Grand Gulch backpacking trip, and wondering if anyone would be interested in coming along. I've got permits for the 28th-30th, in Bullet, out Government, for four people. We can get more if needed. We'll be averaging about 6.5 miles a day, with our first day being the longest, about 7.5 miles with the remainder of the 12.5 miles taking place over the other two days. Total mileage is about 20.
For some information about Bullet: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1283
Anyone?

[rushthezeppelin]

Who needs a full chair. I just have a 8x10 1/4 gossamer gear ccf pad. Works great and weighs nothing.

[dysfunction]

the back support is a bonus as you reach a more advanced age


at least, I've been actually considering one

[Vaporman]

Hey Rush, read your private messages. :GB: If you're still up for carpooling let me know, I sent you my phone number. If not, I'll be hitting the road around 3pm after work...

[oliverr99]

What degree bag are you all bringing?

[PaleoRob]

What degree bag are you all bringing?

My 30 degree bag. I tend to sleep warm, and with the lows around freezing, it should be alright.

[oliverr99]

Thanks! That is what I am bringing, plus a bag liner. I think I am bringing too much, but you never know, and the weight will go down after a day, hopefully!

[PaleoRob]

Weight always goes down unless you're not eating! ;)

[oliverr99]

Oh I will be eating, don't worry. I think that IS most of my weight, on me and in my bag! LOL

[Vaporman]

Yea, I'm bring a supposedly 15° bag but it's more like 40° plus a liner for extra warmth on those cold nights. Looks like it'll be 55°/30° most of the trip with a very slight chance of rain on Sunday. Brrr... How's that dirt road to Muley Point, could a car take it?

[PaleoRob]

How's that dirt road to Muley Point, could a car take it?

Last time I drove it (June 2006) it was a very good graded road, car could take it no problem.
You gonna head out there to camp tonight? Feel free to swing by if you see my truck.

[PaleoRob]

Thanks everyone for making this a successful trip! What a time. Looking forward to hiking with y'all again!

[Vaporman]

Thanks again for hosting it and for everyone else that came along. And I still owe you a map...

[PaleoRob]

Don't even worry about it. I had two!

[oliverr99]

Yes! Thanks for putting up with me. I had a wonderful time. It was great meeting everyone. Rob, again, thanks for a successful trip. Hope to meet up with you all again....when crows fly!

[Randal_Schulhauser]

Anne, Brian, Chris, Mike, Rob (nice new avatar!) - great trip with a great bunch of adventurers...

Couple of items left in the bed of my truck though - a green Nalgene bottle with red clip and a red SwissGear telescoping hiking pole.



Gotta quote Dave Roberts from "In Search of Old Ones";

In 1987, on a three-day hike into Utah's Grand Gulch, for the first time I came across Anasazi ruins in the backcountry - unexcavated, unrestored, with potsherds and corncobs still strewn in the dirt where the last dwellers had left them. I camped on alluvial benches where the ancients had once planted their crops, I drank from the springs that had sustained them. That trip changed everything for me... A quest - but a quest for what?

That's easy - WARMTH

[PaleoRob]

I think I can take credit for that pole. Oops!

I've finally gotten all the photos I want up. I tried to limit it, but there's still 60-some odd shots. Eee.

So I traced out our trip on Google Earth, and minus the side trip the first evening up Grand Gulch but including everything else (ruins, springs, etc.) I came out with 22 miles even from parking area to parking area (the regular parking area, not where we left the truck), with the mesa-top segment equaling 2.6 miles. I'll be curious to see what your final GPS track says.

[oliverr99]

That is my nalgene water bottle, sorry!
Thanks for the ride by the way!

[Randal_Schulhauser]

So we've got the hiking pole and Nalgene bottle accounted for. Guess it's next group hike to return them to their rightful owner. Keet Seel maybe???

[Crocodile Ryan]

Who needs a full chair. I just have a 8x10 1/4 gossamer gear ccf pad. Works great and weighs nothing.

Forgive me for asking what might be a noob question , but why do you need a pad to sit on?

[rally_toad]

Forgive me for asking what might be a noob question , but why do you need a pad to sit on?

lol