This blog posting is for you. I know you have had a rough time with your knee surgery and complications so I thought I would send you a photo to remind you of happier times.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you get better.
Dear Marilyn…
Tag: Family
Frozen in Lost Maples
Vivian made her practice hike in Lost Maples this Saturday and Sunday. Jesse joined us for the hike and camping and brought his fishing rod.
All went well as we arrived in the late afternoon and hiked about 3.5 miles to our campsite. We arrived in fine spirits, set up tents and cooked our food. Then we went to bed. In about 2 hours the temperature began to drop. I awakened to a numbness and put on my fleece. I should have put on my rain jacket as well but didn’t think to. Since we went to bed about 7:30 it was a very long night as it kept getting colder. When Vivian checked her water bottle in the morning it was a block of ice. I can’t recall being that cold while camping. Maybe once when I was a boy scout in Montana, in the dead of winter. But this was a surprise—I never anticipated it getting so cold. You just can underestimate the trail and overestimate your abilities. That is a lesson I keep learning.
The next morning we set off for the ponds and in a short while all was well and we had forgotten the suffering from the previous night. On our walk back to the car we took the East Trail and on the plateau we encountered a friendly beast.
The Big 6-oh
I turned 60 this Feb 1 and have been kind of waiting around for that fact to actualize. In the morning I spent some time with Singer and Colter at Connally and got a nice video of Colter.
So far I have experienced no ill effects from the big 6-oh. Maybe my motorcycle days are over.
Vivian and I are planning on making the practice run to Lost Maples next week or the one after. It’s getting close to the Spring break time and our trek to Cheyava Falls.
Christmas Break
Grandma was home for Christmas break. She claims this will be her last visit because the plane rides are stressful, but we will find out later. It all depends on how she is feeling around July and August when we usually make our plans for Christmas. Vivian got a video of Grandma working with her Great Grandson Andrew.
Grandma & Andrew, December 2008
We also heard from Beverly and she is missing Bob, of course. The holidays are cruel sometimes. I snapped a photo of Singer and Colter for her. Colter was rescued by Beverly and Bob and was raised by them, along with a number of other dogs, at Bridging the Worlds, an animal sanctuary. According to a rabies vaccination certificate that I have from the Santa Fe Animal Shelter, Colter was born June 19, 2007. My brother passed away February 6, 2008. It was around that time that I adopted Colter. He is about about 7 and 1/2 months in the photo below.
I have a week more of break and hope to add to my blog. Currently I am working on my Grand Canyon Pages and then will move to the Appalachian Trail.
Singer and Colter
Hedy snapped a few photos of Singer, Colter and myself in the swimming pool. I posed them with bandanas. They weren’t very cooperative but we liked the idea and will try to get a better shot for a Christmas Card.
Poor Colter! He was never comfortable having his picture taken.
Royal Arch Update
Sophi and I had an adventure March 14-19, 2008, as we hiked the Royal Arch Route for 5 days and 4 nights. I will create a page tab dedicated to the Royal Arch when I find the time. Currently we are involved in creating a DVD that we narrate so that we can share it with the family. Once that is done I can post a page on this site.
In short, each day was an adventure. Day one involved snow, ice, route finding on the pack trail, and getting befuddled at the same pour over that caused me to make “the Jump” last year—the photo shows Sophi at that pour over. The second day was all boulder hopping. We did get to the Natural Arch but did not make it to the rappel area until the Third day. Much of the adventure comes from boulder hopping as each boulder blocking the creek bed posed a new problem to solve and overcome. The third day we hiked from just above the rappel to Elve’s chasm and backtracked some to Garnet Canyon. This was more boulder hopping, not quite as severe but very trecherous. Much of the rocks we scrambled over were basaltic and ripped at our clothing and shoes. From Garnet we found our way out and had to do some route finding (no cairns or discernable trail) to work our way to my campsite from the year before, where we brunched. This was to be a gruesome day as we had very little water. The canyons provided no relief for us. So, all day we rationed. We arrived at Bass Canyon at a water hole I had marked the previous year at about 7:30 PM. The next day was all up hill as we hiked out.
I look forward to providing more details and photos in a static page.
Yesterday I spent the AM in Government Canyon. I was hoping to get some flower shots but nothing was blooming except a few Mountain Laurel, a scattering of daisies, and a smidgen of verbena.
The Royal Arch
My youngest daughter Sophi and I have a great adventure awaiting us. We will be hiking the Royal Arch Loop.
The Royal Arch loop is a 5 day hike in the Grand Canyon.
Our flight leaves for Las Vegas, March 13, 2008, early in the morning. We will drive an All-wheel SUV from Las Vegas to Tusayan where we will stay the night. The next morning, early, we will leave for Pasture Wash (park dirt road) and cross the Havasupai Indian Reservation to reach the trail head for the Bass Trail. We should be on the trail in the early morning.
I hiked the Royal Arch Loop last year at this time and it was the toughest hike I have ever done. The trail leading down the canyon is not really a trail, it is a tributary to the Royal Arch Creek and the Royal Arch Creek itself. It is strewn with boulders and deep drop offs. It becomes a trail of commitment as it is very difficult to retrace your steps.
The second day we should reach the natural arch. I’m hoping to get many outstanding photos of it and the trail itself. Later in the second day there is a 20 foot drop that requires ropes. Sophi and I practiced roping by going over to Lowes at Bandera Point (San Antonio, Tx). She did very well—great form. She is not afraid to lean over the edge and then walk down the side. The third day we will hike along the Colorado to Elve’s chasm. I hope we can go up Elve’s chasm a bit to see the natural arch from a different vantage point. We will then head for Garnet Canyon and pick up the Tonto trail at its western-most point. The next day is a hike along the T0nto to the Bass Canyon where we will hike out. It should take us 5 days hiking and 4 nights. We are psyched.
The celebration is planned at Pasta-to-go in Tusayan. For the past several years it has become a tradition to celebrate hikes by feasting at this wonderful restaurant. Spaghetti dinner, salad bar, beer on tap!!!
