Smoky mountain Backpack 2008

We started out Hewaded East for a family backpacking Adventure Aug 1 and made our way across to Vicksburg, MS a little before sundown. Checked out the city and the Civil War Battlegrounds before continuing on to our destination of Atlanta, GA to meet with some of my wifes family. Spent a couple of nights in Atlanta before we all loaded up for a little outdoors in the Smokies. Along for the journey was myself, wife, and two daughters and my wife's cousin, Husband and son. We made it to GSMNP around 1:00 pm and registered a backcountry permit. We had reservations at the Icewater Spring shelter for a night and the shelter on Mt. LeConte for the following. We parked a car at the Newfound Gap parking lot and another at the bottom of the Alum Cave trail...some 15 trail miles away. The hike began on the Appalachian Trail headed east for a few miles to the Icewater Spring shelter. Wer had a couple of backpacking newbies in our group and everyone did fine! We found the shelter and within a few hours quite a few people had shown up that we would be sharing the shelter with...some without reservations.Nicklas and I made a side hike on to Charlies Bunion...worth the trip! Everyone was real nice and we had a great time swapping hiking stories around the campfire. Filtered some water from the "Icewater Spring" and turned in to bed. Next morning dawned a beautiful sunrise and we slowly broke camp. This day found us hiking the Boulevard trail to Mt. LeConte. Mostly enshrouded ridge hiking up and down and so on and then UP UP UP! Hiking in the Smokies reveals some awesome sites between the trees! It's about 6 miles of moderate intensity hiking to reach the Mt. LeConte shelter...which we would have to ourselves for the evening. Everyone was pretty pooped out so they mostly set up their bunks and had naps.I dayhiked down to the Mt. LeConte lodge and found the Trillium Gap spring for our resupply. That evening we boiled dinner and enjoyed the sunset from"Cliff Tops". The night brought cool temps and a light rain. The morning broke to a dense fog with a visibility of about 20 ft. till the sun burned it off to a glorious day for hiking! Down the Alum Cave trail we went...what a great trail with modest exposure in a couple of places with cables to boot! (I could see where the cables could be very handy in winter) Down the rock cliffs to the Alum Cave and then the trail meandders you down a mountain stream complete with aan arch you hike through, log bridges to keep your boots dry, and some of the most beautiful scenery to be seen....We could definately see why old Dolly gets so worked up over the place! After we made it to the trailhead we went to find our carcamping sight located in a place called Deep Creek. Deep Creek was an awesome place to car camp...it had a river running through it with lots of people floating down in tubes and a few waterfalls to hike to and swim! After viewing the waterfalls we headed up the road to do some whitewater rafting on the Nantahalla River....what a blast.. we did a self guided trip down the river ana a great time was had by all! If you haven't been to the Smokies you should give it a try...We highly reccomend! Cheers! :icon_smile: Pics- [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/russkan/2754255241/in/set-72157606678090000/]http://www.flickr.com/photos/russkan/2754255241/in/set-72157606678090000/[/url]

BEST GC TRIP EVER

Best Grand Canyon Trip.....EVER!!!
To read events in order...scroll down and read from bottom to top.

After disembarking from our group we took a ride down some of the forest service roads around The Canyon. All in all we had a wonderful time and we will definately be back for some more Grand Canyon Field Institute guided trips! My new saying is you can go to the Canyon and do it or you can go to the Canyon with the GCFI and LEARN it with style!

After breakfast our guide gave us a tour deep into the bowels of the Kolb Studio...what a treat!

We reached the top in splendid style where we promptly ate a large non dehydrated breakfast at the Bright Angel restaurant!

Pictographs along the trail.

Day 7 We headed up the remainder of the Bright Angel trail taking in the beautiful views along the way!

And the moonrise...it was a fantastic evening!

...The sunset...

That evening we took a walk out to Plateau Point where we took in the views.

After the indian ruins the group headed on to Indian Gardens to have a nap while I took a jog out to Horn Creek. Here is a shot of the landscape from out that way.

Some 900 year old mini corn cobs! Our guide taught us a lot about how the indians were able to live in and out of The Canyon.

After resting in the shade for a while our guide took us to some indian ruins where we viewed some granaries, a kiva footing and.......

After our side trip we headed up the Devil's Corkscrew to meet up with our group.

The end of the road...Huge chokestone and falls...thanks Wayne for the encouragement to go all the way it was definately worth it!

A short ways up the trail our guide sent Kandi and I up the Pipe Creek drainage. We scrambled upstream and up a few falls till we arrived at a huge chokestone with a beautiful secluded waterfall where we lounged around for a while soaking up the sounds and sights of a special spot for us!

Day 6 We awoke and started making our way up to Indian Gardens via the River and Bright Angel trails. Here is a shot upstream of the Colorado River with Zoroaster Temple looming in the background. What a great morning to be in The Canyon.

This evening we walked the River trail and crossed the 2 bridges while our guide explained the geology, flora, and fauna of The Canyon to us until our brains exploded! This guy has an intimate relationship with The Canyon that is a real treat witness...here he is playing the part of the Mule Whisperer!

After making my way to Phantom Ranch and having a lemonade with the group I did a little side hike up the Utah Flats route. I didn't make it all the way to the flats but I did snap this shot of Bright Angel campground from high above. It was neat to see the campground from this side in contrast to seeing it from the Phantom overlook on the Clear Creek trail last year!

I meandered upstream for a mile or so swimming the pools, splashing up the creek, and climbing the waterfalls along the way!. That canyon was mine this morning and I relished in the solitude.

The rest of the group headed on to Bright Angel Campground and I decided to drop my pack at the confluence with Phantom Creek and hike up the side canyon. This waterfall proved to be a great place for a shower!

It wasn't long before we found ourselves yelling to each other over the roar of Bright Angel Creek in The Box!

Day 5 We found ourselves strolling down the North Kaibab trail at a much easier rate of descent...taking in the views!

And another set of falls!

After visiting Ribbon Falls our guide took us to a little known place where we visited old indian ruins....

A moss covered travertine stalagmite? Any how a beautiful formation in an alcove by Ribbon Falls!

After cleaning up and lunch we took a hike to Ribbon Falls, what a sight, the waterfall made a beautiful mossed covered travertine formation!

After picking a site at Cottonwood Camp we cleaned up in the rushing Bright Angel Creek.

A shot of our group taking a break at the old Aiken place.

The Canyon Gods were with us as the weather was perfect and the cacti were blooming profusely!

Our destination for the day was 7 miles down the North Kaibab trail to Cottonwood Camp and there were many wonderful sights to see along the way!

Day 4 We awoke to a chilly morning and headed for the North Kaibab trailhead.

There were snow drifts present upon our arrival to the North Rim and the forests, meadows and lakes that we saw were beautiful.

We saw some cool sights along the way..the one above a good example of wind erosion with the Vermillion Cliffs where the California Condors are released in the background!

Day 2 or 3 really we met with the other folks in our group and our guide at the S Rim reconfigured our packs and were on a vanride around to the North Rim!

We finished up our day at Grand Canyon Village with a look at the California Condors.

Kandi with Red Canyon in the background.

View of the Desertview Watchtower. After our hike we drove the East Rim Drive visiting various locations along the way.....

After cruising around in the brisk morning air to all the various points of interest on the S. Rim we decided to take a dayhike down the S Kaibab trail to test out our packs for our big hike!

DAY 1
My wife Kandice and I decided to take a guided trip for our 10th wedding anniversary from the North Rim to the South Rim through the Grand Canyon Field Institute. On the 13th of May, 2008 we left our home and embarked on a 16 hour drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. We got there at 3:30 am and parked our car in the Yavapai Lodge parking lot and rested our weary eyes for about an hour when twilight was upon us. As we were too excited for sleep we went to Yavapai point for some sunrise photos and Kandi's first view of The Canyon that I love was magnificient!

Russell, Darren, and Niclas' Grand Canyon Trip Oct. 2007

The end to a great trip with good friends!!!
THIS REPORT IS BACKWARDS GO TO THE BOTTOM AND SCROLL UP TO VIEW EVENTS IN ORDER!!!!!!

Russell and Darren nearly to the top!!! Niclas had smoked us by this time!!!

Shot of old tram footing behind three-mile resthouse on the way out.

Early morning shot of canyon walls above IG.

Garden creek slickrock tube ride!! (just kidding)

That evening we headed out to Plateau Point and were treated to sweeping views, a slickrock waterfall, and a beautiful sunset!!

Niclas and Russell on the slickrock in the old ba trails drainage.

After arriving at Indian Gardens Darren opted for a nap while Niclas and I decided to explore for the "Old Bright Angel Trail" and found this great granary in the western cliffs of the drainage!!

Along the way Darren found his "meditating rock" by Garden Creek which he politely held down for an hour or two.

Russell near top of Devil's Corkscrew.

On the way to IG we went up the Pipe Creek drainage a few hundred yards and found this beuatiful little waterfall along the way!!

After a great night with no moon and a sea of stars we broke camp and headed up to Indian Gardens. That night was so nice that I just slept on the picnic table!

Darren and Russell enjoying our Charlie Bongo Beef stew.

After arriving at Bright Angel campground Darren opted for a rest by the creek while Niclas and Russell went for a walk up the Clear Creek trail before our NON-DEHYDRATED DINNER!

Russell checking out Cremation Canyon.

Russell, Niclas, and Darren at about Half-Way point on S. Kaibab.

Russell with a spent century plant. (this is not what I am accustomed to calling a century plant but it is what they call it out here. I am used to the variety at Big Bend NP which I think is more beautiful than this!)

• Russell at OOH-AHH Point.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

we awoke to sunny skies and a brisk breeze. After a stop at the BA lodge (where we scored stew dinners and breakfasts whew-hew!!) we parked at the BIC and then boarded the hikers shuttle to Yaki point. We strolled down the S. Kaibab trail watching up-and-coming mule riders along the way. The views were spectacular along this ridge trail and Niclas and Darren were definately awe-struck by their first experience on the S. Kaibab.

We arrive at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon under sunny skies and moderate temps with a good wind and make all the regular touristy type stops along the rim. The Hikers for this journey are myself, my best friend Darren, and my brother in law Nicklas. Darren had never been to the Canyon before so we spent quite a lot of time going in and out of all the regular rim shops, museums, viewpoints,and etc...during that time I caught this great shot of the El Tovar with the late afternoon sun illuminating this historic lodge brilliantly!!! Soon thereafter it was time to eat and get some rest for our hike down the S. Kaibab the following morning.

Russell, Niclas, and Darren's October 2007 Grand Canyon Trip!!!!!