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Navajo Brown, All Around:
GCHBA VIPs at Phantom Ranger Station/Bright Angel Campground in The Canyon, Grand Canyon NP / Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers Ass. (GCHBA) / More Magnificent Muffin Mania and Bodacious Brownies (October 22nd to November 1st ) Text © copyright by Rob; and Photos © copyright by Rob Jones of the WV |
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Co-Adventurer VIPs: Annette A., Holly B., Kathy H., Mike H., India H., Rob J., Bill J., Barry J., Roger S., Cheryl V.H., and Tim W.
Site-based planning by Elyssa S. and Jeff S. (with thanks to Debbie B. Canyon Ranger District)
GCHBA planning and organization by Rob Jones, GPP-SP
(Grand Penultimate Poobah of GCHBA Service Projects).
VIP is Volunteer In Park.
This volunteer service project was supported by the NPS people who put the "Service!" in NPS; and by the members and Board of the GCHBA (Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers Association). Thanks for your stewardship of our precious public lands.
camera: Panasonic DMC-ZS60
Note: the opinions in this report are not necessarily those of the GCHBA or its Board. However, the spirits of Phantom Canyon and Bright Angel Creek approve this report.
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Summary:
This is a report of yet another GCHBA (Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers
Association) volunteer service project in Grand Canyon National Park. Eleven of us VIPs (Volunteer In Park)
toiled in this stunning setting, contributing 568 hours to the stewardship of the NPS (National Park Service).
See the list of tasks accomplished directly below.
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GCHBA Task List, Phantom RS/BA campground 10-2018 (pdf)
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Day 1: Rain Rover to IG. South Rim to Indian Garden Campground (IG); 10-22-2018; pack & fly
4.7 miles, down 3,000', ERM of 11.
The rock layers are piled above and below as we swirl the switchbacks into The Canyon. Rocks made by
time.... goes the pneumonic. Know the Canyon's History, Study Rocks Made By Time.
Know - Kaibab Limestone
The - Toroweap Formation
Canyon's - Coconino SS
History - Hermit Shale
Study - Supai Group (including the Esplanade)
Rocks - Redwall Limestone
Made - Mauv Limestone
By - Bright Angel Shale
Time - Tapeats SS
Know The Canyon's History, Study Rocks Made By Time.
Rain and hail roll across the Plateau as we prepare food boxes in the BIC, Backcountry Information
Center, overhang near the railroad tracks on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Most of us VIPs, Volunteer In Park, are
at the BIC to sort banana boxes of food for later use in The Canyon. Sadly, the adorable NPS mules are not currently hoofing it
into The Canyon, so our banana boxes of food will be delivered later this week, by the NPS Hornet (AKA Bumble Bee) Helicopter.
Cheryl has the Doppler radar live on her smartass phone and we watch as the main rain band appears
to soon clear our skies. It looks like we are free of rain after the next hour of drizzle.
Skies drip. Hikers hike. Ravens fly. Chipmunks chip and scurry. Runners scourge. Yes, a
group of chipmunks is called a scurry, while a group of rim-rim (R2) runners is a scourge.
Tim W. presents The Canyon Geology at the IG Amphitheater, with 31 people attending. The
presentation is cut a bit short by a truncated rain burst, which disperses the crowd then stops.
Condensation covers most of the gear left out and our tents, a remainder of the big drench
moisture from the effects of recent Hurricane Rosa.
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Day 2: The Old BA (Bright Angel). Granaries Leer. IG to BA/Phantom. 5 miles, ERM of 9.
Tim, Holly, Barry, and I are swirling down the long abandoned Old BA Trail (now reverting to
a route). Granaries leer. The old trail is fading. I wonder if this was the traditional route used by the Native Americans
because one can imagine a similar route to the Rim along this general course. This trail and route are possible because this
canyon was formed around the Bright Angel faultline, which continues across The Canyon and up along the path of Bright Angel
Creek to the North Rim.
At the BA Bunkhouse, we meet Martinique, the cute weir operator. Some of us will be sharing
the Bunkhouse with Martinique and an occasional compost crew member. Most of us VIPs are staying in the BA Campground. Sjors,
the permanent Master VIP, has reserved the group camp for us by placing our food storage buckets in camp. We have sent down
these buckets over the past few projects, storing them for later use. We prefer the camp with the historic mule enclosures, now
modified as covered alcoves for picnic benches, a real boon during rain days.
A subgroup of VIPs, expertly lead by Barry J., begin to paint part of the Phantom/BA Bunkhouse
while others start work on cleaning the BA campground irrigation ditches. Cleaning and putting to rest the BA ditches is a
traditional Fall task. We accomplish quite a lot of work despite starting after finishing the hike into The Canyon.
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Day 3: Navajo Brown, all around. 3 miles.
I awake to a vestige of pink blush on the fringe of the cliffs made by time.
It's a bit chilly, yet wondrous on the screen porch of the Phantom/BA Bunkhouse. I'm solo on the screen porch,
finding it a good compromise of listening to the burble of BA Creek, enjoying that fresh Canyon air and accompanying
aroma, and morning access to magnificent muffin mania in the Bunkhouse. Lovely.
Soon, this most excellent crew of VIPs is painting the Bunkhouse, cleaning the
irrigation ditches, lining out the construction of the new deck for the water treatment facilities manager house,
making yuge progress on the yuge task list prepared by Rangers Elyssa and Jeff. We applaud these Rangers for
siting an abundance of materials, allowing us to accomplish a great deal.
We break on time, a bit earlier than we typically do, to listen to Barry playing
classical guitar in the campground with 17 guests. This is an informal presentation, and I'm not counting it in
the presentation total.
The clear night is punctuated by a full moon.
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Day 4: Painter. 3 miles.
India repots a Grey Fox skulking across the campground bridge and tries for photos.
More painting on the Bunkhouse. More of everything as we chip away at the extensive task list.
The wind blows over the paint bucket while I'm stretched out on the Bunkhouse roof painting
a dormer, providing an enamel bath and gunk in the hair. Yes, we're using oil-based enamel paint on this old structure
to help fend off the onslaught of the sun and high temperatures.
India, Tim, and Bill work on tree planting - Ash trees because the ancient Cottonwoods are
rotting from the core and becoming dangerous.
VIPs migrate into the paint crew because, wow, the ditch cleaning is done. Fast work.
Mike, Kathy, and Jerome work on the deck for Jerome's house.
Rangers Calie and Elyssa introduce Barry for the afternoon classical guitar presentation
under the Sycamore Tree (lower amphitheater); attended by over 50 guests. Sonorous.
A mouse is keeping me company on the screen porch. It's Sasha the Rat. She goes about
her business and I'm happy to share the space, yet no crumbs, with her. She is certainly a much more civilized companion
than those scourge runners who shine their headlamps all about at 3 a.m., talking loudly while doing so.
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.jpg) GC-VIP-10-2018-day4-2 Barry PR Performance (photo by India).jpg |
.jpg) GC-VIP-10-2018-day4-3 Barry PR Performance (photo by India).jpg |
Day 5: Sasha The Rat. 3 miles.
Sasha the Rat skitters across the screen porch, looking for love and delicate
delectables. She finds neither, then leaves by squeezing ratlike under the screen porch door.
As breakfast rolls out of somnambulistic splendor, Barry plays classical Canyon
guitar while couscous soaks.
More painting, the ditches are experimentally flooded after completion, progress
is palpable on Jerome's deck, most of Barry's painting crew move to the Phantom Ranger Station (to paint it)
while Holly and Annette touch up paint and clean windows in the Bunkhouse.
We thrill in the juvenile irresponsibility and strange speaker sounds of the
latest compost worker, thankfully passing on tomorrow. Previous workers, Mike, John, have been quite enjoyable.
The group gathers in the Bunkhouse for Bodacious Brownies, a fitting evening
accompaniment to morning Magnificent Muffin Mania.
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Day 6: Wretched Wakefulness.
The scourge of rim runners sully the dark, later the dawn. Sasha is a far
preferred visitor, one who has a code of ethics and courtesy beyond the comprehension of the scourge. Yelling,
flashing lights, the thundering scourge drives ego through The Canyon.
More progress is made on the yuge selection of tasks on our list. Actually,
the number of tasks is not great, yet each is quite intensive and requiring lots of volunteer hours. Thanks to
Elyssa and Jeff (and Debbie B. and others) for organizing materials so well that we are able to continue working
throughout this project.
Tim presents Canyon geology at the upper amphitheater. 38 attend. I am
impressed with how well Tim responds to a variety of difficult questions and by the quality of his presentation,
this a different version from what he earlier presented at IG.
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Day 7: Beaver Alarm. 4 miles.
Today we finish painting the Phantom Ranger Station, at least all but touch-up
and quality checking.
Some start on installing new screens with protective hardware cloth (steel mesh)
to the screen openings in the ends of the Bunkhouse screen porch. One crew completes the painting of the helicopter
terminal. More tree planting, bathroom cleaning, deck work, other tasks continue.
Barry J presents a classical guitar program for the 7:30 p.m. slot in the upper
(main) amphitheater, attended by 63 visitors.
Following the program, some of us VIPs shuffled to the Phantom cantina for beer.
As soon as we leave, a beaver alarm sounds. The yuge rodent was nibbling shoots under the BA Campground bridge.
He's a bank den Beaver, and seems to be happy without a lodge or dam. Too bad the Bureau of Reclamation cannot
be satisfied with natural rivers. Placing that sewage plug Glenn Canyon Dam in the path of The River, obstructing
its wild and free passage to the gulf, is a yuge mistake.
Photos Day 7, VIPs at BA 10-2018
Day 8: Completioń. 3 miles.
We gather for a group photo in front of the BA Bunkhouse, then launch
into finishing tasks and cleaning up work areas and an incredible variety of tools and materials.
Tim and Bill finish the screen repair of those destroyed by Ringtail
or misuse, others touch up paint, caulking; wheel stuff up and down, bumping rocks between the Ranger
Station and delta, back and forth.
The Ranger Dinner is again scrumptious. Pancakes with jam, nutella,
sprinkles, nuts, applesauce, reeses pieces foam, almonds and walnuts, and coconut; accompanied by turkey
and veggie sausage. Yummy. The traveling gift from the Rangers is a personalized metal box with treats
and a group photo.
Sjors tells tales of The Canyon as everyone's blood sugar spikes.
Excellent. We are a mellow (and tired) group of comrades reflecting on stewardship and Canyon tales.
Holly, Annette, Roger, Cheryl, and Barry leave to prepare to hike out
early tomorrow. India started out early this morning.
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Day 9: Nonconformist to the Unconformity. Clear Creek Trail
to below Demaray Point. 11.2 miles, ERM of 19.
Out of the scourge of rimmers, I hike. Out from the restless burble of
Bright Angel Creek, I hike. To the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) benches and a terrific view into
the chocolate milkshake River, I hike. Up through the basement rocks to the Unconformity. Then, the
Tapeats and onto the rolling range of Bright Angel Shale, a layer held up by the Tapeats Sandstone.
It's spectacular to be hiking in The Canyon.
An excellent day hike on the Clear Creek Trail to below Demaray Point.
It's quiet out here, enjoyably quiet and serene.
Clouds rumple accordion style above, the temperature drops 15F, and it
rains enough to wet the rain jacket before the storm rumbles to the East. Cool hiking ensues on the
return to the relative raceway of Phantom Ranch, a luxurious hot shower and lounging in the newly
painted Bunkhouse is sublime.
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Day 10: Tonto Tour. To Indian Garden, the long way.
11.5 miles; ERM = 15.
Cimarron red glows across the arrangement of Buttes of the North;
Isis Temple, Cheops Pyramid, Buddha Temple, Brahma Temple, and Zoroaster Temple. Gorgeous.
I'm hurrying to Plateau Point after coming up to the Tipoff on the
South Kaibab Trail, then across the Tonto to Indian Garden, pausing at Pipe Creek for water, lunch,
and photos of Fall color Cottonwood Trees. Fabulous. Local sunset descends on the Tonto Platform,
rousing me from my late lunch at Pipe Creek. Then, after quickly setting up the TarpTent in the IG
group camp, Mike and I blitz for Plateau Point. At Plateau Point, salmon hues fade to gray as I approach
the point, then I return to camp in the dark. Mike has more common sense and has turned back to camp as
the Canyon colors fade.
Dinner seems extremely late, yet it's all of 6 p.m. Not making it to
hiker midnight (9 p.m.), we are in tents about 8 p.m. I have a hot water bottle to ease the assault of
the much cooler temperature. There's a distinct cold front sweeping the area.
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Day 11: South Kaibab. To the Rim and home.
9 miles, ERM of 15.
The golden hue contrasts the rubiginous Redwall at Pipe Creek.
Roadrunner patrols the yucca, searching for grub near The Tipoff Scenic
Toilet. The Tonto lilt has ended and it's time to go up, up through rocks made by time. It's quite a
grunt, because of the muffin pan, the extra paint clothes, an assortment of stuff, and of course these
old bones. Up through rocks made by time, I climb solo to the Rim, musing about a fine assortment of
accomplished stewardship tasks in The Canyon.
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*ERM: Energy Required Miles, are there data to support this
mileage adjustment?
Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership
Petzoldt first proposed his theory in his 1976 book “Teton Trails” to
help backpackers plan trips and calculate their energy needs on mountain trails. “Petzoldt defined one
energy mile as the energy required to walk one mile on the flat. He recommended adding two energy miles
for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain, so a person hiking one mile and 1,000 feet upward would use the
equivalent of three energy miles,” Phipps said.
Petzoldt’s energy mile theory was just a reflection of the mountaineer’s
“gut feeling,” Phipps said. The theory had never been tested in a laboratory before the study began in WCU’s
Exercise Physiology Laboratory in the spring of 2010, Phipps said.
To determine the validity of the theory, the study measured the energy cost
and perceived exertion for walking on flat ground, with and without a 44.5-pound backpack, and up an elevation
gain of 1,000 feet, with and without the backpack, through the collection of metabolic data, Phipps said.
Twenty-four student, faculty and staff volunteers, including 12 males and 12
females, went through four testing sessions as the research continued into fall semester of 2010. The study
results showed that the additional energy cost for ascending 1,000 feet ranged from 1.34 to 2.02 energy mile
equivalents, for an average of about 1.6 miles, compared to Petzoldt’s use of two energy miles for each 1,000
feet. The range revealed by the study was due to the “hikers” personal weight differences, Phipps said.
“It is remarkable that Petzoldt’s energy mile theory is so close to the actual energy cost measured during our
study,” Phipps said. “In the field of outdoor education, it’s important for leaders to include an estimation
of energy requirements during the planning of hiking trips.”
Phipps said the energy required for hiking up steep mountain trails would vary
for individuals and groups, and the variables of the trail would also factor in, but he recommends that
backpackers stick with Petzoldt’s idea of adding two energy miles for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain when
planning trips.
The Validity of Petzoldt's Energy Mile Theory, 2010
Authors: Maridy McNeff Troy, Maurice L. Phipps
Publication: Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership
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Links:
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Related Links:
Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers Association site (GCHBA)
Bonus Feature: A Second Ribbon Oasis - AZ Daily Sun 3-30-2016, pdf
the geology of the Grand Canyon by the NPS
Eaarth - Living on a fundamentally altered planet by Bill McKibben
Other WV reports about the Grand Canyon:
Click here or on the Looking Lizard to go to all WV reports about The Grand Canyon
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More Truth Than Joke:
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