North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon NP, AZ, USA
Nov 7, 2021 13:33:00 GMT -8
zeke, rebeccad, and 9 more like this
Post by Westy on Nov 7, 2021 13:33:00 GMT -8
Outlier weather associated with recent bomb cyclone impacted planned Grand Canyon hike. Access to Swamp Point (N. Bass TH) on North Rim via 50 miles of decent US Forest Service gravel roads followed by an 8-mile two track to the end is normally doable in Subaru Outback.
US Forest Service roads from Fredonia, AZ closed due to flash floods. Others reported fallen trees and mud in all the wrong places. Abandoned efforts to scout alternative routes to Swamp Point.
Mission: Visit North Rim Backcountry Office, revise permit. Opted for a night at Cape Final and three nights rim to river and back, an easygoing itinerary.
Palisades of the Desert from Cape Final
Cape Final – Potholes filled with water from recent storm.
First light - Ponderosa pines - Cape Final is two miles out and back, the shortest overnight hike in the park.
Reflections
Through the Redwall – North Kaibab Trail
Autumn colors
Forest Service Field Team - Extirpating rainbow and brown trout from Bright Angel Creek. They average 400-600 fish per 200 meters.
North Kaibab is a corridor trail with designated campsites. Amenities include picnic table, food storage box, nearby privy and potable water. Styling to the max!
Trans-Canyon pipeline supplies all the water for the South Rim from Roaring Springs, the primary source of Bright Angel Creek. GCNP water infrastructure incurs frequent shortages and priority allocations due to sporadic leaks and breaks.
The Box
One of several bridges over Bright Angel Creek
Colorado River and Black Bridge
Relaxed itinerary and short daylight hours allowed time for reading. Powell is well-known for the first descent of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in 1869.He was a proponent of environmental sustainability in development of the American West. His views on land and water stewardship are applicable today.
Perfect hiking temperatures and blue skies. Grand Canyon never disappoints.
Agave - A primary food source for indigenous inhabitants.
Ribbon Falls
Bikes not permitted. Rather than take the Rim-to-Rim shuttle, this Arizona Trail (AZT) thru-biker decided to carry his bike rim-to-rim in a day.
Field Ranger, Bob Shelley explained the trout extirpating process, critical path timeline and how resources are deployed. He also highlighted actions to restore native species, i.e., Humpback Chub, Pikeminnow, here and other creeks in the park.
An early morning view back towards Manzanita Rest Area.
Roaring Springs – The Kaibab Plateau on the North Rim has elevations exceeding 9,000 ft. and often accumulates snow to a depth of 8-10 feet. Abundant rain in monsoon season is another source. Water seeps through multiple layers until it reaches the Mauv Limestone. Unable to penetrate Bright Angel Shale, the next layer, the water flows out like an open fire hydrant. Water may take a thousand or more years to filtrate from the plateau to the spring.
The North Kaibab Trail was constructed in the 1920’s and in many places blasted out, especially here in the Redwall and a tunnel in the Supai.
A work of art
Coconino just ahead. An hour or so to the trailhead and a cold beer.
N. Kaibab National Forest, one of my favorites, gets a good-bye look and wave.
Postscript:
Next N. Bass permit request will plan to park at beginning of 8-mile Swamp Ridge Road. Strategy will allow a hike-in if needed. Although it may not have been applicable for this outing.
Hiked the same 3-night, 4-day laid back itinerary CCG (Cottonwood), CBG (Bright Angel) CCG. with my then, 13-year old daughter in '92 Highlight of that outing was being bitten by bark scorpion while sleeping in tent at Bright Angel Campground.
Since then the Rim-to-Rim has become a madly popular bucket list check box for many. Being a wiseguy New Englander I couldn't resist a comment when I caught these trail runners walking.
US Forest Service roads from Fredonia, AZ closed due to flash floods. Others reported fallen trees and mud in all the wrong places. Abandoned efforts to scout alternative routes to Swamp Point.
Mission: Visit North Rim Backcountry Office, revise permit. Opted for a night at Cape Final and three nights rim to river and back, an easygoing itinerary.
Palisades of the Desert from Cape Final
Cape Final – Potholes filled with water from recent storm.
First light - Ponderosa pines - Cape Final is two miles out and back, the shortest overnight hike in the park.
Reflections
Through the Redwall – North Kaibab Trail
Autumn colors
Forest Service Field Team - Extirpating rainbow and brown trout from Bright Angel Creek. They average 400-600 fish per 200 meters.
North Kaibab is a corridor trail with designated campsites. Amenities include picnic table, food storage box, nearby privy and potable water. Styling to the max!
Trans-Canyon pipeline supplies all the water for the South Rim from Roaring Springs, the primary source of Bright Angel Creek. GCNP water infrastructure incurs frequent shortages and priority allocations due to sporadic leaks and breaks.
The Box
One of several bridges over Bright Angel Creek
Colorado River and Black Bridge
Relaxed itinerary and short daylight hours allowed time for reading. Powell is well-known for the first descent of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in 1869.He was a proponent of environmental sustainability in development of the American West. His views on land and water stewardship are applicable today.
Perfect hiking temperatures and blue skies. Grand Canyon never disappoints.
Agave - A primary food source for indigenous inhabitants.
Ribbon Falls
Bikes not permitted. Rather than take the Rim-to-Rim shuttle, this Arizona Trail (AZT) thru-biker decided to carry his bike rim-to-rim in a day.
Field Ranger, Bob Shelley explained the trout extirpating process, critical path timeline and how resources are deployed. He also highlighted actions to restore native species, i.e., Humpback Chub, Pikeminnow, here and other creeks in the park.
An early morning view back towards Manzanita Rest Area.
Roaring Springs – The Kaibab Plateau on the North Rim has elevations exceeding 9,000 ft. and often accumulates snow to a depth of 8-10 feet. Abundant rain in monsoon season is another source. Water seeps through multiple layers until it reaches the Mauv Limestone. Unable to penetrate Bright Angel Shale, the next layer, the water flows out like an open fire hydrant. Water may take a thousand or more years to filtrate from the plateau to the spring.
The North Kaibab Trail was constructed in the 1920’s and in many places blasted out, especially here in the Redwall and a tunnel in the Supai.
A work of art
Coconino just ahead. An hour or so to the trailhead and a cold beer.
N. Kaibab National Forest, one of my favorites, gets a good-bye look and wave.
Postscript:
Next N. Bass permit request will plan to park at beginning of 8-mile Swamp Ridge Road. Strategy will allow a hike-in if needed. Although it may not have been applicable for this outing.
Hiked the same 3-night, 4-day laid back itinerary CCG (Cottonwood), CBG (Bright Angel) CCG. with my then, 13-year old daughter in '92 Highlight of that outing was being bitten by bark scorpion while sleeping in tent at Bright Angel Campground.
Since then the Rim-to-Rim has become a madly popular bucket list check box for many. Being a wiseguy New Englander I couldn't resist a comment when I caught these trail runners walking.
