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April/May, 1998 - South Bass, Elves Chasm, Tonto, Boucher |
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Trip number 11 - May, 1994 : Hermit, Tonto, Boucher and Dripping Springs trails
Trip number 12 - December, 1994 : Tanner, Beamer and Escalante trails
Trip number 13 - May, 1995 : Bill Hall, Thunder River, and Deer Creek trails
Trip number 14 - September, 1995 : Zion, Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon National Parks
Trip number 15 - May, 1996 : South Kaibab, Clear Creek, Bright Angel
Trip number 16 - October, 1996 : Nankoweap
Trip number 17 - May, 1997 : River Trip - "The Trip Of A Lifetime"
Trip number 18 - September, 1997 : Dripping Springs dayhike, Clear Creek backpack & Toroweap overlook
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I had some very nice trips leading up to this one. Robin and I did a nice trip on the Hermit, Tonto, Boucher and Dripping Springs trails. Then there was a solo trip down the Tanner Trail with day hikes up along the Beamer trail one day and the Escalante Route the next. I also did some stuff on the north rim: my first trip to Deer Creek and Thunder River which was solo, a trip with Robin doing a loop on the Ken Patrick, Old Bright Angel & North Kaibab, and another overnight with her out to Widforss Point. I also did another trip over to Clear Creek and this time spent two full days over there. And then there was my first trip to Nankoweap which was way too short, a nice day hike on the Hermit and Dripping Springs trails, and yet another trip over to Clear Creek where I spent two more days exploring up the side canyons. There was also a river trip in there that was fabulous but a story all by itself.
This trip in April and May of 1998 was actually inspired by the river trip that Robin and I did the prior year. On day 7 of the river trip we got to spend a little time at Elves Chasm which I thought was absolutely charming and wished I could have stayed longer. The following year I set my mind to hiking there, which is no small feat considering how remote it is. It is about as far west as you can go from the main south rim area without going off trail and even the connecting route that goes from the western end of the Tonto Trail to Elves Chasm leaves much to be desired. But I was determined I was going to hike there. I knew it was going to be a long trip and figured it would take me about 3 days just to get there from the South Bass Trailhead. My ranger friend, Chuck, arranged a ride for me out to the South Bass Trail and I spent one night at Bass Rapid before heading west. I took two days to get myself to Garnet Canyon and spent two nights there doing the day hike to Elves Chasm during the layover day. My fondest memory of Garnet Canyon was the absolutely foul water. But Elves Chasm was fantastic and I really enjoyed getting to be there again and getting there on foot this time. I set my mind to bringing a two-liter bottle of water from Elves Chasm back to share with Robin and actually managed to pull that off, but only just barely. From Garnet Canyon I headed back to the Tonto Trail's junction with the South Bass Trail where I had cached a two-liter bottle of water. Unfortunately, when I arrived there I had absolutely no idea where the cache was as nothing looked familiar. I did eventually find it but I wasted a lot of time and for a while there I thought I was going to have to sacrifice the two-liters of Elves Chasm water I was trying to bring home. I ended up getting to Serpentine Canyon later than expected and it was already getting dark. The rest of the trip was at a nice relaxing pace. I went from Serpentine Canyon to Turquoise Canyon and then from Turquoise to Slate and on the last day from Slate to the top of the Hermit trail. There was supposed to be another day in there between Slate and the hike out but I decided to forgo it and head out a day early. I was getting tired of trail food and was looking forward to a burgers and French fries and/or pizza and beer.
Cheers! The full trip report is here. |
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Next >> Trip number 26 - September, 2000 - North Bass, Shinumo Amphitheatre, Lancelot Point
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