The condor is similar in size to the California condors now residing in Grand Canyon.

If you’re on facebook, you can see more of Rob’s terrific photos on his page.

“Sunscreen will join the list of school supplies for students in a new magnet-like program that will send Mount Elden Middle School students on outdoor expeditions.

…

Science teacher and summertime river guide Josh Armstrong is one of three teachers heading up the effort. It came naturally to him, with his deep background in river running and working with young people — sometimes both at the same time.”

(And being pretty young at heart himself!)

He’s been exploring and scouting rivers in Mongolia for the past few years, and has just launched the website for his new guided expedition service there.

Mongolia looks like an amazing place, remote and pristine.  A number of Pat’s fellow employees here want to hitch a ride on some of his future expeditions.

Here are some photos emailed to us early last season by a Grand Canyon hiker who happened to be on the river bridge near Phantom Ranch when our boats passed under.  These ‘bridge eye’ views give a good sense of how the boats are loaded and carry passengers.

…to listen to podcasts of weekly radio segments and archives of the program.  These podcasts highlight sustainability practices being used by people across the Colorado Plateau: gardening with native plants, composting, recycling, building with sustainably produced materials and eating local foods.

The Grand Canyon cuts through the southern portion of the Colorado Plateau, which has some of the most beautiful, diverse country in the world including Zion, Canyonlands, Capital Reef and Bryce National Parks; Monument Valley; Natural Bridges, Escalante, Vermilion Cliffs, and Rainbow Bridge National Monuments, to name a few outstanding places within a day or so’s drive of our home base.  This radio show can give you a little ‘taste’ of the area and the people who live here, if you’re planning a visit our way.

(This image is from the AZ Daily Sun.  Our establishment is right up behind the Furniture Barn.)

The flora and fauna in Grand Canyon are thriving.  Lots of ephemeral waterfalls, rainbows, clear water in the side creeks – all great to see.  (If any of you who’ve been down with us this summer have some photos you’d like to share, we’ll post ‘em!)  Some of the side canyons above Hermit were flowing with enough rainwater last month to give a noticeable kick to that rapid for a little while.  We’ve met a bunch of terrific people on our trips this summer, and reconnected with several who’ve been with us before in past years.  Now that the equinox is around the corner and Autumn’s on its way, we’re looking forward to great hiking weather and a lovely fall as well.

September’s a wonderful time for hiking in the Grand Canyon.  What sort of hiking are we talking about?  All sorts!  Every side canyon has a different personality.  Some, especially on the lower half, are quite respectable canyons in their own right.  Some hikes are broad open walks along creek beds to see beautiful inner canyon vistas, some are sinuous snaking climbs through narrow slot canyons (where we can’t go during the rainy season in July and August for obvious reasons), some are scrambles up terraced slopes to see ruins or petroglyphs or waterfalls.  Difficulty levels vary, but if you’re reasonably active and do some sort of physical activity most days of the week, you’ll have no trouble on a hiker’s trip, though – if the group is up for it – there are hikes that will provide a sense of accomplishment for advanced as well as novice hikers.  Don’t bypass this trip out of worry of not having enough hiking experience, as long as you’re reasonably fit.

Here are a couple of pictures from Josh MacNaughton.  (Double click on them to see them in their full size terrificness.)

Is it monsoon season yet?

Swiss has a big run in Hermit! When will the Big Brown Be Back?

Thank you, Josh!

We’d love to post pictures from trip participants, too.  E-mail us your favorites!

The best type of shoe for overall use should:

• be quick drying, as it will get wet in the boats and on the hikes which cross creeks
• be sturdy enough to support your feet on uneven terrain, with good arch support
• be broken in! comfortable, no pressure points on heels or toes etc
• have soles that will grip wet surfaces.  You don’t want to be sliding off wet rocks when getting in or out of the boats!

Other decisions have more to do with personal preference.

Should you get high ankle or low ankle?  Consider the following when deciding:

• Do you worry about twisting your ankles?
• Do you hate getting little burrs/plant debris caught in your socks?
• How important is shoe weight and ‘openness’?

Should you get a hiking shoe, a ‘trail’ shoe, a water shoe or some kind of hybrid?

(All the pictures are from zappos.com, and are meant as examples only – we’re not intending to endorse any particular brand.  There are lots of excellent brands out there.)

• Hiking shoes tend to be heavier, have a thick, deep-tread sole and are meant to support you plus the weight of a pack.  They’re more protective of your feet, but may be more than you need for Grand Canyon day hikes.  They may also be more than what’s needed for the Bright Angel Trail which, though steep, is smooth – unless you feel you need strong foot support because of the added weight of your pack.  Many hiking shoes, though quite breathable, do have leather (suede, nubuck) in their uppers.

• Trail shoes and hiking shoes are somewhat interchangeable but tend to be lighter, less ‘SUV’-ish versions of hikers.  As long as they have good arch support, grip when wet, and are made of a quick drying material, these can do the job.

• Water shoes are designed along the lines of hikers and trail shoes with the variation of having open uppers so that water can flow through the shoe.  The openings can be spaced between strips of supporting material, or formed of mesh in varying sizes.  They can be so open as to verge on being, in essence, closed-toe sandals.  They’re designed to grip when wet, and speed of drying isn’t an issue. Some people like their open, airy nature; others find that little rocks and pebbles get inside them too easily and are harder to remove than they would be in sandals.  This may be less of an issue with mesh designs.  If you opt for these, be sure they have good arch support and hold your feet steady.

• Hybrids are shoes that fall in between any/all of the shoe descriptions above.

There are any number of shoes out there that will perform well for you in the Canyon.  Merrell, Salomon, Keen, Chaco, Teva and many other brands make shoes that will do the job well.

But what if you don’t want to wear ‘performance’ shoes all the time, in the boats and in camp as well as hiking?  What should be your choice for additional footwear?  For in-camp use, you could bring a comfortable pair of canvas sneakers, as long as they grip well when wet.  In the boats – if you’re cold blooded or your extremities get cold easily – you might want to bring a pair of wetsuit booties.  (DON’T bring Crocs for either use, as they are too twisty and non supportive on uneven terrain.  We’ve had several trip participants who brought them over the last few years  and wished they’d brought something else instead.)

Or, for either situation, you might prefer a pair of sandals.  Sandals – like shoes – are not a simple topic.  They deserve their own blog entry, and we hope to have one up for you soon!

In order to fish while on your Canyon Explorations river trip, you’ll need to purchase an Arizona fishing license and keep it on your person while fishing.  Licenses can be purchased online at www.azgfd.gov or in Flagstaff at Walmart, Bashas, Big 5 Sporting Goods, or Peace Surplus.  While trout are stocked at Lee’s Ferry, the fishing downstream ranges from sporadic to not very good as you get further downstream.  You’ll find rainbow trout in the main current and cutthroat and German brown trout in sidestreams.  Fishing in some side canyons is prohibited due to native fish populations (chubs), and a catch-and-release policy is encouraged by Canyon Explorations.  Most fishing is done in camp, though there may be limited opportunities to occasionally fish off your boat.  If you’d like to enjoy what you catch, you’ll be in charge of cleaning and preparation.  Please remember that for safety’s sake, we require that a life jacket be worn while fishing from shore.  Bring a light-weight, collapsible rod which stores in a hard case.  For information on lures, techniques, and tactics, google ‘Lee’s Ferry fishing’.

There are some options for what kind of fishing license to purchase:

a)      one-day for $17.25

b)      five-day for $32.00

c)      four-month for $39.75

d)      Colorado River only for $48.75