A Day in the Life of a Winter Grand Canyon of the Colorado Trip

A Typical Day:

You know what you’re going to do tomorrow, sort of… First you’ll wake up. Crawl out of your warm cocoon of a bed/nest. Get dressed in the first of multiple costumes for the day. This attire will undoubtedly include a warm hat, extra layers, and at minimum one article of down clothing. Rowan took this to extremes on our trip with a down jacket, pants, and slippers! Create a delicious, filling, and hot breakfast. These meals usually contain either bacon, sausage, or chorizo! On the truly magical mornings, all three of these delightful breakfast meats can be combined. This combination feels like winning the lottery while having a heart attack! There will certainly be Baileys on the coffee table and no one will even blink when you add a glug or two to your coffee.

water colors colliding, Little and Big Colorado

side-hikes

A lackadaisical launch hour is the norm, say noonish, and usually coincides with the sun hitting the beach. Sometimes it starts snowing and you just blow it off for a day or two. Direct sunlight is precious on winter trips, and groups always seem to desire to spend as many of the sunlit hours as possible on the water to combat the chilly winter temps.

critters both large and small

above Deer Creek

Mileage on the water can be less than ten a day. Sometimes getting on the water is just an excuse to change camp locations. Other days you push for thirty-plus miles, tackling countless rapids.

Rowan trying to be a chameleon and match her dry suit to the Little Colorado

Social Norms:

Interactions with other groups can be odd, because it seems like every trip on the river has a significantly different goal. Some groups are actually on scientific work details. Other parties are exactly that… massive parties. Still others are on soul-searching missions. Interactions between these different groups are usually welcoming and ecstatic, with people more than happy to lend a hand in any way possible. On our last trip, we were forced to acquire a couple of items from other groups. At mile 150, Upset Rapid created both an exciting line and an excessively damp bread-box for Mike Crook. Thankfully, a very heavily-stocked science trip was so kind as to ration out some bread. However, there were some things we searched for during the trip that no one sold come up with: Kool-Aid for a hair dyeing experiment, and the top for a percolator. It seems like those little glass percolator tops break at least once a trip. If you’re ever in need of an emergency cap replacement, we’ve discovered that the cap off of a handle of Evan Williams whisky will suffice. Better yet the top to an Absolute Vodka bottle will actually match the chrome exterior of the percolator.

Deer Creek

Other groups get used like we use Google back in the techno world: settling arguments over irrelevant statistics, gaining an edge for the funniest sand Pictionary word, or obscure facts that someone in the group ought to know but can’t come up with. It’s interesting how we have become overly reliant on technology to tell us what is correct. Sometimes unresolved theories can turn into comical debates. Other times the banter becomes so fueled that it sparks your first interaction with a new group. “What’s the Italian word for thank you?!” “Prego!” It only took communicating with three different groups for us to get this answer.

Red Wall Cavern

Camp Life:

When pulling into camp, make sure it’s a suitable location. Things to consider: Is it large enough for a horseshoes arena? Is there wind protection for the kitchen? Is there morning sun, or any sun at all? Is there rain protection? Plenty of camps have overhanging walls that make for epic escapes if the weather turns for the worse. Are there flat tent sites? Is there enough room to sprawl out? Are there options for side hikes? There are plenty of perks and downfalls to every location, and camp selection is often the most contested portion of a Grand Canyon trip.

overhanging rock wall for rain protection

rafts trying to dry out as water levels fall

Once a camp location is agreed upon, tie down the boats! This sounds simple but can go epically wrong. Remember, there can be massive flow variations throughout the day and the trip. https://rrfw.org/RaftingGrandCanyon/Tide_Tables Sand stakes work great but will pull loose if your 2,000-pound raft starts jerking on the line in the middle of the night. On the other hand, you don’t want to pull the rafts up too high as they may be left high-and-dry if water levels drop in the morning. I prefer the buddy system: you tie your boat off to a tree or a sand-stake, and I’ll do the same. Then we tie our boats together. Note: Some camps don’t have good tie-up locations. Ledges Camp is the one that comes to my mind. It is a good idea to bring some rock climbing hardware just in case.

evening sunsets

kitchen location

Unloading the kitchen can be hard on the body. A pack for everything kitchen will be excessively heavy and can easily weigh north of one hundred and fifty pounds. The dry-boxes in which the kitchen usually resides are cumbersome beasts. They almost always require two people to maneuver out of the raft and up the mountain of sand to the designated kitchen location. This action, even when done with a competent partner, can be awkward or dangerous and include more than a few curse words.

it's not all whitewater

Once you’ve dialed in all of the amenities of camp, get the fire started. Then pick out the ultimate groover location. It’s a curtesy to have some privacy for your bathroom location, but not at the expense of having an epic view. The last group tasks are to set up the hand wash station and can crush location, aka the “snake pit.”

groover with a view

Personal camp:

I try to make this one of the easiest and least time-consuming parts of the trip. I like a basic, 6x8 tarp on the ground with a thick Paco Pad smack in the middle. The tarp allows a bit of a buffer between the sand and the bed. On top of the Paco Pad, I put my Watershed bag which contains my headlamp, sleeping bag and pillow. That bag stays closed until bedtime, which helps keep sand out of my personal gear.

Nankoweap Granaries

Now it’s time to produce an elaborate dinner! We’re not roughing it out here. Add a healthy dollop of solar-powered music, cocktail hour and hors d'oeuvres, and a constant stream of humorous and misguided conversation, exacerbated by a lack of screen time. These communal meals are a highlight on any trip.

Matkatamiba canyon

Time spent floating on the water during a winter twenty-eight day Grand Canyon of the Colorado trip is limited to maybe two hours a day. That is only one-twelfth of the entire trip. Find joy in the rest of it! Camp should be elaborate, and your company should be gregarious. I found my cheeks sore from laughter on a daily basis.

Rowan Stuart

Avery Potter

Chris Baer

Mike Crook

Brad Mcmillan

Twenty-eight days go by in a blur in the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, and I can’t wait to get back to the “real world” that exists there.

 Anyone got a trip coming up I could get on?

How to pack for a winter Grand Canyon trip.

another Grand Canyon sunset

Two people, two sixteen foot rafts, eight oars, two frames, three dry boxes, two coolers, groover, fire pan, beer, and ten pounds of bacon is a lot to put in a fifteen year old mini van. The rig looked reminiscent of the Beverly Hillbilly’s with a mass of gear marginally attached to the roof rack. We were ready for the 550 mile tour to Arizona. The biennial Grand Canyon of the Colorado trip was about to begin.

prehistoric birds?

sunset at Redwall Cavern

Spending twenty-eight days without cell service, or for that matter any outside communication, allows for great introspection on the aspects of life I truly value. It reinstills the priorities I cherish; a good meal, terrific companionship, and awesome scenery are much more valuable than a large pay check. By completing this trip every two years it allows me to keep perspective.

Avery, taking in a side hike

little boats in a big canyon

260 miles with 10 pounds of bacon! Grand Canyon Of The Colorado 2015 from Chris Baer on Vimeo.

Instead of planning a sixteen person party, we trimmed the adventure down to just two people, Avery Potter and myself. Trip logistics were wildly different with only two people and the meal plan was unique. We decided to have a handful of meals planned out and then mix and match the large majority of the meals. Shuttle was completed with the help of Gordon, the solo rafter that launched the day before us. Our pace would be ultra variable with long mornings and the possibility for quick rigging available.

Madeline, nope Avery

classic shot with above average light

Over the years, I have compiled what I believe is an all-inclusive list… that gets added to on a regular basis. Some of this list is for a winter Grand trip, some is for a six month stint guiding and playing in New Zealand, and yet other portions are for your next weekend outing.

unique feathers

breakfast on the boat

 

Kitchen:

Ladle
Tongs
Spatula
Scissors
Can Opener
Measuring cups
Strainer
Towels
Papper towels
Dish soap
Hot pad
Sharp knife
Fork
Spoon, not the plastic sporks that break
Bowl
Plate
Cocktail cup!
Pots, pans, and handles
Griddle
Stove, and maintenance kit
Extra fuel
Cutting board
Coffee press
Koozie, for keeping your hands warm on the cold days
Water bottle
Table
Wine screw
Lighters
Pepper grinder and enough pepper
Spices
Emergen C
Coffee
Hot chocolate
Gatorade
Sesame seeds
Jerky
Irish cream, breakfast necessity 
Tea
Gear Bag, for beer

hiking deeper into the canyon

tiny boats

Hygiene:

Towel
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Bar soap in container
Razor and shaving cream
Nail clippers
Sunscreen
Chapstick
Condoms
Anti inflammatory pills, Alive, Aspirin, Tylenol
Wet wipes, the instant shower
Lotion, it’s dry in the desert
Bug spray
Toilet paper, seen TP traded late in trips for valuable commodities
Arnica
Pepto-Bismol, ultra important on the international trips

Little Colorado adding some color

First Aid:

Triangle bandage
Ace wrap
Tape
Neoprene
Lighter
Head lamp, hiked out of a canyon without one once, and I will never go creeking without one again
Gauze
Suture kit
Food
Water tablets, for cleaning water on an accidental overnighter
Duct tape
SteriPen

hula hooping with the Alaskan Pirates

Camp:

Passport
Solar charger
Waterproof cases
Headphones
Speakers, impromptu dance parties are awesome
Super glue
Computer and case
Cameras, and extras batteries
Sunglasses and croakies
Water purifier
Phone and charger
Sudoku, or some other mindless non-battery operated game you can do on a 20 hour bus ride
Long pants
Socks!
Flip flops
T-shirts
Dress shirt and pants, it’s always nice to be able to go to a nice restaurant, or for shaking the local governing official's hand
Warm pants and jacket
Rain gear
12 volt octopus
Dental floss sewing kit, this is mandatory on almost any trip
Sleeping pad
Pigs, SUEY! Wild how this game gets so rowdy
Backgammon
Fireworks
Power inverter, changes 12 volt DC “car power” to 120 volt AC household power
Playing cards
Aqua-seal
303
Belt
Tarp
Bivy
Stakes
Cord
Duck tape
Axe
Water container
Cooler
Mud boots
Hats
Camp chair
Multi tool
Head lamp
Batteries
Sleeping bag
Tent
Pillow
Book
Magazine for groover
Pen
Sharpie
Mittens
Gloves
Bandana
Zip ties
External hard drive with lots of extra memory
Sharpening stone
Pocket knife
Foreign currency
Foreign power adapter
Mesh beer bag
Big bag to minimize check bags

gear bag or beer bag?

Boating:

Shorts
Shoes that last
Socks
Layers
Drysuit
Dry top
Pfd
Helmet
Pogies
Cam straps
Boat bag, for concealing your “wave ski” as it passes through the airport
Skirt
Paddles 
Paddle bag, for concealing your “skis” as they pass through the airport
Hat
Aqua seal
Extra gaskets
Bike tube patch kit, works in a pinch to repair blown gaskets
303
Med kit
Pin kit, pulleys, carabiners, webbing
Rappel rope
Climbing harness, carabiner, ATC
Elbow pads
Watershed Futa bags
Sponge
Bitch-a-thane, it’s help limp more cracked boats off of creeks then I could have ever imagined
SteriPen

Redwall sunset

Don't forget to:

Leave a new voicemail
Call credit and debit card companies, let them know you're traveling internationally
Lock up your vehicles
Find out foreign currency exchange rate
Don't bring pocket knife on the plane
Get a second debit card, hide it deep in your bags
Some place to carry cell phone sim card from the states

 Mix, match and enjoy.

another beautiful evening

adventure by Chris Baer

Grand Canyon of the Colorado River, 2013

Getting comfortable in our new home

It had been two years, and Ryan (Fish) Cole and I were due for our Grand Canyon fix. This time Fish pulled the permit for our warmest trip yet, we would depart in the middle of February. Our journey would take 28 days and, as always, would be packed full of good friends and fun adventures. 

Project Mayhem getting packed up in Granite CO

The participant list grew, shrunk, and changed multiple times. It was amazing how hard it was to lock down rafters for a full month, even if it was for the Grand Canyon. The final blow was Rachel Day epic-ly crashing her bicycle with less then a week from launch date.

Mustache March in full force

Here is a quick blow by blow of the trip:

gangster lean

we got to observe a full lunar cycle

Day 1, Fish's bus arrives to Lee's Fairy, we unload a TON of gear and pack it into seven rafts.

Koreen Padken, taking a dive at House Rock

Day 2, Only seventeen miles into our trip we had our first swimmer. Koreen Padjen ejected herself at House Rock. Coincidentally, I had removed myself from my raft there almost exactly four years previous.

Austin Nickle, Jed Policky, Ryan Cole, Joselin Reeves jamming out at Redwall Cavern

Vasey's Paradise

Day 3,  Vasey's Paradise, and Redwall Cavern, we stayed at Redwall until the sun dipped back behind the towering canyon wall.

Jake Rehn enjoying some winter weather at Red Wall Cavern

Day 4, Camped on a tiny spit of land, the wind picked up, and my tent and sleeping bag went tumbleweeding into the river. Thankfully, the tent and DriDown sleeping bag dried out completely in only a few hours.

The peninsula that I called home

Nankoweap the classic view

Nankoweap in the evening double click to check it out in full screen, I like the moon in the corner

Day 5, Lay over and photo session at Nankoweap. 

Just another evening in the ditch

Bocce!

Day 6, Windy 18 mile day, amazing super tall red walls at camp, lots of bocce ball.

pretty cool what are eyes can't perceive

Day 7, First flip. Basalt hole at mile 69 1/2 has a rather large hole on the left hand side. Luckily, I was less then 50 feet away and got a great view of Chad and Annika as their boat rolled over.

Great Grey Heron

Day 8, Close calls everywhere, Koreen almost flipped end over end onto my raft in Sockdolager. We stopped for a quick post card exchange at Phantom Ranch and were dejected by the clerk who was sold out of stamps.

Austin Nickle making his way into Horn Creek

Day 9, Second flip, Koreen got spun entering into Horn Creek lost her angle and went huge in the hole at the bottom. To add more entertainment, Jake and Josolin hit the bottom hole almost perfectly sideways and cleared all the water out of the hole… I still can't figure out how Jake's boat stayed right side up.

Jake Rehn and Joselin Reeves miraculously stayed upright

Jake Rehn and Joselin Reeves with a cleaner line

Day 10, Crystal claimed our third flip, as all of us ran left Kelly caught a big part of the left wall and flipped.

Kelly Bergdolt enjoying one of her rescued beers after her flip at Crystal

Stanley Low Life's for life!

Day 11, WILD!  Lower Bass camp entertained with horseshoes and bocce ball.

Damn!

Jed Policky making his way through Hermit

Day 12, The guide book says to go right at Bed Rock… Good thing I don't have a guide book. Jed, Austin, and I all charged left for the sporty line. 

another adventure of a life time

Day 13, A 10 mile day with Deubendorff, everyone's lines were distinctly different, and everyone came out laughing about "the big hole they crushed."

Snow, cactus, and the Colorado river

Hiking up Thunder River

Thunder River as it falls out the side of the mountain

Day 14, Thunder River is a beautiful hike with supper diverse ecosystems. There is rumor that you can access a cave that is the headwaters of the river. Upon inspection, the final rock climbing move looked incredible sketchy. We chicken out and the "DRAGONS" of Thunder River live on. 

Deer Creek Waterfall

Day 15, Deer Creek waterfall is gorgeous. 

Kelly Bergdolt in Olo Canyon

Day 16, Olo canyon, another sketchy climb brought us into a fun Matkatamiba style canyon. Upset Rapid almost upset all of us as we came blue angeling in. Upset is definitely class 8 at low water.

Kelly Bergdolt and Jed Policky working their way up Olo Canyon

Party boat in the bright blue travertine water of Havasu Canyon

Day 17, Hiked Matkatamibia, and Havasu, such a neat place with the travertine water running bright blue.  

Matkatamibia, train!

Koreen Padjen and Jake Rehn playing in Matkatamibia Canyon

Day 18, Another layer over, hiked National Canyon and got wild for "Tutu Tuesday."

Natural art

Day 19, Honga Springs, small camp, with a small eddy. While setting up the groover, my boat was bobbing rather precariously and became unsecured… The raft started floating away from me and up the eddy. Austin took it upon himself and jumped in to save it. In the process of diving into the water after the boat Austin lost his boxers. Not the first skinny dip and certainly not the last.

Jake Rehn and Joselin Reeves crushing in Lava

Fish and Jed Policky leading the charge into Lava

Day 20, LAVA!… Actually it was rather boring. There wasn't a single swimmer. We did meet the "Pirate" group at Tequila Beach and made such good friends with them that we pushed down stream to party at their camp.

Tequila brings out the best in everyone

Rainy evenings bring amazing sunrises

Day 21, The next morning I awoke to the beach looking like a bomb went off. Both groups had tents set up everywhere. Coffee was necessary, and a late departure from the beach was emanate. Amazingly we pushed hard and made it all the way to Granite Park.

all it all is... erosion

Day 22, Layover at Granite Park, maintenance day for everyone, until the Pirates showed up, PARTY!

ouch

Day 23, The Pirates were running low on bread and we made them a fabulous offer, our bread for their whiskey and bacon. I couldn't believe it, but the barter system worked! That afternoon another trip floated by and we watched them enter Rapid 209. To our luck, they had no idea about the hydraulic and we got to watch two of their boats flip.

team junk show, showing us why 209 is a more then worthy rapid

Day 24, Pumpkin Hot Springs was our lunch stop. The weather was cooperating so well that we made it to the cliff jump and five of us thought it was warm enough to take the plunge.

Jake Rehn taking the leap

Diamond peak, nearing the end

Day 25, Passed Diamond Creek, the Grand Canyon was technically over. The sad note was our beer supply was running dangerously low. Worst note, our winter trip was getting warm enough to create a ton of very hungry sand flies.

Jed Policky crushing

Day 26, Last day of rapids, super fun rowing in shorts and a cotton pearl snap. Aiming for the biggest features trying to stay cool.

Bobcat spotting

the Bobcat wasn't as excited about our appearance

Party Barge

Day 27-28, Party Barge, all of the rafts were clipped together and some ingenious "tarpology" was put to use protecting us from the sun. We slowly traveled 40 miles to Pierce's Ferry.

Lot's of gear to pack into a bus

Take out, pack 28 days worth of stuff back into Fish's bus and head to In and Out Burger.

another adventure by Chris Baer