BACKTRACK - Lee's Ferry
For the past 4 summers Sandy Heusman has organized adventure trips for what has become known as Muleteam Xtreme - Keet Seel, Havasupai, Mt Lemmon and recently, a Lee's Ferry kayak expedition.
Many photos from the trip are at
muleteam.shutterfly.com. Have a look!
Larry
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Below are Facebook comments by those who were there...
Anne Rich
It's been 50 yrs since I've been at the Grand Canyon's bottom. 1st time we hiked to the bottom, breathed in its winder and soaked my blistered feet in the icy cold river water. This time, 8 kayaks and gear set off downstream, after being transported upstream. It's gentle without whitewater. Lotsa sun, water to drink, breeze when you need it and...phenomenal canyon walls, birds...the way the sun shines, shadows fall to allow images to emerge to each of us differently...as I can again connect with those who have passed. Joe jumped in the icy river at every opportunity. We camped on a lovely river site, hiked up the mountain behind us, looking for petroglyphs...another yummy dinner, then made things water tight as the thunder and wind increased. Oh ya, and 3 of us had an extra river adventure at the end of our river run.
Carol Chandler
Now that I am back from a wonderful trip to the Glen Canyon area of this magnificent state, I have had time to reflect on my experience and how it measured up to my expectations. The grandeur and splendors of this small portion of the Grand Canyon National Park far outreached my imagination. The companionship of friends sharing the adventure gave meaning and made it so much more fun and enjoyable. It will be one of the most memorable trips that I will fondly look back on. I had a wonderful time for sure!
On the flip side here are some of my other thoughts I would like to share. I was bit disappointed with the amount of human made noise. There were times that I felt robbed from feeling in touch with the landscape, or being able to connect on a deeper level with this amazing place. Each time I floated around a bend in the river or discovered a peaceful little cove, I found myself hoping that there would not be another motor boat or giant pontoon raft coming around the corner with large groups of people being ferried from the Glen Canyon Dam to Lee's Ferry where they are to be bussed back to the Dam again. I hoped that there would not be a helicopter or small craft buzzing overhead with tourist passengers peaking out the plane window. Just when I would delight in hearing a different bird call, or a raven experimenting with his echoing voice, or fascinating with the sound of the tiniest rapid reverberating like thunder against the canyon, the hum of an engine would grow to a rumble muffling out the natural voice of the river. This was totally unexpected. Lee's Ferry was also very busy with large outfitter rafts and small boats (such as the one that ferried us up the river, which I was very much part of and appreciated this craft for doing so) boat gas fumes, huge busses pulling in with colorful clothed people of large, soft proportions who were being directed by young, sinewy outfitters that did literally everything, at a cost I am sure, for these wealthy folks to pack it down the river over rapids, strangers together for days. Outfitters who pack, supply food, cook, feed, row, set up the tents and who knows what else? I can't imagine being with twenty people or so on a raft and sitting there not having to participate! Really? Why not just stay home and take a virtual tour? It would save on the gas and noise in this once pristine area. Tourists, like myself, visiting National Parks, however the mode, are important though. Why? Because people need to get out and experience the natural splendors of this incredible country, in some form or another. How else will the future generations be inclined protect these places from resource exploitation, which the current administration is trying hard to rape them of. What I came away with is how important National parks like the Grand Canyon and mostly important "wilderness" areas remain protected. Wilderness places are the only places left in the country that you can be away from human made machine noise, aside from commercial aircraft. So, get out there and explore our monuments, parks, and wilderness areas, moreover please take action to protect them. VOTE for politicians who care about them and ones who vow to protect the environment for future generations. Be the one who experiences a bit more in the natural world, and if not take a virtual tour. Aww Heck, just thoughts, perhaps this is just my aching body speaking out after five days of tenting on the ground! Or, perhaps, I might be just a bit jealous of those who can afford a cute outfitter to make them comfy on a river that was once the greatest free running in the World! Prior to the dams of course! It is still a great one!
Reply by Anne Rich
Thank you Carol. Exactly my thoughts too yet I could never have spoken them as well as you. It was bittersweet...absolutely wonderful yet incredibly unreal, that motorized vehicles are allowed to the degree they are present. I too was completely wowed by the natl park + forest services. Every one that we visited on the way to the canyon was special and well loved + cared for. I felt a sense of pride + gratitude, sharing them WITH other nature lovers.
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