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Day 3 Grand Canyon Tanner/Beamer Trail

No better way to finish, then with a rainbow over Cardenas Butte.

Tanner Rapids to Lipan Point

Distance 14.4 km, 1471 m elevation gain, 8 hrs 45 min.

I was up by 6:30 am, not super early, but I was still hopeful that we could make the climb out of the canyon in under 6 hrs. We had 8:00 pm tickets to Cirque de Soleil in Las Vegas and if we were in the car by 2:00 pm, we could make it.

Cooking in the dark.

It was dark when I got the stove running to heat up breakfast and coffee. I knew Siobhan had had a restless night’s sleep. She needed assistance to get out of the tent and when she stood up she learned on me and cried tears of pain. I knew right then we were not going to make it out of the canyon in time to get to the show; the goal was now just to get out of the canyon. While I was concerned, I kept a positive outward appearance.

Can both water lines for the two water bladders. still carrying the garbage we picked up at Palisades Creek.

Knowing that Siobhan was very stiff and sore, I took both water bladders for the hike up, attempting to minimize the weight in her pack. We headed out at about 8:20 am. The first part of the hike was back up the Tanner Wash, a nice easy incline. We actually made reasonable time, about 2 km/hr, which would translate to roughly a 7 – 8 hour hiking time.

Dox Sandstone folding down.
Saying goodbye to Tanner Grabben.

After 45 minutes, about 1.5 km into the hike, the trail headed steeply up for a short while and our speed dropped dramatically. According to my GPS data, we were doing about 0.7 km/hr.

Still finding a few moments to have some fun with the camera.
Just after gaining the first bit of elevation, it is 9:25am, 1 hr since we started.
At 9:40am, we had made another serious gain in elevation.

We took breaks for Siobhan to rest, but there was little I could do to help. Desert View Tower looked very far away. At 10:15 am, we stopped for a long rest as we were on another steep rise. I knew we were not making much progress. The GPS data showed that after 2 hrs of hiking we had only done 2.75 km.

Beautiful sunrise over the Cliffs of the Palisades, but I don’t think Siobhan is enjoying it.

We continued for a short while. At 9:40 am, we stopped for another break. It was about this time that I made the decision to trade Siobhan’s backpack for my hiking pole. I figured that I was feeling pretty good, and the best chance to get out of the canyon was to take the backpack, so Siobhan could focus on walking. The rim still looked so far away. I had serious concerns about whether we would actually be able to hike out of the canyon

The rim seems so far away, 9:40 am.

There was another rise, things were going better. We came across an older couple (in their sixties) hiking down. I thought about stopping and asking them if they had any painkillers, but didn’t.  This was probably another mistake I made. Usually when hiking, people are very happy to help out. The fact that I was carrying both packs made it obvious that things were not going to plan for us, so I should have reached out to them and asked for help, I am quite sure that they would have assisted us if they could.

It took us about 3½ hours to hike to the gully that would take us up through the Mauv Limestone and then the Redwall Limestone. We had covered about 1/3 of the distance for the day. We met a father and young son duo coming down the trail. This time I stopped and talked to them. After exchanging pleasantries (they were heading down the Escalante Route), I asked if they had any painkillers. They did! The father happily gave us a couple of Ibuprofen. Siobhan downed the pills and we headed on.

It was a slow but steady walk to the top of the Redwall. I was feeding Siobhan bits of dried fruit, trying to make sure that she ate. As we made our way up, I considered for a while using my SPOT personal locator beacon to call for help to get us out. The overlook was nice and flat and would be a good place for the helicopter to set down. I remembered reading an article in Backpacker Magazine profiling a veteran rescue ranger for the Grand Canyon. He was a little old and crusty and I remember his quote went something like, “What I want to tell people is that I am not their mother. If they are able, they should get out of the canyon themselves; I am not here to help because you are tired.”  Siobhan was not actually ill or suffering from heat stroke; she was not in any danger, she was just really sore and tired. So I did not activate the SPOT.

As we came to the top, Siobhan insisted that she needed to sit down and rest. She then curled up in a not-so-comfy spot and drifted off to sleep. I think we had agreed that we could take a 15-minute break. But as she was actually asleep, I covered her with a jacket and left her sleeping for about 45 minutes. During this time I went up to the Redwall Overlook to take pictures and tried to relax mentally.

Making our up to the Redwall Overlook.
View over the Eastern Grand Canyon, you can see the Tanner Grabben and all the way to Palisades Creek. It is 1:10 pm.

Siobhan was still sore when she woke up, but she was mentally rested and very positive. We headed out along the relatively flat traverse back to Sixty Mile Canyon at about 1:15 pm. We saw a group of hikers heading to the overlook for a day hike. I am quite sure that they expected to see us again on their return trip.

Trail heading along the Supai Traverse. Cardenas Butte is to immediate right, ahead is Escalante Butte.
Desert View Watchtower is nicely in view, it is 2:20 pm.

We made good progress along the traverse. Siobhan was able to smile for pictures, and it now appeared that we would get out of the canyon, it was just a matter of when.

Siobhan looking good as we make our way along the trail.
Sixty Mile Canyon is just up on the right, We have to make our way up the canyon in the centre, to Lipan Point
Smiling, happy hiker.
Desert View is now behind us.

At Sixty Mile Canyon, we stopped for photos. We could see the top of the rim; it was so close, but was still over 500m of vertical climb to make it to the car.

View down Sixty Mile Canyon
Here we are, still going, looking good, still got the garbage hanging from my pack
The last 500 m of elevation still awaits, Siobhan looking at what lies ahead.

We headed into the final canyon and as we started climbing up, our speed dropped dramatically. We slowly and steadily retraced our steps up the trail we had come down just two days before.

It looks steeper.
Selfie.

A couple of times, I had to borrow the hiking poles from Siobhan to step up and over rocks. About halfway up, we stopped for a break. We turned around and were treated to a rainbow over Cardenas Butte. A wonderful sight. We lingered for a while, enjoying one of nature’s amazing displays, with the Grand Canyon as a backdrop. We have covered about 300 vertical m in 1 hr 15 min since leaving Sixty Mile Canyon.

Rainbow over Cardenas Butte.

Thirty minutes later we exited the canyon and arrived back at the car. It was about 5:15 pm. Siobhan fell into the front seat, while I put the backpacks away. As I was finishing up, the day hikers we had met at the overlook turned up. I bet they were surprised to see that we beat them back.

I had long since given up trying to make it back to Vegas. We went back to Grand Canyon Village and had dinner in the little restaurant at Yavapai Lodge.

Dinner at Yavapi! We did it.

We headed back to Las Vegas as night was falling. After a good meal, we were both in a good mood. Siobhan waved to the canyon as we left, said goodbye and promised that she would come back. Even with all the pain that she had endured, she was still able to be positive about our trip.

There was just enough daylight to present us with another rainbow as we passed by the commercial district near the airport. After we made it to the highway, I stopped at the first gas station that was open and purchased some Motrin. Siobhan downed a couple of pills and fell asleep for the rest of the drive.

It is faint, but it’s a rainbow.

We stopped short of Las Vegas and stayed in Boulder City at a motel, the same one we had stayed in on our first trip. It was not actually that cheap, but when travelling with lots of equipment, motels are handy because it is a short walk with the equipment from the car to the room.

Siobhan had a quick shower and fell back to sleep. We did not fly out until the next evening, so there was no rush to get up quickly the next morning.

It was a very memorable trip, but I learned a few simple lessons that could have made the entire situation better for everyone, less painful for Siobhan, less stressful for me. When I was packing for the trip, I actually had my hand on the bottle of Ibuprofen at home, and I put I down in an effort to save weight. I did a similar thing on my trip to the GR20: I traded my zip-off pants for a single pair of ¾ length pants and left my warm fleece at home, just to save weight. With the wet weather we encountered on the GR20 and the cool nights, I frequently was not warm enough, and put myself through unnecessary discomfort. I had read a lot about being frugal and weight-conscious in your packing, and in order to do so, I put two trips in jeopardy. The total weight penalty of the necessary items would have been maximum 1 lb.

In future, I will continue to weigh and consider the items I am putting in my pack for big trips, but I will ask myself a simple question, “Could the trip go sideways if I don’t have this?” If the answer is yes, then the item is a must-have. Critical items that have a direct impact on the success of the trip should never be the subject of weight considerations.

The other lesson, is to reach out to people when you need assistance, they will help.

Grand Canyon Tanner/Beamer Trail Home

bootwreckers

View looking West over the Tonto Platform from the View looking West over the Tonto Platform from the South Kaibab Trail.

This April will be our 10 year anniversary of our first trip to the Grand Canyon.

It is truly one of my happy places, have visited five times and camped below the rim three times.

Looking to get back sometime soon, but good things are worth the wait.

#nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #100yearsofgrand #100yearsofbeauty #100yearsofgrandcanyon
Sunday morning sunrise! There are perks for getti Sunday morning sunrise!

There are perks for getting up early on a Sunday to go grocery shopping, and the mountain sunrises are one of them.

Shot off my phone from the parking in downtown Canmore.

#sunrise #sunrisephotography #sunrise_sunset_photogroup #earth #outside #outdoors #naturephotography #nature #naturelovers #sky #skyphotography #sky_brilliance
No doubt 2020 was a prickly year, and 2021 has sta No doubt 2020 was a prickly year, and 2021 has started out a little rough.

Just like hiking, if we keep going we will see beauty in amongst the prickles, but we need to stay on the trail.

Here's to good times ahead.

From our hike last year Emily hiking among the cactii towards the feature we affectionately named the Thumb, Passage 16 on the Arizona Trail

#teamzpacks #zpacks #zpacksduplex #aztassociation #aztrail #aztrails #hike #loveazt #desertphotography #desert #hikingadventures #hikes #backpacking #camping #getoutside #familytime #traillife #aztassociation , #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside  #rightnow #goparks #aztrails #aztrail #loveazt  #azt #arizonatrailassociation
Looking at a fun trip last summer through Yoho NP Looking at a fun trip last summer through Yoho NP with @sio.mellors 

Lots of waterfalls to see in the park, Laughing Falls is a fun and loud falls right off the main trail located surprisingly, next to Laughing Falls CG.

We stopped by on our way to Twin Falls CG after spending the day hiking the Iceline Trail

Like this photo of Siobhan getting close to the falls for her own picture. 

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #backpacking, #yohonationalpark #yoho #friendsofyoho #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #waterfall #waterfall #waterfallphotography #waterfallsofinstagram
Haiduk Lake, Banff NP. Haiduk Lake is just beyond Haiduk Lake, Banff NP.

Haiduk Lake is just beyond Whistling Pass as you hike from Egypt Lake to Balls Pass Junction.

Very pretty Lake. We were lucky enough to pass by early in the morning as we hiked from Egypt Lake to Floe Lake during our #gdt hike this summer.

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #alpine #lifeelevated #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia #gdt #greatdividetrail
#kananaskis #kananaskiscountry
Chasing th Aurora on Friday night at Lake Minnewan Chasing th Aurora on Friday night at Lake Minnewanka in Banff NP.

Sadly it did not come right out to play,  but was obviously a lot of light coming from th North East.

Always fun to be outside in a dark place to see th glory of the night sky.

#outside, #hiking #camping, #backpacking,
#adventure, #adventureoutside, #nature, #landscapephotography, #nobaddays, #adventureholiday, #hikingadventures, #astrophotography, #milkyway #kootenaylife #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark #nationalparks
#parkscanada #northernlights #aurora #auroras #auroramax
Hiking the GDT Day 1. I was almost completely sa Hiking the GDT Day 1. 

I was almost completely satisfied with or trip on the Great Divide Trail when on Day 1 we finished the uphill to Turbine Canyon and popped out of the woods and saw this amazing alpine vista.

I remember remarking to Emily "this is why I hike"

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #alpine #lifeelevated #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia #gdt #greatdividetrail
#kananaskis #kananaskiscountry
Morning from Floe Lake with Floe Peak selection of Morning from Floe Lake with Floe Peak selection off the mirror smooth waters.

Another amazing morning hiking the GDT.

Never get tired of Floe Lake, was my third visit and just a year after my previous visit.

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #flowers #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia #gdt #greatdividetrail #goldenhour #goldenhourphotography #mirrorphotography #lake
Golden hour! Morning sun shining off of Tumbling Golden hour!

Morning sun shining off of Tumbling Glacier and the Rockwall. 

Waking up at Tumbling Creek Campground during my Great Divide Hike this summer. 

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #flowers #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia #gdt #greatdividetrail #goldenhour #goldenhourphotography
Flower Field, Tumbling Pass, Kootenay NP. From la Flower Field, Tumbling Pass, Kootenay NP.

From last summer's Great Divide Trail hike. At th top of Tumbling Pass on the Rockwall, treated to a visual feast of colour.

Awesome day, epic hike.

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #flowers #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia #gdt #greatdividetrail
As we head into winter, a shot from last spring at As we head into winter, a shot from last spring at the end of winter. The snow was just clearing from the trails, and flowers poking through to greet the warmth.

Heading out over Rockwall Pass, Kootenay NP, with @kbsymington  and @neil.real.deal .

Had some snowfields to cross, good day out on th trail

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #flowers #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia
Fun photo from Twin Falls Campground in Yoho Natio Fun photo from Twin Falls Campground in Yoho National Park.

As night fell I was able to take some long exposure shots of Twin Falls Creek as it tumbles through the campground.

Fun 3 day trip with @sio.mellors.

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #backpacking, #yohonationalpark #yoho #friendsofyoho #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #waterfall #rainbow #spectrum #hikingadventures #longexposure #longexposurephotography #river
Top of Guinns Pass, Kananaskis Country 2016 Guinn Top of Guinns Pass, Kananaskis Country 2016

Guinns Pass connects the valley with Ribbon Lake and Ribbon Creek and the valley with Lillian Lake and Galetea Creek. Stunning views in all directions from the top of the pass.

There is also a scramble up the connecting ridge to the east up to Guinns Peak and onto Mt Kidd South.

Great two days hiking with @emilysjumpinginpuddles

#hikingwithdogs, #hiking, #hikingdogsofinstagram, #outside, #kananaskiscountry, #kananaskis, #spcacanmore, #spcarescue, #snowyowlsleddogtours, #snowyowldogsledtours, #retiredsleddog, #retiredhusky, #backpacking, #tongueouttuesday, #canmore, #canmorealberta, #adventure,
Larch season is coming to an end in the Rockies, b Larch season is coming to an end in the Rockies, but last weekend we were treated to quite a display near Taylor Lake in Banff NP

#outside, #outsidethebox, #liveoutdoors, #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, #rescuer
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada #larches #fall #autumn
Amazing sunset over Floe Lake. An early evening s Amazing sunset over Floe Lake.

An early evening storm and the setting sun shining up and reflecting off the clouds. Completely surreal. 

August 17th

Kootenay NP

Part of a 10 day hike along the Great Divide Trail, from Upper Kananaskis Lake to Field, BC

#outside, #outsidethebox, #liveoutdoors, #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, #rescuer
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada
#sunstar #sun #lake #sunrise #alpin #scenery #reflectionphotography #reflections #sceneryphotography
Well, my epic 15 day hike became a totally epic 10 Well, my epic 15 day hike became a totally epic 10 day adventure.

Lots of photos, but I will start with a picture of the adult wolf I saw just outside of Egypt Lake Campground.

I was luck to see probably the entire pack, 6 wolves, they were coming out of the woods and crossing the trail to Egypt Lake, and I just happened to be there with my camera.

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #banffnationalpark #banffalberta 
 #egyptlake #wolf #wolves #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #wildwolf #wildwolves #gdt #greatdividetrail
Bathtub full of gear and Frosty Paws. Must mean ad Bathtub full of gear and Frosty Paws. Must mean adventure is near.

Leaving Tuesday for 15 days on the Great Divide Trail with daughter Emily. 

Hiking from Kananaskis Lakes to Saskatchewan River Crossing. 

1st stage is 7 days to Floe Lake, looking like th backpack will be around 45lbs, with tent, food and camera.

Should be a grand adventure.

#outside #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, 
#parkscanada #glaciernationalpark #bctourism #earthexperience
#sunrise #alpine #scenery #reflectionphotography #reflections #sceneryphotography #alpinelake #amazingearth #morningmotivation #travelcanada #explorerockies
#travelcanada #mountainstories #explorecanada #theearthoutdoors #paradisecanada #gdt #greatdividetrail
Amazing backpacking trip through Yoho NP with Volc Amazing backpacking trip through Yoho NP with Volcano (@senioradventurepups)

Volcano is turning 13 the first week of August but still crushed the 12km from Laughing Falls CG to view Twin Falls and back to the car via the connector.

Volcano not a big fan of water falls, or me sticking the camera in her face, her expression says it all. But Twin Falls is beautiful and I caught a small rainbow at the bottom.

Had a blast with her, she is always keen to go, jst not as far as before.

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #backpacking, #yohonationalpark #yoho #friendsofyoho #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #waterfall #rainbow #spectrum #hikingadventures #hikingwithdogs #backpackingwithdogs #retiredhusky #retiredsleddog #alaskanhusky
Milky Way over Brachiopod Mt, Baker Lake, Banff NP Milky Way over Brachiopod Mt, Baker Lake, Banff NP. Super happy to get the reflections on stars in the lake.

Amazing trip to Baker Lake. The resident porcupine chewed a small hole in the fly.

Got up at 2am to take photos of the stars. On the way back, the porcupine was guarding my tent, had to gently shoo it away.

#outside, #outsidethebox, #liveoutdoors, #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, #rescuer
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada
#sunstar #sun #lake #sunrise #alpin #scenery #reflectionphotography #reflections #sceneryphotography
The light favours the early risers. The low angle The light favours the early risers.

The low angle morning rays from the sun makes a rainbow on Helmet Falls, Kootenay NP

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #waterfall #rainbow #spectrum #helmetfalls
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