2001
A Grand Canyon Odyssey
Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek
July 6 - July 23, 2001

Lee's Ferry July 6, 2001
(Back Row) Dean Mallar, Judy Miles, Dane Miles, Donna Hathaway, Heath Weatherbee,
Ryan Stewart, Ben Pratt, Cindy Leiffer, Garret Oswald, Eric Sherman
(Kneeling) Bill Miles, Edie Miles, Dave Weatherbee, Scott Shibles, Dick Wallingford, Tiff Wallingford
Updated July 24, 2003

Plans for this trip of a lifetime began after participating on someone else's trip in October, 1990. A limited number of people are allowed to raft the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park each year, and most of them pay premium dollars to go with commercial outfitters where customers may only have to wait 6 months to a year. I got on the private trip waiting list in February 1991 and expected a 9-10 year wait. My brother, Eric, applied a year later, and is still waiting. People who applied this year (2003) can expect to wait 19 years for a private permit to raft through the Grand Canyon.

I had plenty of time to do research for this trip. Check out the links to books below. I would highly recommend Belknap or Steven's Guides and "Day Hikes from the River" (I or II) by Tom Martin for any trip through the Canyon. The rest is up to you...

There were many wonderful people who wanted to be in the 16-person group I was allowed to take. We ended up with a great mix of people with many talents, and each person brought humor, patience and a sense of adventure.

So let the adventure begin:

The Crews
We broke into crews for cooking and boating, but often rode and rowed on other boats.

July 2-4	July 5 REO	July 5 Lee's Ferry	July 6 Lee's to 12.5 mi.
July 7 12.5 mi. to 24.5 mi.	July 8 24.5 to Nautiloid Canyon	July 9 Nautiloid to Saddle (Mile 47)	July 10 Saddle Canyon Layover day
July 11 Saddle to Mile 62.5	July 12 Mile 62.5 Crash Canyon to Mile 76.5 Hance Campsite	July 13 Mile 76.5 to Mile 95 Hermit Creek	July 14 Mile 95 to Mile 119
July 15 Mile 119 to Mile 134 Tapeats Creek	July 16 Tapeats Layover day to hike to Thunder River	July 17 Mile 134 Tapeats to 143.5 Kanab Creek	July 18 Mile 143.5 to Mile 166.5 National Canyon
July 19 National Canyon Layover Day	July 20 Mile 166.5 to Mile 188 Whitmore Wash	July 21 Whitmore Wash to Mile 209 Granite Park	July 22 Granite Park to Mile 220 Campsite
July 23 Mile 220 to Mile 226 Diamond Creek

The People Web Sites Books, Videos, CDs

kayak@kynd.com
http://www.portfolio.umaine.edu/~emiles/grand/grand.htm