6 DAY GRAND CANYON OAR POWERED TRIP
SCHEDULED FOR_______(Launch Date) ___________
WHERE TO MEET US
You need to get to a place called MARBLE CANYON, ARIZONA.
HOW TO GET THERE
Traveling by private vehicle
Look at an Arizona road map and locate US 89-Alt at the extreme northern end of the state. US 89-Alt crosses the Colorado River at its eastern end and Marble Canyon is right there on the west side of the bridge. Plan to arrive in Marble Canyon by 4:30 PM on the day before the launch date.
Traveling from home by air
Option #1 – Flight to Marble: Book your flight to Las Vegas, Nevada to arrive no later than 2:00 PM on____(the day before the launch date) _____. After you have booked your flight to Las Vegas, contact Bar 10 Ranch and book a flight for that same day departing from Las Vegas to Marble Canyon. Tell Bar 10 that you will be joining a Moki Mac River trip and you need to be in Marble Canyon no later than 6:00 pm for your orientation meeting. Bar 10 Ranch can be reached at 800-582-4139, or 435-628-4010, email reservations@bar10.com, fax 435-628-5124. Bar10 will provide you with information on connections at McCarran International for the flight to Marble Canyon. (You will also need flight reservations from the South Rim back to Las Vegas. See below.) Flight time is about 1 hour.
Option #2 – Land Transport to Marble: Book your flight to Las Vegas, Nevada to arrive no later than 11:00 AM on ____(the day before the launch date) _____. After you have booked your flight to Las Vegas, contact Grand Circle Tours, 928-645-6806 OR Al’s Transportation, 928-645-3420, atcherron@yahoo.com . Tell the service of your choice that you need to be at Marble Canyon no later than 5:30 PM on the day you arrive in Las Vegas. Land transport can be cost effective for groups of 3 to10 or larger. Drive time is 4 ½ hours.
Air Taxi to Marble Canyon from Las Vegas is also available through Kanab Air Service, Inc. They can be reached at 435-644-2299.
WHERE TO STAY WHEN YOU GET THERE
Marble Canyon Lodge is the most convenient location to stay the night prior to the river launch. For bookings, contact Marble Canyon Lodge at 800-726-1789 or 928-355-2225. Tell them you are going on a river trip with Moki Mac. Dinner and breakfast are available in the on-property restaurant.
If you have your own transportation and wish to camp out the night prior to the river trip, there is a public campground (first come first served) down near Lees Ferry.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU GET THERE
We will meet you at Marble Canyon Lodge at 6:00-6:30 PM the evening before the river trip for a short informational and pre orientation meeting. At this meeting, we will pass out water proof river bags for you to pack your gear into that night. General questions and concerns will be addressed, along with a brief overview of what to expect during the following 6 days.
The following morning we will meet you at the Lodge for an 8:00 AM transfer down the road to the river, about a five mile ride. If you have your own transportation, you may leave your vehicle at Marble Canyon Lodge or drive it down to the NPS long term parking lot (there is no parking fee at either place) near the launch ramp.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE END OF THE RIVER TRIP
The river trip will end at Phantom Ranch/Pipe Creek trail. We’ll arrive at Phantom Ranch early in the morning on the 6th river day. We’ll stop there long enough to get your duffle to the mule corral and then take you down the river a mile or so to a place called Pipe Creek where the Bright Angel Trail reaches the river. There, one of our crew will accompany you part of the way up the trail to Indian Gardens, where another Moki employee will meet the group and escort you the rest of the way up to the top.
If you traveled by air from home to Vegas and flew or took a land shuttle from Vegas over to Marble Canyon, you need to make flight reservations for a short hop back over to Las Vegas from the South Rim. As above under “How to Get There”, we referred you to Bar10. Make arrangements with Bar10 for a flight from the South Rim back to Vegas for the morning following your hike out of the Canyon.
If you drove a private vehicle to Marble Canyon and you want to meet it at the end of the river trip, you need to pre-arrange car shuttle services. Two options are: River Runners Shuttle Service, PO Box 61, Meadview, Arizona 86444. 928-564-2391, Fax 928-564-2781, email info@rrshuttleservice.com OR Al Herron at Al’s Transport, PO Box 2289, Page, Arizona, 86040, 928-645-3420, atcherron@yahoo.com. Either one will deliver your vehicle to a pre arranged parking spot at the South Rim.
There is also a van service from the South Rim to Marble Canyon. This expands your options to include driving your vehicle to the South Rim before the river trip and taking the shuttle to Marble Canyon or driving your vehicle to Marble Canyon and taking the shuttle after the river trip. Contact Trans Canyon Van Service, 928-638-2820. They offer daily services from the South Rim to the North Rim with a stop at Marble Canyon.
OTHER ARRANGMENTS NEEDED FOR THIS TRIP
Everything you bring for this trip will have to be carried out of the Canyon when you hike out from Phantom Ranch. You have two choices – carry it out yourself or hire the available Duffle Service provided by Grand Canyon National Park Lodges. Please keep in mind THE HIKE. It is almost ten miles in length with a five thousand foot elevation gain. Our advice is – HIRE THE DUFFLE SERVICE! The operators will load your “duffle” on a mule early the last morning and it will be at the South Rim by 4:30-5:00 PM that same afternoon. You’ll need to repack your river bag contents into a duffle bag with dimensions of about 36”X20”X13” and weighing no more than about 30 pounds. The charge for this service will be about $65.00 with an additional charge for bags over 30 lbs. Contact Xanterra Parks & Resorts at 888-297-2757 and select “Reservations on the South Rim”. Tell the operator that you wish to make “Duffle Reservations” for “outbound duffle” on the 6th day of your trip.
Do not procrastinate in making these arrangements. There are a limited number of duffles per day.
After your hike out of the Canyon, you will urgently need a place to shower, sleep and generally recuperate. Reservations can be made at the same time and with the same people that you will contact for the Duffle Service. Again, call Xanterra at 888-297-2757 and, as above, select “Reservations on the South Rim”. Tell the nice person on the other end of the line that you will need a room(s) for the night of the 6th day of your trip. The ideal would be accommodation(s) at Bright Angel Lodge/Cabins, since that is just about where you will collapse as you crest the trail. The best second choices would be the Thunderbird or Kachina facilities. Not too much further up the trail is the stately old El Tovar for those who want a touch of luxury. Next choice would be the Maswik, about 1/2 mile across the tracks to the west. Your Xanterra operator can help you with all of these properties.
WHAT TO BRING
Pack your gear in a duffel bag.
Clothing
1-2 shorts 1 long pants 1-2 shirts
1 long sleeved shirt underwear/sox 1-2 swimsuits
Sarong 2 hats with tie strings bandanas
rain gear jacket or sweatshirt sandals & tennis shoes
thermals/wet suit booties (spring and fall trips)
Personal Items
toothbrush/toothpaste lip balm heavy moisturizing lotion
comb/brush soap/shampoo sunscreen
deodorant razor (optional) medications
female hygiene products water bottle/canteen sunglasses/eyeglass holder
towel camera book/journal/pens
Camping Gear
Sleeping bag/sheet Tent Pad/Ground Cloth
Small back pack Carabiner Flashlight/batteries
(Flashlights with red light mode are good)
Shorts/pants with pockets that close with Velcro or a zipper are good to have. Convertible pants (zip off legs) take the place of shorts & long pants.
A sarong or light weight cloth is handy to use for a cover up on the boat; provide some privacy while changing clothes in camp; and can be used for a sheet.
Shoes for hiking should provide support. Some hikes require stream crossings so your hiking shoes will get wet. During the day on the rafts, your feet can be wet for long periods so strap-on sandals are appropriate.
The best rain gear is pants and a jacket. Ponchos are not very effective and are very difficult to wear under a life jacket.
Some people prefer synthetics that are quick drying and some like the evaporative cooling of wet cotton. During the cooler months you will want quick-drying clothes and during the hottest months you may want to bring some cotton clothes.
There are many web sites that sell outdoor clothing. A couple of sites that we have found and like are sierratradingpost.com and usoutdoor.com.
The small backpack is used for storing rain gear and items you may want during the day. Line your daypack with a heavy weight garbage bag to keep contents dry. It is also handy for use on hikes.
A carabiner is an oval shaped metal ring with a one-way gate, and is useful to quickly fasten and unfasten your small daypack to the duffel load on the raft. You do not need expensive ones but they should be full size (about 4”X2”).
The only cash you will need will be for drink purchases at Marble Canyon, incidentals at Phantom Ranch, and guide gratuities (5%-8% of trip fare recommended). A credit card may prove handy for unforeseen emergencies.
If you bring liquor, please transfer it to plastic bottles. Beer, soda and wine can be purchased at Marble Canyon Lodge.
There are limited fishing opportunities. If you choose to bring a rod, make it a compact model. Catch and release (barbless hooks) apply. You will need to purchase a 5-day out of state fishing license at Marble Canyon Lodge if you want to fish during the river trip.
There is a place in McCarran International Airport called “24 Hour fitness”. It is on the east end of the terminal on level 2 (just above the baggage claim area). For $10/person, you can go there for a shower after your river trip.
THE RIVER BAGS FOR YOUR GEAR
Your clothes and sleeping bag will fit into two waterproof river bags we provide. Tents and pads will be packed into large communal waterproof bags each day. We will also provide a soft river bag for your day use items. The daypack you bring will be used for your rain gear, extra shoes and other items you will need during the day.
Soft “mini” bag Carabiner* River Bag
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS
Once you launch on the river, communications from or to the outside are very difficult. For emergency contacts, leave the following telephone numbers:
Moki Mac River Expeditions Main Office: (800) 284-7280 or (801) 268-6667
Moki Mac Arizona Warehouse: (928) 355-2504 or (928) 355-2285
National Park Service: (928) 638-7804 (Dispatch)
INTERRUPTION INSURANCE
We urge you to purchase vacation interruption insurance to protect you in case you must cancel your trip. Policy purchases may be time sensitive. Make early inquiries.
www.insuremytrip.com (comparative quotes)
www.travelsafe.com (888-885-7233) www.csatravelprotection.com (800-873-9855)
www.travelguard.com (800-826-4919) www.sevencorners.com (800-335-0611)
WEATHER
April/May: Average temperatures are in the high 70’s/low 90’s (22-33 C) during the day and the mid 50’s/60’s (10-16 C) at night. There may be rain showers.
June: Average temperatures are in the high 90’s/low 100’s (33-38 C) during the day and the low 70’s (22 C) at night. It is usually dry.
July/August: Average temperatures are in the high 90’s/low 100’s (33-38 C) during the day and mid to high 70’s (22-25 C) at night. Thundershowers are likely.
September/October: Average temperatures are in the mid 80’s/high 90’s (27-33 C) during the day and the mid 50’s/high 60’s (10-16 C) at night. There may be rain showers.
SUGGESTED READING
Grand Canyon River Guide, by Bill Belknap. Westwater Books, Evergreen, Colorado
(Waterproof map, great to have with you on the trip. We have these maps for sale through our office)
The Exploration of the Colorado River and its Canyons, by John Wesley Powell, Dover Publications, Inc., New York
The Kolb Brothers of the Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon Natural History Association
Lee’s Ferry, Desert River Crossing, by W.L. Rusho and C. Gregory Crampton, Cricket Productions, Salt Lake City
The Four Corners Anasazi, by Rose Houk. San Juan National Forest Association
The Fourth World of the Hopi, by Harold Courtlander, University of New Mexico Press
An Introduction to Grand Canyon Geology, by Michael Collier. The Grand Canyon Natural History Association
Desert Solitaire, by Edward Abbey. Ballantine Books, New York
Ghosts of Glen Canyon, by C. Gregory Crampton. Cricket Productions. Salt Lake City
Grand Canyon Wildflowers, by Arthur M. Phillips, III, Grand Canyon Natural History Association
Archaeology of the Grand Canyon: The Bright Angel Site, by Douglas Schwartz, Michael P. Marshall, Jane Kepp, School of American Research Press, Santa Fe
The River That Flows Uphill, by William H. Calvin, Sierra Club Books, California
Downcanyon: A Naturalist Explores the Colorado River Through Grand Canyon, by Ann Zwinger, The University of Arizona Press, Tucson
