Ecology on the Edge

July 13 - 15
Instructor: Stewart Aitchison
Hike Level: 2
Fee: $225.00 GCA Member; $250.00 non member

The casual visitor to the Grand Canyon may peer into its depths and come away with the idea that it is a withered, lifeless place. The truth is far different. More than 1,500 species of flowering plants and some 450 species of vertebrates live in the Grand Canyon, making it one of the most biologically diverse landscapes on the planet. This class will introduce participants to the remarkable ecology of the Grand Canyon; where traveling from the boreal forest of the North Rim to the sun-drenched banks of the Colorado River is biologically similar to a trip from southern Canada to northern Mexico. It’s no wonder biologists find the Grand Canyon a fascinating place to study.

Topics will include early biological explorations of the Grand Canyon including C. Hart Merriam, often considered North America’s first ecologist, who hiked into the canyon in 1889; the 1937 expedition to the “Lost World of Shiva Temple;” and a year later, the search for miniature horses. Life histories of common plants and animals will be discussed as well as attention to endemic and/or unusual species, such as the Canyon’s pink rattlesnake and condors with 9-foot wingspans. Other topics will include human activity, from prehistory to present, and how it has impacted the Grand Canyon’s biological resources. Did prehistoric people kill off the Ice Age mammals? Once the area became a park, why were the native predators systematically hunted?  What happened to the native fish after construction of Glen Canyon Dam in 1963? These are a just a few of the intriguing questions to be answered during the class. Basic geology will be covered as it pertains substrate that plant communities live upon and in turn support their wildlife populations.

Itinerary
Day 1 Introductions and rim walk
Day 2 Day hike to Cedar Ridge on South Kaibab Trail
Day 3 Day hike to Dripping Springs on Hermit Trail

Without and Within: Nature as a Catalyst for Writing

July 20 - 22
Instructor: Jeff Fearnside
Hike Level: 1
Fee: $670.00 GCA Member; $695.00 non member

It’s been said that the Grand Canyon defies words. With this workshop we plan to put this theory to the test! Participants will use nature—both around them, in the Grand Canyon’s beautiful environment, and within them, through thoughts, associations, and memories—as a catalyst for creative writing. Special focus will be on taming what writer Natalie Goldberg calls “monkey mind”—the internal chatter that distracts writers from doing what they most want to do: write. We will also examine the notion of what exactly defines “the natural world,” and attempt to find ways to expand that definition through close observation of all the aspects of life in Grand Canyon National Park.

The instruction and exercises will be conducted in secluded settings along the majestic South Rim and in historic Kolb Studio—home and studio to the Grand Canyon’s intrepid pioneer brothers Emery and Ellsworth Kolb—with its commanding view of Bright Angel Canyon. Light walking along the rim, and possibly short forays below, will help stimulate the creative juices. Please bring a notebook and writing utensils, something comfortable for walking, and appropriate clothing to protect from the sun. Brown bag lunches are encouraged.

North Rim Trail Sampler

July 20 - 24
Instructor: Marjorie 'Slim' Woodruff
Hike Level: 2
Fee: $400.00 GCA Member; $425.00 non member

The North Rim is a towering, densely forested plateau whose magnificent views compete with an amazing array of plants and animals for the astute visitor’s attention. This class is designed to explore this high altitude wonderland by way of a series of hikes on historic trails both above and below the rim. Topics will include geology, pioneer and Native American history, archaeology, the various biotic life zones, and the role of fire in a healthy ecosystem. Destinations will include Cape Final, Cliff Springs, Bright Angel Point, Point Imperial (the highest point in the entire park), and the breathtaking views to be had from upper reaches of the North Kaibab Trail. Nights will be spent as a group in the North Rim Campground, sharing tales from the day’s adventure, and enjoying the world-famous celestial viewing.

Note: Participants provide their own camping gear, and will carpool to trails and points of interest on paved roads.

Itinerary
Day 1 Introductions and set up camp. Hike Uncle Jim Loop Trail followed by evening hike to North Rim Lodge on Transept Trail.
Day 2 Walhalla Plateau. Hike to Cape Final, Point Royal, Cliff Springs, Walhalla Glades, Point Imperial and Saddle Mountain.
Day 3 The Depths. Hike the North Kaibab Trail to the Redwall Bridge and return.
Day 4 The Forests. Hike to Widforss Point on the Widforss Trail, back to camp and wrap up session.