|
Tours
Grand
Canyon Events & Association News
Membership Info
Membership Form
Calendar
Lecture Series
Classes
|
|
Grand
Canyon Field Institute (GCFI) September Classes
January - No classes scheduled
February - No classes scheduled
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
South Bass Geology Backpack
5 - 9; $635 per person non member; $610 per member; HL - 4+
Havasupai Point, with its commanding view up- and downcanyon, is one of the South Rim’s most dramatic scenic overlooks. This class will begin with a visit to this unforgettable vantage from which participants will look down upon the terrain they will be exploring during subsequent days. To the east lies the classic rugged topography of buttes and temples that rise from the Tonto Platform bench; to the west the distinctive two-step topography dominated by the Esplanade Platform, deeply-incised by a hidden inner canyon.
Why the difference from east to west? Why such an abrupt and dramatic change in Grand Canyon topography and scenery? The class will discuss possible explanations for these geologic mysteries during this one-of-a-kind learning adventure. After camping for the night at the nearby South Bass trailhead, participants will descend the historic South Bass Trail from rim to river. The Upper Granite Gorge, Bass Fault Zone and the Darwin Plateau are but a few of the interpretive points of interest that will illustrate the forces of nature that have created the grandest of canyons. Participants will carpool to and from the South Bass Trail and Grand Canyon Village on rough but reliable dirt roads.
Rim-toRim Natural HIstory Backpack
3 - 8; $675 per person non member; $650 per member; HL - 4
The rim-to-rim journey across the Grand Canyon is considered one of the quintessential hikes in North America—and for good reason. The North Kaibab and Bright Angel trails combine to exploit a rarified cross-canyon thoroughfare, one that harbors many delights for the experienced backpacker. Roaring Springs, Ribbon Falls, Phantom Ranch and Plateau Point are but a few of the treasures awaiting those who take part in this moderate-intensity backpack.
Topics will include geology, archaeology, pioneer and Native American history, and a discussion of the varied biotic communities that can be found along this 24-mile route. After being shuttled to the North Rim, the class will spend its first night at the North Rim Campground. During the precipitous descent into the canyon, participants hike from an aspen-clad forest to the banks of a desert stream in a few short hours. Nights are spent at Cottonwood, Bright Angel and Indian Garden Campgrounds respectively. The final day of class includes a 4.5-mile hike to the top via the Bright Angel Trail, each hiker traveling at his or her own pace.
Thunder River, Stone and Deer Creek Backpack
10 - 16; $645 per person non member; $620 per member; HL - 6
In the desert, water possesses a near-magical quality. A few of the more
stunning water sources in the Grand Canyon will serve as the backdrop for this
skills-based workshop. Descending North Rim’s Bill Hall Trail for a week in the Tapeats, Stone and Deer Creek drainages, this class will cover desert backpacking, Leave No Trace camping, water management, food storage, route finding, and the proper use of map and compass. A visit to Thunder River, the Deer Creek Narrows, Deer Creek Falls, and the banks of the fabled Colorado River will serve as watery rewards for those participating in this high-intensity backpack—one that includes off-trail hiking to and from Stone Creek. The class will rendezvous north of the Grand Canyon and carpool to the trailhead on rough dirt roads.
Take a Load Off: Mule-Assisted Backpack (women only)
13 - 16; $635 per person non members; $610 per member; HL - 3+
With a little help from four-legged friends, participants in this class descend into the heart of the Grand Canyon for a two-night camping adventure beside picturesque Bright Angel Creek. This class begins with a thorough morning orientation after which camping gear is taken to the nearby mule corral for next-day delivery to the canyon floor. The afternoon is spent on an educational walking tour along the breathtaking South Rim. On the second day of class, participants hike seven miles down the South Kaibab Trail, enjoying a combination of sweeping views and intriguing facts about geology, ecology and human history. As pack mules are hauling the bulk of the group’s camping gear and food, participants can devote more time and energy to uncovering the canyon’s secrets. Upon retrieving their camping gear at historic Phantom Ranch, the class will set up camp for a two-night stay at Bright Angel Campground. For the remainder of the day and all of the next, the focus will be on learning about the geologic formation of the canyon from the inside out. The diverse flora and fauna of the canyon, and the human inhabitants it has sustained for millennia, will also be discussed at length.
Rim-toRim Natural HIstory Backpack (women only)
16 - 21; $675 per person non member; $650 per member; HL - 4
The rim-to-rim journey across the Grand Canyon is considered one of the quintessential hikes in North America—and for good reason. The North Kaibab and Bright Angel trails combine to exploit a rarified cross-canyon thoroughfare, one that harbors many delights for the experienced backpacker. Roaring Springs, Ribbon Falls, Phantom Ranch and Plateau Point are but a few of the treasures awaiting those who take part in this moderate-intensity backpack.
Topics will include geology, archaeology, pioneer and Native American history, and a discussion of the varied biotic communities that can be found along this 24-mile route. After being shuttled to the North Rim, the class will spend its first night at the North Rim Campground. During the precipitous descent into the canyon, participants hike from an aspen-clad forest to the banks of a desert stream in a few short hours. Nights are spent at Cottonwood, Bright Angel and Indian Garden Campgrounds respectively. The final day of class includes a 4.5-mile hike to the top via the Bright Angel Trail, each hiker traveling at his or her own pace.
Havasu Canyon Natural History Backpack
3 - 7; $665 per person non members; $640 per member; HL - 4
The class will begin with an eight-mile backpack to the inner-canyon village of Supai. After a brief visit, participants will continue several miles down the trail to the campground at the base of picturesque Havasu Falls. From this base camp, subsequent days will be spent hiking, swimming and sharing the beauty of this storied locale. Participants will learn about the history and ways of their host tribe and study the numerous plants, birds and other animals found in this amazingly diverse riparian drainage. The final day will include a retracing of steps back to the South Rim for closing discussions and departure. Note: fee-based horse-packing service is available from the tribe for those wishing to have their gear carried in or out of the canyon. Information about this service will be included with pre-course materials.
Grand Staircase Photography
20 - 26; $625 per person non member; $600 per member; HL - n/a
On the “tread” of Bryce Canyon National Park we’ll be able to photograph a variety of summer flowers in the midst of an old growth forest of ponderosa pine, spruce, fir and aspen. The “riser” is composed of alternating bands of pink and white rock that have been weathered into pillars in a myriad of fantastic shapes—“hoodoos”. These hoodoos look luminescent in the predawn light, and their appearance changes continuously with the interplay of shadows and highlights as the sun rises. In Zion National Park, we’ll photograph a tread of rounded slickrock domes with scattered juniper and piñon pine and a riser of shear sandstone in colors of orange, white, and blue/black, cut by the narrows of the Virgin River gorge. At Grand Canyon National Park’s Toroweap Overlook the black volcanic cone of Vulcan’s Throne dominates the tread, while creeping to the edge of the tread reveals a gut-wrenching view down the riser’s 2,800 foot vertical drop to the Colorado River.
Bright Angel Botanical and Springs Survey
21 - 28; $425 per person non member; $400 per member; HL - 4
Numerous springs exist in the Grand Canyon region, but little is known about
many of these, as they occur in remote areas and require significant amounts of
time and energy to access. In recognition of the biological significance of
springs in the Grand Canyon region, Grand Canyon Trust, Grand Canyon National
Park NPS Southern Colorado Plateau Inventory and Monitoring Program and the
Desert Botanical Garden have joined together to bring their collective resources
toward inventorying these important ecosystems.
Back Country Medicine
22 - 26; $635 per person non member; $610 per member; HL - 3+
During this moderate-intensity backpack, the instructors will cover situation
assessment, splinting, blister care, wound dressing, water purification,
emergency mirror flashing and practical treatment of bites, wounds and
fractures. A combination of lectures, staged field scenarios and role playing
will allow the information to be presented in an enjoyable and memorable
fashion. After an orientation and pack check on the South Rim, the class will
descend the South Kaibab Trail for a two-night stay at Bright Angel Campground.
A final night at Indian Garden will break up the two-day ascent of the Bright
Angel Trail and afford a sunset visit to majestic Plateau Point with its
commanding view of the inner canyon.
Rim-toRim Natural HIstory Backpack
3 - 8; $675 per person non member; $650 per member; HL - 4
The rim-to-rim journey across the Grand Canyon is considered one of the quintessential hikes in North America—and for good reason. The North Kaibab and Bright Angel trails combine to exploit a rarified cross-canyon thoroughfare, one that harbors many delights for the experienced backpacker. Roaring Springs, Ribbon Falls, Phantom Ranch and Plateau Point are but a few of the treasures awaiting those who take part in this moderate-intensity backpack.
Topics will include geology, archaeology, pioneer and Native American history, and a discussion of the varied biotic communities that can be found along this 24-mile route. After being shuttled to the North Rim, the class will spend its first night at the North Rim Campground. During the precipitous descent into the canyon, participants hike from an aspen-clad forest to the banks of a desert stream in a few short hours. Nights are spent at Cottonwood, Bright Angel and Indian Garden Campgrounds respectively. The final day of class includes a 4.5-mile hike to the top via the Bright Angel Trail, each hiker traveling at his or her own pace.
Colorado River Float Trip
24 - 10/11; $4,495 per person non member; $4,470 per member;; HL - n/a
The fabled Colorado River is at once the “carver” of Grand Canyon, and the “lifeblood” of the desert Southwest. The Colorado’s role in Grand Canyon is critical as the river and its watershed help sustain the amazing biodiversity found in the park. Aside from its ecological significance and the access it provides to incredible geologic formations, the river’s challenging whitewater has drawn boating enthusiasts from around the world for decades. During this oar-powered float trip from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek, this class will explore the many facets of Grand Canyon. Geology, paleontology, archaeology, botany, and pioneer history will dominate the discussions as our stellar team of educators share their vast knowledge of the world’s most-famous chasm. The trip will begin and end in Flagstaff, Arizona. On-river meals and camping gear are included.
October
November
December - No scheduled classes
For more information call the Grand Canyon Field Institute at 866-471-4435 or visit their
web site at http://www.grandcanyon.org/fieldinstitute
|
