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Grand
Canyon Field Institute (GCFI) March Classes
January - No classes scheduled
February - No classes scheduled
March
Take a Load Of: Mule-Assisted Backpacking
15 - 18; $635 per person; HL - 4+
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.
Clear Creek Natural History Backpack
19 - 23; $635 per person; HL - 4
After a brief orientation and pack check, participants will descend the seven-mile South Kaibab Trail for an initial night beside picturesque Bright Angel Creek. The next several days will include a hike to and from Clear Creek Canyon on the expansive Tonto Platform, and a layover day at the creek itself. Weather and group hiking strength permitting, the class will trek upstream to Cheyava Falls—a towering intermittent waterfall fed by snowmelt. A final night at Bright Angel Campground near historic Phantom Ranch will precede a return to the rim via the 10-mile Bright Angel Trail.
Introductory Backpack: Colorado River
22 - 25; $495 per person; HL - 3
Our introductory backpack begins with a thorough orientation, pack check and
afternoon stroll along the scenic South Rim. The following day includes a
4.5-mile descent of the Bright Angel Trail to the towering cottonwood trees of
Indian Garden Campground—home for a two-night camping adventure. A sunset visit to nearby Plateau Point with its commanding view of the Inner Gorge will cap the group’s inaugural day below the rim. The following day will feature a backpack-free day hike to the sandy beaches of the Colorado River for a glimpse at the forces that carved this marvel of a canyon. Depending on group hiking strength and weather, an optional visit to historic Phantom Ranch (several miles upriver), may also be an option. The final day of class includes a return to the South Rim on the Bright Angel Trail, each at his or her own pace, and a proud look back at the canyon that doubled as classroom and playground for three splendid days.
April
May
June
July
August
September
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
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