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Post by Martin Truscott on Jul 12, 2021 15:20:58 GMT -5
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Post by Not Wes on Jul 12, 2021 20:59:40 GMT -5
Hi Folks, Just seen this article and wondered what it would mean for Canyon Tours! Well, the fact that the water level in Lake Mead itself is down doesn't affect Canyon Tours much, because their trips take out at Diamond Creek, which is upstream of Lake Mead. However, if Mead level is down, Lake Powell upstream of it is likely also down an equivalent amount, and Canyon Tours trips start just 15 miles below the dam that forms that reservoir. Less water released from Mead likely means less will also be released from Powell, which would affect river runs, especially for rafts. The boats that Canyon Tours runs would likely not have much of a problem negotiating any of the rapids even at fairly low water because they're small. The big motor rigs (some twice as long as the 18 foot rafts CT uses) would be a different story. Those companies might have to downsize in boat length in order to run trips. By the way, I'm not certain why Wes has Canyon Tours ending their trips at Diamond Creek because no commercial operator does that. They all go down to Lake Mead to take out. Many of the big commercial trips fly customers out of the Canyon from near Whitmore Wash, which is not far downstream of Lava Falls. They helicopter the passengers up to another landing site on the rim where they can be either driven by bus or flown by regular plane to Las Vegas or other towns to head home. The rafts are piloted down to a boat ramp on Lake Mead by the guides for that trip, where they're taken apart and driven back up to Lee's Ferry to start another trip. The Diamond Creek takeout (or launch point) is owned by the Hualapai Indian Tribe, and they charge a trespass fee to anyone crossing their land. Last time I checked it was over $50 per person. That includes drivers picking passengers up there, so it's an expensive proposition using it. Private trips like the ones I did often figure it's worth it. The commercial outfitters do not. They'll spend the extra time going down to Lake Mead. Their trucks for the big rig rafts would also have trouble negotiating the marginal gravel road getting from Peach Springs to the river and back up. Not Wes |
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Post by Andrew on Jul 19, 2021 11:42:17 GMT -5
There were severe floods in Flagstaff a few days ago, and a Michigan woman was killed down in the canyon when a flash flood hit the campsite where she was sleeping. She was on an organised tour, no idea why the trip leader selected that particular campsite.
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Post by Not Wes on Jul 19, 2021 21:58:48 GMT -5
Andrew:
On Grand Canyon runs this time of year, prime time for rafting, almost every campable piece of ground is in use almost every night. Often you take what you can get, especially the motor trips who often run late into the day because they've got to do 30 or more miles every day. You never know when a flash flood is going to occur. You know when they are likely, but this time of year isn't the prime season for them. That comes usually later, August, but they can come early in hot weather. Of course, they can happen almost any day of any week, or at any time of day. I've seen flash floods on trips I've been on, even in May and June and July. This event happened at Tatahatso Wash, which is about mile 38, so early in the run, likely the first night out, and maybe people weren't tuned in to camp routine yet. It could be that sleep spot siting recommendations by the guides were ignored, or it could have been that the guides didn't prepare their customers, or do weather checks, despite possibly launching just that morning. Several others were injured in the flood, which happened before 6 p.m. local time, which means that the lady who died wasn't the only victim, and she likely didn't sneak off by herself to a dangerous sleep site. It was probably pure luck that others weren't killed. We likely won't ever know for sure.
Not Wes
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