Part 4: Grand Canyon- 150/Matkat/Panameta/Olo.

ram

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All trip reports in this series:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Afternoon of Day 6 to mid- morning Day 7

For 5 and a half days I have carried these pool toys. Time to inflate and cast off to whatever awaits. I have done enough pack rafting to know that I am not particularly good at it. Also smart enough to recognize that this is a REAL river. I have seen these things dip at the nose hitting what for me is an invisible eddy wall. Scared and respectful, I draft along behind some talented and experienced partners.

Bucky tests his raft out in the Olo riffle and looks so smooth. Three will run the Matkat rapid. I will not be one of them. For 2.5 miles we fly, float, swirl and glide down the river. We are sitting in 48 degree water. The sun is there and warms. Then comes the shade, just before 150 Mile Canyon. I glide along the right wall, terrified of getting caught in Upset Rapid. My pals drag me in. We worked incredibly hard to earn these two and a half miles and we relished it.

At the mouth of 150, the sun is gone and the wind starts to blow. I go to shivering. Matt climbs the wall and set up belays. jenny follows and starts a pack hauling system. It takes a few hours to get the next 100 feet. We head into 150 Mile Canyon and in an hour or so, arrive at our welcome food cache. We take the rigorous bypasses up and around technical sections and arrive at the base of the Redwall section at 3:45 PM. Above us is 6 challenges. We consider stopping for the night, because once we start, we have to finish all 6 challenges as there is no good and safe place to camp until past them all.

The group decides to give it a go, racketing up our efficiency. One upclimb and then we are faced with 4 chockstone barriers between 15 and 25 feet high. On the way down, we had set each drop with thin cord tied in a loop. We attach the rope to the cord, put a biner block 25 feet down the rope and thread the rope thru the ring, way above us. A cleaver idea offered by Todd and Rich.

Once the rope is set, Mr. Brechja goes to work. He jugs up, sets an assist and hauls us up, The second person up, then takes a second rope and moves to the side and starts the pack hauling process. People and packs literally fly up the drops. With time and daylight running out, we pass each drop, from arrival to exit in 12-16 minutes. Six people and their packs too. A long wet narrows must be passed between the first two and last two drops. Finally a 100 foot, low fifth class face must be climbed to get to the top of the Redwall. Success! We have passed the challenges in 2:45 minutes.

I am ready to stop, but with less than 45 minutes of daylight, much of the group pines for the Supai campsites above. I acquiesce. We arrive at a small cave in a side canyon, with an overhang, at last light. Dinner and to bed. The next morning is a casual ascent back up to the cars and drive out to the pavement. We were out in the canyon for 144 hours. Gear makes it way back to its owners and the group scatters to the winds. The memories are fresh and will linger for a long time. I thank everyone for their high spirits and generosity. Something of great value when physical limits get tested a bit. The "light" was in everyone's eyes."

Here is a map of the trip
http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1050437

Pictures and slide show to follow

Bucky in Olo Rapid
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Jenny carried the cowboy hat all the way and gave it to Aron
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Sand at repose
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happy man
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bye to Olo
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All float OK
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Matkat
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Matt dragging a rope at 150
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Textures
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Lower 150
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back in the Temple Butte
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Note left on each set drop[
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Up 150, evening light
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Selfie
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last sun
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Morning shadows
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Art
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Out of the Ditch
P3120413.JPG


Slideshow
https://picasaweb.google.com/108034287150978265447/150MatkatPanametaOloPart4#

All trip reports in this series:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
 
Fantastic set of reports. Epic!
 
Inspirational!
 
Incredible, amazing stuff @ram. I've read all 4 over and over. The Canyon is an amazing place I have far too little experience with. This trip gets real intimate in a way I hope to one day experience.

Headed down to Kanab Creek, and climbing up Racetrack Knoll this weekend, thanks for the photos to hold me over until then.
 
What everyone else has said! This has been one of the most inspirational trip report series and I think all of us have been motivated by it to push our own limits, whatever they may be. Incredible pics of a little seen area and love that one of Aron with a joyous look on his face rowing with a prosthetic arm. Survival and resilience embodied in one photograph.
 
Thank you everyone for the kind words. I know my best strength is getting strong partners to carry the load in all the ways possible. As is often the case with challenging fare...one step in front of the other....and having someone to complain with periodically :help:
 
upload_2014-3-26_22-18-55.png

This hat ....went to a Kenny Chesney concert once and many many awesome camp trips. Fitting for it to float the Grand Canyon on a grand adventure. Great report Ram!

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
This series was really incredible Ram. That looks like a great adventure.
 
Tell the guys involved with the video that they did a great job. And the photos and writing was fantastic too. You guys are my heroes.
 
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