Grand Canyon 2015 Trip Report

 

 

3/8 Hermit Trail to Hermit Creek

  We actually got started at a decent hour today. I had to crack the whip a little, and got a few grumblings courtesy of hike leader Floyd, but I knew it would pay off in the end. Our gang made its way to the park and rode the red bus out to Hermits Rest to the trail head. We began our hike down the steep Hermit Trail about 1215.

Awesome start photo. Groceries, Segue, Rudi, Hometown, Floyd.

Groceries adjusting her poles for the 3600' descent down the Hermit Trail.

There was still some scattered snow patches up top.

Pretty canyon pic.

Groceries and Rudi.

Segue and Floyd.

Rudi.

Pretty canyon pic.

We arrived at the Tonto Junction at 6:30. At this point we strapped on our headlamps and hiked through the darkness to Hermit Creek.

3/9 Hermit Creek

We arrived at Hermit Creek camp in the dark and could not find the camp site. We weren't alone, neither could Brandi and Marley from Mercer University. They camped with us. Neither could a large group who came stumbling by later that night. They camped up the trail from us. We ended up camping in a 100 year old mule corral.

Go Coyotes.

Hmm?

Groceries forgot her hula hoop, so had to do yoga.

Lunch.

Ufo?

Floyd trying out for his team.

Hermit Creek.

3/10 Monument Creek

Rudi, trucking across the Tonto.

The Tonto allows some really nice canyon hiking.

Hometown hiker.

Rudi's choice of hiking footwear. They seemed to serve her well.

My first sighting of the Colorado on this trip.

Here is one badass hiker.

Lizard hiding in the shade.

Selfie with Groceries.

3/11 Monument Creek

Monument.

Hiking down the Granit Rapids.

Add caption

Hanging on the Colorado.

Segue shooting the rapids. His camera was never far away.

Canyon dweller.

Pumping water for camp.

3/12 Salt Creek

Tonto.

Looking back at the monument.

I love this section of the Tonto.

Groceries.

Agave Americana.

Indian paintbrush.

Groceries and Rudi enjoying Tonto hiking.

Hiking in to Salt Creek on the Tonto, next to the deep

Rudi and Hometown strike a pose at Salt Creek camp.

Early morning moon rise at Salt Creek.

Salt Creek privy.

3/13 Hike Out Bright Angel

Dana Butte.

Tonto hiking.

Love on the Tonto.

Tonto plaform.

Tonto trail.

Groceries and Hometown.

Cottonwoods at Indian Garden.

Peeper.

Segue and Little Bug.

Mule wranglers at Indian Gardens.

Looking down Bright Angel towards Indian Gardens.

Pictographs.

Pictographs.

Back on top.

Donna The Buffalo at The Orange peel

On Friday, January 23, Donna the Buffalo performed at the Orange Peel. This has been an annual event for several years now, and falls during the week of my birthday, so it is always an event that I forward to.
The Binghampton, NY band "Deadwood" opened the show.

Driftwood

Donna The Buffalo

With Black Betty and Marie

Wesser Bald Hike

The grandsons and I picked a clear January day to hike to the Wesser Bald lookout tower. The hike starts at Tellico Gap (between Wayah Bald and the Nantahala Outdoor Center). From the parking area, just follow the Appalachian Trail about a mile and a half to the top of the mountain and you will see the 30 foot high platform with the incredible 360 degree view.

I love reading Earl Shaffer's (the1st A.T. thru hiker) account of his visit there in 1948. Of course it had a cabin built on it then, and was occupied by a lonely USFS Fire Warden. The man insisted he spend a stormy night there and then was reluctant to let him go in the morning. Seems that he was starving for company.

Earl described the sunrise that he witnessed there the next morning, "The storm has settled into surrounding valleys, leaving the highest peaks jutting like islands from a sea of fog. Then the sun rose, lighting a golden path across that misty sea. Seldom...have I seen anything to compare."

Steep Canyon Rangers and Jerry Douglas

                                         
                                         The Orange Peel, 1/9/2015.

Town Mountain's Holiday Hunger Relief Benefit

On Saturday, December 20th, 2014 Town Mountain and Mandolin Orange played a benefit for two local hunger relief organizations, Funding America Through Entertainment (FATE) and MANNA FoodBank at Isis Restaurant and Music Hall in Asheville, NC. New Belgium Brewing Company  sponsored the event and donated proceeds from their beer sales in addition to a monetary bonus. Town Mountain has dedicated a portion of ticket sales for the cause as well as arranged for a 50/50 raffle the evening of the show. This is the 3rd time that FATE and Town Mountain have teamed up to fight hunger, having donated more than $3000 towards the cause and Town Mountain will continue to develop the Holiday Bluegrass Benefit as an annual tradition.


Once again, it proved to be a fun and rowdy night of world class bluegrass tunes performed in front of a music loving crowd in Asheville. It was a great way for the local community of music lovers, artists, and businesses to take time to help the hungry in western North Carolina.

Thanks, Town Mountain for taking the lead on this. You guys rock.

Hometown Hiker's Live Band List 2014

Gnometown didn't really knock it out of the park this year with live music, but we did the best we could. Between working night shift, taking a summer Europe trip, and hanging with the grand kids, we skipped out on seeing some music. Here's hoping for a groovy 2015!


Here are some of the great bands that we were fortunate enough to see in 2014.

Railroad Earth, Donna The Buffalo, Yonder Mountain String Band, Town Mountain, Jim Lauderdale, Green Sky Bluegrass, Jeff Mosier, The Traveling McCourys, The Duhks, The Royal Tinfoil, Punch Brothers, Jason Isbell, Steep Canyon Rangers, Grandpas Cough Medicine, Ralph Roddenbery, Henhouse Prowlers, The Honeycutters, Sam Bush, Del McCoury Band, Jerry Douglas, The Avett Brothers, Southern Soul Assembly, Sloppy Joe, Dread Clampitt, The Freight Hoppers, Porch 40, Dustin Martin and the Ramblers, Jon Stickley Trio, Mandolin Orange.