Natural & Cultural History January 5-8, 2020 with Marjorie ‘Slim’ Woodruff
CLASS INFORMATION AND SYLLABUS For your overnight gear, GCCFI will provide shared duffel bags into which you may put up a SMALL Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter worked as the official amount of gear (toiletries, spare clothes etc.). These architect for the Fred Harvey Company and Santa Fe duffels will be packed today before being dropped-off Railroad from 1902 to 1948. In 1922, the National at the mule barn by your instructor and therefore the Park Service approached the Fred Harvey Company contents will be unavailable until you arrive at Phantom asking them to build a tourist facility at the very bottom Ranch. of the Grand Canyon. Phantom Ranch was the result. Late winter is a quiet season at the Canyon, and we will Bring your overnight items in a single small stuff start on the snow-clad South Rim and descend into the sack marked with your name to the BEGINNING warmer canyon depths for two nights in an historic of class. Colter Cabin at Phantom Ranch. Along the way we will discuss the wide spectrum life zones of canyon DAYS 2 & 3 country and the rich geologic record. We will also discuss the history of tourism at the Grand Canyon and We shuttle to the South Kaibab trailhead and begin our Mary Colter’s contributions to National Park 7 mile hike to Phantom Ranch. During this steep 4,500 architecture. ft decent we will have ample opportunity to discuss how our surroundings change with the elevation as we Meals provided during the program: drop further into the Canyon. We will end our hike at Dinner on January 6 and 7 a ten-person cabin at Phantom Ranch. The cabin is Breakfast on January 7 and 8 heated and has bunk beds, a cold water sink, and a Boxed lunch on January 7 toilet. Showers are available in a separate building. All bedding and towels are provided. DAY 1 Evenings are also the perfect time for stories of the We meet at 10:00 a.m., M.S.T., at the historic canyon—some tall, some true. After dinner each night Community Building on the South Rim. The morning there will be an opportunity to socialize at the Phantom is devoted to an equipment check, duffel bag pack, Ranch Canteen that serves hikers lemonade, iced tea, class overview, and orientation. We will have a chance and other goodies (so you will want to carry your credit to rent or purchase any last minute items you may need card). at the Village Store in Grand Canyon Village The afternoon will be spent exploring and discussing Mary The following day will start with breakfast at the Colter’s buildings in the village: Bright Angel Lodge, canteen. We’ll pick up our packed lunches for today’s Lookout Studio, and Hopi House. day hike. During the day we will discuss the history of Phantom Ranch, view archaeological sites, visit the Notes on gear: Colorado River, and take a short hike up Bright Angel During the class you will need to carry a day pack with Creek to “the box” or up the Clear Creek trail to keep lunch and snacks, rain gear, water (three-liter capacity), our muscles warm and supple for the hike out. sunscreen, et cetera. DAY 4
After breakfast we’ll pack up our gear, review topics we've covered during the last few days and how best to adapt these principals to hiking in other areas. After our discussion, we will hike out the Bright Angel Trail , each individual at their own pace. The hike out is ten miles with a gain of 4,500 feet in elevation. We should be out of the canyon in the mid-afternoon for a wrap- up session. Lunch for today is best arranged on the previous day. You can supplement any leftovers you RECOMMENDED READING may have with other items available at the Phantom Ranch canteen. They stock granola/energy bars, candy bars, nuts and Bagels & Cream Cheese too. Anderson, Michael F. Living at the Edge: Explorers, Exploiters and Settlers of the Grand ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR Canyon Region.
Marjorie 'Slim' Woodruff, Ph.D., was born in Coder, Christopher M. An Introduction to Arizona. Growing up in primeval desert, she Grand Canyon Prehistory. became comfortable with things that crawl, sting, bite, and gnaw, which served her well Pocket Naturalist Field Guide to the Grand Canyon. when she started working with adolescents. Price, Greer. An Introduction to Grand Canyon At Northern Arizona University, she spent Geology. much of her free time exploring the Grand Canyon. After graduation she lead Ranney, Wayne. Carving Grand Canyon. backpacking trips, taught cross-country skiing, drove a tour bus, and otherwise participated Sadler, Christa. Life in Stone. in outdoor education and recreation. Thayer, David. An Introduction to Grand Canyon In her spare time she achieved a PhD in Fossils. Computer Based Education. Slim is a technology coach at the Grand Canyon Whitney, Stephen R. A Field Guide to the school, and maintains several websites. Grand Canyon.
She still spends as much time as possible exploring the Bright Angel Trail Guide Grand Canyon, having found that no matter how many times one visits the Canyon, there is always something These books and other interpretive aids can new going on. be purchased at Grand Canyon Conservancy bookstores on the north and south rims, online at www.grandcanyon.org, or by calling 800-858-2808. GCC members receive a 15% discount.