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Grand Canyon Pioneers Society - Monthly Bulletin |
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| Vol 5, No 6 | June 2001 |
Glen Canyon
There are not many of us around today who visited or even saw Glen Canyon as it was before the construction of the dam that created the reservoir called Lake Powell. In bygone days, only hundreds or less braved the hardships of getting to the Colorado River to visit the natural wonders of Glen Canyon.
Since it is no longer possible to view Glen Canyon as it once presented itself, we resort to the next best way to do so. And this is what the Grand Canyon Pioneers did Saturday, May 19, at the Gurley Street Grille in Prescott. Gus Scott presented a slide show of photographs taken in 1953 to 1959 on various trips he made down the river from Hite Crossing to Lees Ferry.
Gus's photos literally took us on an imaginary trip through the calm waters of Glen Canyon with his father and various groups of YMCA boys. The rubber rafts drifted by ancient Indian ruins and petroglyphs, and old sites of prospectors and miners. He showed us the site where the Escalate party managed to find their way across the river near Gun Site Butte after a long trip up over the cliffs at Lees Ferry.
The YMCA boys had a chance to hike up side canyons tinted with various colored rocks and draped with ferns. There were photographs of the old Mormon Hole In The Wall where these hardy people managed to drop their wagons and stock from the high bluff and cross the Colorado River then travel on to Bluff Utah where they settled.
We, in our imagination, hiked up Forbidding Canyon to Rainbow Bridge and even climbed to the top of Navajo Mountain. We visited the old Spencer steamboat now sunk at the edge of Lees Ferry.
The program was indeed worth the trip to Prescott and, like all of the Grand Canyon Pioneers' outings and meetings, it was most enjoyable.
June Outing: Annual Picnic
Join the Pioneers for the biggest event of the year at the Annual Picnic at Shoshone Point on June 16.
From the main entrance, take the Desert View Drive, continue east about 1.5 miles beyond the road to Yaki Point, and turn left into a parking area and look for the yellow gate, which will be unlocked by 11:00 AM.
Everyone should bring a dish to share (i.e. casserole or desert), their own drinks, individual table service and, if desired, some meat to barbecue. Table cloths and briquettes for the barbecue will be provided. Fred will have the fire ready by 12:00 Noon.
GCPS Outings for 2001
| June 16: | Annual Picnic at Shoshone Point, Grand Canyon South Rim. (Organized by Fred and Jeanne Schick.) |
| July 21: | Flights over Grand Canyon - Jim McCarthy will talk about flights over the Grand Canyon. He did his Master's Degree thesis on flights over the Canyon. We'll meet at Furr's Cafeteria in Flagstaff for lunch at noon and then go to the Cline Library for the presentation at 1:30 PM in the Screening Room. We'll meet at Furr's Cafeteria in Flagstaff for lunch at noon and then go to the Cline Library for the presentation at 1:30 PM in the Screening Room. |
| August 18: | Glen Canyon, the early fight, by GCPS member Harvey Leake. |
| September 15: | Rock Art Ranch tour with owner Brantley Baird. |
| October 20: | Board Meeting and a talk about "Sunk Without A Sound: The Tragic Colorado River Honeymoon of Glen and Bessie Hyde" by author Brad Dimock. We'll meet at Furr's Cafeteria in Flagstaff for lunch at noon and then go to the Cline Library for the presentation at 1:30 PM in the Screening Room. |
| November 17: | Backpacking remote areas of Grand Canyon - a slide program by Carol Castleman. Carol has lead Sierra Club trips around the world -- including many, many Grand Canyon backpacks to remote areas as well as about two dozen rafting trips. Program will be at the Church of the Red Rocks off [state route] 179 in Sedona. |
| December: | No Meeting |
Member Letter
Here is a letter received regarding an article in the last Ol' Pioneer:
I just read the newest bulletin and the article regarding the Havasupai statement regarding mining and the National Forest Service.
I believe that the reference is not to the Lost Orphan mine on the west rim of the Canyon, but rather to a mine was built in the 1980's near Owl Tank, just north of Red Butte (sometimes called the Sombrero by the ol' timers), off Highway 64, south of Grand Canyon. The mine was built by Energy Fuels.
The third paragraph of the statement says "This is a sacred place wii'i gdwissa this red Butte you see in the center of a mother" etc.
I believe that the tribe is still in litigation over this mine and that it has not operated since the lawsuit was filed in the 1980's. I know there has been several protests out there regarding the mining and that the Havasupai do consider Red Butte to be a sacred place, and that there was a lot of concern over possible contamination of Cataract Creek from the uranium tailings.
Red Butte makes up a lot of the view from my back yard and I have great affection for it.
Has any one else offered this story?
Thanks.
Linda Knutson
Box 946
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
New Member
Don Lago - Flagstaff, Arizona
Easter Hike / Sunrise Service
April 13 - 15, 2001
Ideal weather conditions! The last 30 miles were somewhat less than ideal road conditions!
Those attending included 11 from the greater metropolitan area of Kayenta (including a foreign exchange student), 7 from the Valley of the Sun, one from Tucson and one from Indianapolis, Indiana.
The multiple groups arrived in multiple SUVs at the Bass Trailhead area in the noon timeframe on Friday. After snacks and lunch and loading up on water, individuals started down the South Bass Trail to the Darwin Plateau (an interesting selection for an Easter Sunrise service). Tents were set up in the South Bass and Ruby drainage areas. After dinner the stories about experiences in the Canyon were told around the "campfire" (candle).
On Saturday one group did a day hike to the Colorado River (12 miles around trip). Other groups hiked out on the Grand Scenic Divide to an overlook - below was the River and Serpentine Rapids. Individuals also hiked to the top of Mt Huethawali. After dinner the stories about experiences in the Canyon were told around the "campfire".
As the sun peaked around the north slope of Fossil Mountain, the Easter Sunrise Services started. Large flat top boulders provided seats. The backdrop was a view of the South Bass Drainage and the Redwall on the north side of the River.
Diana told about John Newton the individual that wrote the lyrics for Amazing Grace and then led the group in singing the hymn. Jim and Janice gave testimonies about their walk with Jesus Christ. Charlotte handled the Communion Service. Pete and Ron passed the Communion elements (due to poor planning "Tang" was used rather than the traditional grape juice!). Diana also led the group in singing "How Great Thou Art". Lee delivered the message, "Jesus Christ has an Open Door Policy".
An ideal location - God's greatest creation "The Grand Canyon of the Colorado" - to have an Easter Sunrise Service and talk about Jesus Christ. Many expressed that this was a memorable and rewarding day
Outings Contacts Information
Outings Coordinator:
Betty Leavengood
6045 Edison St.
Tucson AZ 85712
520-885-3570
HikerBetty@aol.com
The Bulletin welcomes comments, stories, or Reflections and Remembrances.
Please send them to
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Diane Cassidy
PO Box 9870 Phoenix, AZ 85068 |
or e-mail them to GCPioneers@yahoo.com
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