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Phantom Canyon 2008 – Day 6

Synopsis: Explore Haunted Canyon (6.2 miles). March 12.

Reid and Erin cooked some eggs for breakfast, with dehydrated onions and spinach. They were yummy but had few carbs, so were perhaps not the best complement to the beans rehydrating in our tummies from the night before.

Sara and Kev planned another hangout day, while the rest of us went on another dayhike, this time up Haunted Canyon, which diverged from Phantom a few hundred yards above camp.

Reid preparing to hang up the Rat Sacks.

Photo by Charles Yeamans.
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Starting up Haunted Canyon. The route-finding through this section was difficult, with cairned trails appearing and disappearing erratically and the canyon bed again brush-choked.

Haunted Canyon has a much higher flow than Phantom.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Haunted Canyon cliffs and trees.

Photo by Erin Tatge.
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Reid hiking up Haunted Canyon.

Photo by Erin Tatge.
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One of our key objectives was a supposed “gusher” spring at around the 4,600 level. Grand Canyon is famous for huge, high-flow springs pouring directly out of Redwall and Muav Limestone cliffs; well-known examples include Vasey’s Paradise, Thunder River, and Cheyava Falls (external links). We were hoping for one of these awesome features. However, the spring (left) was simply a vigorous upwelling from the ground; still impressive, but not so much as we’d hoped.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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This spring was near a large alcove. Remember the one that Erin and Chris were gazing at from up at the South Rim, on the first day? Well, here it was!

We continued on up the now-dry creekbed, which was lots of rock-hopping. Charles and Reid didn’t enjoy this, but Erin decided it was among her favorite kinds of hiking.

Looking downstream from above the spring. Note how the bone-dry channel suddenly changes to a vigorous stream when the spring’s flow comes in from the left.

The butte on the skyline is Isis Temple.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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A potential Redwall route? This could lead to some quite spectacular views from the Redwall rim above camp.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Continuing up Haunted Canyon.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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A limestone pillar. We turned left here, towards an alcove, for lunch.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Our lunch alcove, at about 5,000 feet, 700 feet above camp.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Starting home not far below the alcove.

Photo by Charles Yeamans.
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Haunted Canyon and Isis Temple beyond.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Walking down the hot, dry creekbed.

Photo by Charles Yeamans.
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Water! Charles refills our bottles directly from the spring flow. This is where it enters the main streambed.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Charles and Reid looking at Cheops Pyramid. The large bulk at right is Isis Temple. Our camp is right below the large ridge coming off Isis.

Photo by Erin Tatge.
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Rough trail. We went down this one at a time to avoid dislodging rocks and crud on those below.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Reid wielding a dried-out agave. It was very heavy.

This is a classic “Reid and Charles” picture: one is swinging and/or running with a large stick; the other is watching with great interest.

Photo by Erin Tatge.
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Erin crossing a log over the Haunted Canyon creek.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Chris cooked some cous-cous with veggies and cheese, another recipe we’re all stealing. It was seasoned with soy sauce, and incredible treat in the backcountry. Reid began to scheme about dehydrating soy sauce for future trips.

Please continue reading on Day 7.

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