January 1

   In 1989 I did a hike down the Hermit/Boucher to visit at Slate Creek.  This was my sixth day and I hiked from my camp in Boucher to the Hermit Creek Campground, which, not surprisingly, was absolutely empty.  A solo hiker did arrive after me, just before I did an afternoon hike down to Hermit Rapids.
   In 1992 Neil Jacobs and I did a hike over to Clear Creek.  This was our first day.  We went down on the South Kaibab, passed through Phantom Ranch and then up the Clear Creek Trail to camp on the Tonto level for the night.  Very cold day but the early morning clouds were quite spectacular as they surrounded high peaks on the north side of the river.

January 2

   In 1989 I did a hike down the Hermit/Boucher to visit at Slate Creek.  This was my seventh, and final, day as I hiked back up to the rim on the Hermit Trail.  Along the way I took this photo of the rest house at Santa Maria Spring.
   In 1992 Neil Jacobs and I did a hike over to Clear Creek.  This was our second day and pretty much all we did was hike from our camp on the Tonto the rest of the way to Clear Creek where we set up our camp for the next two nights.  I brought along the vestibule add-on which served us well when the weather turned.  But I think my main reason was that the zippered door on that side of the tent was busted.

January 3

   In 1992 Neil Jacobs and I did a hike over to Clear Creek.  This was our third day and we did a day hike down the creek with the intent of reaching the river.  But, the weather turned on us and we probably only got about half way.  It snowed quite heavily in the afternoon and when we returned to our camp, the tent was covered in snow.  Not a very usual sight this deep in the canyon!
   In 1999 John Eastwood and I did a day hike down the South Bass to the river and back.  It had been a very mild winter and we were able to get to the trailhead on roads that would otherwise be impassible.  Here's a timed photo of me and John (I didn't quite make it to my spot!) at the abandoned Ross Wheeler just above Bass Rapids.
   In 1981 I did a day hike down the South Kaibab to Phantom Ranch and back up the Bright Angel Trail.  [No photos.]

January 4

   In 1992 Neil Jacobs and I did a hike over to Clear Creek.  This was our fourth day and we packed up our camp in Clear Creek and headed back towards Phantom Ranch.  This night we camped along the Tonto, which was still plenty snowy, as you can tell by this morning photo of Neil on the trail.
   In 2003 I did a quick day hike on the Tanner Trail.  I had been looking at a long formation in the Redwall that defines the east side of 75 Mile Canyon for some time and this day was the day to see if I could hike out to the end.  I could, and did the timed shot shown.  This feature is quite visible from Lipan Pt. although the photo below shows what it looks like from the trail before reaching the saddle with 75 Mile.  The arrow on the left shows the point I reached (and in the photo above) while the arrow in the center shows a bit of snow in the shadow of the little unnamed butte.  [Click to see a larger image.]

   In 2006 I headed down the Old Thunder River Trail (from Indian Hollow) with the intent of doing a hike around Fishtail Mesa.  This was the first day and I hiked down the trail, with its sweeping views of the canyon, as shown in the photo (including Fishtail Mesa in the center and Mt. Sinyala to the left).  That night I camped near to Fishtail Spring down low in the Supai layer.

January 5

   In 2006 I headed down the Old Thunder River Trail (from Indian Hollow) with the intent of doing a hike around Fishtail Mesa.  This was the second day and I decided to change my itinerary due to the rather dry conditions, so I packed up my camp above Fishtail Spring (shown in the photo) and hiked up and over the saddle into Indian Hollow where I set up camp for the next few days.
   In 1992 Neil Jacobs and I did a hike over to Clear Creek.  This was our fifth, and final, day as we packed up our camp in along the Tonto and headed back to Phantom and out the South Kaibab. [No photos.]

January 6

   In 1981 I did my first hike down the South Bass Trail.  I left the trailhead at 11 am and reached the river by 5 pm.  I missed seeing a lot of the historical stuff in the area but not something as awesome as the Wheeler Fold, shown in the photo.
   In 2006 I headed down the Old Thunder River Trail (from Indian Hollow) with the intent of doing a hike around Fishtail Mesa but instead spent three nights in Indian Hollow.  This was my third day and I day hiked up to the top of Fishtail Mesa and got a chance to look around a bit, but not enough time to go all the way to the end.  Still, I did find a register in a cairn along the west rim.

January 7

   In 1981 I did my first hike down the South Bass Trail.  This was the second day and I got this photo of the beach where I had been camped the night before, all packed up and ready to head for the Tonto level, where I camped short of Garnet Canyon this night.
   In 1996 with John Eastwood, we were able to finally crack the secret of the Pt. Huitzil route.  I was able to work my way along this crack, suspended above the ground a bit, to a corner where I could get to the "ladder" that leads up to the hole in the Coconino.
   In 2001 I did a couple of short hikes with Liz Scott - down the South Kaibab to Cedar Ridge and, as shown here, down the New Hance to the lower part of the Coconino (with Coronado Butte in the background).
   In 2006 I headed down the Old Thunder River Trail (from Indian Hollow) with the intent of doing a hike around Fishtail Mesa but instead spent three nights in Indian Hollow.  This was my fourth day and I day hiked over to a good flowing creek in the next canyon to the north (Kwagunt Hollow) and then I had hopes of hiking out to, and up to the top of Racetrack Knoll.  I ran out of time for that but did get this nice shot of the knoll.
   In 2012 I was joined by John Eastwood and Duncan Orr for a day hike down into Hance Creek.  We had thought to be able to get all the way to the river, but there just wasn't enough time - we made it to the first of three major bypasses.  But, we also got to use a definite trail down into Hance from the Tonto on the west side of the creek that was a cool score for us.  Here is John and Duncan at one of the many idyllic pools in Hance.

January 8

   In 1981 I did my first hike down the South Bass Trail.  This was the third day and I was able to get to a beach a bit downstream from Garnet where I set up camp.  Then it was time for a day hike to Elves Chasm, shown in the photo.
   In 1984 I did a hike with Karen Herrera down the Tanner Trail for a few days.  Here she is at the Redwall Overlook on our way down on this first day.
   In 2006 I headed down the Old Thunder River Trail (from Indian Hollow) with the intent of doing a hike around Fishtail Mesa but instead spent three nights in Indian Hollow.  This was my last day and I packed up and returned to the rim directly up Indian Hollow.  There are three places that require some consideration and I recall taking off my pack at all three.  At this spot - the middle cliff - I hoisted up my pack and shoved it onto the high ledge and then climbed up over it.

January 9

   In 1981 I did my first hike down the South Bass Trail.  This was the fourth day and I moved my camp from below Garnet to the Tonto above Bass Canyon.  On the way I got this view of Mt. Huethawali in the afternoon while looking up Copper Canyon.
   In 1984 I did a hike with Karen Herrera down the Tanner Trail for a few days.  This was our second day and we spent the morning enjoying the beach environment.  With some driftwood we made this sign that I though passing river runners would notice - Eat At Mom's.

January 10

   In 1981 I did my first hike down the South Bass Trail.  This was the fifth, and final, day and I hiked back up to the rim from my camp on the Tonto.  Up above the Coconino I spotted these ruins (which I think pretty much everyone sees, but I missed them on the way down).
   In 1984 I did a hike with Karen Herrera down the Tanner Trail for a few days.  This was our last day as we hiked back up to the rim from out camp higher up the trail from the river.  In the morning the Desert View Watchtower was barely visible on the rim.

January 11

   In 2003 I did one of my favorite looping day hikes - down the Grandview to Horseshoe Mesa, off to the east to the Tonto, and follow it around to an overview of the river above Sockdolager Rapids, then back up to the mesa from the trail on the west prong and back to the rim.  This hike was made even more interesting by the snowpacked conditions on the upper portion of the trail as seen in the photo.
   In 2015 I did an overnight hike to Phantom with a former student of mine, Ty Ewing.  He had graduated the previous month and was still in town before leaving for his new job.  Here we are at Indian Garden on our way down.

January 12

   In 2015 I did an overnight hike to Phantom with a former student of mine, Ty Ewing.  He had graduated the previous month and was still in town before leaving for his new job.  This was our second, and final, day and we hiked up the South Kaibab after having the early breakfast at the Phantom Canteen.  The clouds were low lying in the morning and I got this shot of a misty O'Neil Butte from the so-called "Mormon Flats" section.  Not surprisingly, Ty got to the rim about an hour ahead of me.

January 13

   In 1981 I did a three day trip with my sister, Sue Foster, who, like me (and my other sister, Gayle) was working on the South Rim at this time (all for Fred Harvey).  We hiked down the Hermit Trail and camped at the creek for two nights.  This was our first day and I took this picture of Sue at the rest house be Santa Maria Spring.  If memory serves, I don't think we saw anyone else during this trip.

January 14

   In 1981 I did a three day trip with my sister, Sue Foster, who, like me (and my other sister, Gayle) was working on the South Rim at this time (all for Fred Harvey).  We hiked down the Hermit Trail and camped at the creek for two nights.  This was our second day and we did a day hike down to the river.  Here is Sue at Hermit Rapids on a cool, but nice and sunny day.

January 15

   In 1981 I did three day trip with my sister, Sue Foster, who, like me (and my other sister, Gayle) was working on the South Rim at this time (all for Fred Harvey).  We hiked down the Hermit Trail and camped at the creek for two nights.  This was our last day and we hiked back up to the rim on the Hermit Trail.  [No photos.]

January 16

   In 1999, John Eastwood and I "day-hiked" down the Boucher Trail (from the Silver Bell trailhead) to the river and back.  It had been a very mild winter and lent itself to this kind of hike.  Still, we reached the creek in the mid afternoon and despite our better judgment (OK, despite John's better judgment!) we put in the time to get to the river, where this photo was taken.  It turned out to be a grueling hike back up as we didn't reach the trailhead until after sunrise the next morning.  Occasional napping along the way during a bitterly cold night was less than pleasant.  John has since become skeptical when I suggest a "day hike," wondering if that means 24 hours!

January 17

   In 2004 with John Eastwood and one of my MBA students, Peter, I did a day hike down the Grandview to Horseshoe Mesa, then down to Cottonwood Creek and around to the trail that leads up the west prong of the horseshoe, with a side trip to the Cave of the Domes.  Here is a photo of me on the mesa - I think that the cairn marks the route to the cave.
   In 1999, John Eastwood and I "day-hiked" down the Boucher Trail (from the Silver Bell trailhead) to the river and back.  It had been a very mild winter and lent itself to this kind of hike.  We reached the river very late in the afternoon (on the 16th) and had to hike up mostly in the dark, not reaching the rim until after sunrise on this day.  [No photos.]

January 18

   In 2003 Vicki Wallis and I did a day hike down the South Kaibab, across the Tonto and up the BA.  I wanted to use this opportunity to check out the route that the telephone line takes from "The Tipoff" on the South Kaibab Trail at the Tonto level.  We followed the line to the edge of the Tapeats and there was a rough trail through the cliff that led down to a ridge that the regular trail passes by.  Here she is at one of the better spots on this route next to one of the telephone poles.

January 19

   In 2008 I went up to the South Rim to do a quick day hike to Plateau Point.  Not many on the trail and absolutely deserted out at the point.  Here's the view looking back to the rim.  If you look closely, you'll see the old headframe from the Orphan Mine.
   In 1981 I started a nine day trek to Asbestos Canyon.  This first day I hiked down the South Kaibab and then on toward Clear Creek.  Did I make it all the way there?  I don't know as I didn't keep a record.  Also, no photos for this first day.

January 20

   In 1981 I did a nine day trek that took me to Asbestos Canyon.  This was the second day (and the first picture!!), of Angel's Gate as I was contouring without a trail along the Tonto Plateau.

January 21

   In 1981 I did a nine day trek that took me to Asbestos Canyon.  This was the third day when I hiked from the Tonto near Hall Butte to Asbestos via the saddle at Newberry Butte, shown here in the photo, as viewed from the saddle.  Note my pack laying on the ground about thirty feet away.  I had followed a route through Vishnu Canyon that another hiker (Doug Romer; another Fred Harvey employee) told me about that came across the bed below the fall.  That required a very sketchy few steps across a spot about fifteen feet above the bed that nearly made be turn back.  After about an hour of contemplation I made the crossing.  But, as I climbed up the other side, to the Newberry saddle, I saw that it would have been much easier to cross further up the bed, above the fall, and that is the way I returned a few days later.
   In 2006 Erik Drake and I went up to Marble Canyon to do a day hike down South Canyon.  We checked into the Cliff Dwellers Lodge on the way in so we wouldn't have to drive all the way back to Flagstaff after what we expected to be a long day.  Great weather, although cold.  Frozen water pockets and dripping icicles in the bed of South.  We got as far as the overlook of the river atop the Redwall before we had to turn back.  Here is Erik on the long bypass of a cliff near the Bedrock Canyon junction.  We had to ascend from the bed in the dark.  Thankfully the numerous cairns showed up well in our headlamps and kept us on the right route to the rim.  We were both anxious to get to the lodge and enjoy some hot chocolate!  I wrote up a fuller account here.

January 22

   In 1981 I did a nine day trek that took me to Asbestos Canyon.  This was the fourth day and I got to do some day hiking in the Asbestos area.  Here is a photo of the camp remains here, which were mostly gone when I returned to this area in 1993.  Note the alarm clock (facing away) sitting on the cast iron stove, along with a big pot.  At the 2016 Grand Canyon Historical Society Symposium presenter Shane Murphy argued that most of the mining in the canyon that we associate with Hance was, in fact, being directed and done by William Ashurst, who was a partner with Hance.
   In 2000 John Eastwood and I (and our dogs - Annie, Peppyr and Rocket) went up to spend the day on the Big Saddle Trail in Crazy Jug Canyon.  Here is John down near the spring with Peppyr beside him and Annie out in front.

January 23

   In 1981 I did a nine day trek that took me to Asbestos Canyon.  This was the fifth day and I got to do some more day hiking in the Asbestos area.  I followed the wide bench to the west and got this photo looking back east with a bit of Hance Rapids showing on the river and, barely visible, the Watchtower at Desert View on the rim.  Circled on the image is the outlet of a mine from the other side of this point that is really a tunnel that ends on this cliff face.

January 24

   In 1981 I did a nine day trek that took me to Asbestos Canyon.  This was my sixth day and time to start my return.  I packed up and hiked back to camp on the Tonto out in front of The Howlands Butte.  Along the way I took this photo looking up at Vishnu, seemingly from my route across Vishnu Canyon.  On this hike I only took 16 pictures and this was the last one!  Back then paying for film, carrying film, and paying to develop film, seemed prudent.  Today (2017) that seems rather appalling.

January 25

   In 2003 I did a quick day hike down the Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Pt. and back.  All of my photos turned out fuzzy, and this the best of the lot with some stylization courtesy of Photoshop.  This is also the very last roll of film I have used!
   In 2004 Erik Drake and I went down the Hermit Trail to the river and back on a day hike.  Here is a photo Eric took of me at the rapids.  [If you look back to my photo for Jan. 14 you'll see the same rock but with the river running much lower.]
   In 1981 I did a nine day trek that took me to Asbestos Canyon.  This was my seventh day and I hiked from my camp out in front of The Howlands Butte and into Clear Creek.  While there I actually had time to do a quick hike up the creek to some ruins, although I took no photos this day.

January 26

   In 1981 I did a nine day trek that took me to Asbestos Canyon.  This was my eighth day and I hiked from my camp out in Clear Creek to Phantom Ranch.  While there I did a hike up to Utah Flats and down Phantom Creek back to camp.  [No photos.]

January 27

   In 1981 I did a nine day trek that took me to Asbestos Canyon.  This was my ninth, and final, day and I hiked from my camp at the Bright Angel Campground back to the South Rim. [No photos.]

January 28

January 29

January 30

January 31

   In 2013 I did a loop hike from Lee's Ferry to Cathedral Wash, hiking down along the river, shown in the photo, and back across the plateau.  I had this notion that I could hike through Marble Canyon on a series of (mostly) day hikes.  That turned out much harder than I thought and this is the only segment I actually did.  I wrote up a fuller account of this hike here.