When Milton and I did our top-to-bottom Grandstaff hike on Saturday, before we dropped to the canyon floor there was a good view of the main branch of the canyon as it continued up towards the mountains. From all the greenery, it was clear that this was where all the water that flows through Grandstaff Canyon - and makes it such a popular hike for dogs - comes from. I figured, why wouldn't we go back and check that out?
That's what we did on Sunday, while H did another twenty-five mile road ride. We got up at 5:30 and drove back out to the Sand Flats antenna, walked out to the overlook off of the Fins N' Things trail and dropped into the WSA. Instead of keeping to the established trail we'd done the day before, we picked our way - carefully, stepping on rocks so as to leave no trace - to the canyon floor immediately. We kept to the wash, which was either sandy or smooth rock slabs, and only had to work our way around one impassable (at least 20 feet high) pour-off. Where we had to make our way down a scramble, I left behind a tiny cairn so that I could remember where to go back up on the return.
When we got to where the other branch came in, I left a tiny cairn there too and we started to make our way up the main branch. There was lots of bird song. It got choked with vegetation (much of it sharp - I kept pulling thorns, spines and stickers out of both Milton and myself) and we had to hug the cliff wall to push through.
We crossed the creek ... and found ourselves in a swamp. I was not expecting a swamp. It was shallow and not that long and once I gave up the hope of keeping my feet dry, we were quickly through it. Only later, when it was too late to do anything about it, did I wonder about poison ivy - which is definitely found in Grandstaff Canyon, notably under the Morning Glory Arch.
After the swamp the water completely disappeared as we made our way through some dry tumbledowns. Around a corner the canyon widened and we were able to follow a very distinct trail (i.e. more than a game trail) through a grassy, sagebrush-dotted area. This trail allowed us to skirt yet another swamp before the water disappeared again. Obviously, this means that all the Grandstaff Canyon water is from springs, where the water is below the surface, surfacing in the swampy areas. The geology eventually forces it to the surface down canyon, where it becomes that nice creek; up canyon, however, the surface water is only occasional.
We kept going a little further as the canyon wider and dry, although slow going with some scrambling. Not wanting to be out too long in the hot desert sun, we retraced our route back to the car - scattering those little cairns as we went, to leave no trace - and luckily didn't break out with any poison ivy rashes. When we got home, I took a look at the map: we'd barely made a dent in exploring upper Grandstaff - that canyon just goes and goes and goes.
Hike stats: Only 5.76 miles; 2:31 hours / 2.3 m.p.h. moving; 2:57 / 2.0 overall; 910' feet of elevation
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