On Edge in Rider Canyon
What is perhaps the final frontier for major canyon exploration in the desert southwest, the Colorado River thru the Grand Canyon offers some of the deepest and most remote slot canyons to be found in North America. Providing a stark and spectacular contrast to the surrounding arid desert they exhibit lush waterfalls, narrow passages and smoothly carved walls. Climbing, rope work and severe off-trail route finding in the extreme terrain of the Colorado Plateau is to be expected. With names like Elves’ Chasm, Silver Grotto and Vasey’s Paradise the known slot canyons of the inner gorge of Grand Canyon showcase mystical pockets of life in a harsh environment.
This venture brought us to a world that is as old as the rocks itself. Rider Canyon is a remote tributary of the Colorado River located deep in Marble Canyon; it is very rugged with difficult access issues, however like most others the effort put into reaching it ends up paying dividends. Brittany and I head out on a Tuesday afternoon with the sun at our backs, subway in our bellies and a canyon on the mind. After a long and rough drive across the Kaibab Plateau we soon reach the edge of the canyon; wide but steep and close to 1,500 feet deep. As it nears the Colorado River the walls quickly close in, the stream begins to flow and we are faced with the first of several obstacles. On a ledge above the stream we make a nice camp, cook some dinner and warm up by the fire. The next day we make our way to the river, lie on the sandy beach and enjoy the sun and water. I somehow forgot how beautiful that river is. We retrace our steps back to my truck which is much easier said than done but eventually make it out. Brittany’s first backpacking trip ends up being a damn good one. We are greeted by a light rain and make haste, soon enough back on the pavement and on our way home. Gooood trip.
Eric