WSC Senior Trip to the Grand Canyon

For their senior trip, the WSC Class of 2014 hiked from the rim of the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River and back.  The class typically starts before sunrise to avoid being at the bottom during the hottest part of the day.  This year, temperatures were over 100 degrees in the canyon.  Thanks to Daniel, Alex, and Erik for the pictures below.  Click to enlarge any of these photos. 

WSC Class of 2014

The start of the hike at sunrise

Erik about to take flight

The descent

 Erik, John and Evan

John, Skyler and Spencer on the Colorado River

Daniel, Bulat, Mr. Caldwell, James and Devin

 

Class Advisors: Mr. Walker, Mr. Shin, Dr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Wishek, Mr. Maffris, Mr. Fidani

       

     From the south rim

WSC Senior Trip to the Grand Canyon

On May 28, the senior class of 2013 took their annual trip to the Grand Canyon to celebrate the culmination of their senior year.  Though they would all walk across the stage a few days later, this walk proved to be one of the most challenging and fulfilling accomplishments in their time at Webb.  Those doing the rim to river route started at the South Kaibab trail, descended to the river, and then came up the Bright Angel Trail.  Those going to Bright Angel Point traveled the Bright Angel trail. 

 Landen at the South Kaibab trailhead just before sunrise

 The rim to river crew gathered before starting their descent.

 The boys descend on a trail at the bottom. Throughout the hike, views to the Canyon let the boys know exactly how far they had to go...just to get down.

 Seniors gathered at the first major overlook, above and below (Chason, Daniel, Mason, Harry).

 Masterful trailwork wends its way all the way down the canyon, here leading to the first rest hut on the right of the picture.

  Zigzags lead Tim, Daniel, Harry, Kabir, Kevin, Kainan, Mason and Jordan downward.

 Terence, Kevin, Jack and Toshi take a break at an overlook.

 Kevin and Terence -- click any photo to enlarge.

 Mr. Harris serves the patient role of sweeper, making sure no one gets left behind.

 The colors of the canyon speak to the ages of natural forces that have created it.

 For a sense of scale, take a look at the Webb boys standing on the trail in the lower left of the picture.

 Daniel and Kabir take advantage of the tying posts for mules and horses.

 Our first glimpse of the river

 The trail stretches out as the boys wait for mules to pass by (below).

 Fady leads a crew down to the first bridge crossing (upper right corner).

 As the trail descends, its color reveals different ages of erosion.

 Kainan, Davis, David, and Chason at the first bridge

 And after several long hours, the boys finally start climbing.  Mason leads over a stream that empties into the Colorado (above).

 Davis and Mason pause for one last photo together before Mason decided to start running (!) to the top.

 Right in the middle of the picture you can see the trail to Bright Angel Point, which extends from Indian Garden.

 Cole, Aman, and Jon pause for a rest on the way up.

 Raffi near the rim

This shot shows most of the rim to river route.  You can see the trail crossing the small plateau to the right, where it drops over the butte and further descends to the river, which you can see a little snatch of on the left of the picture.  The trail then shows itself again just below the river, climbs the narrow canyon at the bottom, ascends to Indian Garden and then zigzags the last 4.5 grueling miles to the top.

 Albert's rendering of our campsite

The next morning, the whole class gathered for a photo at Mather Point.
Congratulations WSC Class of 2013!

WSC Senior Trip to the Grand Canyon

The WSC Senior Trip returned saw two major developments this year.  First, the rafting element changed to tubing, which proved to be immensely popular with the boys.  Second, not a single boy did the short hike.  That's right, all fifty-one boys who hiked (two were injured and couldn't hike) did the long hike this year, the first time in anyone's memory that this happened!  And by long hike, I'm of course referring to the descent from the rim of the canyon, to the bottom, and then all the way back up in one day.  Fitting that this particular class, which has been so unified in and out of the classroom, rallied everyone on this difficult journey.  Thanks to Ryan for these photos, and to all the boys for their contributions to Webb over the last four years.

 The Canyon in the early morning light.

 Boys begin their descent.

 To get a sense for the scale of the canyon, enlarge this photo and take a look at the boys zig-zagging down the trail.

 This bridge crosses the Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon.

 Understandably, we don't have too many pictures of the boys on the way up.  But you can tell by the expressions on Ben's and Justin's faces as they approach the rim that it was a journey well worth celebrating. Congratulations Class of 2012!