02/April – GC6 Boucher

Six in the hole.  What could be better?

Day 0:
5:30AM start.
Caravan of course.  No DeVaucal/Chevy factor.
San Diego county buried in clouds.
Gila Bend by 11am.  The timing is perfect.
"We thought you was a toad."
Oliver, turn your phone on.  A message!  Oh oh.
Mackall stayed up too late...missed his plane.
Mackall tried to get a "device" on the plane. Confiscation.
No BCO visit for us.  Time to "go shopping"!
Wal Mart Sterno will be a perfect backup.
Big ass burritos at Chilcote's.
Per introduction.  "The Swede"
Per must be wondering "who are these idiots?"
Did we forget Paul and Tom at the terminal?  Oh Well.
Tom avoids a fist fight with the Enterprise dude.
Back of the bus Mackall.  That's got to hurt.
Can we make the Rim by sunset?  Yes!  Mather.
Budweiser tall boys.  What could be better?
Meet the Parents.  It must have received an Oscar.
Focker.  Martha Focker.
The Grand is costing us a grand.  Spring break sucks.
A local amber bock or Michelob Amber Bock.  Whatever.
We Cook Pizza and Pasta.  A tradition.
Lets get an early start.
Lets sleep in.

Day 1:  Hermits Rest to Boucher Rapids (11 miles)
Room 325. Up by 6.  Loaded and ready by 7.
Room 327. Up by 7-ish.  Loaded and ready by 8-9.
Tom is a changed man.  Not for the better.
We have alllll day.
The King gets his cockpit position back.
#1965.  A beautiful number.
No CD?  No tape?  No "Girlfriend in a Coma"?
Is it the Superman song or The Rolling Stones?
Can we start hiking now?  We have allll day.
Time to go down.
Nice bonnet Paul.
What is "that's as wrong as two boys..." in Swedish?
Boucher is a Focker (or is it Foucher?).
Who would do this trail twice?
Oliver are you doing OK?  Eat something boy.
Nothing like a hot lunch in the hole.  A Swedish thing?
No hurry.  We have all day.
Beautiful skies.  5000 feet for miles.
Now it gets tough.
Watch out.  Agave!
Few have seen the elusive Buckhorn Sheep.
This is a picture of the rare Buckhorn:
  http://wc.pima.edu/Bfiero/tucsonecology/plants/cactuses_buch.htm
DJ nipple spillage!  Not a good day for that.
Oops.  Missed the Tonto turn.  Send Per running.
Does anyone have extra water?
Boucher Creek.  A sight for sore eyes.  Fill up.
"The Hermit" is spotted.
Did you feel the ghost?
Take me to the river.
The creek comes and goes.  Will we have water at the rapids?
9 hours of hiking.  That's tough on the feet.
Home for two days!  Awesome.
Sleep on the beach.  Hope the water doesn't rise.
Box wine.  Per did it right.
2.25 liters of wine gone.
Miss May is OK.
Girls gone wild!
Bean and Chili burritos with salsa.  So darn good.
Mackall falls asleep mid sentence.

Day 2:  Optional 11+ mile day hike to Slate Creek
Serious trowel/dumping talk.  Size matters.
Who's in for the hike?
Gary wants a bye.
Paul wants his ankle to rest.
Oliver wants feet and body to rest.
Then there were three.
The hermit ghost leads us to Oregonians with water information.
That's why we missed the turn.
Back on the Tonto.  Its always basically flat.
Beautiful trail.  Long ass trail.  No people.
Agave!
Slate Creek has a trickle of water.  That's all we need.
Furthest east the team has been.
Hope to make the 5PM happy hour.  GatorRum's a waiting.
Meanwhile, back at camp, nothing is going on.
Paul has created a wind flapping obstruction.
The Playboy is a little worn now.
Gotta like the nude bathing option.
151 seems to work with Grape better today.
Per is a fan of the crazy concoction.
Even Gary consumes a nominal amount.
Time for Gary's most excellent chicken, bean, tomato, and curry treat.
Could you carry a heavier meal?
Paul brings the reduced weight 1 pound bag of funky color M&Ms.
How many "Big Dippers" are there?  Orion's belt.  Sure.

Day 3: Boucher Rapids to Hermit Rapids (8 miles)
Six guys, five trowels, is that enough?
Paul's stick has many functions.  The wooden one.
Easy day.
Best views of the river from the Tonto trail.
Agave!
Clouds keep it cool.
"Now tell me about the red head again"
Oliver sets a fast pace.
Another gay group photo.  Nice backdrop though.
Hermit Rapids looks so close.
Those are some serious wind gusts.
Hermit Creek looks very inviting.
DJ offers 13 year old kids some rum drinks.  Oops.
Cool water falls.
Controversy.  Do we cheat the permit?
Gary and DJ keep us honest.
Just stay on the damn creek.
Where is the roar of the rapids?
Take the same spot as GC3.
Finally catch a river rafter.  Screamers.
Early happy hour.
Lemon-Lime GatorRun tastes good today.
What was the major liquid spill about?
They must be lesbians if they didn't like Per.
Freeze dried bland food.  Easy cleanup.
Smores in the hole.  Very classy.
No smores in Sweden.
Gary and DJ sleep outside for The Team!
Could have picked a better night for no tent.
Sand, wind, and the great outdoors is not a good combo.

Day 4: Boucher Rapids to Hermit's Rest (8.5 miles)
5:30AM wakeup call from Mackall.
Oliver and Mackall break camp by 6.  Time to get up mister.
Time to go up.
Gotta like that short cut.
Excellent trail.
Agave!
Does Per ever breathe hard?
Catch Oliver and Tom around Breezy Point.
Last talking spot is Santa Maria Springs.
Last push.
Keep Per on the orienteering topic.
If he talks he can't go fast.
Per takes wrong switch backs.  DJ follows.
Tom makes same mistakes.
The van by 12 noon.  Yes!
Get those sandals on.
Feet repair center.
Move to Hermits Rest.
Open the Guinness and Pringles.
A toast to GC6 and Per.
Another gay group photo.
A slide photo spot by the bell for Paul.  Bell?
Scrape off three layers of sand in the showers.
Wendy's never tasted so good.
Live rock band entertainment.
Time for Phoenix via Flagstaff.
Snow on the mountains.  All we had was a couple of drops.
Serious downpour slows us down.
This hotel keeps moving east.
So long to the hippie and the Swede.
DJ takes the boys to Sabre Swings by 1AM.
Time for bed.

Excellent trip, hike, and company.
Loved having a European perspective.
Some of the best views of the canyon that never get old.
Here's to GC7
Long live the hole!

djj