RAOC Gazette - page 166
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1978 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | No |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1978 |
| Late date | 1978 |
| Transcription |
EXPEDITION DcV GULCH (GRAND CANYON ARIZONA) BY CAPTAIN I\\ O. H. DE FOUBERT IT all began after an excellent guest night in the now defunct 5 Airportable Brigade Officers Mess, when the after dinner dis- cussion turned to where we would like to spend our Summer holidays. That was with the proviso that we could, of course, afford it! Having discussed deserted Caribbean islands and Pacific retreats and even degenerated to discussing Indian Ocean backwaters, adventure holidays became the topic. Then in a blinding flash it came to us maybe—yes just maybe, Her Majesty's minions in the MOD might be persuaded to pay for our Summer holiday—abroad! It didn't take long to realise that our horizons were limited to RAF routes and as the frequency of flights to the West surpassed those to the East, it was decided to aim for America. The next step was to decide on the type of activity and area of operations. It was a pure coincidence that the author received a series of Time /Life books for Christmas which depicted many worthwhile areas such as Outer Mongolia, Siberia, the deserts of Africa, jungles of Borneo and many other hazardous possibilities. However, of all the options open to us it was decided to aim for the Grand Canyon in Arizona in the United States of America. Our aim we still had to decide upon, but after several letters to various American Governmental departments and several hundredweights of info in return, we decided to cross the Grand Canyon from East to West and North to South, the expedition would be called Dry Gulch! Having completed the Adventurous Training Expeditions Annex and, for good measure, an Operation Order and an Ad- ministrative Order, we submitted our scheme for consideration. I do not think anyone could have been more surprised than we were when a few weeks later back came the Annex stamped 'Authorised' and showing an increase to the maximum financial assistance available! Now that authority had been received the serious aspect of picking a team, training, arranging visits to various branches of the MOD to sort out rations, flights, kit and medical assistance and PR cover all began. This was an interesting period during which we received an enormous amount of assistance and various agencies went to no end of trouble to sort out even the smallest of problems. As our departure date approached, anxieties set in as to what calamity might prevent us going and sure enough one did arise. The Guatamalians began making noises about invading Belize and of course our Government began a major airlift of troops into the area. All was not completely lost however, we were offered seats to Calgary in Canada, only two thousand five hundred miles from the Canyon! Fortunately, at the last minute, our flight details from Brize Norton to Dulles airport, outside Washington DC t were signalled through. It was ' all systems go* at last, and with a final check of wallets, kit, documents, maps and most important of all our contacts and telephone numbers, we set off for Brize Norton. We left UK at mid-day and arrived at Dulles International airport at 1615, where we were met by a representative of the British Defence Staff from Washington who briefed us on one or two matters such as routes, hire of vehicles, bus tickets and further emergency phone numbers. Three of the group left us at the Airport for Washington where they picked up a Trans- Continental Trailways bus, similar to the Greyhound bus system, and the remaining five proceeded to pack our gear into our hired 5.1 litre, nine seater Plymouth estate. Having succeeded in packing our kit into the car, and reducing the seating capacity to barely five, and on trying to close the rear door, we en- countered our first major problem, the window shattered and the door buckled! Messrs Avis car hire, having been convinced it was not our fault, exchanged the car immediately and so we began to unload and repack. The humidity at Dulles was well into the eighties, so it was with extreme relief, when having finished packing, we all climbed in, shut the windows and enjoyed the station wagon's air conditioning. That Friday night we camped at Hagersrown in Virginia, a staunch Yankee area where great historical emphasis is placed upon the various battles fought during the American Civil War. Three days later having driven through such famous cities as Indianapolis, St Louis, Springfield, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Tucumcari, Sante Fe and Alburquerque and many well known states such as - Pennsylvania, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and New Mexico and Arizona, we arrived in Flagstaff sixty miles from the Canyon, where we met up with our three bussers. In those three days we had travelled two thousand eight hundred and thirty five miles and apart from three ' blowouts,' our second station wagon had gone remark- ably welL The following day was spent re-sorting our gear, checking rations and water and a short recce. The following day after several final checks we set off apprehensively for the Canyon. Originally we had intended splitting into two groups. I was to lead one and Colin Robinson the other but as it turned out, the Area Rangers had closed one of our routes due to lack of water and so both parties headed off into the Canyon along the Grandview trail. It was about 10 am when we found the trail-leading over the edge from the plateau into the Canyon. It was an awesome sight, a grand view for a tourist but a rather horrifying sight When one had to contemplate the near vertical corkscrew, sparrow track leading nigh on straight down. After one or two 4 ribald jokes about ' volunteering,' whose bright idea it was/ and ' an Irishman's holiday* we set off dawn at about 1030 am. It was extremely hot, the sun directly overhead, soon to pass its zenith and shine directly onto the trail, Three hours later we reached Horseshoe Mesa, a bare plateau about halfway down into the Canyon. We were now really feeling the effects of the sun, the strain of the deep descent, the lack of an acclimatization period, and the weight of our rucksacks and water (approximately forty pounds). Our water con- sumption rate during the past three hours was extremely high and so we decided to drink and eat heartily and then, whfle the majority rested, two would search for water on the Eastern side of the Mesa (the 4 only known water source on the trail). Four hours after the picking of straws' ceremony Captains de Foubert and Robinson re-appeared, the former picking cactus needles from various parts of his body and the latter limping badly from an injury sustained whilst trying to kick a--caetus bush out of the way—the result, impaling his shin bone on the bush! The temperature in the Canyon, where the prevailing winds do not reach and the reflected heat from the rocks combine to form a very dense, dull, heat, reached 100°F. However, our water bottles now full and the rest of the party being regaled by the officers' stories of filling those bottles whilst standing shivering under cascades of ice-cold water (if the truth be known it was a muddy insect ridden foul smelling water hole), the party set off once more into the Canyon. Darkness began to fall quite early so after a further hour we camped on an un- protected edge of a buttress affording us some of the most spectacular views all around. We did not sleep very well that night, our insect repellant (civilian type) far from repelling seemed to attract all sorts of nasties, which when added to the aches of our limbs combined to ensure a sleep-free night. Reveille next morning was at 0445, there was just sufficient light for me to cook breakfast, appropriately, Rise and Shine, Alpen, tea, biscuits and jam (all specially prepared and packed for us by ' our man ' at DGST(N). Our early start was twofold, firstly to get on as fast as possible before the sun reached into the Canyon, and secondly to try and make up for lost time incurred by the ' water-hunt * the previous day. We descended into Cottonwood Creek, ascended and crossed Lylle Butte and for the first time had a clear view of the Colorado river and grapevine rapids about one thousand five hundred feet below. Following the Tonto trail, or rather what we assumed to be a trail (it was very indistinct with the general surroundings), to Boulder Creek, we rested from 11.30 to 14.30, sleeping fitfully and eating until the sun had passed through its zenith. We then headed for Newton Butte, the track having now completely disappeared we were dependant upon compasses, maps and back-bearings to fix our position. Lance Corporals Goodeve and Jones were always ready with their wit to capitalise upon — 372 — |
| Book number | R0246a |