At the end of the South Rim’s historic Grandview Trail lies Horseshoe Mesa, a remote promontory in the heart of the canyon which boasts sweeping vistas and a wealth of intriguing interpretive points of interest.

This rugged corner of the canyon will serve as the setting for participants to develop skills in desert backpacking, Leave No Trace camping, water management, food storage, and the proper use of map and compass. Practice sessions will be conducted amidst the stark expansiveness of the Tonto Platform, the lush riparian habitat of Cottonwood and Hance creeks, in the serpentine Cave of the Domes and perhaps on a descent on an abandoned mining trail to the Colorado River itself. In addition to the wilderness skills primer, participants will learn basic geology, and consider the modern and historic forces that are shaping the grandest of canyons.

This class is ideally suited for experienced backpackers looking for the next step in difficulty from the more heavily-travelled Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails.