Shinumo Amphitheater has many attractions. Numerous faults occur along the river in this area, and as is the case with faults in the Canyon generally, they expose rocks of the Grand Canyon Supergroup. In the prior post, we saw, at Mile 106, both the Bass Limestone at riverside and the Shinumo Quartzite ahead. The South Bass Trail comes to the river at the head of Bass Rapid (Mile 107), and the North Bass Trail starts a little downstream, at Lower Bass Camp, on river right at Mile 108.3. Also found at the head of Bass Rapid, on river left, is the abandoned metal boat, the Ross Wheeler. The ruins of a cable crossing built by William Bass is seen further downstream, on river left at Mile 108.
Bass Rapid, Mile 107.7. The trail to Shinumo Creek can be seen cutting across a hillside, in photo center.
The Ross Wheeler was abandoned in 1915, Mile 107.6, river left
Seen at the mouth of Hotauta Canyon, river right at Mile 107.7, are tilted layers of the Shinumo Quartzite, overlain by another Supergroup rock, the Dox Sandstone. The light-colored ridge seen above descends from a monument known as the Dox Castle. This is the so-called type locality, meaning the Dox Sandstone was first studied, described and named here.
The roomy Lower Bass Camp, on river right at Mile 108.3, is a much-coveted lay-over camp. It gives access to the North Bass Trail, which follows Shinumo Creek and the tributary White Creek upstream. One can also turn downstream, and hike a short ways to where a downclimb through boulders leads to the waterfall. The shoreline upstream from camp has some of the most interesting fluted and polished rocks in the Canyon.
Bass Camp, view downstream
David Brown welcomes the hikers back to camp
A modest bacon bomb
Presenting the “Mr. Short” skit
Tyndall Dome, across the river
Brittlebush
Evening view
Brittlebush, on a gully outwash
Chicory
Arizona fishhook cactus
Sculpted rock, upstream of camp
Sculpted rock and brittlebush
Polished quartz vein
Quartz nodules in schist
Sculpted schist and quartz
Upstream view of Bass Camp and Dox Castle (upper left), from the hilltop to the downstream side of camp.
View of Shinumo Creek, from the hilltop to the downstream side of camp.
View of Shinumo Rapid, from the hilltop to the downstream side of camp.
Upstream view of the Colorado, from the pass to Shinumo Creek
Inscription, at the Bass tourist accommodation on Shinumo Creek
The North Bass Trail goes up White Creek, which is a tributary of Shinumo Creek
Redwall Canyon, a tributary canyon of White Creek
The mouth of Shinumo Creek is just downstream of Bass Camp, but a cliff intervenes between the two. The creek and waterfall are usually visited after pushing off from Bass Camp.
Filling up with water at the mouth of Shinumo Creek, just downstream of Bass Camp
Shinumo Creek, below the waterfall
The waterfall
View out of Shinumo Creek
Note: This and prior posts on the subject are excerpted from my iBook: “The Grand, the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, a Photo Journey and Visual Guide, 2nd. edition”. The book costs $5.99 and is available from the iTunes Store, using this link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-grand/id672492447?ls=1
