In 1976, I took a job with the State of New Mexico, creating and directing an Outward Bound-style wilderness program for the Forensic Treatment System. Also known as a “hoods in the woods” program, it was for “adjudicated” individuals – supposedly non-violent offenders (although that didn’t turn out to be the case). It was called “The Wilderness Program”. The Program started with a long winter expedition in the Grand Canyon. That trip started with a descent of the Salt Trail into the Little Colorado drainage, then downstream along the Colorado River on the Beamer Trail, then past Tanner Creek and along the shoreline for a section that we could find no information on. We succeeded in making it to Red Canyon, and onto the Tonto Trail. We climbed to the South Rim for a re-supply via the Grandview Trail, then returned to the Canyon via the Bright Angel Trail at night. One highlight of this descent was when I slipped on and did a belly glissade on a pool of frozen mule piss! We then continued up the North Kaibab Trail for a solo. One other incident of note occurred – a participant fell through a pile of driftwood near Cardenas Creek and broke his achilles tendon. This required an evac. I hiked up the Tanner Trail and then returned to the group and injured individual by helicopter, which then evacuated him. Fortunately, we had a staff member on the rim to look after him.
The Program started with a long winter expedition in the Grand Canyon. That trip started with a descent of the Salt Trail into the Little Colorado drainage, then downstream along the Colorado River on the Beamer Trail, then past Tanner Creek and along the shoreline for a section that we could find no information on. We succeeded in making it to Red Canyon, and onto the Tonto Trail. We climbed to the South Rim for a re-supply via the Grandview Trail, then returned to the Canyon via the Bright Angel Trail at night. One highlight of this descent was when I slipped on and did a belly glissade on a pool of frozen mule piss! We then continued up the North Kaibab Trail for a solo. One other incident of note occurred – a participant fell through a pile of driftwood near Cardenas Creek and broke his achilles tendon. This required an evac. I hiked up the Tanner Trail and then returned to the group and injured individual by helicopter, which then evacuated him. Fortunately, we had a staff member on the rim to look after him.Here’s my Flickr collection:
