Would you go and play in the Grand Canyon?

Joe Baker · Post by **Joe Baker** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:40 pm

There's a place in Great Smoky Mountain Nat'l Park called Newfound Gap -- elevation ~5000 ft, BEAUTIFUL overlooks into Tennessee and N. Carolina (the state border runs right through the parking lot). At one corner is an observation deck, a round stone structure that's maybe 20 feet above the rest of the place. The whole area is always crowded with tourists. I've been fantasizing (hallucinating?) for a couple of years about having some sort of tuba or BQ Christmas event, playing on top of that deck. Maybe invite folks from TN and NC to "meet in the middle".

I haven't even asked the Park Rangers if there's any way to do it, but I think it'd be awesome. And (if I didn't have to CARRY my tuba down into the canyon), so would the Grand Canyon idea!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Anybody remember Scott Rimm-Hewitt, who hiked the entire Appalachian Trail -- all 2160 miles, from Maine to Georgia -- with his Besson Tuba? How unbelievably cool is that....
________________________________
Joe Baker, who is getting into shape to hike the 100 mile wilderness that includes GSMNP, probably sometime next summer.

TexTuba · Post by **TexTuba** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:43 pm

I'd LOVE to!!! Get a bunch of tubas and just wail down there.

Ralph

Captain Sousie · Post by **Captain Sousie** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 3:25 pm

Chris...Joe, tell me when and where to meet you and I'm there.

JB · Post by JB » Wed Mar 23, 2005 8:40 pm

Tubist of Time wrote:Make that a quintet.

...sextet...

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:40 pm

septet

Gorilla Tuba · Post by **Gorilla Tuba** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 10:06 pm

While there, be sure to go visit Tuba City. It is about an hour from the Canyon.

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 11:01 am

You can only play in the Grand Canyon, if you can play the Thunderstorm section of the Grand Canyon Suite.

davet · Post by **davet** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:21 am

Only if my alto horn qualifies as a tuba. I've hiked to the river and back in one day at age 50.- NO WAY with the weight of a tuba. However.. if we COULD rappell in.........I'll bring my 150 foot rope. Who's bringing the other piece? (I'll go second)

Dave

davet · Post by **davet** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 1:47 pm

Almost got divorced because of Tuba City. Went there to see the dinosaur tracks. My wife was convinced that we were never going to make it off the res. alive! I thought everyone was super friendly- just well "oiled". Our guide was kind of like a broken record. He would deliver part of his spiel, pause and then continue the speil by repeating the last couple of sentences word for word and then continuing. Meanwhile, the number of ne'er do wells at the roadside stand increased from 3 to about 15- kind of reminded us of vultures gathering....

It was one of MY best vacation side trips ever. My wife didn't speak to me for most of the drive back to Phoenix. Hmmm. that wasn't so bad either....

Ames0325 · Post by **Ames0325** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:20 pm

YOU finance the trip I'm sure many of us including myself would gladly tow along. ( of course I'd need to buy a tuba)
Amy

gwwilk · Post by **gwwilk** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 8:43 pm

I finally voted my no, 'cause my bet is that none of you yesses have ever been to the bottom of the Grand Canyon via any mode of transportation.

At the very bottom, the river is LOUD. You have to get a half mile or so away from it in order to have a sonic environment suitable for a musical performance. Phantom Ranch provides just such a suitable environment, so I guess you would have a venue.

But the logistics of your quest are formidable. It's difficult enough to get yourself down the trails to the bottom with appropriate gear for the weather changes a mile difference in elevation bring. I think the only way normal people are going to get there and back with their tuba is to put it on a mule or a helicopter. Sure, some very fit runners might be able to carry everything they need plus their tuba down and back, but how many of us tuba players would qualify as such? Especially those of us who spend so much time on our fannys TubeNetting?

Here is a sampling of some digital pics I took at the Canyon in March 2000: http://www.gwwilk.com/GrandCanyon/LowRe ... n_2000.htm You have to pack a lunch plus enough water for the 5 to 7 hour trek when you hoof it. Most people either stay at Phantom Ranch as my sister (who was the Grand Canyon National Park historical architect with the National Park Service at the time) and I did, or camp out at various approved campsites. Either way, you have to have a reservation, and the waiting time is at least a year or more. Plan way, way ahead, and avoid the summer heat of over 110F at the bottom.

The first photo shows the packed ice and snow on the top couple hundred yards of the South Kaibab trail. This necessitates using crampons, and the slipon kind worked well for such a short distance. We also needed them for a ways on the Bright Angel trail during the last several hundred yards of the ascent.

Here is a link to higher resolution versions of the images: http://www.gwwilk.com/GrandCanyon/HighRes

It's a wonderful adventure, and I would encourage all who are able to plan and execute a trip to the bottom of one of the natural wonders of the world. Just don't get your hopes up that you're going to meet up with a bunch of TubeNetters at the bottom in order to play a concert for the wildlife. Far better to meet at the top and play out on the rim somewhere, then wait for the echoes. There are far more people at the top who would be able to appreciate the musical offering, too.

Jerry "I'll carry a Kellyburg to the bottom, but that's all" Wilkins

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 10:34 pm

You might want to scale back your plans a bit and raft into some good venue. How about Hell's Canyon on the Snake River?

There's a group from the LA Phil who already does this in New Mexico on a regular basis:

http://www.atmstravelnews.com/viewartic ... =74&AID=65

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:03 am

gwwilk wrote:I finally voted my no, 'cause my bet is that none of you yesses have ever been to the bottom of the Grand Canyon via any mode of transportation.

A friend of mine and I hiked it back when we were in college. Going down was a little rough on the knees and coming back up was just plain hard. It snowed on us at the top, hailed on us in the middle and rained on us at the bottom. And, we had a great time.

There is no way I would carry a tuba!

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:05 am

Chuck(G) wrote:You might want to scale back your plans a bit and raft into some good venue. How about Hell's Canyon on the Snake River?

I haven't rafted it; but I have taken the jet boat trip up the Snake. For the jet boat, a Walt Johnson case would be in order.

Shockwave · Post by **Shockwave** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 5:19 am

You may be thinking that the grand canyon will give you some spectacular reverb and delay effects, but its not likely. The last time I drove to the Grand Canyon I was on my way to Boston and just happened to have my sousaphone in the car. I just couldnt resist so I got the sousaphone out, walked to the rim of the canyon, and blew the loudest notes I ever played. I waited for an echo. And waited.......silence. Nothing. Even by aiming at the closest canyon wall I heard no return echo. I was surprised, but I think my sousaphone was genuinely saddened.

-Eric

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:35 am

I vote for the rim...north rim preferably....or we hire sherpas. All gather at one of the tourist viewpoints and let 'er rip. But outside like that....not much sound will be heard by anybody; it's a really, really, REALLY big place.

MA

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:56 pm

I'm sure the Grand Canyon will swallow up any sound directed down in it.

I flew over the canyon in a small plane.The pilot was a local guy who was so proud of (manmade) Lake Meade that he lectured endlessly about it.
I made the mistake of observing that a lake that small would be called a
bayou where I came from.
He clammed up and said not a word for the rest of the trip.

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:42 pm

You can play in the Grand Canyon without actually being in it, from either the South Rim or the North Rim. While you guys are climbing up out of the canyon, I will be in a nice warm bed and breakfast in Williams, eating dinner with Hanh.

_________________________________

Bill--who lives where puddles are called rivers.

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:22 am

There is a really cool echo canyon not very far from there. How would you like to hear it all coming right back at you?

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 11:00 am

Gabrielli with one choir.