Following in My Grand Fathers Foot steps.
This is a very LONG story takes about an hour to tell . But will try to give the short version.
Last year a wonderful lady and her husband found us on the Internet . I am still amazed how they ever found us. The Man does river trips and for years has seen a large rock in the bottom of the Canyon With the name WL Vaughnan Claude Texas and the Date 7 11 1912 carved on it . near the rock was a wood plank with TW Lynch Claude carved on it. They asked if we knew who TW Lynch from Claude was . Yes we answered. (that was my Grand Father). Then they asked if we knew why ? his name would be carved on a wood plank in the bottom of the Grand Canyon? Mom and Dad explained that we knew Granddad, Temple W Lynch had worked in the Canyon with his best friend WL (Bill ) Vaughnan. We knew they packed Cement on mules to the bottom of the Canyon to build Cabins and trails. They explained that these items were in the Canyon and they were just trying to find out who these people were so they could help make it part of the Parks history. When I found out about the Rock and wood plank I asked my good friend whom I work with (he hikes the Canyon every year) knows the Canyon better than anyone I know, IF he had ever seen the rock or plank. ?? He told me he had a picture of a boulder with some ole boy from Texas's name on it. He went to his house and brought his camera down to work. I looked at it and sure enough it was the Boulder with WL Vaughnans name on it. WOW .. He tells me I know right where that is .. Its at Bass camp.. I can take you right to it ... He told me the history of Bass Camp and explained how it is in a very remote area of the Canyon. He assured me I can take you down there and I can get you out. However as he said it " But I won't BS you the N Bass Trail is a ROUGH trail. So I planned on 2011 because he had another trip planned for this year. In August he surprised me when he called me and said HEY I got the permits to go down and see that rock if your ready .. ?? UHhh Uhh .. ok .. see I was pretty over wieght and to say the least out of shape . NOT really ready.. SOooo started my great adventure. I didn't even own a back pack.. REI loved me for months. LOL .. Started hiking .. I live at 7500 ft elev so hiking around home helped .. and at work I hiked aruond Winslow Az .. ( I am a Locomotive Engineer. ) It was hard to get hikes in beween working trips .. but tried to hike Everyday. The Last week of Sept we started our trip at Winslow and drove to Swamp Point where the trail head for the North Bass trail is. There was 5 of us our ages were 51 54 62 65 and 70.. and I was the weakest link and the youngest . I will spare the details .. BUT My good friend is a MAN of his word .. he Got me down N Bass Trail to Bass Camp .. under the over hand with all the collected items from aruond Bass Camp on top of a wash tube was the wood plank with my Grand fathers Name carved on it
TW Lynch Claude. No way to explain my emotions .. It was a VERY tough hike and here I was standing where my Grand father had worked with a plank that had marked his cabin. We then saw the large Boulder with WL Vaughnan The date 7 11 1912 Claude Texas and his brand carved on it . We stayed down there two more days and did short day hikes .. THEN the wheather turned bad just as we were going to start out .. this is the same storm that derailed a freight train with a tornado near Flagstaff. again I will spare the details BUT as they say if there isn't a little Danger then its not really an adventure... trust me WE had an adventure ..
MY friend was again a MAN of his word .. he got me OUT .. Safe ..
This has been an amazing life changing experience for me .. my Dr was taken back when he learned I had lost over 44 pounds .. and my Colestoral had vastly been reduced. .. I owe SO much to my friends who took me down and brought me out .. It was amazing to see the plank and walk the trials that my Grandfather had helped to build. AND THANK YOU To the National Parks for keeping the items at Bass Camp safe.. some times people are just nice and do the right thing and leave things as they are.
Have a Great Thanksgiving .. I know me and my wife have some amazing things to be thankful for this year.
PTL
Other | 2000-Present
Submitted 11/14/2010, WETA
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