Friday, June 01, 2012

Back from the Grand Canyon!

 We are back from 17 days of rowing and back to work!
the trip went mostly well, with some scary moments due to bony rapids in low water conditions, a few minor injuries, a couple wind days including one that was off the charts - all in all, as good as you could ask for!
 I have some great new friends from around the country, and got to row all I wanted as I was the guest rower for whenever someone wanted a break or were broken.

Plese note - to see the pictures better double click on one & then scroll throught them, they view *MUCH* better!
 Average camp scene.
 Rowing with Petito above, and Vasey's Paradise below.
 Bob, KB and Molly - that's a fun boat.
 Redwall Cavern - stunning.
 D. caught many a trout!
 Triple Alcoves.
 What you see above is the only known pre-Colombian bridge in North America, built by the Anasazi people long, long ago - it is perilously high on a cliff and off limits to visits - so cool!
 We had an uber-wind day and George twisted his wrist so I got to row 23mi into a vicious headwind - a great day, really.
 D. did many if not most of the GC in our duckie - she ROCKED!
 TL's boat.

 Zoroaster Temple at sunset.

 Me & my better 3/4 above, and below Ben rowing the hyside and Roper rocking a Sotar cataraft - our camera quit around day 12, but we took the Sotar to attach a motor once we left the park so we could motor all the way out into Lake Mead - both these guys are great boatmen - I got to row the Sotar as well - cool boat - Ben stepped up big time and led most of what we considered "high penalty" rapids - thanks, man!
 George & Charlene above, for some reason I got few pictures of them but they were great traveling companions.
 DO NOT enter the hole in the middle!
 Some quality time with Bob, and below his daughter KB and her friend M. or, "thing one/thing two" / "the Ringtails" The gals provided a much needed infusion of youth into the gang of old crusty dust farters - i wish I had got to learn this stuff from my dad when I was 20.
They were helpful, engaging, fun and solid.
 Swimmin' ground - a nice side creek.
 Bob & KB.
 Graham - he was AWESOME! He is slowly going blind, yet was a valued addition to the trip - super helpful, fun, solid, and as it turns out, one hell of a duckie rower and one hell of a fisherman - it was a pleasure to spend time with you!
 We all got to watch a total solar eclipse!


 D. killing it in the Ducky with Cindy - these gals power housed some of the largest rapids in the entire canyon!
 Roper & KB.
 Shade up!
 Happy Peeps above, and Jill below - Jill was a centered, peaceful soul I feel lucky to have the pleasure to hang out with - thanks for everything, you were great!
 Above, Allan & George.
 little boats, big canyon.
 The blue water of Havasu Creek.

 Our trip leader - great job, Allan!
 The ice blue waters of Havasu.
 You have to tie off to climbing anchors bolted and otherwise permanently affixed to the walls above.

 Havasu creek meets the Colorado.
 23mi into the wind = cooked, done. Bob too.
 Kitchen time.

 Awesome fishing! I stopped counting at 20 one day - tastes like trout - everyone caught fish.
 Evening powwow & debriefing.
 Natasha.
 "Kevin"
So long & thanks for all the fish!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks like you did it all!!

-El Pato

Unknown said...

Love all the pics, makes me miss the SW. Especially love the one of where the Havasu meets the Colorado. There is nothing like that Havasu blue/green water.

Anonymous said...

Great pictures! We will be spending the first 2 weeks of Oct doing just that and your pics got me super stoked for the trip!
Rob

Anonymous said...

Glad you had a great trip! I was working up on a dumb hot rock around 58 mile when your trip passed us. I could hear Denise's greating of "heyyyyyy, how are youuuuu?". Sorry I didn't get down for a proper greeting. On a side note, I haven't seen that many trout in the river in a long time. Great pics!

Joe Hazel

Japhy rider said...

fantastic!