Arizona
July 2011 - Day 1 - 6am at the Bright Angel trailhead, south rim
July 2011 - Day 1 - 6am at the Bright Angel trailhead, south rim
The cloud cover made the 6 hour hike down a bit more tolerable
The cloud cover made the 6 hour hike down a bit more tolerable
The cloud cover made the 6 hour hike down a bit more tolerable
5,000 foot descent over 7 miles!
5,000 foot descent over 7 miles!
A thuderstorm soaked all of our gear as we transferred it to dry bags.The first boat to put in tipped at the beginning of the rapids you see, dumping 2 passengers!
A thuderstorm soaked all of our gear as we transferred it to dry bags.The first boat to put in tipped at the beginning of the rapids you see, dumping 2 passengers!
Laurie thinks we're going for a 3 hour tour
Laurie thinks we're going for a 3 hour tour
Due to a huge snowpack and melt, The Glen Canyon Dam was releasing 25,000 cubic feet of water per second. We face the highest flow in years!
Due to a huge snowpack and melt, The Glen Canyon Dam was releasing 25,000 cubic feet of water per second. We face the highest flow in years!
Laurie dons goggles for the larger rapids so if she falls out, her contacts will stay intact
Laurie dons goggles for the larger rapids so if she falls out, her contacts will stay intact
Hey, it's been 3 hours, where's the take out?
Hey, it's been 3 hours, where's the take out?
Did I say 3 hours? I meant 9 days sucker!
Did I say 3 hours? I meant 9 days sucker!
Life vest, scuba booties, paddling gloves - $120 - lack of common sense - priceless
Life vest, scuba booties, paddling gloves - $120 - lack of common sense - priceless
Day 2 - Striking a sexy pose for skipper Casey while Dave hams it up
Day 2 - Striking a sexy pose for skipper Casey while Dave hams it up
The flotilla is hot on our trail
The flotilla is hot on our trail
80 year old Ron lets Laurie do the work - perfect form, btw
80 year old Ron lets Laurie do the work - perfect form, btw
Hey, this isn't as scary as I thought it would be! (little does she know what lies ahead)
Hey, this isn't as scary as I thought it would be! (little does she know what lies ahead)
Check out that Condor- also saw some Blue Herons, a few Big Horn Sheep,and lots of lizards. Surprisingly little wildlife overall
Check out that Condor- also saw some Blue Herons, a few Big Horn Sheep,and lots of lizards. Surprisingly little wildlife overall
Thanks to the fast moving water we had lots of free mileage. Wouldn't want to paddle the whole thing at 8,000 cfs!
Thanks to the fast moving water we had lots of free mileage. Wouldn't want to paddle the whole thing at 8,000 cfs!
Sandstone, limestone, shale, basalt, and others form the many layers of the canyon
Sandstone, limestone, shale, basalt, and others form the many layers of the canyon
Look ma, no hands - oops!
Look ma, no hands - oops!
Kickin' back on a slowly spinning raft, watching the canyon unfold was magical
Kickin' back on a slowly spinning raft, watching the canyon unfold was magical
Does this life vest make me look fat? No dear!
Does this life vest make me look fat? No dear!
Paddling up Shinumo Creek
Paddling up Shinumo Creek
Are we having fun yet?
Are we having fun yet?
Yes we are!
Yes we are!
Check out the guns on the hot blonde!
Check out the guns on the hot blonde!
Stay, stay...
Stay, stay...
The guides fixing lunch. Thanks to 4 supply boats and dry ice, we had plenty of fresh vegetables, great food, and a case of beer each!
The guides fixing lunch. Thanks to 4 supply boats and dry ice, we had plenty of fresh vegetables, great food, and a case of beer each!
Jonny watches the supply boats while we bugger off for a jaunt
Jonny watches the supply boats while we bugger off for a jaunt
Blacktail Canyon
Blacktail Canyon
Are those my binoculars or am I just happy to be here?
Are those my binoculars or am I just happy to be here?
Nice and cool in here!
Nice and cool in here!
Blacktail Canyon's acoustics were perfect for listening to Jonny's guitar and sweet voice
Blacktail Canyon's acoustics were perfect for listening to Jonny's guitar and sweet voice
This campground was on a huge bend in the river. This was facing us, with views upriver to the left and downriver to the right that were at least a mile long each
This campground was on a huge bend in the river. This was facing us, with views upriver to the left and downriver to the right that were at least a mile long each
Laurie and Megan connecting over a drink (notice the photog's Guiness by her feet:)
Laurie and Megan connecting over a drink (notice the photog's Guiness by her feet:)
This handy kit was setup every night at camp. All solid waste has to be carried out of the canyon. The pee is dumped in the river. No peeing allowed in the poo container, so you had to do the quickstep!
This handy kit was setup every night at camp. All solid waste has to be carried out of the canyon. The pee is dumped in the river. No peeing allowed in the poo container, so you had to do the quickstep!
KJ grillin' up a storm
KJ grillin' up a storm
Hey baby, what's a cute girl like you doin' on a sandbar like this?
Hey baby, what's a cute girl like you doin' on a sandbar like this?
Day 3 - Stone Creek Falls
Day 3 - Stone Creek Falls
A rinse in clear water was always welcome as the Colorado usually has a lot of silt. In order to minimize our impact (24,000 people go down the Colorado each year) we weren't
allowed to use our biodegradable soap in these sidestreams, so we did our
washing in the cold and often murky Colorado.
A rinse in clear water was always welcome as the Colorado usually has a lot of silt. In order to minimize our impact (24,000 people go down the Colorado each year) we weren't
allowed to use our biodegradable soap in these sidestreams, so we did our
washing in the cold and often murky Colorado.
Laurie can barely get her arms around that beastly belly
Laurie can barely get her arms around that beastly belly
Just look up - the grandeur is ever present
Just look up - the grandeur is ever present
Hey, stop takin' my picture, you perv
Hey, stop takin' my picture, you perv
Nick was on the edge of a 300 foot cliff
Nick was on the edge of a 300 foot cliff
Looks like we've got company
Looks like we've got company
Laurie works her way down the steep trail
Laurie works her way down the steep trail
Deer Creek Falls
Deer Creek Falls
The falling water pushed the air so fast it created gale force winds laden with water. This was as close as I could comfortably get
The falling water pushed the air so fast it created gale force winds laden with water. This was as close as I could comfortably get
Camp at Poncho's Kitchen. Our flotilla of 4 passenger paddle boats and 4 supply boats
Camp at Poncho's Kitchen. Our flotilla of 4 passenger paddle boats and 4 supply boats
Day 4 - Laurie decides to ride with the girls for the day
Day 4 - Laurie decides to ride with the girls for the day
Giggles all around
Giggles all around
We played leap frog with this private group with the umbrellas most of the way (we were on a commercial trip)
We played leap frog with this private group with the umbrellas most of the way (we were on a commercial trip)
Achmed's ready to rock the Casbah
Achmed's ready to rock the Casbah
You think the water is relatively calm and you want to go for a dip, but then the river snickers at you with a massive, gurgling whirlpool that could easily suck you under
You think the water is relatively calm and you want to go for a dip, but then the river snickers at you with a massive, gurgling whirlpool that could easily suck you under
Traffic jam in Matkat canyon
Traffic jam in Matkat canyon
This is how NOT to raft the canyon - it's got a bloody motor!
This is how NOT to raft the canyon - it's got a bloody motor!
Camp at Upset Hotel
Camp at Upset Hotel
Casey, Merideth, and Karl pose for Laurie while cooking dinner. The river rats are all really cool, living interesting lives in "the rim world" as well
Casey, Merideth, and Karl pose for Laurie while cooking dinner. The river rats are all really cool, living interesting lives in "the rim world" as well
Jonny and Saylor man the supply boats for no pay, just a share of the tips (and a free trip down the canyon)
Jonny and Saylor man the supply boats for no pay, just a share of the tips (and a free trip down the canyon)
Chillaxin' to KJ's chicken pickin' on the guitar
Chillaxin' to KJ's chicken pickin' on the guitar
Tightest quarters at camp on the whole trip (Laurie's asleep in the foreground)
Tightest quarters at camp on the whole trip (Laurie's asleep in the foreground)
Day 5 - Good morning Grand Canyon!
Day 5 - Good morning Grand Canyon!
Lady wants a changing room, lady gets a changing room
Lady wants a changing room, lady gets a changing room
Back in the saddle
Back in the saddle
The river is alive - boiling, swirling, gushing. And then a single loud gurgle, out of nowhere
and right next to you makes you want to say "Gesundheit, mighty river"
The river is alive - boiling, swirling, gushing. And then a single loud gurgle, out of nowhere
and right next to you makes you want to say "Gesundheit, mighty river"
And the cliffs go on and on, mile after mile, only changing in color, shape, and texture, but never in majesty. And you expect it to end, maybe around the next bend, but it doesn't
And the cliffs go on and on, mile after mile, only changing in color, shape, and texture, but never in majesty. And you expect it to end, maybe around the next bend, but it doesn't
There's my happy little river rat!
There's my happy little river rat!
I was miserable the whole trip
I was miserable the whole trip
Light and shadows. Most of the rafting was done midday, not ideal for photos.
( I must admit, I tweaked a few of these in Photoshop)
Light and shadows. Most of the rafting was done midday, not ideal for photos.
( I must admit, I tweaked a few of these in Photoshop)
Content and not even thinking about her Blackberry
Content and not even thinking about her Blackberry
Havasu Creek - we left in a hurry due to a sudden downpour and threat of flash floods
Havasu Creek - we left in a hurry due to a sudden downpour and threat of flash floods
Donna and Mark in Havasu Creek. The normally turqoise waters were sullied by recent rainstorms
Donna and Mark in Havasu Creek. The normally turqoise waters were sullied by recent rainstorms
That motorized barge zoomed right on by
That motorized barge zoomed right on by
This was a group on an oar powered trip - the passengers just sat while the guide rowed
This was a group on an oar powered trip - the passengers just sat while the guide rowed
One of the many waterfalls after a monsoon rain
One of the many waterfalls after a monsoon rain
After a rapid, a tremendous boil of water percolates from the depths, stopping our raft in its tracks this time, forcing us into an eddy the next
After a rapid, a tremendous boil of water percolates from the depths, stopping our raft in its tracks this time, forcing us into an eddy the next
You still takin' pictures?
You still takin' pictures?
Yes I am
Yes I am
Dry riverbed after the last flash flood
Dry riverbed after the last flash flood
Inside Fern Glen
Inside Fern Glen
Fat and happy inside Fern Glen
Fat and happy inside Fern Glen
A 100 degree day turns nice when the sun dips below the canyon walls
A 100 degree day turns nice when the sun dips below the canyon walls
Not a bad view from our campsite, eh what?
Not a bad view from our campsite, eh what?
Freshly bathed. That's about as clear as the Colorado gets. We woke up the next morning to a red, silt laden river due to rains upstream
Freshly bathed. That's about as clear as the Colorado gets. We woke up the next morning to a red, silt laden river due to rains upstream
Day 6 - Hiking in Fern Glen
Day 6 - Hiking in Fern Glen
It's the kinda place that makes you feel small
It's the kinda place that makes you feel small
Sunshine on my shoulder looks so lovely...
Sunshine on my shoulder looks so lovely...
Contemplating the geologic processes that created this incredible place and oblivious to the dangers that lie ahead
Contemplating the geologic processes that created this incredible place and oblivious to the dangers that lie ahead
Top of Lava Falls, which drops 13 feet in about 50 yards. Our raft clipped the left edge of the infamous Ledge Hole in upper right. First the left side of our raft went up, then suddenly and with amazing force, the right side, catapulting me in the air over Laurie as our raft flipped. The 2 boats in the videos below went straight into the beast
Top of Lava Falls, which drops 13 feet in about 50 yards. Our raft clipped the left edge of the infamous Ledge Hole in upper right. First the left side of our raft went up, then suddenly and with amazing force, the right side, catapulting me in the air over Laurie as our raft flipped. The 2 boats in the videos below went straight into the beast
Although it doesn't look that gnarly from the photos, feeling the power and hearing the thunderous roar from this vantage point was scary and humbling. Everyone had their game faces on for this one. Even KJ, who's run it 100 times said, "You can't cheat Lava Falls, it commands respect".
Although it doesn't look that gnarly from the photos, feeling the power and hearing the thunderous roar from this vantage point was scary and humbling. Everyone had their game faces on for this one. Even KJ, who's run it 100 times said, "You can't cheat Lava Falls, it commands respect".
Our group scouting Lava Falls (lot of good that did us). Due to the large amount of snowmelt, this was the first year in many that guides were running river left through this rapid. We swam the whole bloody thing!
Our group scouting Lava Falls (lot of good that did us). Due to the large amount of snowmelt, this was the first year in many that guides were running river left through this rapid. We swam the whole bloody thing!
Ben the trip leader giving last minute instructions before we descended into the belly of the beast. "Tony andLaurie, you go with the 80 year old, the 70 year old, and the rookie guide. And go last cause we need to wait below to collect the bodies."
Ben the trip leader giving last minute instructions before we descended into the belly of the beast. "Tony andLaurie, you go with the 80 year old, the 70 year old, and the rookie guide. And go last cause we need to wait below to collect the bodies."
Jonny drops in, Ben yells instructions, and the rest of us pray that we don't flip
our rafts. But we did- we laughed, we cried, we almost died. It's great to be alive!
Jonny drops in, Ben yells instructions, and the rest of us pray that we don't flip
our rafts. But we did- we laughed, we cried, we almost died. It's great to be alive!
Day 7 - The view from Indian Canyon
Day 7 - The view from Indian Canyon
Gettin' in touch with my inner river rat
Gettin' in touch with my inner river rat
Cactus at Indian Canyon
Cactus at Indian Canyon
Headin' downstream under blue skies
Headin' downstream under blue skies
Jonny lookin' cool
Jonny lookin' cool
River rat supreme and master of his craft - this was KJ's 100th trip down the canyon!
River rat supreme and master of his craft - this was KJ's 100th trip down the canyon!
Jonny catchin' up on his reading
Jonny catchin' up on his reading
Goggled up and ready to roll through another rapid
Goggled up and ready to roll through another rapid
Merideth serenading us while we float lazily
Merideth serenading us while we float lazily
Only one place to pee when you're on the river
Only one place to pee when you're on the river
Day 8 - Diamond Peak just ahead
Day 8 - Diamond Peak just ahead
Laurie still lookin' fresh on Day 8 while I can't even muster a smile in the scorching heat
Laurie still lookin' fresh on Day 8 while I can't even muster a smile in the scorching heat
OK, that's a little better
OK, that's a little better
Diamond Peak on the left, KJ on the right
Diamond Peak on the left, KJ on the right
I'm a lot happier than I look
I'm a lot happier than I look
Due to the dangerous fluid dynamics of the river, we were only allowed to swim in calmer water. A few of us did intentionally swim through a class 2 rapid, which was fun but you had to time your breaths or you'd get a gulp of water instead of air
Due to the dangerous fluid dynamics of the river, we were only allowed to swim in calmer water. A few of us did intentionally swim through a class 2 rapid, which was fun but you had to time your breaths or you'd get a gulp of water instead of air
Travertine Canyon - suck it in, Papi!
Travertine Canyon - suck it in, Papi!
I'm king of the world!
I'm king of the world!
I love the way sunbeams dance upon your pretty little head!
I love the way sunbeams dance upon your pretty little head!
Does this canyon make me look fat?
Does this canyon make me look fat?
Jonny catchin' some zzz's
Jonny catchin' some zzz's
Travertine Creek
Travertine Creek
End of the paddling portion of the journey. We chilled out here in the shade with beers and toasts until shade covered our campground on opposite side of the river
End of the paddling portion of the journey. We chilled out here in the shade with beers and toasts until shade covered our campground on opposite side of the river
To KJ's 100th trip!
To KJ's 100th trip!
Our last night in the canyon
Our last night in the canyon
Day 9 - Packin' up the jet boat
Day 9 - Packin' up the jet boat
Caught by surprise doin' the quickstep one last time
Caught by surprise doin' the quickstep one last time
Come on, stop dillydallying - the Bellagio awaits!
Come on, stop dillydallying - the Bellagio awaits!
Did you say Bellagio?
Did you say Bellagio?
Job well done, mate!
Job well done, mate!
The Hualapai Skywalk, 4,000 feet above the river.
River rats call it the biggest toilet seat in the world
The Hualapai Skywalk, 4,000 feet above the river.
River rats call it the biggest toilet seat in the world
The final take out. 150 miles paddling, 42 miles by jetboat, for a total of 192 miles.
Smiles and hugs all around
The final take out. 150 miles paddling, 42 miles by jetboat, for a total of 192 miles.
Smiles and hugs all around
Monument Valley features a cluster of sandstone buttes
that rise up to 1,000 ft. above the valley floor
Monument Valley features a cluster of sandstone buttes
that rise up to 1,000 ft. above the valley floor
It is a tribal park owned and operated by the Navajo Nation
It is a tribal park owned and operated by the Navajo Nation
