July 3, 2015

July 3, 2015

Today is our fourth day on the Colorado River and our second big rapids day.  When we started this trip, we felt like we were on John Wesley Powell’s landmark trip through the Grand Canyon in 1869.  He certainly didn’t know what lay ahead of him exploring this last blank spot on the map, but he was used to a rougher life.  Aimee and I have been greatly softened by civilization.  Fortunately the rafts we ride have been designed for us tender foots.  They have big inflatable side tubes making them almost impervious to flipping.  Any trepidation we had about the rapids quickly evaporated by the tenth one.  Now it is just a question of how wet we are going to get.

Our first break to dry off is at Stone Creek.  We follow this side canyon up to a small waterfall.  After four nights of camping and no bathing, we relish this opportunity to stand under the flow hoping to wash away some of the accumulated sand and smells.

Just a few miles downstream we enter the Granite Narrows, the river’s tightest spot.  The river is surprisingly quiet and still.  We stop at a ledge to allow a few of the younger passengers to jump into the water.  Not me.  46 degrees is not my idea of fun.

Shortly afterwards we spot a big male Bighorn scaling the sheer granite cliff.  We have seen Bighorn everyday, but this is our first male.  Apparently they are not very family oriented.

Just before lunch we make another stop at Deer Creek.  This elevated stream plunges to river level in a beautiful 150 foot waterfall.  For exercise we hiked up to the slot canyon feeding it and carefully walked the ledges back to where the canyon opens up into a grotto called “the Patio”.  After a hot hike back to river level, it was refreshing standing next to the cool rush of air by the waterfall.  Ahhh, natural air conditioning!

After an afternoon of more big rapids, we stopped at Matkatamiba Canyon, a tiny crack of a canyon hidden at the entrance to a rapids.  Here a tiny stream of water flows inside a smooth narrow chasm.  Many of us shinnied our way up the tunnel.  Aimee took the easier route up and over the side wall along the crest.  It ended at another secluded grotto.

We camped around the corner at mile 149.