Start: Mile 108 Finish: Mile 131
Breakfast today was French toast and pork chops.
We started the day with Tracy up front on the left thwart and Panther, 2 back on middle thwart behind Dustin. We ran a couple of small rapids in the morning but had a big hit at Hakatai/Waltenberg Rapid and both Tracy and Dustin lost their hold on the front ropes and both got flung backwards. In the process they collided and bumped headed. Tracy had a big knot on the front of her head and Dustin had one on the back. Tracy also bit her tongue so her tongue was a nice color purple for a few days.
We stopped at Elves Chasm, and we hiked up boulders and a small crevasse to a green haven, and a beautiful waterfall.
Elves Chasm
Elves Chasm
Tracy swam out to the chasm and went up into the cave to look at the green lush plant life. There was a place up in the chasm where you could jump off a slot rock and some people took turns jumping into the clear water below.
Addison jumping at Elves Chasm
After the excitement of the morning we spent the next few rapids in the back of the boat, soaking up the sights [video].
We got off the boat and hiked into Blacktail Canyon, where the guides took turns reading stories of canyon life and folklore. We were in the shade so we were all loving it.
Blacktail Canyon
Blacktail Canyon
As we were going downstream we saw a beautiful large big horn sheep who seems interested in us, so he followed us downstream. He was, at one point, running on the cliffs above the river, and stopping as we slowed down, and then ran again to catch up with us [video].
We stopped for lunch in the shade and had deli sandwiches. We watched a Raven scope us all out and then he stole 2 bags of chex mix (unopened) off the boat. He was very smart and you could see him plotting his next move. He opened the bag with a pop and came back for more.
We had a nice hit at Spector Rapid (5-6) [video].
We hiked into Bedrock Canyon and took pictures under the waterfall [video]. The water was warm and refreshing. A nice hike.
Hiking into Bedrock Canyon
Waterfall at Bedrock Canyon
We camped just below Bedrock Rapid [video] [video] and had cheeseburgers and baked beans for dinner. Not a good choice on the river! Desert was cake.
Just before bed time, we had a nice chat with Teressa. She told us that Janice’s friend Shelley was suppose to come on this trip but she had died from a brain aneurysm last year. So, Teressa came in her place.
Powell Report: August 14, 1869
“At day break we walk down the bank on a little sandy beach,
to take a view of a new feature in the canyon. The river enters
the gneiss! We can see but a little way into the granite gorge,
but it looks threatening.”