Start: Mile 131 Finish: Mile 150
Breakfast was toast, scrambled eggs, and Canadian bacon.
We started the day riding the tubes and we sat beside each other in the middle position. We went through Dubendorff Rapid (5-8) and Tapeats Rapid (4-5) before stopping at Deer Creek Falls.
Deer Creek Falls
We were told that the hike up to the “patio” was technical and required climbing and navigating along a very narrow ledge. The ascent was pretty fun and fortunately it was early in the day because there were only a handful of spots where we could rest in the shade. At one point Amy told us where to put our hands and feet and helped us up over a rocky section.
We stopped at a look out to take pictures of the river below; the river seemed smaller up here.
We had been told the ledge was very narrow and that there was a “deadly” drop on one side, but Tracy said she would at least go to that point.
When we got there people went across very fast but Tracy, Betty and Teressa were not sure about it. Betty tried it but turned around as she got scared so Tracy decided not to do it. It made her sick to watch people go across it as it was so sheer on that one side. You had to hug the wall and put your hands in handholds to get across. Nope, not for me!
Betty, Teressa and Tracy sat at the point of the ledge for about 10 minutes talking about the height fears, and everyone else had gone. Tracy decided to wait there for Panther. After about 10 minutes Wiley came back to try and convince us to come across. All of us really were sure that none of us would do it. Wiley really tried to motivate us and said he would guide us. Both Betty and Tracy had talked early about if we could have gone the high road (rock ledge/dirt ledge) we might have tried it, but Joey told us that was not an option. Wiley said we could take the rock ledge and he would stand behind us on the dirt ledge with his hand on our backs to guide us. All of us said “NO”. He really talked to us and finally Tracy said she would give it a try. So out on the ledge she went, with Wiley right behind her. She faced forward into the rock ledge and slowly (seemed like forever) went across. Tracy was shaking, but she made it, but the only problem now was she had to come back, but Wiley said he would help her back across; Wiley is Tracy’s hero. Betty came across afterwards and Teressa eventually turned around and went back down to the raft.
It was well worth being scared. The “Patio” was so beautiful. A waterfall and small pools to sit in and a ledge to soak up the sun. Our own little paradise. We spent at least 1 – 2 hours at the patio just enjoying the beauty of our own little Garden of Eden.
When we went to leave, Wiley was nowhere to be found. So, Tracy was a little unnerved but Amy promised to guide her across the narrow ledge.
During our descent we met a group from the Hatch company just starting their hike. It was now almost 11 AM and it was really hot! We all felt bad for the Hatch hikers.
After loading up the rafts, we ran Fishtail Rapid (4) with Panther up front. We had a really big hit with some serious sucking rubber!
We stopped for a very long lunch under shady spot. They offered fart bean tortillas but we both had PB&J. Almost everyone took a little nap on the beach after lunch. Amy, Deanna, and Betty entertained us with yoga.
Then Amy got onto the rafts and bounced from each fork and did a back flip off the last fork. Then Maria (not Panther), Dustin, John followed suit. Dustin slipped both times on the last fork and fell into the water. Marty (Maria’s dad) told us it was 94 degrees but it felt much hotter.
After lunch we ran Kanab Rapid (2-5) and we stopped at Matkatamiba Canyon. As Panther was getting off the boat, she unclipped her life jacket (forgetting that her camera was attached to the top buckle), and the camera fell into the water underneath the raft! Her heart sank! She jumped off the raft and could see the silver reflection of the camera in the water and tried to reach for it but could not. She asked Tubbs to see if he could get it and he climbed under the boat and fished around for it but could not see it. Finally both Tubbs and Tracy saw the black and he grabbed for it and it was the underside of the camera. Tubbs handed the camera to Panther and she gave him a huge hug!
We hiked through waist deep water into the slot canyon.
The guides read us a story and then adventurous people attempted to Spider man their way up the canyon wall. Panther stayed put. Tracy attempted to go up a little bit to get some pictures and then came back down.
After 5 minutes we heard someone scream and later on someone told us that Scott had caught Laura when she fell from the canyon wall. Scott is one of the finest people we have ever met; he is very soft spoken but he always went out of way to help others during our trip.
Our campsite tonight was not very nice because there was little shade and it did not have many flat areas [video]. Everyone’s nerves were a little frayed because we were all tired from the heat and everyone was jockeying for the best camp sites.
We shared a flat spot with Diane, Teressa, and Janice. We also had our own private beach for bathing and peeing.
It was Tubbs birthday today and Panther gave him a bag of Gummi Bears to celebrate. We sang happy birthday during dinner.
The appetizer was chicken wings and dinner was trout, rice, and dinner rolls. Dessert was ice cream and caramelized bananas!
It was a very hot night and no one slept well!
Wildlife: 13 big horn sheep, 1 perigrene falcon
Powell Report: August 14, 1869
“The gorge is black and narrow below, red and gray
and flaring above, with crags and angular projections on
the walls. Down in these grand gloomy depths we glide ever
listening; ever watching.”