My Grand Canyon Rafting Trip August 2000

River Day 2 Monday 8/21/2000: (Mile 20.5 - Mile 52.4)

Departed: Left Camp 1 at North Canyon for a fairly early am start (after learning to load the boat)

This first morning I was determined to get clean (sweaty dusty grimy place the Canyon..) so I arose early and headed for the river. Stripped I was taking a few tentative steps into the river... boy was it cold - just another step - just another... whoa - the rock underfoot disappeared and so did I - head way down below the water. Arrghh! the shock.. but after a few moments everything numbed up and it was OK. Then I hopped out. Washed my hair - jumped back in to wash it off - all was good - very refreshing... after that - every morning I just jumped in - there is no slow way to get in water that cold! By day 3 everyone was in on the game...    

AM Hike:    (Mile 30.2)

Stopped below Shinumo Wash for hike along river to Silver Grotto overlook.                                                                                                       

An initial upwards scramble & than a long ~flat walk along above river (Walt leads).

We drifted by Vasey's Paradise - an area where a constant fresh water flow from the falls has grown an interesting array of greenery - unlike most of the other arid rock faces in the area

This is a real botanists paradise

This area was noted and named after the botanist 'Vasey' during John Wesley Powell's initial canyon explorations.

 Lunch:        (Mile 33)

We stopped for lunch at Redwall Cavern a pristine beach under huge overhanging cliff edge, rather like a huge amphitheatre. Hard to photograph the whole thing from inside.

Next time I'll take a super wide lens - a telephoto was virtually useless down in the Canyon - everything you want to photograph is broad and close up

Camp 2:      (Mile 52.4)

Stopped for the night at Nankoweap Canyon just after Nankoweap rapids (NW River Bank). Steve got bitten on finger by a scorpion and I almost stepped on a rattlesnake in the middle of the night on a trip to the 'potty'. Thank god for the rattle - the snake knew I was coming before I knew he was there... While I was sat on the seat I was having a really good look around me with the flashlight - talk about spooked...! Nevertheless I slept out on the beach in/on a sleeping bag pretty much the whole week.

Mileage:   Covered more ground today - 31.9 Miles.

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