Friday, September 7
Our Team River Runner group guiding five blind kayakers through the Grand Canyon paddles 18 miles from mile 119.5 to 137.5. It’s another hot day — 96⁰F — but the water is cold. Flowing from the bottom of Glen Canyon Dam at 52⁰F, the water is said to rise one degree every 20 miles. I’ve been checking with a thermometer and I concur. Today after 137 miles on the river the water temperature is now up to 59⁰F. If you overheat while paddling in the midday sun it’s easy to cool down. Just splash water on your back and face. Or better yet, roll.
The big rapids today are Fossil (7), Specter (7), Bedrock (8) and Deubenforff (8). Lunch stop is just above Bedrock Rapid, so named because of a large rocky island that splits the river where it makes a sharp right turn. While the crew sets up for lunch, Mace walks the kayakers down to the rapid to scout the line. He tells us we need to stay far enough left above the rapid to avoid the boulder field on the right. But go too far left and you end up on the left side of the island, and that’s not where you want to be. Or worse yet, you might find yourself headed straight toward the big rocky island in the middle. It looks tricky, and what happens next confirms it.
As we’re eating lunch, a private trip consisting of several bright yellow rafts floats past us on their way to Bedrock. The first three successfully navigate the tricky bend in the river. However the fourth raft drifts too far left and gets pinned sideways. The passengers climb out of the raft and onto the island but one of them slips on a rock and receives a nasty cut on his leg. We watch from shore as the guides try to free the sideways raft. There’s not much we can do other than shout advice and encouragement. Chip and other experienced paddlers in our group urge them to use an oar to free the raft. After several minutes, they manage to flip the raft and recover it in an eddy downriver. Here’s my video:
YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/fs33BwhcEHc
After lunch it’s our turn for Bedrock. Thankfully, our experience is less harrowing than the yellow rafters. We all manage to hit the line and avoid the huge rock in the middle.
About five miles later we pass through the narrowest point of the river where the canyon walls compress the mighty Colorado to just 76 feet wide. The river must be very deep at this point because there’s no rapid here, just strong current.
Two miles farther we stop at the mouth of Deer Creek for a short hike up a narrow slot canyon to Deer Creek Falls, a spectacular 150-foot waterfall that’s a popular stopping point for river trips through the Grand Canyon. Wind created by the falls at its base roars like a hurricane. Everyone enjoys the break from paddling and a chance to play and relax. A group from another raft trip joins us at the falls. They politely wait until we’re done frolicking in the water before taking their turn to jump in.
Our Day 7 campsite is just across the river. Steve Mace says we’re lucky to have it because it’s one of the nicest in the canyon. A wide, sandy flat beach on river left with plenty of room to spread out.
Today I had no unintended rolls. I think that’s a first for me on this trip. I did do a number of premeditated rolls throughout the day just to cool off. This evening Travis, Steve, Brian and Scott are jamming on guitars and bongos as we sit here on this beautiful beach before dinner. A few of our kayakers climb the cliffs overhead before sunset.
Tonight my tent is close to the river so I can feel the cool river air. Life is good.
YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/O4l1q1H8TBg
