All is well with our Universe. Easy day of low stress rapids and eddies and floating past polished granite walls. Visited Elves Cavern and some did a slot canyon hike. Again a great meal and fun around the campfire. Much love to those back home and look forward to Diamond where Sandy joins us.
Ian Elliot…
Archive for ‘2011 Winter River Trip’
February 28, 2011 Category: 2011 Winter River Trip, 2011Day 7-end No Comments 
All’s Well that Bails Well
Day 11 on the river and a long one. For me (Maria Coryell-Martin) it was my first full day on the river and exciting as we covered 17 miles and bounced through 14 rapids. The day began at 91 Mile Camp and ended at Lower Bass Camp and I spent the day with Cece in the lovely wooden Flavell wooden boat. It was a wet ride and I was grateful …
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February 26, 2011 Category: 2011 Winter River Trip, 2011Day 7-end No Comments
Day 10 Feb 10 2011
With an early start from lower Creation Camp. Hazel and Conan took two inflatables and ferried our four mid trippers to Pipe Springs Creek. There Chris, Marion, Sabette, and Jason began their hike to the Rim on the bright Angel Trail. The rest of our group stopped at the boat beach above Bright Angel to get water, make phone calls, charge some batteries and then went on to Phantom Ranch …
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February 25, 2011 Category: 2011 Winter River Trip, 2011Day 7-end No Comments
Day 9 started as any other — coffee call at 7:30 and breakfast at 8:00. Then clean-up and pack the kitchen. Pack up your gear and load the boats. We launched about 9:30. It was cold and there was a slight breeze blowing up stream. I was partnered with Arnie for the day in a self-bailing boat so it looked like an easy day. In the early afternoon we came to Hermit Rapids. The only …
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February 24, 2011 Category: 2011 Winter River Trip, 2011Day 7-end No Comments
Our journey continues deeper into the heart of the Canyon…
Leaving Little Nankoweap Camp, the flotilla of boats meandered down the mighty Colorado River for nearly 16 miles today. The canyon really opened up as we left the Marble Canyon, and we were able to catch a glimpse of the Desert View Watchtower as we entered the more open expanses. Viewers at this watchtower would have wondered looking down upon the three historic vessels ply …
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February 22, 2011 Category: 2011 Winter River Trip, 2011Day 7-end No Comments
Short day, short shorts
So what is daily life like on a rafting trip? Kitchen crew starts at 7:00, coffee at 7:30, breakfast at 8:00, then cleaning up, breaking down of camp, dragging the rafts out into the river, loading tables, chairs, propane, stove, fire pit, food, water, wine and numerous bulky heavy personal bags onto the rafts. With everything securely attached, we shove off. Today we achieved this in record time and were off …
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February 21, 2011 Category: 2011 Winter River Trip, 2011Day 1-6 No Comments
“FROZEN ASSES TO BEACH-SIDE BATHESS”
We awoke on day 5 to a remarkably warm-feeling 37 degrees. In retrospect that sounds quite chilly, but after three consecutive sub-freezing nights, it was quite a relief.
Our first stop was Vasey’s Paradise – a large spring that gushes out of the redwall hundreds of feet above the river – where we replenished our water jugs.
Then it was down to Redwall Cavern – a large cave in the …
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February 20, 2011 Category: 2011 Winter River Trip, 2011Day 1-6 No Comments
Found Can, Susie versus Rock
Another cold morning gave way to a “warm” sunny afternoon. Ahhh the sun! Temps were only in the 40’s but compared to the previous days’ cold and wind, today felt almost balmy.
We left North Canyon camp after a delicious breakfast of eggs, ham and muffins to boat what they call “The Roaring Twenties.” This section of the river gets its name from the large number of moderate sized rapids …
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February 19, 2011 Category: 2011 Winter River Trip, 2011Day 1-6 No Comments
Rocked in House, nailed Narrows.
We started in the shade at camp an amazing breakfast of pancakes, blueberries and bacon (thank you Pam and Cece). Boats loaded and we are head down to scout “House Narrows”. It is so interesting to be around so many experienced people and to hear them talk about the water, to see the water and then to actually to run the rapids. A nice leisurely launch in the sun where …
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February 18, 2011 Category: 2011 Winter River Trip, 2011Day 1-6 No Comments
Friday, Feb 18, 2011
12 year reunion
Today looked stormy most of the day, with some clearing late in the afternoon…little did we know what was ahead. But, we loaded up the boats at OC’s. Chris Forsyth from Rich and Todd’s trip came over with his life jacket, and he rowed the GEM to Back-eddy, then hiked back to his camp. Our float into the Muave Gorge was quite. We stopped at 145 Mile on …
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February 18, 2011 Category: 2011 Winter River Trip, 2011Day 1-6 No Comments