Part 4 – Rafting the Colorado River Day 1 – Rapids and Rocks

After a quick stop to see and hear the story of the Ross Wheeler we continued rafting the Colorado River.

Shinumo Rapid ~RM109.4

Shinumo canyon is the largest of all canyon systems in Grand Canyon, though not the largest rapid. In late June 2011, the National Park Service, in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department made the third translocation of wild juvenile humpback chub to Shinumo Creek. The humpback chub (Gila cypha) is endemic to the Colorado River basin. The species is well adapted to natural conditions of the Colorado River with high turbidity and seasonally variable flows and temperatures. Humpback chub are endangered because of human-caused changes to the Colorado River ecosystem including the introduction of non-native fish species as well as dam-induced changes to the river’s natural flow and temperature.

Hakatai Rapid ~RM111.5 Colorado River

Hakatai is the Havasupai Indian word for the Colorado River. Hakatai canyon is where William Bass mined asbestos in the early 1900s.

Although Hakatai rapids aren’t that big they sure gave us a wild ride.

Waltenberg Rapid is half way between Lees Ferry and Diamond Creek. John Waltenberg worked for William Bass at the camps and mines upstream.

Tapeats Sandstone averages 525 million years old and lies on top of the faulted Vishnu schist. It is made of medium- to coarse-grained sand and conglomerate that was deposited on an ancient shore.

Travertine forms when carbon dioxide and water makes a weak carbonic acid that dissolves limestone, often creating caves, and leaves flowing deposits as the water evaporates when exposed to air. I kept looking for little people peering out of the caves and wasn’t disappointed just a little further ahead.