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Part 14 Rafting the Colorado River Day 4–The last stretch to Diamond Creek

S-rig Colorado River trip Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
After Lava Falls rapid and towards the end of the last day on the river the rapids decreased in size and frequency.
Unknown rapid Colorado River
We started to call them ripples.
Indian Canyon pit stop Colorado River trip Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
Made a pit stop where you get a chance to pee in the river.  Yes, that’s how it’s done.
Mt Sheep along Colorado River trip Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
Colorado River trip Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
The river seemed to slow into a lazy ride.
Gaelyn & Shelly on the stout boat Colorado River trip Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
Where I soaked up just a little too much sun in what staff called the “Queen Bee seat”.
Diamond Peak Colorado River trip Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
Diamond Peak came into view.
Staff on the S-rig at Diamond Creek camp & pull out ~RM225.8 Colorado River trip Hualapai Reservation Arizona
And before we wanted this journey to be over Diamond Creek camp, our pull out point, appeared on the Hualapai side of the river.
Setting up camp & breaking down S-rig Diamond Creek pullout Colorado River trip Hualapai Reservation Arizona
We set up our last camp and helped break down the S-rig.
Breaking down the S-rig Colorado River trip Diamond Creek camp Hualapai Reservation Arizona
In preparation for the loading up in the morning.
Arizona, Colorado River trip, Grand Canyon National Park, National Parks and Monuments, rapids , 3 Comments

Part 13 Rafting the Colorado River Day 4–Lava Falls

Gaelyn above Lava Falls Colorado River trip Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
I was told last year that Lava Falls at River Mile 179 is the most exciting and terrifying 13 seconds of life, if you stay in the boat.  This was sure to wake me up after a day of counting sheep.
Lava flows below Toroweap Colorado River trip Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
Geologists estimate that  between 400,000 and 10,000  years ago lava flowed across the canyon damming the Colorado River at least 12 times.  Yet the mighty Colorado broke through these up to 2,000 foot lava dams repeatedly and has since carved down about 1000 feet.
Toroweap overlook above Colorado River trip Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
I’d seen Lava Falls from the Toroweap overlook, and gave a little shiver.
Vulcan's Anvil Colorado River trip Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
First we approached Vulcan’s Anvil, the remains of a volcanic plug, about one mile upriver from Lava Falls.  The Paiute consider it sacred.
Walking down river to scout out Lava Falls Colorado River trip Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
Then we stopped to scout out the rapids.
Lava Falls rapid Colorado River trip Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
Lava Falls rapid normally drops 13 feet and is rated at an 8-10 (1=easy and 10=most difficult).  This year the Colorado River ran three times it’s usual cfs (cubic feet/second).  The boatmen said this would make the rapids a little less exciting.
Lava Falls rapid Colorado River trip Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
I needed to hang on with both hands so took no video.  We plunged into a HUGE hole followed by a wall of water soaking everyone on board then continued the wildest roller coaster ride of my life.  When all was said and done I asked our boat driver Shelly, “Can we do it again!”  If she’d been able to get the boat back up Lava Falls I’m sure we’d have road it all day.  WOW!!!!
Not my Colorado River trip yet awesome footage.
Basalt along the canyon walls Colorado River trip Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
Major John Wesley Powell portaged around Lava Falls during his 1869 expedition reporting, “What a conflict of water and fire there must have been here!  Just imagine a river of molten rock running down into a river of melted snow.  What a seething and boiling of the waters; what clouds of steam rolled into the heavens!”
After this excitement the river slowed for the last of our journey.
Colorado River, Grand Canyon National Park, National Parks and Monuments , 16 Comments

Part 11–Colorado River trip Day 3–Havasu Creek

Boats tied at mouth of Havasu Creek Colorado River trip Arizona

Havasu Creek was a busy place compared to our previous stop at Matkatamiba.

Our boats tied below mouth of Havasu Creek Colorado River trip Arizona

We tied up downstream a ways and later the crowd cleared out.

Havasu Creek into Colorado River Arizona

Havasu creek is well-known for its blue-green color…

Travertine along Havasu Creek Colorado River trip Arizona

…and travertine formations due to large amounts of calcium carbonate in the water.

Havasu Creek Colorado River trip Arizona

People of the blue-green water, the Havasupai have called Grand Canyon home for about 800 years.

Havasu Creek Colorado River trip Arizona

The Havasupai people still live in the canyon, farming on a flood plain about 8.5 miles from the Colorado River in Cataract Canyon.  Yet tourism is the primary source of revenue for the tribe.

Playing in the pools of Havasu Creek Colorado River trip Arizona

We had the lower pools to ourselves and thoroughly enjoyed the 70 degree water after the 50 degree Colorado River.

Hiking back to the Colorado River along Havasu Creek Arizona

Several miles upstream magnificent waterfalls can be seen.  I hiked down to Havasu Falls  with a fellow Ranger in April 2010.

Relaxing on the boat Colorado River trip Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

But this day, we returned to the river, and counting sheep along the way.

Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, National Parks and Monuments , , 9 Comments

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