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Down the river and through the rapids! |
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In September 2000 we delighted in a ten-day photography workshop rafting down the Colorado River from Lee's Ferry to Diamond Creek, 226 miles. This workshop was sponsored by Friends of Arizona Highways, a group that supports the magazine of that name published by the Arizona Department of Transportation. The trip leader was Gary Ladd of Page, Arizona, known for his photography of the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell and other scenic Colorado Plateau locations. |
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This is the "Block Wall" viewed from Arch Camp. Our first night on the river we slept on the sand in the foreground. No tent was needed. |
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The next morning
we rafted across the river to North Canyon, where we saw interesting mud
cookies and a garden of datura flowers, with vivid green leaves contrasting
with red rock.
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We hiked to
the memorable pool and terraced rock in upper North Canyon.
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A volleyball
game was underway at Redwall Cavern when we arrived. A woman was sitting
on the sand at the rear of the huge cavern playing a haunting melody on
a native wooden flute.
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We found a
wide sandy campsite and plenty of photographic opportunities at Buck Farm.
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The Nankoweap
granaries, accessed by a steep trail, are high above the river and provided
a good view of the route we would traverse the next morning.
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Kwagunt
Rapid sparkled in the morning light.
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Dark
vishnu schist lines the Upper Granite Gorge, conveying a more ominous
feeling compared to the joy of redwall rock.
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The two
spillways of Clear Creek Falls were intriguing.
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The
smooth water approach followed by a turbulent passage at Horn Creek
Rapid was typical of the rapids we passed through.
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This
fluted Vishnu tower was sculpted by water and sand.
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Amazingly,
Jim was able to stand in the floating raft and handhold the camera,
with a telephoto lens attached, to photograph this bighorn ram watching
our passage.
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Deer
Creek Falls are the tallest falls at river level.
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We
walked up the narrow Muav limestone slot canyon of Matkatamiba Creek.
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It
was a challenge to climb the falls at the head of the Matkatamiba slot.
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There
were sharp edges on fluted rocks near Sinyala Canyon.
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The
reflections and patterns on the canyon walls caught Darlene's attention
at Mile 164.
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A
hanging slot poured water into a pool at Mile 164.
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Eroded
Muav limestone formed a wall with ledges in National Canyon. In addition
to teaching about photography, Gary taught us how to recognize the changing
rock layers in the canyon walls.
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Our
hike ended at the pool in National Canyon.
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As
we watched a raft passing through Lava Falls, one of the biggest on
the river, we realized that we would probably get wet when our turn
came. We did, but it was great fun!.
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| If you enjoyed our view of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River and want to see more, read Gary Ladd's large format book, Grand Canyon, Time Below the Rim, published by Arizona Highways in 1999. His Canyon Light, Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon, was published by Cerca in 2003. Both books are filled with inspiring photographs. |