Rafting the Colorado in Grand Canyon

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Sunday, 13 August 2023 - Boarded the raft at Lee's Ferry and began the Colorado River trip, photographed the Vermilion Cliffs and Paria River confluence, observed California Condors and towering canyon walls, navigated Soap Creek Rapid, continued downriver past Ten Mile Rock and Vasey's Paradise, explored Redwall Cavern, and camped at Nautiloid Canyon enjoying sunset, Milky Way, and meteor trails under the stars.

grandcanyon2023 — We boarded the raft in the morning - very nervous about how to take pictures on the raft surrounded by water and rapids. After getting settled in, I took out my camera and caught the Vermilion Cliffs as we pulled away from Lee's Ferry.

grandcanyon2023 — We were not on the Colorado River long in the "clear" green water before the muddy water from Paria River colored the river a light brown. You can see the muddy Paria River water flowing into the Colorado River.

I will see three major confluences, the Paria River, the Little Colorado River, and Havasu Creek.

grandcanyon2023 — A unique rock formation heading into Marble Canyon.

grandcanyon2023 — Navajo Bridge from the river this time. From a very short distance at Lee's Ferry, Marble Canyon raised up to canyon walls over 400 feet high. We will continue to get deeper and deeper.

grandcanyon2023 — California Condors roosting on the struts of Navajo Bridge. Condors were introduced in the area in 1996.

The lower one is looking at the raft - we were making a lot of noise trying to see the big birds.

grandcanyon2023 — After we passed the bridge the condors began flying in great circles overhead - an ominous sign.

The wings of this bird are tagged with the number "54" - easy to identify.

grandcanyon2023 — Around 5 miles in the canyon walls are towering above us.

grandcanyon2023 — Beautiful rock walls rising from the river.

grandcanyon2023 — I will be continually amazed at the rocks and how they are sculptured on the sides of the canyons.

grandcanyon2023 — While the Colorado River is calm I can take out my camera and click away.

grandcanyon2023 — This rock is at the 10-mile point - and so is named Ten Mile Rock. If the river was another 20 feet higher, it would be a rapid.

grandcanyon2023 — Great debate on which side of this rock formation we would travel - turns out the South Fork Creek meets the Colorado River from the right - the river continues to the left. And our first big rapid is coming up!!

grandcanyon2023 — My sister and brother-in-law loaned me a waterproof camera to use in the rapids. This is my first try with the camera.

Water building as we enter Soap Creek Rapid between mile 12 and 13.

grandcanyon2023 — A big wave about to cool me off - the air temp was about 100 degrees for the trip while the water was a crisp 50 degrees.

grandcanyon2023 — The calm on the river after the rapids. Beautiful red rock up to the sky.

grandcanyon2023 — Amazing agave growing on the cliff wall.

grandcanyon2023 — Red rock on the cliff wall.

grandcanyon2023 — The colors of the rock are amazing.

grandcanyon2023 — 32 miles from our start was Vasey's Paradise

Major John Wesley Powell named this feature in honor of his botanist friend, George Vasey. Vasey had accompanied Powell on his expeditions to the Rocky Mountains during the late 1860s. A spring ejects water out of the Redwall limestone, as the water cascades down the wall into the boulders next to the river.

grandcanyon2023 — Rocks standing out from the cliff.

grandcanyon2023 — The Colorado River in a tight "S" curve with the cliffs right down into the Colorado River.

grandcanyon2023 — An odd rock formation where it looks like something gouged the cliff.

grandcanyon2023 — At mile 33 we stopped to explore Redwall Cavern a huge cavern carved by the river.

For scale there are several people in the lower left of the cavern entrance.

grandcanyon2023 — The canyon walls near Redwall Cavern.

grandcanyon2023 — The river channel is very narrow in this section.

grandcanyon2023 — Rock has simply dropped into the river.

grandcanyon2023 — We passed several streams which pop out of the cliff wall creating a chance for plant life.

grandcanyon2023 — A dangerous rock is the river starting a small rapid as we pulled into our first night camp.

grandcanyon2023 — We camped at Nautiloid Canyon (mile 35) for our first night. We would stop for the night, and everyone would jump off to find their camp site - set up a cot and prepare for the evening. This first night I roamed a bit too far from the gathering area - for future camps I would stay closer.

As I hiked back and forth, this little lizard would be on a rock watching my crossing. I finally had my camera while moving and was able to catch his portrait.

grandcanyon2023 — The view from our camp downriver as the sun set.

grandcanyon2023 — Details for the canyon cliffs in the setting sun.

grandcanyon2023 — Such pretty rock - looking straight up all around us.

grandcanyon2023 — The Colorado River flows past bushes living off a spring from the rock.

grandcanyon2023 — Sunset was early so after dinner we set up our cameras to catch the Milky Way. In this picture you can see a meteor from Perseid meteor shower burning up in the center.

grandcanyon2023 — Another Milky Way picture showing more of the canyon walls.

We were talked out of setting up tents as they cut the breeze and so were very hot. Instead, we slept in the open with just a sheet over us - and stared at the stars. I could not sleep and saw several meteor trails. I would not sleep well the entire journey.

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