It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
–Charles Dickens, Tale of Two Cities
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, 21 days, 285 miles
Lee’s Ferry to Pearce Ferry
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The muddy Paria River clouds the Colorado River just below the put-in at Lee’s Ferry.
Turquoise chips found in an 800 year-old Anasazi ruin. Did they make jewelry here? (We put them back where we found them.)Redwall Cavern was carved by the Colorado River long ago. Notice the people in the back of the cavern to get an idea how huge this place is.Granaries at Nankoweap
The Little Colorado River gets its milky blue color from dissolved travertine and limestone.
We stop to help another group right a raft following a flip. Larry’s the guy bottom right in the blue drysuit, red life jacket, and white helmet.Janene takes a nap, dressed safely for sun protection or an accidental dump into icy water.Larry and the Ross Wheeler
Elves Chasm
Rainbow trout
On the trail into Deer Creek, Janene demonstrates the grandma butt-slide safety technique.
Deer CreekDeer CreekLarry sits on the bow of a massive J-Rig commercial boat.The clear blue waters of Havasu Creek meet the murky brown of the Colorado River.Havasu CreekJanene demonstrates more safety techniques in Havasu Creek: floating in a drysuit.Crinoid fossilsPumpkin Spring contains lead, zinc, copper, and arsenic. Stay out of there, Larry!
Dozens of miles before the take-out at Pearce Ferry, the Hoover Dam blocks the Colorado River and creates Lake Mead. When the lake was full, sediment filled the bottom of the lake. After years of drought, the lake level dropped, leaving the river to cut a path through the sediment. It’s a muddy, dusty mess and a sad ending for Grand Canyon reach of the mighty Colorado.
My first thought: 21 days in a raft?? That’s a long time. Then: Anasazi ruins? Frog closeups? Do you know how amazing this photo essay is? Still seems like a long time in a raft, but this is pretty cool.
Julie, it WAS long, but we had planned on 23, so we actually took out a little early. But the canyon never got boring. Day after day, week after we, we continued to be awed by the beauty.
Moby Goes 
Oh my gosh!
My first thought: 21 days in a raft?? That’s a long time. Then: Anasazi ruins? Frog closeups? Do you know how amazing this photo essay is? Still seems like a long time in a raft, but this is pretty cool.
Julie, it WAS long, but we had planned on 23, so we actually took out a little early. But the canyon never got boring. Day after day, week after we, we continued to be awed by the beauty.
that looks like a trip of a lifetime. every picture just makes me want to be there. You guys live right. Gary
Thank you guys. I am always so grateful to get to have an adventure with you.
Sharon Nesbit
Great shots. How did they keep rodents out of the grain?