May 2004
Guides
Passengers
Pre-trip
Day 1 - 5/13/04
Day 2 - 5/14/04
Day 3 - 5/15/04
Day 4 - 5/16/04
Day 5 - 5/17/04
Day 6 - 5/18/04
Day 7 - 5/19/04
Day 8 - 5/20/04
Day 9 - 5/21/04
Day 10 - 5/22/04
Day 11 - 5/23/04
Day 12 - 5/24/04
Day 13 - 5/25/04
Day 14 - 5/26/04
Day 15 - 5/27/04
Day 16 - 5/28/04
Trip dinner
Hints, tips, & links
Return to Civilization
Click on pictures to see larger images
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Morning in camp |
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Group shot of passengers |
Chatting while waiting to load |
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The guides make silly faces |
Showing off muscles |
Pretending to be the "scuba mouse" |
Before we set off, Pat read a selection from Powell's journal to us (the part about his feelings upon coming out of the canyon). We rode on Kristin's boat, and as Pat had explained to us the night before, we all floated in silence. It was pretty neat, actually - I enjoyed the chance to think, and listen to birdsong, and reflect back on the trip.
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Canyon wall |
A last little riffle |
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The paddleboat tries to paddle quietly |
Diamond Peak |
Once Diamond Creek was in sight, we pulled over at a small beach just above it since the Hualapai were still loading up their trips on the beach (they run day trips in motor boats down the lower canyon). While we waited, the park service floated past and started unloading. I guess it's good to be the superintendent! When our time came we walked over from the beach and the guides brought the boats in two at a time. We unload and help break down the rafts. Can-X has a very efficient system worked out, and it only took us about an hour to get everything loaded onto the truck. The park service people were still deflating their boats as we ate our smorgasboard brunch, much to the guides' delight.
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The park superintendant rows past |
The Can-X truck |
The brunch was terrific - shrimp, sushi, sandwiches, cream puffs, watermelon, strawberries, and all kinds of yummy food, along with cold drinks. After eating, we all got into two vans - Robert and I were in a van with Jeanne, Jim, Jason, Phil, Marite, Alan, Cindy and Geoff. The Diamond Creek road was quite rough and we bounced around quite a bit. There were some nice ocotillo in bloom by the side of the road.
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Relaxing after loading |
Yummy food! |
We stopped in Seligman for ice cream at a little ice cream shop where the employees are all practical jokers. I thought it was sort of funny, but Jeanne had some serious culture shock and didn't like it at all. After being in the canyon for so many days in a nice quiet environment with people that you know, having to deal with the loudness and garishness of civilization compounded with strangers playing practical jokes - it was too much!
Once we got back to Flagstaff, we stopped at the company warehouse (where the guides were sorting and cleaning the gear) and had the opportunity to buy t-shirts and calendars and the like. We got back to the hotel around 2pm, unloaded the vans, found our luggage (which had been stored in the hotel all this time), and headed to our room for a shower (ahhhh!).
After we got clean, we went wandering around downtown Flagstaff with Jeanne, Jim and Jason. Then we went back to the hotel in time to drive to El Charro, the mexican restaurant where we had a final trip dinner with everyone. (Click here to see pictures from the dinner.) We had a great time at the dinner, I got people to take many silly pictures of themselves, and Sam kept us in stitches with his imitations of other guides. Kelly gave me the CD of her pictures (thanks Kelly!) and eventually we all left to go our separate ways. Jeanne, Jim, Robert and I spent the night in the hotel in Flagstaff and then drove home to Boulder. I think we spent the entire 11 hour drive home talking about the trip! I definitely have many memories that I will treasure.
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