Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona – July 11, 2011

Monday: The wake-up call was “coffee,” and it came around 5:30 in the morning. After breakfast, we took down the tents and packed up our gear, then we boarded the boats and got underway.

7:33 a.m.: Mile 30-32:

7:54 a.m.: Mile 32, the other Canyoneer boat gets a close look at Vasey’s Paradise, where waterfalls cascade out of the cliff face:

A closer view of Vasey’s Paradise:

8:08 a.m.: We approach Redwall Cavern (mile 33), a large alcove at river level:

 

8:14 a.m.: Having beached the boats at Redwall Cavern, we dashed inside, with some playing football and Frisbee:

 

Julie and I pose under the mouth of Redwall Cavern, with the Canyoneers boats and the Colorado River behind us:

9:02 a.m.: Mile 34-36:

 

9:18 a.m.: The “Bridge of Sighs” (mile 36):

10:26 a.m.: We stopped in Buck Farm Canyon (mile 41), where we went for a hike of about 1/2 mile, including a scramble or two and an effort to avoid copious amounts of red mud.

 

 

 

11:17 a.m.: Back on the river, we floated by the Royal Arches, an alcove in the limestone, at mile 42:

 

11:49 a.m.: We broke for lunch at mile 44. This was our view from the beach where we had stopped. Geologically, unclassified dolomite, Muav Limestone and the Temple Butte formation have appeared:

12:46 p.m.: Mile 45-46:

 

12:55 p.m.: Bright Angel shale also appears. This is one of the Triple Alcoves, mile 47:

 

Another alcove:

12:59 p.m.: Mile 48:

 

1:04 p.m.: Temple Butte Channel:

 

2:53 p.m.: At mile 62, we stopped where the Little Colorado River feeds into the Colorado. This is a view from shore, with rocks in the foreground, and the Colorado and cliffs and sky in the background:

 

This is the confluence of the Little Colorado with the Colorado. Calcium Carbonate in the Little Colorado River is very reflective, giving it a “swimming pool” blue color. At other times, when a rain washes sediment into the river, it can be muddy. We were lucky to see it in its blue state:

 

 

 

The Little Colorado was also much warmer than the main river. Whereas the Colorado was 45 degrees, the Little Colorado was perhaps 65 or 70. I jumped in, though came out after a minute, still not finding it warm enough for my taste.

 

 

4:11 p.m.: Back in the boat, passing through miles 62-65. Tapeats sandstone has appeared, and Dox Sandstone appears around mile 63.5. This is also the vicinity of “Crash Canyon,” between Chuar Butte and Temple Butte, where on June 30, 1956 a mid-air collision claimed 128 lives. Our guides said that some wreckage is still found on the tops of the buttes.

 

 

 

 

4:24 p.m.: Lava Canyon (Chuar) Rapid (mile 66). Cardenas basalt appears in the geological record.

 

4:42 p.m.: We arrived at our home for the second night, the Upper Tanner campsite. Here’s the amazing view toward the river and the opposite bank:

 

6:05 p.m.: Relaxing on the beach with a stack of books:

 

7:59 p.m.: Sunset at Upper Tanner Campsite:

 

8:09 p.m.: The moon rises.

 

Next: Day three below the Rim.