Part 14 Rafting the Colorado River Day 4–The last stretch to Diamond Creek

After all the fun rapids the Colorado River seemed to slow to a crawl as we floated the last stretch to Diamond Creek where we would end our journey.

OWT - Part 13 Rafting the Colorado River Day 4–Lava Falls

I was told last year that Lava Falls at River Mile 179 is the most exciting, and terrifying, 13 seconds of life, if you stay in the boat.  Find out if I did here.

Our World Tuesday–Days of Summer

I’ve been so busy this summer and have so much to post about that I can’t seem to catch up. So here’s a few images of summer, with more to follow.

The days of summer have been filled with adventure including rafting the Colorado River, hiking in Zion, boating on Lake Powell and...

MWT – A trip to Flagstaff

Thursday Mike and I hauled a friends vintage 1955 Spartan trailer to Flagstaff.

Saw a little sundog over the Painted Desert.

Drove towards a major storm approaching Mt Humphreys.

Flagstaff has a very fun oldtown where I bought gear for my upcoming trip on the Colorado River.

Had dinner in the funky Galaxy Diner.

Where some nice old cars were parked in the lot.

On the return drive Saturday we again drove through a storm passing Mt Humphreys.

It rained so hard even the Little Colorado River was flowing at Cameron.

Then the clouds broke up over the Painted Desert.

And the sun shone on the Colorado River at Marble Canyon.

But the clear sky didn’t last as we approached the Kaibab Plateau where home is.

To tour more of the world go to My World Tuesday by clicking here.

Dam View

I really need a Red Rock fix.

During the summer Mike and I visited several places I’ve yet to post about. On one of our shopping trips via the Grand Staircase Escalante we stopped at the Dam View in Page, Arizona.

We walked a short trail to the overlook.

Past marvelously eroded sandstone sculpture.

Where shadows stood tall.

Right up to the edge.

The Colorado River far below.

10 million tons of cement called the Glen Canyon Dam hold back and alter the natural flow of the mighty Colorado River. This creates the 186 mile (299 km) long Lake Powell with 1960 miles (3154 km) of shoreline for people to recreate on.

While life looks on.

Tuweep, a remote western view of Grand Canyon

Scrape marks on the slick rock that’s called road, not ours

After the five hour drive over washboard then slick rock road we pulled into a full campground around 5pm.

A fellow camper offered us parking in his large space as rules allow two vehicles per site. He pulled out the next morning.

Had a quick spaghetti dinner then walked the 1 mile (1.6 km) to the Tuweep overlook for sunset.

No disappointment here looking upstream.

Then we boulder hopped along the rim towards the west looking straight down about 3000 feet (914 m) into the Colorado River.

By the time we got to a good overlook downstream the light was gone, but the view sure wasn’t.

We walked back to camp by flashlight and saw this darkling beetle scurrying across our path. Sure glad it wasn’t one of the many snakes reportedly seen by the camphost.

The next morning after breakfast we walked back to the rim again.

Tuweep sits at an elevation of 4600 feet (1400 m) on a landform known as the Esplanade which forms a flat shelf situated about halfway between the coniferous forests of the North Rim and the hot canyon bottom.

A chaparral community thrives in Tuweep Valley with juniper and pinyon, sagebrush and saltbush, Mormon tea and other woody shrubs, and various grasses.

Nearer the Esplanade succulent cacti, yucca, and agave predominate.

Upstream

At less than one mile across the canyon to the Hualapai Indian Reservation on the South Rim, this is one of narrowest and deepest segments of the inner canyon.

Sandstone bedding planes and erosion

The colorful redrock from the Hermit shale and Supai sandstones to the east…

…contrasts with the black, basaltic lava flows to the west.

More than a dozen times in the last 7 million years lava spilled over the canyon rim damming the Colorado River.

The river eroded these lava dams and continued its downward cutting to where it is now 50 feet (15 m) deeper than the base of the dams.

Downstream

As the sun rose higher so did the temperatures.

We just couldn’t hang around during the heat of the day.

Eroded sandstone

So we headed back to camp for lunch in the afternoon shade of a large boulder next to our site.

On the way we saw water pockets in the slick rock. When moisture fills these pools fairy and horseshoe shrimp, tiny frogs and microscopic organisms emerge from the muddy bottoms.

It is important to walk only on the trail as the surrounding ground supports a rare and sensitive crusty black cryptobiotic soil. This complex community of lichens, algae, and bacteria takes years to grow.

Downstream

After hanging out in camp being lazy all day, we once again headed to the rim for sunset.

Upstream

I just couldn’t stop taking photos.

Nor did I want to leave.

But in the morning we hit the dusty road for the long drive back.

At least we didn’t end up like this.

To view Mike's birthday video go here. Hoping this works.