Kilted on the River IN the Grand Canyon

[Riverkilt]

Here's beautiful Deer Creek Falls that pours out of a slot canyon



I find the confluences of the rivers to be spiritual places - as do the Hopi and the Havasupai. Here's the confluence of the Little Colorado. Mixed emotions that the monsoons were flooding the river too much to visit the Hopi point of emergence - but I'm sure the Hopi are happy with fewer tourists at their sacred site.



And here's the convergence of Havasu Creek which was still running turquoise when every other side canyon was running brown.



We pulled in and went up Havasu Creek a little ways...great soaking pools on a hot day



Here's our sister raft having fun in the rapids



And we got rained on.



That's Laura, one of the boatmen behind me. On the river women are called boatmen too.

On day seven we pulled into Whitmore Wash where there's a helipad and we flew from there to the Bar 10 Ranch by helicopter. The ranch is a working ranch, airport, helipad, restaurant, and tourist store with showers and flush toilets.



Then they flew us back to Lees Ferry, our starting point, to pick up our cars and drive home. This is the sign at the Whitmore "Airport."



The vacation was fun, but also deeply spiritual for me. I've been a Colorado River junkie for many years and to run this chunk of it - to be present for it - to see it first hand - to sleep on the floor of the Grand Canyon and watch the stars - watch the moon rise - watch the sunrise and sunsets....was a profound experience I would recommend to anyone.

I have seen the river from Desert Watchtower on the South Rim - but now I've also seen the Desert Watchtower from the river. I've seen the river from Angels Window - but now I've also seen Angels Window from the river. I've endeavored to hike from Supai Village to the confluence of Havasu Creek with the Colorado River - never made it - but now I've at least made the confluence. I've yet to gaze down on the river from Toroweap - but now I have seen Toroweap from the river.

Lots of staff from Hatch recognized me due to the kilt. All comments from folks were most positive - best was from a lovely lady boatman with another outfitter who gave me a "Nice Kilt" with a broad smile and thumbs up. And there was another raft flying the Irish flag who was most impressed with a kilt on the river.

Its been a good week - but the olde geezer is sore from walking on sand and rocks for a week...and I can still feel the movement of the raft on the water over a day later. I like that it lingers.