The Rambler June, The Monthly Publication of the Wasatch Mountain Club

Transcription

1 The Rambler June, 2013 The Monthly Publication of the Wasatch Mountain Club

2 Volume 92, Number 6 The Wasatch Mountain Club 1390 S E. #103 Salt Lake City, UT (801) GOVERNING BOARD President: John Veranth ( ) veranth@xmission.com Vice-President: Will McCarvill ( ) will@commercialchemistries.com Secretary; Chris Frazier ( ) cbfraizer@comcast.net Treasurer: Co-director: John Butler ( ) john@utahman.com Co-director: Donovan Lynch (( ) donovanlynch@gmail.com Membership: Co-director: Eileen Gidley ( ) eileengidley@gmail.com Co-director: Angie Vincent ( )dvince182@yahoo.com Historian: Alexis Kelner ( ) kelner@xmission.com Biking: Robert Turner ( ) r46turner@gmail.com Boating: Zig Sondelski ( ) zig.sondelski@gmail.com Conservation: Will McCarvill ( ) will@commercialchemistries.com Social: Co-director: Tony Hellman ( ) utahhomes4us@gmail.com Co-director: Helen Corena ( ) Hiking: Co-director: Liz Cordova ( ) liz1466@live.com Co-director: Julie Kilgore ( ) jk@wasatch-environmental.com Information Technology: Co-director: Bret Mathews ( ) bretmaverick999@yahoo.com Co-director: Bernard Rouse ( ) bernardrouse@q.com Public Relations: Co-director: Chris Fraizer ( ) cbfraizer@comcast.net Co-director: Donnie Benson ( ) dbenson@u2m2.utah.edu Lodge: Foundation Liaison, Bob Myers ( ) robertmyers47@gmail.com Lodge Use: Earl Cook ( ) ecookut@hotmail.com Mountaineering: Co-director: Nathan Schweitz ( ) nathanschweitz@hotmail.com Co-director: Steve Duncan ( ) duncste@comcast.net Rambler Publications: Editor: Kathy Craig ( ) wasatchmountainclub@gmail.com Winter Sports: Walt Haas ( ) haas@xmission.com COORDINATORS: Boating Equipment: Bret Mathews ( ) bretmaverick999@yahoo.com Canoeing: Vacant Canyoneering: Rick Thompson gone2moab@hotmail.com Evening Hikes: Mark Bloomenthal ( ) markbloomenthal@yahoo.com Mountain Biking: Jennifer Ritter ( ) hypercorrectiion@gmail.com Rambler Graphics: Suzanne Nakagawa ( ) Rambler Mailing: Chris Venizelos ( ) Sing-a-Long: Bart Bartholoma ( ) bartbartholoma@netscape.net LaRae Bartholoma ( ) roosiebear@gmail.com Ski, Backcountry: Vacant Ski, Touring: Mike Berry ( ) mberryxc@earthlink.net Snowshoeing: Deirdre Flynn ( ) deirdre.flynn@marriott.com Trails: Dave Andrenyak ( ) andrenyakda@aim.com TRUSTEES: Dave Rumbellow ( ) djr3@xmission.com Cheryl Soshnik ( ) csoshnik@yahoo.com Gretchen Siegler ( ) gsiegler@westminstercollege.edu Barb Hanson ( ) barbhanson30@hotmail.com Trustee Emeritus: Dale Green ( ) The Rambler (USPS ) is published monthly by the Wasatch Mountain Club. Subscription rates of $12.00 per year are paid for by membership dues only. Periodicals Postage Paid at SLC, Utah. CHANGE OF ADDRESS/Missing Rambler: Please call the WMC office or send your new address to the Membership Director. This publication is not forwarded by the Post Office. Allow 45 days for address changes. Replacement copies are available, while they last, at the WMC office during office hours. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Rambler, Membership Director, 1390 S E, #103, Salt Lake City, UT COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING: The Rambler encourages and supports your products and services through pre-paid commercial advertisements. Please send an to WasatchMountainClub@gmail. com for information or to place an ad. Prepayment is necessary for single month advertisements and invoicing and net 30 for repeat advertisements. Full Page: $95/month Half Page: $50/month Quarter Page: $30/month Business Card: $15/month The right is reserved to edit all contributions and advertisements, and to reject those that may harm the sensibilities of WMC members or defame the WMC. Copyright 2013 Wasatch Mountain Club 2

3 FRONT COVER: IN THIS ISSUE: The WMC Lodge Caine Alder Memorial Hike Boating Director's Message Remembering Terry Rollins Faint Trails in the Wasatch Welcome to New Members Activities Listing Non-WMC Activities The 4 Horsemen of the Apocolypse, North Timp Summit with the False Summit to the North L-R: Sam Grant, Kevin Campbell, Michael Hannan and John Badila Michael Hannan's Annual (5th) Cold Fusion Couloir Extreme Hike April 27, 2013 Trip Report and photos - pages from the editor To achieve a high quality printed Rambler, I have been advised by our publisher to please avoid using camera phones to produce your pictures. Despite the high quality of the newer phones, when you start resizing the pictures, the quality drastically diminishes. WMC Purpose (Article II of the WMC Constitution) The purpose shall be to promote the physical and spiritual well-being of its members and others by outdoor activities; to unite the energy, interests and knowledge of students, explorers and lovers of the mountains, deserts and rivers of Utah; to collect and disseminate information regarding the Rocky Mountains on behalf of science, literature and art; to explore and picture the scenic wonders of this and surrounding states; to foster awareness of scenic beauties; and to encourage preservation of our natural areas including their plant, animal and bird life. 3

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5 YOU RE INVITED! CLIMB FOR EDUCATION AFRICA & PERU MAD CHARITY CLIMBS KILIMANJARO & MACHU PICCHU MAD supports quality educational opportunities for vulnerable children and youth in developing countries. We offer you the chance to hike to the top of breathtaking mountains while making a difference! LET US DO THE WORK! We can help you, your club or company setup your fundraising page and fundraise for your trip so it costs you nothing. The date for our next climb is approaching! Visit: 5

6 D a v e A n d r e n y a k ' s H i k i n g T ra i l M a i n t e n a n c e N e w S e c t i o n o f t h e B o n n e v i l l e S h o r e l i n e T ra i l Photos by Dave Andrenyak May 4, 2013 Dave: On May 4, 2013, Wasatch Mountain Club members joined with the Bonneville Shoreline Committee and other volunteers to continue work on the new section of the Bonneville Shoreline trail. The work involved removing roots/rocks and improving the tread on the trail that was initially laid out and cut last year. Thank you to all that participated. We are making progress. Phyllis Anderson's Grandeur from Church Fork Hike Toward the summit Photos by Phyllis Anderson and Gene Chrisenbery At the summit April 14, 2013 Phyllis: In a time of rather unpleasant weather, Mother Nature gave us a break for this hike. It was cold, the trail was somewhat muddy, and the snow on the ridge was unusually firm for this time of year. But nine intrepid hikers braved conditions for a good hike. Participants were Phil Cherry, Maya Pandya, Gene Chrisenbery, Barb Hanson, Steve Duncan, Knick Knickerbocker, Erin McCormack, Susan Allen, and Robert Myers. We were joined on the ridge by late comers, Jennifer Edgar and Darryl Furse. 6

7 Caine Alder Memorial Hike For those who knew Caine, a hike in his honor is being planned for June 29, Details will follow by , or you can call Phyllis Anderson at (801) Caine passed away on October 7, 2012 at the age of 78. A long-time club member, Caine had a love affair with Twin Peaks, and climbed it for the 275 th time in June, just four months prior. Caine aspired to full membership in the WMC at age 16. In October 1953 (I think), he accompanied Harold Goodro and Lee Jensen on the first-ever successful expedition to the bottom of Neff s Cave. He returned in October 1956 with Dale Green, Paul Schettler, Bob Wright, Yves Eriksson, and Alexis Kelner to map the cave. (For caving enthusiasts, there is a fascinating account at Caine was involved in many mountain rescues, perhaps most prominently the rescue attempt of the five men who went down in the B-25 bomber crash on Mt. Timpanogos on March 9, All were killed, but with the severe weather conditions and new snow, only four bodies were recovered. In May, Caine located the fifth victim and recovered the body for a grateful Air Force. Caine was always a vigorous outdoorsman, but many people did not know that he was also a concert-level pianist. In fact, Caine never talked about his exploits in either arena, and friends and even family members were often taken by surprise. He was a truly extraordinary person. For more delightful reading, see: vladimirhorowitz.hostzi.com/1_43_in-memoriam-caine-alder html. Ellen Leis on Choir Boy, Lower S-Curve wall, Big Cottonwood Canyon Photo by Steve Duncan 7

8 WASATCH MOUNTAIN CLUB Est The Wasatch Mountain Club, formed in 1920, is an organization of outdoor enthusiasts who engage in recreational activities as well as social gatherings and conservation efforts. Check out our activities calendar and join us for an adventure! Club ACTIVITIES INCludE Hiking, backpacking and camping Flat and whitewater kayaking, canoeing and rafting, Mountain and road biking, Rock and ice climbing, canyoneering and mountaineering, Snowshoeing, Nordic & alpine backcountry skiing, Social/entertainment activities/ programs Conservation pursuits FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WASATCHMOUNTAINCLUB.ORG June 2013 Boating Director s Message (Zig Sondelski) Busy June, Jordan River Trips Resume, Expedition River Trip Our boating season is ramping up fast. In May, we had the Gray Canyon beginner trip. In June there are river trips on the San Juan and Lodore (2 each), Yampa, Grand Canyon and Split Mountain. We are expecting about 1,000 person river days for 2013, and that s what takes people on the water. Now that we have all of these trips scheduled, organizers are busy completing permit paperwork, getting people signed up and reserving vehicles, trailers and shuttles. Thanks to the new organizers for getting involved and the mentors for supporting them. The next issue is to get more organizers trained and insure they are mentored. The big order of Watershed dry bags arrived in May and Kevin Earl distributed them. (If you haven t picked yours up by now, you better contact Kevin ASAP.) You will again see Jordan River trips showing up on the June calendar this year. The trips are set up to run sections of the Jordan River one afternoon during the week after work and be done before dark. It is amazing how the city sights and sounds disappear behind the green curtain and wildlife appears. Rent a kayak or other boat and join us for an afternoon of river serenity in the city. Thanks to Margie Gendler for starting this activity and for helping transition it to Daniel Baker and Catherine Owens. We are organizing one expedition river trip each year that we don t do regularly. This year it is Cataract Canyon on the Colorado River in September. It seems a long way off, but now is the time to sign up. It is being planned with the National Park Service (NPS) as a service project (we also get some motor support from the NPS). The NPS would like to get the trip confirmed and we have space available. This trip may not be repeated for several years as we have others lined up after this. Check out our current boating schedule in this Rambler or on the WMC online Activities Calendar and see what river trips you might be interested in joining. 8

9 2013 BOATING CALENDAR AS OF MAY 10, 2013 Launch Date Trip Class Rapids Organizer Organizer Contact May Beginner Gray Canyon II Donnie Benson Zig Sondelski May Beginner Moab Daily I Nicolle Wiaderny nwiaderny@gmail.com May 29 - Jun 2 San Juan II Kelly Beumer kelly@biochem.utah.edu Jun 1-2 Westwater IV- Nicolle Wiaderny nwiaderny@gmail.com Jun 5-8 Lodore III+ Bunny Sterin riverbunnyak@yahoo.com Jun Lodore III+ Zig Sondelski zig.sondelski@gmail.com Jun Yampa III+ Carl Harline cgharline@gmail.com Jun Sevier II OPEN Max Snyder Jun 15 - Jul 1 Grand Canyon V Mark Grosser markjgrosser@yahoo.com Jun Beginner Split Mountain III Donnie Benson donnie.benson@u2m2.utah.edu Jul 4-7 Payette II Rick Thompson gone2moab@hotmail.com Jul Main Salmon III Dudley McIlhenny dudley.mcilhenny@gmail.com Jul Beginner Split Mountain III Zig Sondelski zig.sondelski@gmail.com Kelly Beumer kelly@biochem.utah.edu Jul Desolation III Mike Bullinger mikebullinger@msn.com Jul Main Salmon III Erik Vogel erikvogel@comcast.net Jul 26 - Aug 2 Main Salmon III OPEN Bert Ley Aug 8-13 Desolation III Alan Mayo alan_mayo@live.com Aug 9-13 San Juan Islands II Steve Seliger steveseliger@gmail.com Aug?? Beginner Alpine III OPEN Sep 8-14 Stillwater Canyon II- Marjorie Gendler gendler801@aol.com Sep Desolation III John Veranth veranth@xmission.com Sep Cataract Service Proj IV Zig Sondelski zig.sondelski@gmail.com Sep 27-Aug 3 Middle Fork Salmon IV OPEN Alan Polumbos Sep?? Boat Shed Closing 0 Bret Matthews bretmaverick999@yahoo.com Oct?? Pink Flamingo 0 Cindy Crass The Wasatch Mountain Club has a vibrant boating program and owns boats and gear to fully equip club boating trips. The club schedules a wide variety of trips from daily runs to week-long river trips. Trips range in intensity from serene flat water canoe trips to challenging class IV-V whitewater. For trips on permitted rivers, the trip organizer generally is the permit owner. Participants on the trip are the permit owner s guests. As such, the permit holder may invite or exclude anyone from his or her trip. Organizers frequently screen participants to assure they have the necessary skills, experience and/or gear necessary for a certain trip. Trip costs are split among the participants based on a variety of factors. 9

10 Randy Long and N e w c o m e r / B e g i n n e r H i k e t o L o w e r B e l l ' s R e s e r v o i r Julie Kilgore's Julie: A little rain/snow/ hail/wind couldn't keep this group of hardy souls away! We combined this newcomer hike with some graffiti removal and trash clean-up. L-R: Ryan, Hal, Randy, Helena, Julie and Sean April 20, 2013 Photos by Julie Kilgore Sean helps remove graffiti using the anti-graffiti spray Hal brought along Hal points out the landslide scarp that exposed a section of the terminal morraine People join the Wasatch Mountain Club because they like to go backpacking, biking, road biking, mountain biking, rafting, white water rafting, kayaking, canoeing, climbing, rock climbing, ice climbing, indoor climbing, canyoneering, mountaineering, hike, hiking, moonlight hike, day hike, evening hike, leisurely hike, turtle hike, car camp, trek in Nepal, back country skiing, snowshoeing, avalanche education, making snow caves, doing trail maintenance, supporting conservation issues, preserving the Wasatch Mountain Club Lodge, socializing, making dutch oven meals, going to movies, attending potlucks, and enjoying barbecues. It does not matter if you are new in town, newly single, recently retired, just moved here, want to social network, or just meet new people there is a good chance you will enjoy one of the activities they organize. Some activities are pretty tame and others are very adventurous. Club members typically enjoy outdoor non-motorized recreation and, by organizing trips, are willing to share what they know with you. Many of the outdoor activities they do are in the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City, UT. So if you have a sense of adventure, check us out! 10

11 John Butler Aymara Jimenez J o h n B u t l e r ' s S h a d y S p u r C l i m b Ellen: After deciding that the rain would hold off for a while, John Butler, Peter Ashcroft, Aymara Jimenez, Robert Ging and Ellen Leis hiked up to the Shady Spur area in Little Cottonwood Canyon for a morning of climbing. John and Robert led the way. Peter, Aymara and Ellen followed. In spite of off-and-on sprinkles and wind gusts, four routes were successfully climbed. Robert Ging Peter Ashcroft April 13, 2013 Photos by Ellen Leis 11

12 The Snow Spirits that hunker down and live in the deep hollows of Kings Peak (13,528 ft.) can reach out and either smite or smile on the KPT single day ascent in late spring every year. The smile of the spirits was wide and inviting this year. There was more snow that most of us ever could remember. There were really no snow bridges, as one could almost ski anywhere. Several members had gone up early and put in a substantial track which eliminated the afternoon softening and break through problem. Only the late afternoon-early evening stretch from the summer trailhead to the car park was a little problematic in spots. The track on the long creek section was firm and fast. Headlamps were optional early in the morning as the full moon lit up the track. There were just enough clouds scudding by to keep the snow softening in check. It was really a nice day! There was the usual distribution of veterans and first timers in the group of 19. The visiting dignitary, Paul Horton, drove down from Jackson and had a good day. The 40 th is in the books. Larry and Steve Swanson Larry and Steve Swanson's 40th March 30, 2013 Dmitry Pruss and Glen Mackey in the upper basin Kings Peak Anniversary Ski Tour "Skinning up" below Gunsight Pass First of the 8 from the "core" group reaching the Kings Peak summit by 1:30 p.m. (all identified in the other photo captions) 12

13 Bard LeFevre approaching Gunsight Pass Crossing the high plateau Dmitry Pruss, Judy Zachary, Mike Berry and Mathew Van Horn near the top; Barry DeHaan just out of sight Rob Rogalski completes the "Swanson's cut-off" traverse above Gunsight Pass A beautiful day for the 40th Annual Kings Peak Ski Tour Photos by Rob Rogalski and Dmitry Pruss 13

14 14 Remembering Terry Rollins ( ) by Michael Budig, Thom Dickison and Cheryl Soshnik Cheryl Soshnick: Terry Rollins, a 35 year member of the Wasatch Mountain Club, embraced life, the outdoors, family, friends and fun to the fullest in his short 60 years on this earth. He did what so many of us could only dream of he quit his 9-to-5 job in the world of finance at age 42 in order to explore the rest of the world via foot, ski, backpack, bicycle, boat, sports stadiums, and yes, even by bungee cord. And he did it all with a huge grin while telling groaner jokes making you laugh was his passion. Terry was an elegant and proficient back country skier. One year he vowed to ski at least one day every month of the year and he did. He bicycled with the club, including a number of the Bob Wright Death Valley Winter Escapes, and then did extensive bicycle touring once he quit his full time job. Terry also enjoyed trekking in Nepal and India with other WMC members. For the last 12 years, he had been traveling to Asia to teach English for half of the year, and then to come back to Utah for the skiing. The diagnosis of ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig s disease, was made just last fall. The disease came on swiftly, and now he s gone. I wonder if he had a premonition 20 years ago that helped him make the decision to quit his job at such a young age and to play as fast and as hard as he could? Terry you will be greatly missed by so many of your friends in the Wasatch Mountain Club. Thom Dickison shares these memories of Terry: I met Terry on a Wasatch Mountain Club hike to Box Elder Peak in I was drawn to his sense of humor and love of the outdoors. Over the next 30 plus years I enjoyed his company on many hikes, backpacks, ski trips, and bike rides. Terry was always ready to do an activity with the club or with a small group of friends. Terry led trips for the Mountain Club, cooked hamburgers for the climbing/hiking night in Big Cottonwood Canyon, and served as WMC Treasurer for several years in the 1980's. Terry will be greatly missed by his many friends! Mike Budig has more stories of Terry in the WMC: Terry Rollins and I both joined the Wasatch Mountain Club in the early 1980 s and became good friends. We enjoyed hiking, biking, rafting, skiing, backpacking and snowshoeing together, as well as going to many Jazz games. I especially remember the time I skied with Terry on President s Day in the early or mid-80 s. We skied from Alta to Days Fork on a sunny and beautiful incredible snow day. It was one of the most impressive ski tours I ever did - but for a great skier like Terry, it was just another great day. I also remember captaining a boat with him and his girlfriend at the time through the Gates of Lodore on a trip which was a great adventure. We shared a lot over the years as we aged and grew. His sense of humor was always at the forefront. I remember he once told me about a teenage job, probably his first, in an ice cream parlor. He said that once Mr. Snelgrove took him aside and asked him to stop telling dirty jokes to the women he worked with. I thought this was hilarious and commented: Sounds like the die was cast early. It was hard to see him slowly fade in recent months. I tried to make him laugh when I visited and did get a laugh when I reminded him of this story. He was lucky to have met his love, Susan, and it was obvious they were very happy and caring towards each other. It is sad that their time together was so short. I miss Terry and will never forget him.

15 R i ck G a m bl e a n d Car r ie Clark's A p r i l 2 1, L i t t l e B l a c k M o u n t a i n H i k e Dave giving us a "high-five" Maya, Dave, Jude and Dan heading up the trail Andy, Dan, Dave and Rick enjoying the view Participants: Andy Beard, Carrie Clark, Dan Clark, Jude Elizondo, Rick Gamble, Dave Ivers, Akiko Kamimura, Knick Knickerbocker, Maya Pandya, Dave Rumbellow, Dan Smith, Chris Winter and Roger Young. Maya enjoying the day Photos by Akiko Kamimura and Maya Pandya L-R: Roger Young, Dan Smith, Dave Rumbellow, Dan Clark, Jude Elizondo, Andy Beard, Carrie Clark, Rick Gamble, Akiko Kimimura and Maya Pandya 15

16 Julie Kilgore's Yellowstone Hike and Bike Ride Trip April 12-14, 2013 April 13th, Biking with the Bisons: Yellowstone is amazing any time of year, but riding bikes in the park during that 30-day window that the west entrance is closed to all vehicle traffic, it is magical. But it does require some faith and flexibility. As usual, the weather this time of year is complex. The morning of our ride we woke to a couple of inches of new snow, but nothing significant enough to stop the ride. The group of hardy souls joining me this year included Alex Rudd, Barb Gardner, Robert Turner, Clark and Holley Richards, Shane and Jacque Bode, Cindy Crass, and newcomer Craig Ellsworth. Fresh snow Upon arrival at the west entrance, the asphalt was clear and the day was warm enough to Group at the entrance Clear roads deal with any snow that was sure to accompany those storm clouds in the distance. With the park pretty much all to ourselves, we were free to ride and chat and stop and gaze as our leisure. Julie and Alex Watching animals 16

17 Robert and Cindy along Riverside Drive The group at 7 Mile Bridge It didn t take long to find our first Yellowstone wildlife, a full elk herd including a male that we were surprised to see still had last year s rack. Elk herd Male Elk Another group of ladies entertained us along the river bank and a couple of miles later. Elk along the river Photos by Julie Kilgore, Alex Rudd, Craig Ellsworth and Barb Gardner 17

18 But it s not a real biking with the bison adventure until it comes time to share the road! Sometimes the herd follows the rules well enough to keep a passing lane open. Craig passes herd Sharing the road Other times, the bison seem to think they own the entire road, making it a little more challenging to get by without a little help from an occasional passing park employee. Waiting to pass Passing assistance With only the occasional mishap, it was another successful 30-mile ride full of the wide range of conditions! As promised, conditions ranged from snow to blue sky. Craig fixes a flat 18

19 Snow Blue Sky On the drive back to Salt Lake, part of the group took a detour to check out Red Rock Pass, the break in the mountains that drained Lake Bonneville. RedRock Story Lake Bonneville Sign We followed the back roads into Utah, giving Robert Turner a whole bunch of ideas for future bike rides!! Red Rock Pass 19

20 20 Dudley McIlhenny's Black Canyon Kayak/Canoe Trip March 21-24, 2013 Participants: Dudley, Tesesa, Jennifer, Darryl, Rod and (yours truly) Giulia. Hi! I am Giulia who is kind of new in the Club. I was given the task to write the report and here it is. This was my very first canoe trip and my first Black Canyon experience. I carpooled with Rod Collins, such a nice guy. We left Salt Lake City on Thursday morning, snowing in the city and cold. We did not know if the others had left SLC yet, but we are all responsible adults and we were sure they were on their way. By 3 p.m. we pulled in the Hacienda Hotel where we were all supposed to stay that night. The room was clean and I had one with the view of the lake. Rod came down almost immediately and we headed to the bar for a nice cold beer. The fun time had started and I was enjoying myself. No, I do not gamble but Rod was checking out some possible good tables to try his luck. At 6:30 p.m. we got word that we were all checked-in. (Dudley, Teresa, Jennifer and Darryl) We were summoned to a meeting by Dudley by the bar where we all hugged and laughed and were exited. Dudley was very informative and acted like a leader. I trusted his expertise. We reviewed our plans for the following day and were ready for dinner; a very cheap and very bad dinner buffet. The next morning we met first with the Feds who took our names, ID s and checked them off the list. We all passed and were not found on the list of the most wanted terrorists in the country. Safe!! The Desert Adventure van was late to arrive and it was 8:15 a.m. when they did so and saw there were only two canoes for the six of us; wondering how we were going to manage all of us with all our gear. The mystery was soon solved; the third canoe was at the docking pier were we were going to take off. Ok! Check that off also. We all transferred our gear to the trailer and jumped into the van. Our driver, Zane, provide a wealth of historical information about the Hoover Dam. We got down to the bottom of the canyon by the docking pier. We had only had 15 minutes to load everything into the canoes, so we formed a human chain and fifteen minutes later were ready and on our way. I was the pilot of our canoe. Not a great idea. But wait! And off we went down the mellow Colorado River. Dudley, Teresa, Jennifer and Darryl decided to stop at the first hot spring just a few hundred yards from the dock. And where were you and Rod you ask? Did I mention I was the pilot? Well, we were still spinning in circles trying to get the canoe straight down the river, we wanted to go to the hot spring like the others but... we missed it and we were down about 1//2 mile waiting for them at that point!! (Eventually I got it and I was able to keep the canoe straight with minimal sharp turning and spinning and at the end of the three days, I was a pro. Canoeing is easy!) We then headed down to find our first camping site, Boy Scout. Great place! The stream flows down the canyon into the Colorado. We pitched the tents and we decided to explore the area. The water of the stream coming down the canyon was warm. I never walked in warm river water. It was fun and then we started to climb a bit, few rough places, but no big deal. Suddenly, Jennifer and Rod decided to head back to camp and Dudley and I and Darryl continued up the canyon. Darryl was no longer in sight and Dudley and I climbed a couple of ropes up a few waterfalls. It was so much fun. Dudley and I started back and we found this great pool of hot water and we just had to stop and sit in it. It was fantastic, a dreamy moment surrounded just by nature and the calming sounds of water flowing.

21 After returning to camp I got out the appetizer I made the day before (cream cheese lox spread.) Yummy! Everyone loved it! And Darryl? Where is he? We just had to wait. So we did and we ate almost all the cheese spread. When all of a sudden there is Darryl, merrily strolling down the canyon with a big smile of contentment on his face and surprised by the look of our faces. What? We were worried about you - you were gone over three hours. But we did not want to make him feel too bad and we offered him what was left of the cheese spread. Dinner came afterwards; a marvelous gazpacho soup dinner for all, courtesy of Dudley. The next day we paddled from one beach to another in search of other hot springs, saw a cool half grotto along the river (a great place to stop and wait if it was going to rain or storm), and reached our second campsite. We pitched the tents and I took out my second appetizer (guacamole-salsa and tortilla chips). Dudley took out his fake fire pit and soon it was roaring like a real one and we started the usual talks by the fire that according to Dudley involve only two topics (courtesy of Janet Embry): talking about poo and of the time I almost died. We all laughed and laughed and laughed uncontrollably. The third day came soon and we were trying to figure out how long it would take us to reach the meeting point. We wanted still to explore the shores. We stopped at an abandoned hut that used to host workers of the dam and we saw some very unstable walkways made of wood hanging from the cliffs of the canyon walls. It was warm L-R: Jennifer, Giulia, Rod and Dudley relaxing Darryl, Rod, Jennifer and Dudley loading canoes and I was in the front of the canoe this time and gave Rod the opportunity to be the pilot. I was loving it with the wind and the sun on my face. We reached the shore at the exact same time the van pulled up. We loaded the trailer with the canoes and our gear and returned to the parking lot of the Hacienda. We said our goodbyes and hugged each other. Everyone had a good time and most important no one was hurt or missing! Photos by Teresa McMillan It was my first canoe trip and my first Black Canyon experience and I will do it again next year and the next and the next. I want to sit in more of those hot spring pools... 21