Shorewoods Photography-Boarding Group 2 Travel Blog

Art and I woke after another evening of starry night skies, but there was something different this time: planes. This is the first night we are now seeing planes crossing the night sky, and even have seen a few planes and contrails during the day. For the most part we try to ignore them, and pretend they are not there. We want to preserve the magic as long as we can.

Our first stop after camp was Deer Creek Falls at Mile 137. This beautiful spring and waterfall were so clear and cool, and we got to have a swim in the water, which was so nice. We came away feeling refreshed!

Hiking in and out of the canyons to the waterfalls also offers up some views from the shore, and a different perspective of the Canyon Walls.

It is also a great opportunity for capturing reflections.

Our next 20 or so miles down the river took us through some rapids in the 2-4/10 range with 3-15′ drops. Gentle enough that we could have cameras out for the most part.

Sometimes the best view is behind you!

As we motored by a sandy beach, Josh and JP spotted some big horn sheep making their way down the rocks. What followed can only be described as the BEST photo shoot with big horn sheep in the wild ever!

They posed for us for quite some time, and eventually we returned to our downstream travel, content with more photos of these sheep than we would know what to do with!

Our next stop was at Havasu Creek at Mile 137. As we arrived at the rapids, a National Park Service Helicopter was parked on the rocky ledges of the shore. This is usually not a good sign at all. The only way in and out at this point in the Canyon is by helicopter, and this is not a usual place for helicopters to land. We were concerned that someone had been badly injured or worse.

Eventually the helicopter left, and we entered the rapids in front of Havasu and JP tied off our raft. Here are some long exposure and in camera motion shots of our raft at Havasu.

Havasu view straight up.

There are other rafts here, and a group is carrying gear from one end of the rocks to another where their rafts are tied up. While I was sitting on a rock ledge in the shade, a gentleman came over and sat with me. He shared this is his first rafting trip on the river, and how yesterday, their raft became caught on rocks at the entrance to the creek, in the rapids. He and 8 of his fellow passengers spent the night on the raft, stranded on the rocks. The National Park Service Helicopter came in early this morning to rescue them by lifting each person off the raft, and then lifting the raft clear of the rocks. They then needed to transfer all their gear to another raft to continue on their journey. We shared stories of where we live, and what brings us to the Grand Canyon. We also talked about the sacredness of moments that determine our safety, and safety is not to be taken for granted in this wild place.

We continued on our way, and Art and I captured more photos that still take our breath away even as we look at them on our computers.

Tonight we camp at Tuckup at Mile 165. Art and I spent some time watching the sunset casting shadows onto the Canyon wall. We want to savor these last sunsets, as we reflect back on our time here, with our last river day upon us tomorrow.

We began our day with sunrise lighting up the Canyon walls in front of us, and end the day the same way. While sunturnings over an ocean horizon is glorious, this, and everything in-between, is pure enchantment.