The Grand Time

Tom's Journal

June 19, 2007 - Day 35

View A Different Day

Up early again, we were on the water at a record time of 7:45 am. It is Dave’s turn at having a birthday and we all expressed our strong desire to spank him.

Almost immediately we negotiated Grapevine rapid, another powerful drop in a tight space between the vertical, hard canyon walls.

Three miles farther downstream we stopped for a mile-plus hike up Clear Creek, a classic slot canyon on the river’s right side.

We took turns standing under a waterfall that rivals any massage by pounding on our backs, necks and shoulders.

Reluctantly we pressed on, knowing that for five of us, these are the last few miles before the long hike out of the canyon.

Sure enough, after running one more rapid known as Zoroaster, we float at mid day into the only civilized spot in the Grand Canyon, Phantom Ranch.

The afternoon was spent readying for the ten mile hike out to the South Rim a mile above. It was great to see Webmaster Chris and meet his girlfriend Meghan who had hiked in to see us.

Kathy, Jim Peggy and I were the first to leave at about 4 pm. The difficulty of walking in the 110-plus degree heat was exceeded only by the beauty we enjoyed while watching the shadows creep in ahead of nightfall.

Up into evergreen forests we hiked until finally we had to use flashlights to see.

We arrived at the top at 9:40 pm just in time to meet Kathy’s relatives T.J., Petra, Dave and Emily.

Not one of us had any trouble sleeping although our feet are a little worse for the wear.

The perspective gained by seeing the canyon from bottom to top made me more in awe of this indescribable place. You really owe it to yourself to visit it some day.
View A Different Day

Mile by Mile Photos

June 19, 2007 - Day 35
Mile 732 through Mile 741

May 16 2007 - Day 1May 17 2007 - Day 2May 18 2007 - Day 3May 19 2007 - Day 4May 20 2007 - Day 5May 21 2007 - Day 6May 22 2007 - Day 7May 23 2007 - Day 8May 24 2007 - Day 9May 25 2007 - Day 10May 26 2007 - Day 11May 27, 2007 - Day 12May 28, 2007 - Day 13May 29, 2007 - Day 14May 30, 2007 - Day 15May 31, 2007 - Day 16June 1, 2007 - Day 17June 2 - 11, Day 18 - 27June 12, 2007 - Day 28June 13, 2007 - Day 29June 14, 2007 - Day 30June 15, 2007 - Day 31June 16, 2007 - Day 32June 17, 2007 - Day 33June 18, 2007 - Day 34June 19, 2007 - Day 35June 20, 2007 - Day 36June 21, 2007 - Day 37June 22, 2007 - Day 38June 23, 2007 - Day 39June 24, 2007 - Day 40June 25, 2007 - Day 41June 26, 2007 - Day 42June 27, 2007 - Day 43June 28, 2007 - Day 44June 29 2007 - Day 45June 30, 2007 - Day 46July 1 - 13, Day 47 - 58July 15, 2007 - Day 59
The last day; The river’s end