Saturday, December 7th, 2013
When we got up this morning it was about 5C and felt very warm compared to the morning before. We managed to get our gear together and get started down the river by 9:30 am - possibly a new record. There were no big rapids ahead for this day. I wore sunscreen and sunglasses in the morning hoping for clearing but it gradually got totally overcast.
We stopped at National Canyon for lunch and a short walk. This slot canyon looks much the same as the rest so it didn't have any particularly interesting features. Zack is in the foreground of the picture with Annie and Chris behind.
Zack, Annie and I posing in our river gear in National Canyon. I've been wearing this stupid looking skull cap under my helmet for the whole trip to keep my head warm. It's not fashionable but it helps.
After lunch, we ran National, Fern Glen and Gateway rapids, none of which were very memorable. Zack was looking more and more uncomfortable and after Gateway he rowed no more. He had a sick stomach. Annie quit kayaking around noon so she and I took turns rowing through the afternoon while Zack rested. It had started raining right after lunch.
We camped at Above Anvil campsite at mile 178 so we travelled about 19 miles today. We set up in the rain. Annie helped Zack set up their tent so he could rest while she was on kitchen duty. I set up my tent and rammed all my stuff under the vestibules. Since it was raining and about 5C, I crawled in to read until supper. Fortunately, the wind wasn't too strong but it was still miserable weather.
When I finally crawled out and wandered down to the group under the kitchen tarp, Jen introduced me to a "pisskey". We had just used up a container of pickles so we had a jar of pickle juice. A pisskey is a shot of whiskey chased with a sip of pickle juice straight out of the jar. It's the perfect before dinner drink for such an occasion.
The rain stopped about 7 pm and the weather turned colder.
Sunday, December 8th 2013
There was ice on everything when we got up this morning, although it looked like we would get some sunshine. However, it was cold enough through the day that when I got my barrel pack out of the raft at the next campsite, it still had ice on it.
Shortly after leaving camp we passed Anvil Rock, a sacred site to many of the native tribes. Volcanic activity in this area of the canyon actually dammed the river here at one time.
Magnificent views as always.
Dan paddling.
Scouting Lava Falls, Class 9. Although it may not look big from this height above the river, there is a ledge in the middle of the rapid at the top with a hole below it that can easily flip rafts. Our chosen approach was to skirt just to the right of the middle hole, power through the waves and be sure to be left of the rock at the bottom right. Zack was still feeling weak so he and Annie walked around this rapid. Jeff Bos took the oars on our raft with John and I paddling. Jeff took a good line so we sailed through with no problem, missing all the holes. However, there were definitely big waves so it was a wet run. My hands were too cold to grip my paddle well by the time we got to the bottom. All our rafts got through safely, as did the kayakers.
Later in the day, we camped at Parashant campsite at mile 199 so it was a good 21 mile day. Tomorrow is a layover day. It's looking like another fairly cold night.
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