6/13
Day 4
Wednesday
Even though today was a short day, we still left camp early.
We only had around 7 miles to cover this day, but we would be paddling down Joe
Hutch. A class III rapid.
A few of our group (Mom and Margo) voiced their anxiety
about the rapid as the day started, and as we scouted the rapid. The scout is
river right with a couple of sandy beaches to show the way. There are well used
paths to take boaters to a few different overlooks. This allows for multiple views
for the rapid, to make out a sold route through.
Joe Hutch is run on the left, mainly, fallowing good sized
waves around a sweeping right corner, and pushing through a large crashing wave
on the bottom. There are rocks on both sides, narrowing the safest part of the
rapid. But there is still room for large maneuvers if needed.
We made a quick boat order before leaving the scout area.
Simply 2 rafts (Dad and Bob) followed by the 2 little boats (Margo and me)
followed by the last 2 rafts (Mike and Mom). We made sure that there was plenty
of space between each boat. When a raft entered the rapid, a raft was leaving
the rapid. Except me and Margo. Margo stuck close enough behind me to mostly
follow my line through the rapid.  |
| Joe Hutch |
I ran Joe Hutch by following the tongue into the rapid, then
by making my way right in an effort to avoid the large crashing wave on the
bottom. I was not completely successful. I broke through a wave sideways,
filling my canoe a good amount, but not capsizing me. I made it to the bottom
and landed at a sand and rock beach to dump water and run back up stream to
video the last boats coming through. Those of our group whom had voiced anxiety
earlier, expressed their jubilation at the bottom of the rapid.
Margo tried to fallow my line but ended up further to the
left. Not detrimental. She paddled through a few similar waves, as well as the
large crashing wave.
The rest of the day consisted of a few more riffles, before
we made camp (Wire Fence #1) by noon. |
| Margo in Joe Hutch |
Wire Fence #1 is located on the right side of the river, as
the river bends to the left. A fair sized, deep, eddy allowed the rafts a
reasonably easy landing. Margo and I landed a bit further down River and hiked
out boats back up. A slopping sand beach lead the way into a cluster of trees.
Our only sand from the relentless heat. A large, dead, cottonwood tree sat in the
middle of camp, its trunk and limbs cast spidery shadows in the sunset. This
camp stayed at the mercy of the sun from a very long time. (The down side of
camping at the end of the Desolation Canyon). Wire Fence Rapid, Class III(?),
sat a few hundred yards downstream. And, Three Fords below that.
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| Wire Fence #1 |
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| Toni Napping at Camp |
After the usual naps, baths, data dumping, and cold drinks.
(None of which helped to escape the heat). Other groups stared to float passed.
A few landed down steam, our neighbors for the night. Even the NOLS kayak
group, who we passed yesterday, showed up. Knowing that a carnage fest was
about to begin, we grabbed cameras and rushed down to Wire Fence’s scout. Some
of the neighbors were already there, and more showed up as time passed.
Unfortunately, after 20 minutes of waiting, the kayakers did not come around the corner. Instead, they set their camp just upstream of the rapid.
Margo and I passed some time, waiting for the stopped
kayakers, by photo shooting lizards.
After the disappointment of the kayakers, we waked down to
scout Three Fords. The sun was hot, and the desert sand hurt what flesh it come
in contacted with. After the scout, we made our way back to camp, where we
pounded down cold drinks.  |
| One of the Lizards |
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| Three Fords Rapid |
The hot day was ended with steak fajitas, and brownies cooked in hollowed out orange peels.
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| Getting out of the Sun |
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