Summer 2013

Swim Team: Vanessa and Hunter
Swimming Lessons: Christopher
Sunsplash waterpark: All
Junior Lifeguarding: Vanessa
Basketball Camp: Christopher
Swimming at Grandma's: All
Summer Movies: All
Sewing: Vanessa and Hunter
Online Classes: Vanessa
Cousins Moving: All
Summer Reading: Christopher
Strep Throat again: Hunter
Moving: All?

We've been a little busy!

Vanessa's 15th Birthday

I missed Vanessa's Birthday party at Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's on Memorial Day as I was driving home from the Paria river trip.

Hunter and Brittany


I was home for her real birthday though.



We had our favorite chicken/ broccoli/ dairy loaded casserole for dinner and treat so her candles went into a piece of bread. Then we let them melt down and make colorful bread.

Paria Day 4

The previous days we had done 8-11 miles plus side trips and taken 9 or 10 hours so I thought this last 12 miles would take that long too. So I had enough water for all day. I guess everyone was worried about getting out before it was too hot so we were really bookin it. Richard talked me into dumping some of my extra water that was weighing my down. He promised to stay with me so I could filter more if needed. He stayed with me and I had enough water since we were out in 4 1/2 hours.



More petroglyphs

Ruins of the Johnson family ranch



Graveyard. Maybe distant relatives of mine.



Apricot orchards at Lonely Dell Ranch.

All done! We made it!

I guess the tradition is to dunk yourself 3 times for luck in the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry. Man, that water is cold! Notice the rafting trips in the background getting ready to go.

Looking at the start of the Grand Canyon - one of my favorite places!

We were supposed to stay the night here, but we got done so fast - 12 river miles (we took some short cuts over land) in 4.5 hours - that one car left after showering and eating. It was nice to get home that evening and sleep in my own bed. The trip Rachel took a week and a half before did not get out until 1:30pm. We were done at 9:45am.


Don, Richard and Rachel

I was so lucky to be able to go on two amazing adventures within a 30 day period. That will probably never happen again. It was also my first time ever backpacking unless you count when I was 15 and had adult leaders in charge. I definitely want to go again someday. I am so grateful for both opportunities. I did about 50 miles at the Grand Canyon and 45 at Paria River. In between I did 15 miles of practice hikes so I figure between April 30 and May 28 I hiked 110 miles. That's about from Tempe to Tucson. Pretty cool!

Paria Day 3

Here we go again.

Can't remember what this amphitheater like place was called.

Rachel and I in the amphitheater

Looking out from the amphitheater

Beaver dam

Dropping packs to go up to Wrather's Arch


Wrather's Arch from a distance

Wrather's Arch up close

All the gang

Richard on a high rock

Looking through Wrather's Arch

Richard looking back the way we came

Mine and Julie's dirty shoes

Rachel eating watercress. I tried it. A little bitter.

S (aka Alf) gathering a bunch of watercress to add to his dinner.


Bamboo patch on the way back to our packs. So this side trip had a ton of poison ivy on it we could not avoid. When we got back to our packs I broke out my biodegradable soap and took a bath in the river, with my clothes on of course, washing my hair and all. It must have worked because I had no problems. One or two people had some itchy patches the next day.

We had to cross this log to get to an awesome spring back in there. Yes I fell on the log.

Bathing beauties. This is the day I played in the water. I even floated down the river a ways. Yes I got sand in my clothes.

Petroglyphs

Playing in the waterfall.


My home for the night.

George in front of his and Richard's tent.

Our kitchen


Rachel and her boys filtering water.

Sun is going down. Almost bedtime. No critters in camp this night. Still tied up our food and packs though. Next time I would take a rat sack for extra peace of mind.

We will be heading out this way tomorrow towards that opening.