The Zoroaster is the first through Upset Rapid. Pat and I. At one point the left side of the boat, where I'm sitting and I see water coming over the gunnel. I lean hard right into Pat. At the same time, Chuck who is in the back of his stroke is caught off balance and lifted out of the well. He holds onto both oars and Pat gives him a shove from behind. We make it through without anything worse but we are soaking wet. And we're not the only ones. Much bailing can be seen from all three dories. The canyon is narrow here and so we are in the shade most of the morning, soaking wet and shivering. If we hadn't gotten wet, the shade would have been very welcome.
Thanks again to our guides excellent planning, we are the first group to reach the very popular Havasu Creek. It's a little difficult to disembark as there is no beach at the mouth of the creek. We step out onto the rocks, still wearing our life jackets as a slip would drop us into the strong current and carry us into Havasu Rapid.
The most difficult part of this walk, is this first part. Mostly the rock forms nice stairsteps, but there are a few places that are very narrow with a steep drop into the creek. I feel bad for John who can't make even this short walk, because once you get into the valley, it is green and wide and filled with wonderful pools of unimaginably turquoise water. We have a very pleasant hike up to Beaver Falls, although I would have been happy to stop anywhere along the creek and just soak in the beauty. On the way back, SAM elects to stay with Amy and so AJM and I do share a slow and leisurely amble. I have a long swim in the Motor Pool (so named because this is as far as a lot of raft trips go) while waiting for the others to come back. Did I mention this spot was heavenly?
SAM and AJM follow Amy on the Adventure loop.
Tonight's camp is in a stony wash, all rubble and mud with very little place to set up. I can't decide whether to call it Stony Beach, Mud Flats, or Camp Desolation. SAM volunteers his services as swamper and helps cook a meal of chili and corn bread. (I had thirds on corn bread; it was as light and sweet as pound cake.) Chuck keeps SAM busy working and since he's signed on as crew, SAM has to wait until all the guests have served themselves before he can eat.
