I hope everyone's re-entered back into
population happened without to much sensory shock. (I've been told it
is population, not civilization).
Try to bring some pictures to the next SAPC
meeting which I think is March 12th. My camera meet its fate, drowning in the
hottest pool in AZ Hot Springs ---ahhgh!
Enjoy the report below and the links to pics.
FYI: I plan to go to the Kayak Symposium in San
Diego.
Thursday-Feb.1,2007 :
Leaving Phoenix after work, Marsha
Perry, Bob Manthey and I drove I-17 to Carefree Hwy (74) to Hwy 93 and
Wickenburg, to I-40 through Kingman continuing on Hwy 93 through the Joshua Tree
Forest........6 hour drive.....where we pulled over to the side on Temple Bar
Road and spent the rest of the night. Full moon gave us shadows like noon sun
and the 25 degrees made it nippy! Since camping at Willow Beach is prohibited,
this option worked well.
Friday-Feb.2,2007:
Woke at dawn and headed to
Willow Beach to meet the group of Southern Arizona Paddlers from Tucson who were
joining us for this trip(
www.soazpaddlers.org) They had spent the
night with Dave in Boulder City and were meeting us a 8am to begin packing
boats. An AZ Game and Fish truck backed up and dumped fish into the river. Dave
joined us for a short paddle in his white water boat before leaving. Leaving
vehicles in parking lot is allowed at your own risk. Daryl and Judy Tumbleson,
from Las Vegas, joined us in their "freight canoe", carrying firewood. We all
paddled to a sandy beach on NV side at 56 mi. marker and stopped for food. Daryl
and Judy spread out a table and Chuck Hall sliced up a wonderful Cinnamon Apple
Custard Pancake! Paddling 8 miles upstream wasn't bad this year, with no wind
and no major water releases! Water was crystal clear and we could watch the fish
swimming under us.
@ 3pm: Arrived at AZ Hot Springs Campground and
noticed a motorboat had brought up a pile of firewood and people with kayaks - a
Native American Retreat -including drums and gong. After pitching our tents in
the canyon, we all soaked in the hot pools above the campground. The hot water
soothed muscles, but had a way of causing light-headedness. Thank goodness we
noticed Chuck had passed out and the men made sure he didn't slide under the
water. A few minutes sitting on top of the sand bag dam and cooling down he
fully recovered but we all realized we should not go soaking alone. All relaxed
we gathered around the camp fire that Daryl stoked and hours passed swapping
stories and paddling experiences. Blending Desert Paddlers and SAPC melded well
with lots of camaraderie. Lots of paddling experience represented with 15
paddlers gathered together. Everyone slowly dispersed to their tents --
and soon a chorus of "sleeping noises" could be heard.....
Saturday,
Feb.3,2007:
Golden daybreak shone on the NV river side first. Water was quiet
and clear as glass. As people stirred the squeaky spring doors on the 2
outhouses slammed with the line-up of visitors! Breakfast cooking stoves fired
up and Daryl and Judy's coffee was brewing. We all soaked up sun warmth and
talked over plans for the day. Most of us paddled the 4 miles up to Hoover Dam.
Clouds of swallows filled the air on approaching the Dam. Progress has been made
building the new bridge with some of the footings done, but delayed completion
until 2010 due to winds that destroyed cranes last year. I noticed work is being
done at the Portal Road river entrance - stairs and cement ramp being
constructed down to the water. Homeland Security guard bellowed "Get away from
the barrier" and "Move away from the shore", if we got to close. On the 4 mile
paddle back we explored the Sauna Cave on the NV side, with its
HOT water.
Following the tunnel to the bench on the back wall it didn't take long to be
dripping from the suffocating steam. We continued past Dripping Springs,
exploring Goldstrike Canyon, the Waterfall(AZ side) and then Daryl canoed up to
meet us as we approached Ring Bolt
Rapids. Just arriving at @ 4pm was David
Solomon in his red canoe with motor! Oh no! What could we say? We forgave
me when we saw the firewood he brought and the yummy Peach Cobbler he made in
his Dutch Oven that night. Judy Tumbleson also made Indian Pudding over the
campfire to share! What a feast with lots of laughter! Meanwhile, the Native
American Retreat Group constructed a Sweat House to do ceremony in. That night
we all went to sleep (or not) listening to beating drum and
chanting.
Sunday, Feb.4, 2007:
Southern Arizona Paddlers where packing
up to head home to Tucson today. We also said bye to Daryl and Judy returning to
Las Vegas today. The rest of us hiked up through the Hot Pools and continued up
the canyon to a fallen Trail Marker, then up a side canyon to where supposed
petroglyphs were. We never did find them and decided that it must be a story
they tell kayakers to get us out of our boats. Despite our disappointment the
boulder climbing and views were incredible and worth it. Soaking in the hot
pools on our way back rewarded our tired muscles. Then Marsha Perry, Bob Manthey
and I left the others (Howard, Marie, Chuck, Len, Greg) and paddled to the sandy
beach at mi. 56 NV side. We threw out our tarps and sleeping bags on the sandy
beach and enjoyed the blanket of stars above us. They were bright until the
full moon came out and drowned them in light. Our little camp fire warmed
us.......
Monday, Feb. 5,2007:
Paddled to cove where we parked and
hiked the trail from the Old Gauger's House up to where the cable and cart go
across to the gauge. Beautiful clear green water to look down on, brittle bush
blooming, mud dobber nets, 2 juvenile eagles and washed out trail made this
interesting. Returned to our boats Bob Manthey was so hot he went swimming in
the river 50 degree water! Our staggered arrivals at Willow Beach were greeted
with watching the Big Horn Sheep climbing on the NV side of the beach. Loading
up boats and saying goodbyes we all felt it was a wonderful trip and enriching
experience.
Reserve Superbowl Weekend next year to make this tradition
paddle with us --
Marj Pals