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#175: COLORADO RIVER TRIP #44
MAY 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, JUNE 1, 1975
May 14, Saturday, 1975
We left Las Vegas at 6:40am. It was clear and warm. On the way down yesterday with Earl Leasburg, the plane ran out of gas over Lake Mead but he had some gas in the other wing of the 180. Scott and LeAnn Dunn flew with us. We met the groups at 10:00pm. Both of us had 29 passengers. Susan was second boatman; Theo McAllister and his son Wesley are our helpers. Theo is the postmaster in Kanab. It’s a long bus ride to Lees Ferry of 275 to 280 miles. We arrive at Lees Ferry at 1:00pm. As we were leaving, Susan broke the pull cord on her engine so we changed to a spare. We each carried two spare engines; 20 horse mercury’s. We had a good flow of water for the Memorial Day Weekend of about 6 to 8,000cfs. We also had good runs all day. This group of people seems to be ok and good spirited. Made camp at mile 23, south side. Partly cloudy day with a high of 88 degrees, river level.
May 25, Sunday, 1975
Low last night on the boat was 46 degrees, clear and calm. High water this morning. We ran the roaring 20’s ok. Next we stopped at Redwall Stadium (Cavern) and had a rip roaring baseball game between the two boats. It was close; my boat won 13 to 12. Rules were made up as the game went along. We drifted a lot today. In Nautiloid Canyon there was a very large bat, slowing flying, that flew through all of us and then he tried to land on me and Susan. I knocked him down with my hat. Wing spread was over 9 inches and he had the biggest ears of about ¾ of an inch long. Also had very sharp teeth and lots of em. He seemed sick and certainly cussed us out. We left him in his canyon as I thought he might be rabid. Partly cloudy day. Made camp just below mile 50 on south side. High today was again 88 degrees at river level, 98 on beaches.
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East wall and rim of Grand Canyon. CR50.0. 5-25-75.
May 26, Monday, 1975
Low was 60 degrees and clear and calm. Saw last half of eclipse of the moon night before last at 23 mile. It was a total eclipse but the high canyon walls blocked the view until it was nearly half over. Floated a lot today. Yesterday we saw 9 hikers near Saddle Canyon. We also saw three deer, north side today. Little Colorado is blue and warm so we spent most of the day there swimming. Pulled in at the lower outlet. Saw Scott and OC there as well. No one else on the river today. Next we saw hikers below Unkar Rapid. Made camp at mile 75, south aide. High today was 94 degrees at river level, partly cloudy and calm.
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Morning reflection looking down river to Nankoweap Butte. CR51.1. 5-26-75.
Blue spring waters of the Little Colorado just upstream from junction with Colordo River. CR61.8. 5-26-75.
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May 27, Tuesday, 1975
Susan’s 27th birthday
Low this morning at river level was 55 degrees. Slightly windy last night and dusty morning with an up river wind. Susan’s birthday today; she is 27 years old. Fairly low water today for big rapid day; flow of about 12,00cfs.
We left camp late because the water was slow to come up. We both did ok in Hance. Susan’s engine drowned out in lower part and it never would start. We finally got it going for a short while but then it quit so we changed to another engine, the 3rd, she had. I later changed one of my spares over to her boat so that we both had good spares. Saw hikers above Grapevine Rapid on south side. We gave them a beer which they nearly swam out to get. We passed Phantom Ranch without stopping. Bright Angel Creek was still flooding but mostly clear. Horn Rapid was very rough. Susan ran into the left wall below but no damage. Hermit was rough and rather large.
Looking upriver at Hermit Rapids. CR95.6. 5-27-75.
We stopped and looked at Crystal as always like Hance and it was mean looking. There was room to squeeze by the upper hole ok but it was tight. The island below was out pretty well exposed and rocks everyplace. The lower holes on the right were very rough and big. Those holes have increased almost each trip until now they are very large and also more of them. The upper large hole in the main current is extremely large and is now the largest hole on the over. The river plunges 12 to 14 feet down into that hole. We both made it by Crystal. This rapid is still changing and I wonder what it will be like next time.
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Agave plant in bloom. CR98.5. 5-27-75.
We had lunch below Tuna on the left at a sharp bend of the river. I found a Rolex watch there. I found out a year or two later that it was solid gold when I took it in to get it running. I also noted that one section of my boat under the food box was completely flat. Loose valve was the problem. Clouds and wind increased all day and now wind was gusting to 45 and 50 mph blowing great quantities of sand. Must be a cold front coming through. Stopped at Shinumo Creek and it was flooding 4 feet deep and clear and cold. Went around a bend and made camp at 3:30pm. Winds up to 50 mph. The rest of the afternoon we proceeded to celebrate Susan’s birthday. First off I had to catch a rattlesnake and remove him from camp. This was done and he went on his merry way downstream in a boulder pile while another brief thunderstorm came. In fact, it was cloudy and light thunderstorms for half the night. High today was 87 degrees before noon. Lots of lightning tonight but very little rain however, but it did get wet. 2566
Pink Grand Canyon rattlesnake under Bass Limestone ledge at camp. CR110.0. 5-27-75.
May 28, Wednesday, 1975
Low this morning was 60 degrees and clear and calm. Water in the river was very low and 50 degrees. It was 48 degrees at Lees Ferry. Water came up during breakfast very fast so that we had good water all day up to 20,000cfs. We stopped at Elves Chasm for a short swim after floating most of the morning. Water of Elves was 56 degrees. Cool day as we had lunch at Blacktail Canyon and it was 70 degrees. Did a small hike up Blacktail Canyon and it was a very interesting walk along the Great Unconformity here. Had good rides in Dubendorff down the middle. Stopped at Deer Creek Falls for a short while and met OC and Scott there. We then went on down and made camp at mile 145.5, Olo Canyon, south side. Windy day with gusts up to 25 mph and cool. Saw a conglomerate arch about 6 feet in diameter on the north side of the river just below the mouth of Sinyala Canyon. It was about 100 feet up from the river. High today was 70 degrees and clear and windy.
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Floating down river with wind sails. CR119.0. 6-28-75.
Susan Billingsley in rainbow at Deer Creek Falls. CR136.8. 6-28-75.
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Susan on her boat at Deer Creek Falls. CR136.8. 5-28-75.
Unknown flower at Deer Creek Falls. CR136.8. 5-28-75.
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Sacred Datura flowers near Olo Canyon. CR146.1. 6-28-75.
May 29, Thursday, 1975
Low was 62 degrees and clear and calm. We drifted a little while after leaving camp about 8:30am. We are always on the river before 9:00am. Ran on down to Havasu Creek and pulled in below the rapid with Tour West boats. People went swimming for an hour or so. Learned from Ron Hayes who was there that not only did his big boat turn over in Lava two weeks ago but a Sanderson boat also turned over end for end. Wilderness World was there (Havasu) along with one ARTA boat. OC and Scott also. We went on down 4 miles for lunch. Later we drove on down to Lava Falls. We looked it over and decided to run it although it was low water, it wasn’t below 12 or 15,000cfs. I went through first and did ok but got very close to the right side. Susan did a great run and hardly got wet. Then we went on down and made camp at mile 185 on the north aide. Here another baseball game started until dark. We like this camp as it shady in the morning and a large beach to play on. High today was 94 degrees and clear. Theo left us at Lava Falls with all the mail from everyone. He had to be in Kanab tomorrow. His wife picked him up on the rim in 2 hours.
May 30, Friday, 1975
Low was 66 degrees and clear. Water was very high so we did a bunch of floating today. Saw only 11 wild burro’s north side and there is a lot of sign they are on the south side from mile 214 on down to Diamond Creek. Made camp at mile 224, south side. Hot place and a hot day, high was 98 degrees and clear and calm.
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May 31, Saturday, 1975
Low was 70 degrees and clear and calm. We left early due to an early sun rise and went down to Travertine Grotto for a few hours. Then ran the last rapids and had lunch about mile 244. Shade is now a premium and people did a lot of floating in the river despite the cold water which was now 60 degrees. It was a nice afternoon with strong breezes at times on the lake and we made camp at mile 279 south side on Sand Island beaches. Everyone in good mood and had a nice party tonight. High today was 99 degrees and clear and calm. Dead calm all night.
June 1, Sunday, 1975
Low was 72 degrees and the lake was like a mirror. It was going to be a very hot day. We were derigged and loaded up by 11:00am. Rode on the truck over to Dolan Springs where Art flew us back to Kanab. Scott, Susan, Wesley and I flew and it was rough due to a few clouds forming. A good trip.
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