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Grand Canyon, United States
36° 3' N 112° 8' W
Sep 17, 2006 06:04
Distance 0km

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Grand Canyon - Day 3

Text written in: English

Day 3 of our trip.  We go through lots of rapids - lots of splashes.  We stop for lunch and a hike at Unkar Creek for an informative visit to an old archeological site. 

During the entire trip, when we are not hanging on tightly through the rapids, we stare in amazement at the spectacular scenery.  Our guides would tell us about the geological formation of the rock dating back millions of years.  They also told us stories about the first explorers (Powell et al), and outlandish deeds about other river runners.  A river runner's story (which may or may not be true) always begins with "No shit, there I was..."  They also shared readings and poetry appropriate to the Grand Canyon.

"One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am - a reluctant enthusiast....a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it's still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards."
-- Edward Abbey

Camp for the night at mile 84.