Canoeing the Rio Grande

March-April 2015

Paddling and poling

Power of the river

• fluctuating water levels - a large rainfall just before our trip filled the river with silt



the force of the flowing rainwater
• cuts into the soft river banks
• shifts the position of rocks in rapids
• carries sticks and debris and deposits them in piles at turns in the river



• rocks fall into the water from the cliffs
Note: a projectile landed near Mike's canoe - it sounded like a gunshot - as a precaution, Mike had us hug the shore in a line together for about a kilometer



The power of the river makes every paddling trip a new adventure.

Flatwater

• cruising around the river bends



• following our guides



• paddling through the canyons



• poling too (skill learned in Maine)

Reed runs

• Mike warned us to avoid thick canoe-dumping reeds at sides of river



• B&B: March 30 reed dump - thanks for the rescue Jason, Dan and Bob!



• aftermath - set up camera and phone to dry, Phil offered Bill a hat and sunglasses and Jen offered Barbara a "This Hour has 22 Minutes" hat to replace their lost items

Rapids

• Mike's experience guided us through many rapids



• Jason points the way



• Dan acts as sweep



• B&B splash through rapids and eddy out



• fellow paddlers get through the big waves



• Jason videoed us as we ran the rapids





• B&B run rapids beside canyon wall



• bailing



• drying clothes

Lining

• when rapids are too big to run... team work lining canoes or passing them along from person to person



• it's tiring!