For the Grandmas

To the best Grandmas around . . . We love you . . . How could we manage without you.

For those of you who just don't understand!

I just wrapped up my ninth season working for Western River Expeditions.

It seems like every time I finish a river season I get a load of questions from my non-river friends.

They always wonder why I do the work I do.  Many people just don't under stand why I keep going back year after year.

For anyone who has ever been to the rim of Grand Canyon, you have seen the grandeur of what has taken millions of years to create.  For many people in this world it is a life time goal just to look in from the rim.  Few people in this world get the chance to hike or raft through the bottom of the canyon, and only a fewer get to call it home.

I spent 3 of my first 9 years working in Moab. I ran Cat, Deso, and West Water.  I have run 6 full seasons in Grand Canyon.  In those 6 years I have logged close to 600 days living in the bottom of the canyon. Thats almost 2 full years living in Grand Canyon.

Words will never do justice to why I love my job, so here are a couple of my favorite things.

Looking down into the furnace flats from North Rim.

Leigh and I at the head waters of Thunder River.  You can see where the water comes right out of the rock.

Leigh and I on an epic side hike to the Tabernacle. (Thanks again MP)

The Nankoweap granaries. (you can see our camp by the river)

My Boat (home away from home)

Vasey's Paradise

Deer Creek Patio (might be my favorite spot in the canyon)

Being able to take family down and share the canyon with them!

Big white water!  (this is a 37 foot boat)

More big white water.

Elias is 6 months old

 We love our little guy and can't believe how big he is getting.

 

Pool Party!!

We had a blast playing in Aunt Mabel's pool. Elias swimming with his Dad, he's a little fish.

Cousin Maddie May from New York enjoying the water and the desert sun.
Greg, Elias, and Gwen hiding in the shade.
It was so much fun seeing everyone in St.George...keep us posted on happenings in Angola and New York!!

Camping at the Lake.

Pauly and Tippy invited us to spend the night boating at Strawberry. It was the second night sleeping out this year for Elias and he was a champ. I hope he is always that good when we camp. We had such a blast, thanks for the great trip guys. It was fun to have the whole Newty Clan in the boat.

Elias is ready to go boating in his first (but not last) PFD!

Our beautiful camp at the lake.

Sunset at the lake.

First time on a water ski in 12 years!

Love that Boy!!!!

Asleep in his new bouncy chair!

Ready for bed!

Biggest Blue Eyes!!!!

Hot Summer Days!!!

This summer in Grand Canyon has for the most part been mild, but the last two weeks have been scorchers. We de-rigged last week on lake Mead in 121 degrees!

The rains have been off and on, but the river has finally turned muddy. Here is a shot of a dry fall I have always wanted to see flash, and last week when we left Havasu the heavens opened up and everything started to flash.

I can't believe how fast the summer is going by. I only have 2 trips left.

Sunset in the Upper Granite Gorge!

Shot of the North Rim from the top of the Lava Chuar loop hike.