Kilted on the River IN the Grand Canyon

[Riverkilt]

Just back from a seven day raft trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Wore a kilt the first three days on the river then switched to trunks when we started coming to the swimming holes up the side canyons.



Wore my USA Kilts 5 yard 16 ounce Marton Mills wool kilt in Scott weathered green in honor of my maternal grandmother Rose Scott who was the first one in the family to visit the Grand Canyon. She took a train to peer over the South Rim back in 1927.

Here's a pic from the front of the Redwall Cavern in Marble Canyon



This pic is from day three at Phantom Ranch - pretty bedraggled. Never thought I'd wear sox with Teva sandals but they're the best thing on the river - keep feet cool and keep the sand from rubbing blisters under the sandal straps.



Some beautiful views - prettier than their pic here or in books and magazines.



This is Vasey's Paradise

Great views - well, what you could see from the river was mostly cliffs





Sometimes this was the view

[Downunder Kilt]

Sounds as if you had a great time out there Ron. Thanks for sharing the photos around

[Riverkilt]

Here's beautiful Deer Creek Falls that pours out of a slot canyon



I find the confluences of the rivers to be spiritual places - as do the Hopi and the Havasupai. Here's the confluence of the Little Colorado. Mixed emotions that the monsoons were flooding the river too much to visit the Hopi point of emergence - but I'm sure the Hopi are happy with fewer tourists at their sacred site.



And here's the convergence of Havasu Creek which was still running turquoise when every other side canyon was running brown.



We pulled in and went up Havasu Creek a little ways...great soaking pools on a hot day



Here's our sister raft having fun in the rapids



And we got rained on.



That's Laura, one of the boatmen behind me. On the river women are called boatmen too.

On day seven we pulled into Whitmore Wash where there's a helipad and we flew from there to the Bar 10 Ranch by helicopter. The ranch is a working ranch, airport, helipad, restaurant, and tourist store with showers and flush toilets.



Then they flew us back to Lees Ferry, our starting point, to pick up our cars and drive home. This is the sign at the Whitmore "Airport."



The vacation was fun, but also deeply spiritual for me. I've been a Colorado River junkie for many years and to run this chunk of it - to be present for it - to see it first hand - to sleep on the floor of the Grand Canyon and watch the stars - watch the moon rise - watch the sunrise and sunsets....was a profound experience I would recommend to anyone.

I have seen the river from Desert Watchtower on the South Rim - but now I've also seen the Desert Watchtower from the river. I've seen the river from Angels Window - but now I've also seen Angels Window from the river. I've endeavored to hike from Supai Village to the confluence of Havasu Creek with the Colorado River - never made it - but now I've at least made the confluence. I've yet to gaze down on the river from Toroweap - but now I have seen Toroweap from the river.

Lots of staff from Hatch recognized me due to the kilt. All comments from folks were most positive - best was from a lovely lady boatman with another outfitter who gave me a "Nice Kilt" with a broad smile and thumbs up. And there was another raft flying the Irish flag who was most impressed with a kilt on the river.

Its been a good week - but the olde geezer is sore from walking on sand and rocks for a week...and I can still feel the movement of the raft on the water over a day later. I like that it lingers.

[Riverkilt]

And finally - a before and after shot of the Scott weathered green tartan kilt. That would be before and after steaming the pleats.

Here's what the kilt looked like when I got home and hung it up. This is after three days rafting on the river and four days of being crammed in a dry bag.



And here's after attacking the pleats with my big floor steamer.



Much better, but probably would benefit from another steamer pass or too. Letting it hang out to see.

Not a single problem with the wool kilt on the river. Water is 47 degrees F since it comes out of the bottom of Glen Canyon Dam. Kept me warm even when being splashed. No rips, tears, etc. A fine kilt to wear down the Grand Canyon.

[Hopper250]

Great photos. it looks like quite a fun time. Maybe when my kids are older I can do the same.

[mookien]

Ron: Wild pictures and wild scenery! Thanks for posting and sharing your adventure with us. Looks like you were having a great time. I don't recall seeing you in shorts before. And, nice job on that kilt. Did you spend any time at the confluence of the Little Colorado River or just raft by it?

John

[Hawk]

Ron, my Bellagonna friend working with the Dine'eh ta......welcome home.....
On the next sunrise, greet it and reflect upon the blessings of the water.....
Welcome home.......

Hawk

[Riverkilt]

Thanks Hawk, was one continuous spiritual experience - every sunrise, every moonrise, every sunset - moonbeams dancing off the rapids at night. The old ones were watching the entire canyon. It was truly healing to sit in the waters and to feel the eternity of this planet deep in that most sacred canyon.

Mookien, we didn't get to frolic in the Little Colorado - it was brown and high. We paused, then went on by - making a lot of Hopi very happy. A treat to see the confluence though.

And Hopper - with kids for sure - but before then alone, for yourself, so you can savor it....

[English Bloke]

Ron.
The feelings you describe sum up much of how I felt to be in the bottom. I didn't do the river but I did a fair bit of wandering, both alone and with others. It was a profound experience and one I've never forgotten. All seems such a long time ago now though. Thanks for sparking some memories for me. I'm in your debt.

[Duke of Delrio]

There is nothing like time in a river canyon to connect you with every past age. What a time! What a trip. And what pictures! Thanks Ron.