Camden's and Lathum's Excellent Adventure
Day 3 — Amazing Petroglyphs and a Boat to Fit a Kid
August 2016
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The day warmed up shortly after we got on the river
so it was into the water we went.
When he was on the cat,
Lathum got a chance to be a real "boatman."
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| Joni Camden in the Ducky |
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| Lathum |
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| Lathum Rowing |
The biggest boat we had was a 16'
Wing,
the "Big Banana" as I called it.
Steve has it meticulously outfitted and rigged.
Everything pretty much has its assigned place
and once you understand that it's pretty easy to pack.
He carried most of the gear,
although we had the cataraft loaded as well;
my gear went on the donut.
It seems the average Joe can't buy a Wing any more;
Steve lucked out when he got his.
Once Camden got into the groove,
he camped in the bow holding two tiedown straps
and told his grandpa ("Umpa") to head for the big waves.
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| Camden, Diana and Steve in the Wing |
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| Joni |
I was surprised at the large number of spires sticking up on the ridges.
I expected a few, but I had forgotten just how many there were.
If these were easily accessible,
there would be climbing routes up everywhere.
One could spend a lifetime down here exploring.
Many of the ridges were a progressing line of lesser gargoyles.
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| Lathum Rowing |
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| Randy and Lathum in the Cataraft |
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| Steve, Diana and Camden |
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| Joni |
We stopped at Rock House Canyon and took a short hike up to some extensive petroglyphs.
It's interesting that all of the old "writing" we saw was in the form of petroglyphs,
with no pictographs.
Maybe that is because the rock is relatively soft,
but there are pictographs in other canyons with soft rock.
Maybe you only take the time for petroglyphs for things that are really important...
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| On the way to Rock House Petroglyphs |
Rock House Petroglyphs |
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| Rock House Petroglyphs |
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| Photo by Steve or Diana |
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| Photo by Steve or Diana |
As on our previous day's hike
there were lizards galore,
and Camden went after them in earnest.
They were always just a little bit fleeter.
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| A common sight |
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| The Reese / Johnson Clan |
Lathum asked if he could row the donut,
so I hopped up on the cat and he hopped in.
He took to her like a duck to water.
It's a size well-suited to a youngster
and is nimble enough to be a kick in the pants.
While he had fun in the donut,
I got to ride in the Big Banana.
Eventually it got too deflated and we needed to make some miles,
so we docked it with the cat
and Steve rowed me and the boys.
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| Lathum in Catongua |
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Camden, Lathum, Gary, Steve in the Big Banana
Photo by Joni |
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| Pooh |
We camped just below Log Cabin Rapid;
another nice sandy camp.
I spread out my bag under the stars on the "silver lining" overlooking the river downstream from camp.
Then, since I wasn't on for cook-duty
I took off and explored one of the side canyons.
It had a small creek in it
that flowed a little water near the mouth
but was dry higher up;
backwards from the usual.
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| Diana and Randy at Log Cabin Camp |
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| Flower Xxx White Pink |
Flower Xxx White Pink Leaves |
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| View from my Bedroom |
Next: More Petroglyphs, Paddling the Ducky and S'Mores
