Day 9

The falls

The jump

Today was spilt.  After only a brief stint on the river we departed on another side canyon hike.  This was only a short 3 minute walk up to yet another beautiful waterfall.  The water cascaded down approximately 20 feet of rock and came to rest in a nice pool at the bottom, the pool its self was about 7 feet deep.  Half hidden at the back of the pool was a little path that would take you up to a ledge, half way up the waterfall.  It thus became popular entertainment to hike up to this ledge and jump into the pool. 

Big horn sheep

Spike touching 1.2 billion years of time difference

After leaving that hike and on our way to lunch we witnessed several groups of big horn sheep.  We had seen some before now, but these were very close to the river, so I got some pictures.  At lunch, before eating, we took another brief hike up a slot canyon.  This led us to what is known as “The Great Unconformity.”  This is two layers of rock, right on top of one another, and between them there is a 1.2 billion year gap in the geological record; that my friends, is a lot of lost time. 

Several lesser unconformities observing the great unconformity

After lunch I took the opportunity to paddle a ducky, which is a small one person raft.  Oh man it was fun, crashing through the waves, and being tossed around by the water.  Everything on the river seemed huge from my new vantage point.  Waves would simply appear out of nowhere, come crashing over the front or side of your boat, soaking you from head to toe.  Due to my new mode of transport I took my first swim of the trip.  I followed the rafts through a hole which they had easily plowed through; well it grabbed me and turned me sideways before I knew it, and next thing I was under water.  Knowing that I must still be heading for the rock wall that had been before me I exited the underside of the boat and scrambled upon the top of the capsized craft.  I then proceeded to continue to paddle it away from the rock wall to safety.  My first swim had been brief, but I was glad it happened; it gave the whole experience a better feeling. 

There was a gorgeous

sunset that evening

-SM- 
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