We went packrafting with Kirsten and Zac over Memorial Day weekend.
Early into our hike.
If you have a second, check out the video that Zac put together.
We started high on this desert plateau.
Packrafts are new to us. They are awesome little inflatable rafts that pack down to the size of a rolled up sleeping bag and weigh less than 5 lbs. They are stable and easy to paddle and draw very little water, so they are good for running smaller rivers and creeks. We first heard of them this spring, and tried to rent them to use on the Green and Colorado Rivers while in Canyonlands NP back in April.
We descended an unknown canyon to the river that provided great route finding and some technical obstacles.
Zac set up the rappel and taught me how to make an ascender.
Dani and Kirsten, who along with Lindsey went mushroom hunting the previous weekend in Idaho, and found 100's of Morel mushrooms that we have been eating for the past week. Kirst even made our own dehydrated Morel mushroom dinners for our backpack.
Party rock.
Desert Flora
On our second night of the trip a massive thunderstorm rolled through while we were on the river. One rumble rolled through the river valley for at least 30 seconds, while the rain poured. After the lightening passed, we sought shelter under these cottonwoods, where we set up camp and got a small fire going for a soggy night of camping.
The view from camp in the morning with the sun back out. This dry creek bed started to run during the thunderstorm the night before, marking the first time I've seen a flash flood, where a dry river bed becomes a river in a matter of seconds.
