Canyon euphoria struck the whole group and it was with much regret that we turned back as scheduled but already planning to return in the fall. After rejoining the Paria the narrows continued for a few miles before a campsite could be found. The next morning we entered the esses, a series of meanders lasting about five miles. While the narrows and the Buckskin were spectacular, the esses are that and more awesome and beautiful. The southwest wall rises unbroken for 1200 feet, and each corner contains a gigantic alcove covered with the finest tapestries found anywhere. On the inside of each corner would be a cottonwood covered bench, each a fine campsite. The canyon is wider in this stretch; the sun shines into it making the water sparkle below the bright green willows. The white sand, red walls, and blue sky complete the picture.

After the esses the canyon changes again. The walls fall back; still vertical, but much farther apart; the river straightens; the banks become heavily overgrown with sage and willows; and springs flow into the river in many spots. As the stream breaks through into the harder Kayenta and Moenave formations, the interest is focused more on the stream itself. The purple Kayenta is carved into intricate passages and craters. Small waterfalls become more common, boulders fill the canyon bottom, and hiking becomes more difficult. The last eight miles to Lee's Ferry are still a different type of canyon. The walls are now a mile apart and are basically part of the Vermillion Cliffs which run for miles through Northern Arizona. The river speeds in almost a straight line down the sandy bottom to its intersection with the Colorado.

It took us three and a half days to make this trip, but a week would seem to be a better length of time. There are many minor side canyons to explore - some of which require hardware to enter. More and more people are making this trip yearly and we suggest that you do it soon. We have been down Kanab Creek, the Escalante River, and the Zion Narrows. The Paria is the best.

LES' LINES

On reaching the summit: "It was the high point of the trip".

(Ed note: This column will be expanded in future issues. That is, of course, assuming that Les bothers to send me any write-ups or even talk to me in the next two months. The entire Newsletter could also expand if some of you turkeys out there would bother to send me some write-ups.)
 
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