4th of July float

Lori and I spent seven days testing out our new Sotar inflatable kayaks on the San Juan river in southern Utah.  The boats treated us well and the River Gods smiled on us once again.  We put in at Sand Island near Bluff, UT and took out 83 miles downstream at Clay Hills.  The flow was around 550 cfs and I would call that the bare minimum.  We bumped butts once in awhile and had to drag the boats off of sand bars a few times below Slickhorn Canyon where the reservoir effect of "Lake" Powell causes extreme siltation.  If you didn't already hate Glen Canyon dam, you will after floating the San Juan.  Great wildlife viewing, mellow water, petroglyphs and ruins, and amazing geology all conspire to make the San Juan a must-do for all boaters, beginners in particular.  More pics here.

Swiftwater rescue

Spent the weekend chucking myself into a raging river and I lived to tell about it - thanks to Abi and the folks at Sierra Rescue. If you are a private boater, you owe it to yourself to learn some basic survival skills. More photos here.

Northern Jaguar Reserve

Lori and I spent the last week down in central Sonora Mexico volunteering at the Northern Jaguar Reserve. We were there to make adobe bricks to be used for a couple of small buildings on their property. Our crew ended up making over 2000 bricks (all by hand with shovels and wheelbarrows!).

The goal of the Northern Jaguar Project is to buy up and protect critical habitat for jaguars. They currently have over 50,000 acres of former ranchland set aside for these magnificent and elusive creatures. Please check out out their website for more information and consider making a donation. I will vouch that they are doing good work.

More photos here.

Pinacate Biosphere Reserve

Spent a few days south of the border in the Pinacate lava flows. More pics here.

13 for '12

Started the year off with 13 repeats of A Mountain.