Our small campsite has some pretty flowers growing here.  After breakfast and packing, we have several day hikes planned today.

	Stemless Primrose 5-1-2007 @ 5:45

     Our first stop is Elves Chasm, which is only a short hike from the river.  The area is as pretty as all the postcards depict.  Jake, Ryan, and Beth jump in the freezing water and swim to the falls.  They are then able to climb behind the falls to a ledge about half-way up.  After much cajoling, I make the short but cold swim and climb up to the ledge, so Jake can take our picture inside the falls.

Elves Chasm 5-1-2007 @ 9:13	Ryan, Beth, and Mark 5-1-2007 @ 9:00	Richard, Beth, and Ryan 5-1-2007 @ 9:19

     On the way back to the boat, we pass by an interesting rock with many marble-like surfaces on it.

	Rock concretion 5-1-2007 @ 9:27

     Just a few more miles downriver we stop at Blacktail Canyon to see an example of an unconformity, an area where one or more formations in time are missing.  We see several bighorn sheep beside the river along the way. 

Blacktail Canyon 5-1-2007 @ 10:30	Bighorn sheep 5-1-2007 @ 11:23	Bighorn sheep 5-1-2007 @ 11:30

     We stop for lunch at a place with a feature called the "Doll House."  After climbing inside, we find there are several rooms hollowed out making it resemble a doll house.  The outside of the doll house shows a phenomena called "Fluting."  This is where rocks are caught in the stone surface, swirled around by the river, and end up actually boring a cylindrical-like hole through the stone.

Doll House 5-1-2007 @ 12:40	Rock fluting 5-1-2007 @ 12:50

     Just down stream is the only rapids we stop above to scout.  Carolyn is concerned that the low water level will cause us problems.  Lake Powell released extra water yesterday and we are expecting it to arrive at any time.  We put a few sticks into the sand at the water line while we inspect the rapids.  On our return to the boat, we find that the water level has gone up by six inches or so.  Carolyn decides we can safely make the run now.

Prickly Pear Cactus 5-1-2007 @ 2:22	Low water rapids 5-1-2007 @ 2:24

     Our next stop is at Deer Creek Falls and the Narrows.  I hiked down here three years ago from Monument Point.  Beth, Ryan, and I begin the steep hike up, walk through the Narrows, pass an open area called the Patio, and reach a small waterfall at the north end. 

Waterfall above the Narrows 5-1-2007 @ 3:44	Patio area above the Narrows 5-1-2007 @ 3:45

     We walk back south through the Narrows and the one tight place on the trail you have to pass.  Like Elves Chasm, this is one of those truly amazing places in the Canyon.  I can't imagine how many years it took the flowing water to cut the numerous striations through the solid rock.

The Narrows 5-1-2007 @ 3:58	The Narrows 5-1-2007 @ 3:54	The Narrows 5-1-2007 @ 4:01

     There is a cliff at the south end of the Narrows overlooking the boat on the beach below.  We take Ernie's picture at the cliff with his camera and then he takes ours.  The climb down to the beach is considerably easier than it was coming up.  I put Deer Creek Falls in that same category of great features as Elves Chasm and the Narrows.

Cliff high above the river 5-1-2007 @ 4:06	Richard, Ryan, and Beth 5-1-2007 @ 4:10	Deer Creek Falls 5-1-2007 @ 4:28

     We head downriver and make camp at a small overhang area called Pancho's Kitchen.  The wind has really picked up, so this will be a challenge to keep everything on the tables.  Supper tonight is hamburgers and fries.  The pressure is on Jake to get our French fries nice and crunchy.

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