Sounds like you're enjoying your summer too, Irulan.

This Grand Canyon trip was the first time I've ever slept under the stars. Our lowest temperature during the day was 102, high of 110!, and I don't think nights dropped below 70. Silly me, I forgot to pack my prescription glasses, and I had to borrow Thom's - our eyes are close enough for short term - to see the stars.

We do our trips with OARS. It would be cool to do one on our own, but it's a skill set (and gear) we don't have. But, hey if you ever want ballast on one of yours... we can cook and do dishes. One of our guides was 60 years old and just a really cool dude. He lives in Murphys, lower foothills, fairly close and reminded us that we have some good rafting in our backyard. He said after the Grand Canyon, his favorite trip was the Middle Fork of the Salmon. The guides on our Hells Canyon trip really liked that one too, so it's now on our "list." We found out that the gear boats on the Grand Canyon trips are manned by volunteers - all they get are tips. It made me wish we had brought more cash. It does give them the experience they need to become guides, but boy is it a lot of work, since they also cook and clean! Another guide has a physics degree from MIT and a Masters , I think, in geology. Our day with her was really informative and she gave me a tip about a good book to read - Physics for Future Presidents - very interesting and readable. It was a really fun trip.

Veronica