The Confluence

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

At the confluence of the Paria and Colorado Rivers near Lee's Ferry in the Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

You are looking at the confluence of the Colorado and Paria Rivers near Lee’s Ferry in the Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. The muddy water in the foreground is the Paria, while the dark green water in the background is the Colorado River. The Colorado River is stripped of its red color because it is leaving Lake Powell via the Glen Canyon Dam 15 miles upstream after the sediment has had the chance to settle. Last October 22nd, Caroline and I sat in the dory called the Sam McGee, rowed by Jeffe Aronson, and went over these very waters. I can tell you that it’s way cooler being out on the river than standing here on the shore, knowing you will have to drive away.

Yesterday, I came up to Fredonia, AZ, to deliver a proofreader copy of my book; today finds me at Lee’s Ferry to watch the crew set up. You might see in the background just to the left of the big cliff structure behind the river, a white spot that is the truck that brought all the gear and food. In a couple of hours, Bruce and his group would push off from that shore for another great journey down the Colorado. Me? I was going home after I shot this panorama.

First Copy Delivered

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Inside the Western River Expeditions warehouse in Fredonia, Arizona

Today, I drove 326 miles from Phoenix to Fredonia, Arizona, and the warehouse of Western River Expeditions. I was up here to deliver the first proofreader copy of what will be my very first book. The person receiving the book was Bruce Keller Dory Boatman. Bruce was one of the boatmen for Caroline and my Grand Canyon trip last October; he is also the person responsible for inspiring the title of my book, Stay In The Magic. The reason for meeting in Fredonia was that Bruce had come down from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to lead a rafting trip down the Colorado for Western River Expeditions. Interestingly for me, I was able to witness the day-before preparations of what goes into packing a 16-day rafting trip. The trick to packing for one of these trips is not where the tents, sleeping gear and the kitchen are packed on board a raft; it is where to stow all the food and alcohol, with a heavy emphasis on alcohol – there was a lot! The yellow cans on the left are non-refrigerated foods, and on the right are deflated rafts, water cans, and part of the camp kitchen. The next morning, ice chests would be packed and alcohol purchased.

Inside the Western River Expeditions warehouse in Fredonia, Arizona

Daily meal items are distributed by which day they will be required and packed in green plastic bags before being sealed in a waterproof can, the last thing you need on a river trip is water-damaged food.

Sheep Drive

JWise Photo of the Day

Sunrise in the east valley of Arizona

We arrived just before sunrise in the east valley on the far side of Mesa for a special event that once it gets going, there’s no stopping it.

Out in the far east valley of Mesa, Arizona following a sheep drive as a heard of 2000 sheep are taken north for the summer

This is a scene from the old west and one that may not play much longer. The Dobson family are ranchers whose name is familiar to almost everyone living in the Mesa area – think Dobson Road. Sheepherding has been going on here in the desert southwest since the 1870s. The Dobson family arrived in the 1880s but it wasn’t until 1929 that their sheep company would get started.

Out in the far east valley of Mesa, Arizona following a sheep drive as a heard of 2000 sheep are taken north for the summer

The trail they are using today to drive the sheep north into the cooler high-country has been in use since 1916, it is called the Heber-Reno Sheep Trail Driveway. Dwayne Dobson, now 72 and grandson of the man who established this family tradition, will soon be retiring from organizing the sheep drive, and without a family member interested in continuing the practice, this could very well have been the last of the sheep drives.

Caroline Wise out in the far east valley of Mesa, Arizona following a sheep drive as a heard of 2000 sheep are taken north for the summer

A tradition is coming to an end and we had the opportunity to have witnessed it at least once in our lifetimes.

Winner!

JWise Photo of the Day

Caroline Wise at the Maricopa County Fair in Arizona where she won three ribbons in crafting for 2 skeins of yarn she spun and a shawl she knitted.

Two first-place blue ribbons and a second-place red ribbon, that is what Caroline won this week at the Maricopa County Fair. She had entered three pieces with the crafting competition, a knitted lace shawl and two skeins of handspun yarn. In the photo she is standing next to the two skeins, just right of her left arm is the blue first place and the red second place ribbon. The shawl won first place too. This was the first time Caroline participated at a county fair and the first time she put up some of her handicrafts for judging. Now she’s trying to get me to submit a couple of photos at next year’s event, if only I could take a nice photo.

Cormac McCarthy and son John

JWise Photo of the Day

Cormac McCarthy and his son John Francis McCarthy sitting next to Caroline and I in Tempe, Arizona for a screening of Cave of Forgotten Dreams

First, we run into Werner Herzog, then the next day we meet Hugh Downs and British philosopher AC Grayling before sitting down to listen to Jean Auel, author of The Clan of the Cave Bear. Next up, after taking our seats for a screening of Cave of Forgotten Dreams, these two gentlemen turn down our row. Had Director Werner Herzog not pointed him out the night before, I surely wouldn’t have recognized him. As they moved down our row, sure enough, they stopped right next to us and took the first two empty seats. I complimented him about the reading Mr. Herzog did of All The Pretty Horses on Science Friday a couple of days before and asked if it would be OK if I snapped a photo of him and his son, John Francis. Obviously, it was.