Santa Elena Canyon - Rio Grande

Big Bend National Park, Texas

September 22, 2006

**Some pictures may be out of order, but it will take someone more knowledgeable about this area to get them straight.

~ Getting Started ~

We all met at Far Flung Outdoor Center at 7:45am and drove to the Lajitas put-in. After unloading and getting a quick safety briefing, we hit the water for first half of our trip. During the first part of the trip we got to know each other and our awesome guide, Taz. You will see Taz in some of our pictures. She really helped make this trip great. As you can see, the water level was up during our trip.

~ Lajitas to the mouth of Santa Elena Canyon ~














	Taz

~ Lunch at the mouth of Santa Elena Canyon ~

While lunch was being setup we were able to take a little hike to a vantage point overlooking the mouth of Santa Elena Canyon. Everyone needs to see this. For an overnight trip, this would be a perfect place to camp. After our hike we had a nice deli-style lunch where my friend Mike managed to spray mustard on an unsuspecting paddler. To our dismay, she did not think it was as funny as we thought it was. Yes, it was an accident.


Getting Lunch ready
	Easy trail to the top.

		Mike L. living on the edge	Rafts entering the canyon

~ Mouth to the Rock Slide ~


	Trash Duty



Shark Fin		Rock Slide is Just around the corner

~ Rock Slide ~

The Rock Slide was not as dramatic as it is when the water level is lower. We did not flip the boat even once. It seems that we would have to jump in to really get wet. I do not have any pictures of us going through the Rock Slide rapids since we had to paddle.

Second Raft,
Mustard and all

~ Rock Slide to Fern Canyon ~

~ Fern Canyon ~

We stopped to hike Fern Canyon. Check out the great group pictures of Mike, Mike, Taz and Matt. Yes, Matt should have been in the pictures too. I am have some of these pictures reprinted because the quality is pretty bad from the first try.

~ Without a Paddle ~

And what river trip would be complete without ditching the boat and letting the river take us for a little ride. I would not drink the water but floating in it was one of the highlights of the trip. Don't let the chocolate milk water scare you.



The End of Santa Elena
		The end of a good day

The next day we kayaked Colorado Canyon. See those pictures here>>>