RI7ER JOURNAL POSTS

Got up early after a good night’s sleep. The weather is dry and cool at night, which is a relief from the heat of plus 35° during the day. I am also noticing a change in the season with cooler evenings, shorter days, and the sun’s arc getting a little lower in the sky - only an hour or two in the day where the shade is scarce. I am in an area of rocks, sand, 100m cliffs, gullies, sandy riverbeds, polished river stones, waterfalls. Vegetation is tough, hardy, thorny scrub, cactus, succulents, odd patches of dry, prickly grass.

Went for a morning scout upriver and quickly learned that I had taken the wrong channel in. I had suspected it the evening before - suspicions confirmed. However, it did bring me closer to where I had stashed my rope in December - was a good feeling to pick up that bag of rope.

I saw a number of options for descent into the gorge - all fairly high risk - some higher than others, some with obstacles, some ledging. The rock here is either smooth and hard, or sun-baked sandstone that crumbles easily. Anchor points are pretty limited.

I found a spot late this afternoon which could possibly get me in without a rope. Need to check it out. That’s tomorrow’s mission.