One of the favorite seasons around here for locals and visitors alike is most definitely Autumn. The molding of the Summer season into Winter brings dramatic changes through out the state and this is especially true at the Bosque del Apache. Eighteen miles south of Socorro lies 52,000 acres of wet lands, a Rio Grande River creation (with a little help from man) which attracts a myriad of birds, waterfoul, raptors and all variations of migrating feathered friends. The following series of photos were taken early November 2009, one evening and the next morning.

Fall color, looking west toward the San Mateo Mountains.

The golden leaves of Autumn and a Redwing Blackbird.

One of the hundreds of Mallards feeding at the Flight Deck.

Great Blue Heron.

After feeding during the day the Sandhill Cranes fly in to spend the evening with some of their buddies.

Sandhill Cranes.

? thousand Snow Geese take flight, sunrise.

Snow Geese at sunrise.

Sandhill Crane, Pintail ducks and Snow Geese.

A mule deer feeds with his feathered friends.

Snow Geese taking flight.

"Hey Watch It!", "Move Over", "Gemme Some Room".

Snow Geese pair.

For more sights of Bosque del Apache go to “www.flickr.com/photos/jorunny/”.

Four miles downstream of the confluence, where the Green River merges with the Colorado River, we came to Spanish Bottom, our planned double layover (2 days & 3 nights). The hike up and out of the river canyon gains 1,100 feet and bring one to the sandstone formations known as The Doll House. More back country hiking takes one to sites such as The Land of the Standing Rocks, The Maze and The Chocolate Drops, but let’s get to the rapids. The 14 miles below Spanish Bottom are occupied by 27 numbered rapids (depending on the level of Lake Powell), some with names such as Big Drop, Mile Long Rapid and Satan’s Seat. So after 13 days and 124 river miles we finally must scout rapids, weigh options, make decisions, follow through and well, see what happens. As it turned out, there were no incidents for our day of rapids, but our last day, day 15, had a few. It rained first thing in the morning for the “Great Colorado River Pancake Massacre”, we had two rapids immediatly upon launch, a chilling North wind streamed down the canyon, the potential campsites became knee deep mud fests of Lake Powell sediment, the tempurature dropped, but we didn’t really care. The sun graced us with it’s warmth for moments, and we were grateful. The rain soaked our waterproof Gortex and we were cold. All the time the downstream wind pushed. So as intrepid sailors headed back to port following time at sea, we hoisted a make-shift sail, teathered the rafts together and set our sights on the take-out. After 10 1/2  hours and 31 miles, at 10:30 PM, using a $5 double D battery flashlight, that was a last minute purchase back in Green River just for this occasion, we spotted  the reflections off the indestructible, military style steel porta-potties of civilization, The Dirty Devil Takeout.

The Cedar Mesa Sandstone of The Doll House.

One of the dolls.

Jesse & Sara, our first scout, Rapid #5.

Patrick douses his new bride, Jenny. Rapid #5.

Neil, just having fun. Rapid #5.

Big Drop #2, Rapid #22.

Neil. Big Drop #2.

Big Drop #3. Jesse & Sara.

Big Drop #3.

Piano Leg Arch.

The weather turns, day15.

Hoisting the main sail.

As the sunsets, we row.

Next up: Autumn at Bosque del Apache and birds, birds, birds.

Now for lack of a distinct geological ending for Labyrinth Canyon, I begin Stillwater Canyon at Anderson Bottom, which for us was day 8, with 89 river miles traveled. The weather up to this point had been nothing but drop-dead gorgeous, a typical Utah fall. We’ve encountered many relics of 20th century man in his quest for successful cohabitation with the Utah desert and his stuggle to establish a home, be he a crusty miner or a farmer with family. Beginning here in Stillwater Canyon the historical relics recoiled a few hundred years back to become artifacts of the Anasazi and their temporary success in making the bottom land around the Green River home. Cliff dwellings, pictographs and petroglyphs become frequent along the canyon walls of Ceder Mesa Sandstone. The White Rim Sandstone now climbs several hundred feet above river level, with it’s typical overhanging presentation, creating formations such as the Turks Head. From Anderson Bottom we floated 31 more miles to the end of the Green River and it’s confluence with the Colorado River, the beginning of Cataract Canyon and finally, “RAPIDS”.

Anderson Bottom camp.

Evening hikes with fall colors used up alot of gigabytes.

Cornered up the Anderson Narrows.

Turks Head.

Our first rain served up with breakfast at Deadhorse Canyon.

Flint chips litter the landscape atop the Cedar Mesa Sandstone.

Anasazi basketball?

Wingate Sandstone forms the Candlestick (background), with the Turks Head up front.

Anasazi abode, maybe 8x10 feet, at Jasper Canyon.

Just another use for bacon grease.

River fireworks granting thanks to the Green River, for we're on to the Colorado River tomorrow.

Next up, The Colorado River and the wet Cataract Canyon in Part III.

October 6, 2009 was the put-in date for 5 New Wave employees and 1 Uinta Mountain Trail Professional. The journey covered 170 river miles, starting at the Green River State Park in Green River Utah and ended at the Dirty Devil take-out on Lake Powell, taking 15 days to complete. We averaged 15 miles per day, with 2 lay-over days (staying at the same camp 2 nights) and one double lay-over (3 nights), with 30 miles being covered on our last day, which took us well into the night and across a portion of Lake Powell. The following collection of photos were taken during the first 89 miles and capture sights of what John Wesley Powel in 1869 called Labyrinth Canyon.

Sunrise launch from Green River State Park.

Day 1 brings Crystal Geyser, man made when drilling for oil goes wrong, but beautiful none the same.

Exploring the Travertine (tufa) layers at Crystal Geyser.

Dullenbaugh Butte.

Canada Goose. The Green River is a major flyway for migrating waterfowl.

Monastery Arch. Named by Powell for it's resemblance to a entryway into a monastery.

A 20 minute hike takes us to an Anasazi Ruin and this view.

Anasazi Ruin at Fort Bottom.

Bowknot Bend. Looking upstream in the right of the photo and downstream on the left.

Five Hole Arch. Our first layover allowed one full day for hiking the Navajo Sandstone formations.

From the inside of Five Hole Arch.

Miles of flat water floating.

Sunrise (the first "Golden Hour") brings brilliant light for our pancakes and sausage.

The emerging White Rim Sandstone marks the indistinct end to Labyrinth Canyon.

Overhanging White Rim Sandstone.

Part II, Still Water Canyon, is in the editing room.