© Beth Vershure

© Beth Vershure

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DAY 3: Water, Water Everywhere

4:15 am wakeup call. Lew ferries the photogs in batches across the river to the mouth of the Little Colorado. By the time I arrive on the last ferry, the photogs are all set up working on time-lapse shots of the moving, spectacularly-blue water. Jack is going around giving one-on-one instruction so I decide to just perch on a ledge over his shoulder and capture it on tape. We also get some good shots of the participants for the web. Later that day, some folks body rafted down some Little Colorado rapids, screaming away from the cold water and thrill of it all.

That afternoon, we stopped on the outskirts of Phantom Ranch to stock up on drinking water. The TV and web crews hauled many gallons of water in the heat of the day from their spigot to our boat. It was so hot I kept jumping into the water to cool down. We got many quizzical looks from the land lubbers. We camp at Hermit's Rapids, scouting it before we went to sleep. It's very big and very loud.

DAY 4: Shooting Rapids

We set up to shoot the Mother Ship, with Jillian and a water-proofed miniDV on it, going down Hermit Rapids. There was much screaming. Lunched at Shinumo Creek with a fantastic waterfall in which everyone frolicked and took snaps.

That night we camped just upstream of Garnet Canyon in a nicely sheltered spot. Lew and Gail ferried across the river and climbed up quite high to get some high and wide shots of the campsite. The photogs were setting up to shoot the sun setting on a butte across the river. That evening, after another fantastic meal, we built a bonfire, told stories and one of the river guides, Deanne, even played some violin.

What a "get" it was to have Lew and Gail shooting this segment. Both have been down the river multiple times, and Lew, who's been a river guide for many years, seems to know every rock, cranny, and potential shooting opportunity. This, combined with Gail's tireless energy and unerring eye, made for an intelligent, efficient, (and hopefully good-looking) shoot. And as if that weren't enough, Lew regaled us with endless river commentary and stories. What a pair!

DAY 5: Elves and Groovers

Broke camp at 4:30 am and cast off at 5:40 am so we could set up early at Elves Chasm. Fate intervened. We came upon two female hikers by the side of the river who needed help. They had hiked down the Bass Trail, run out of water, and spent the last two days sick and dehydrated. They were now ok and wanted to hike out, so we took some of their equipment, reviewed maps, took a phone message to call in on the radio phone, and went on our way. It was a sobering moment that hinted at the power of Nature and the Canyon in particular.

We dock at Elves Chasm and Gail jumps out with the miniDV with Tristan and his ever-present microphone trailing. Lew, Jill and I tie up the boat and get the rest of the equipment. Talk about a "magical" place. It really did look as though elves could appear at any moment. It was a photographer's dream — pools of water with greenery dripping everywhere; waterfalls with ferns; orange monkey flowers perched on rocks over trickling streams. We eventually got to a pool beneath a waterfall and everyone gasped (and then set up their shots).

Lunch at Blacktail Canyon, a nice slot canyon with a trickling stream that, because of the canyon acoustics, was deafening! This time Jill and I charged up the canyon to get some arrival shots on our video camera. After what seemed like forever, Jack finally walked up the canyon. Of course, I was shooting reflections in the water so he patiently backed up and repeated his approach for me. What a guy!

Later, when we arrived at our Doris Rapid campsite we unloaded the boats in our now amazingly efficient manner. Everyone was busy staking out campsites except for Lew whom we came upon seemingly shooting the portable latrine a.k.a. "The Groover." After a couple of bad jokes, he patiently pointed out that this was prime lizard-watching territory and he was getting some nature shots. Why was this so? As every river rat knows, they hang out and wait for the flies ...

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