Loading boats at Heath Canyon Ranch on the Texas side across the river from La Linda, Mexico
Entering Heath Canyon, the first of the Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande
Sam Felts (left) and son David Felts prepare to enter Heath Canyon
Stan Pully paddles alongside Beverly and Dirk Davidek at the entrance to Heath Canyon
Tim Stanton prepares for his first trip into Heath Canyon
The beautiful Temple Canyon on the Mexican side
Stan Pully leisurely paddling the Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande
James Halsell takes photos while Roger Zimmerman paddles his SOAR S16 into the Lower Canyons
A different view of Temple Canyon
The Lower Canyons rock formations are simply spectacular
L to R: Michael Ludford, Roger Zimmerman and Debbie Lageman on the bank of the Rio Grande
James Halsell and Roger Zimmerman basking in the warmth of a Texas Thanksgiving week in the Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande
Tony Sforza's canoe looks lightly loaded compared to a pair of SOAR S16 Inflatable canoes
Tom Taylor's motto is "Freeboard? We don't need no stinkin' freeboard!"
L to R: Michael Ludford and Debbie Lageman (SOAR S16), Stan Pully (SOAR S14) and Deborah Benson (Heritage kayak) just floating along on a gentle current
The serene beauty of the Lower Canyons is on display everywhere (except in the major rapids!)
Roger Zimmerman caught a catfish that we shared later than night at our Hot Springs campsite at San Rocendo Canyon
Stan Pully assists Debbie Benson portage Hot Springs Rapid, a solid class III to III+ rapid
David and Sam Felts scout Hot Springs Rapid for the best line to run the rapid (and they nailed it!)
Looking downriver from our Hot Springs campsite at San Rocendo Canyon
Deb Benson, James Halsell, Dirk and Beverly Davidek high above the Rio Grande at San Rocendo Canyon
Deb Benson and Beverly Davidek at Man and Dog Rock in San Rocendo Canyon where natural mineral leaching created this image
The view downriver from our Hot Springs campsite on a clear, warm Thanksgiving eve day
Leaving Hot Springs and heading toward the big rapids on Thanksgiving Day
Canyon walls in this section of the Rio Grande tower 1,500 to 2,000 feet above the river, often rising right out of the water
Tony Sforza paddles past the ever present Carrizo (Arundo donax) cane that adorns the river banks of the Rio Grande
Deb Benson checking out the Carrizo cane along the river bank
Approaching small rapids that lead to the major rapids
Michael Ludford and Debbie Lageman "SOARing" down the Rio Grande
James Halsell and Roger Zimmerman chase Stan Pully through a minor rapid just above Rodeo Rapid, the first of the significant rapids below us
Deb Benson boat scouting the best line through the rapid
Stan Pully lining up his SOAR S14 for the rapid
Tom Taylor lining up his heavily laden Old Town Penobscot for the rapid
How insignificantly small we are compared to these giant mountains!
Tom Taylor standing in his canoe to stretch his legs on some quiet water
Stan Pully takes his SOAR S14 into Rodeo Rapid (Class III)
This place is so amazingly beautiful and very special
Stopping for a lunch break between Rodeo Rapid and Upper Madison Falls, the biggest drop on the river
James Halsell and Roger Zimmerman entering the top section of Upper Madison Falls Rapid
Tom Taylor sliding his Old Town Penobscot into the top section of Upper Madison Falls Rapid
Well, we made it through Upper Madison Falls, but we had to portage several boats and did not get any photos
SOARing the Rio Grande - L to R: Stan Pully (S14), Michael Ludford and Debbie Lageman (S16), Roger Zimmerman and James Halsell (S16) and Beverly and Dirk Davidek (S16) and also some other guys
This gorgeous river just goes on and on (for 9 days, in this case!)
Approaching the end of the deep canyons as the walls descend near our take-out
Deb Benson in front of a gorgeous rock formation on the Texas side
I call this one SOAR Rock because it looks like a SOAR Inflatable Canoe perched high above the river
The USGS gauging station on river left signals less than a mile to our John's Marina takeout at Dryden
Our John's Marina takeout on the Texas side is in sight
Looking down at the Rio Grande from our John's Marina takeout on the Texas side
