Canyon Fires Chapter 23
| Canyon Fires | |
|---|---|
| Chapter 23 of 29 | |
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| Read this chapter | |
| Time frame | May 5, 2001 |
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Locations
- From Fossil Canyon to Ledges in the Grand Canyon
Characters
- Buddha and Giselle
- Nanci Chladek
- Ben and Joy Russell, newlyweds
- Kevin Haynes, Larry Newman, Mike Borchardt, all boatmen
Summary
An early start finds Al and Karin awaiting and ready to go. Things run smoothly, if wet from some big rapids. Al moves between boats, from Kevin to Mike to Larry to Noah, to watch how each one does. Stopping just below Tapeats for lunch required more effort as landings needed quick action before the current pulled the boats off the small beach.
Crystal and Nicole put on speed and manage a major hike in only two hours while most only went partway, leaving Kevin and Nanci to talk at the boats. The two hikers with the AT expertise enjoyed it, prompting Crystal to plot something bigger. After consulting with Al, Crystal announces a new plan for a five mile hike at Havasu Creek the next day.
The rafts are landed at Deer Creek falls for another hike and three rafts leave early to grab the desired campsite. With their early arrival, Crystal and Noah decide to talk and walk. They find Myleigh practising by herself and don't want to interrupt. Noah consoles Crystal over the changes others experience. The couple also see Joy and Giselle talking together as well as Nanci, Kevin and Buddha having a discussion. Noah explains in general terms that Nanci isn't flirting, but exploring issues of forgiveness.
At the campfire that night, Jon and Tanisha talk about the best day in their lives. Although it includes the reunion with Karin and Crystal,AT15 they can only give generalities about their success with Project Swallowtail.AT14 Al points out how the reunion relieved his isolation, too.
As a final point, Jon explains how his and Crystals lives were almost very different. The day Crystal saw a Canyon Tours advertisement on a placemat in a coffee shop and decided to try the Grand Canyon herself, she missed crossing paths with Jon and Tanisha by minutes. A reunion at that time would have resulted in her life taking a completely different path.
