Quickies - Random Outings to blog about - ongoing

**Skatchkins** · 07-17-2010, 03:27 AM

I just got back from an impromptu night rapids tubing on the Verde River with Silversides.

It was flowing at 909 CFM's, up from its usual July rate of 450.

We dropped in at Needle Rock and set ourselves up for a 1+ mi adventure or a 2+ mi one. We only made it 1.5 in about 45min. Holy frik that was scary fun. Some of the rapids were huge spaced out hills with plenty of drop in between you had to dance with. Add in the fact that it was pitch black out and the ol heart gets pumping fast. Not only could you hear them coming, but your speed certainly picked up as they pulled you towards them. We saw fish and one ringtail taking a drink. When we got to a narrow section after deciding to pass our first out option, the rapids got fast and put us into a low lying tree, I got knocked backwards off my tube and went fully under. Again, much scarier in the dark. It was too deep to touch too in the fast water but I managed to swim to shore after bobbing a couple times. Jonathan managed to stay on but then tumbled a few times shortly after. He also retrieved my tube.
We found ourselves on a vehicle trail on the bank so we called it quits this time and hiked about 2 miles back to the truck.
Good times. So much fun with just the right amount of blind danger.
We saw no one else out there and the temps, once you got wet, were great.

**Skatchkins** · 09-13-2010, 11:21 AM

Hay bails on Friday night.
Saturday night a great time with Silversides, his Mentee, and Bob. Only ones out there, tons of stars, Jon's fire making, gathering, and keeping expertise, Bob's safe words, 4 trout sized catfish throwbacks, a coyote, 2 foxes (one really up close), a javalina, and two big ol' owls.
Thanks for 2nd church on Sunday too Bob.
Movie night with little k's, big K's, cream cheese snack cake, and bonus Bob Sun night.

**Skatchkins** · 01-06-2011, 11:27 PM

Did a short solo hike below 4 Peaks New Years Eve

Last sunset of the year

**Skatchkins** · 02-09-2011, 10:06 PM

Went fishing/hiking Tuesday.
God coulda at least let me catch one for my birthday.

Got bored so I shot some birds. Nothin special.

Give an Arizona man a fish and he'll finally know what one looks like.
Teach that man instead to fish for himself, and he'll spend a lot of money on equipment and licenses and never will.

**Skatchkins** · 02-20-2011, 07:39 PM

Saturday hiked Blue Wash up to Camp Creek Falls then down in another wash near St Clair Spring to find a structure seen on the aerial. Found a dead horse, dead car, the falls, American flag, old rock structure remains and a game camera.

Rained when I got to the falls and then the rest of the day until I got back to the vehicle to depart.