| |
| Lower Salt River - Waterusers to PhonD, AZ | |
|
| | Lower Salt River - Waterusers to PhonD, AZ | | | |
|
|
Lower Salt River - Waterusers to PhonD, AZ
| | |
|
| Kayak | 9.02 Miles |
|
| | Kayak | 9.02 Miles | 2 Hrs 36 Mns | | 3.47 mph |
| | | |
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | An early morning paddle session, with an extra delightful sunrise with all the cloud cover in the sky.
Met up at PhonD to find a handful of cars in the lot - transferred gear and headed up to Water Users where, to my surprise, there were even fewer vehicles. The release was at 1200cfs, which is the highest I've managed to catch it so far this season.
There were a number of turkey vulture at the beach that seemed reluctant to allow us passage to put in. Once we got everything situated, we pushed off, looking upstream to enjoy the sunrise. Not far down, we spotted what appeared to be a beaver trying to climb out on a partially submerged branch near the shoreline. We opted to paddle against the current to stay in the area to see if we could positively identify our sighting...we were delighted to eventually watch it swim across the river to snag a willow branch only to haul it back across the river...and possibly to its den. I didn't anticipate seeing beaver in the Salt, and was so happy to catch sight of it.
With the unique beaver sighting, we were intent on scanning the banks for other animals that we might normally not see with more harsh lighting or full sun. To my delight, I spied a javalina coming for a drink - unfortunately it was in a section where the current was quite strong - by the time I managed to paddle upstream against the current to start getting out my camera, the javalina decided it had had enough and ambled back into the brush. We continued on our way, opting to bypass the pinball rapids. Only caught sight of a few horses before catching a small group crossing the river further downstream.
The usual wildlife seemed more sparse than usual with the cloudcover overhead - only saw a few heron, and non directly on the water - they were all perched in snags like they were having a late start to the day. didn't see any cliff swallow activity at the mud cliffs, and didn't see any nighthawks where I usually see plenty overhead.
The paddle was relaxing, the scenery was beautiful, and this was a fantastic way to start the week.
Wildlife: Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Mallards, Red Winged Blackbirds, turkey vulture, several other unidentified birds, wild horses, squirrel, bullfrogs (heard, but not sighted), a beaver, and a javalina (sadly, not photographed).
Other people: We jockeyed back and forth with a pair on a paddleboard, and saw a few folk in the distance, but otherwise had the illusion of having the river to ourselves. |
| _____________________
Happier when hiking....I may not move fast (and I'm often distracted by wildflowers), but I'll get there eventually  |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
