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| Durango's got deep gorges and Kyle's Grandma lives there too:photo Tim Hawkins |
Pete and Kyle finally got some days off, and although water levels everywhere were dropping rapidly and our
original top secret plan had been stifled, we decided to head to Durango. The McCutchen clan has the Bayfield
area on lockdown and Kyle’s Grandmother has been living in the Four Corners area for over 50 years. They played
gracious host, while in return, Pete and I helped move Kyle’s folks into their newly built abode. Grandma had some
insightful and entertaining stories to tell and she sure cooks a mean pot of New Mexican red chile. We got some
boating done too. This is a photo essay of our journey.
We drove straight to Vallecito on a Friday night and dropped in on Saturday morning before the water was all gone…
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| Kyle caught by hiker Don Scott's lense above the gorge proper |
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| A hiker's eye view of Evan entering Vallecito: photo Don Scott |
We ran the 2nd Gorge of Lime Creek at low flow on Sunday…
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| The slide that lands you in the meat - 2nd Gorge Lime Creek:photo Tim Hawkins |
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| Pete Stromberg dropping into Deep Throat a.k.a. Balls in Your Mouth:photo Evan J. Stafford |
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| Evan dropping some Viagra:photo Tim Hawkins |
We caught up with Durango legend Damon Millar on Monday afternoon, as darkness approached, for a guided tour
of the ultra-committing, soon to be recognized as a major league classic, Baker’s (Bottom) Box of the Animas…
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| Looking down from the lowering perch at the put-in:photo Evan J. Stafford |
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| Kyle fighting his way out of what is arguably the largest hole on the Animas:photo Evan J. Stafford |
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| Damon Millar with his classic aggressive style:photo Evan J. Stafford |
And finally, we hit the Cake and the Icing and everything else on the North Fork of the Crystal on the way home…
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| Driving into the North Fork of the Crystal:photo Evan J. Stafford |
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| The "forty Footer," we just call it number 2, cause it ain't no where near 40 feet:photo Evan J. Stafford |
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| Evan at drop number 3:photo Pete Stromberg |
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| Kyle hiking up for another lap on the top 4:photo Evan J. Stafford |
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| Kyle in the crux move of the NF Crystal:photo Evan J. Stafford |
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| The team: from left Pete, Kyle and Evan |
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