Day 2 -- Explore and Rest Day

I watch the sunrise in the sleeping bag, listening to a tape of the songs that make me think of the Canyon. It is an awesome mixture of emotions. 2 ravens circle the area with wings as still as a glider. I am transfixed by their grace as they circle our site. 45 minutes later, I get up to watch the sun come down the cliffs on the far side of the river and eat breakfast.
		Dox Sandstone and Hakatai Shale wall across the River
	Around 9:30 Doug and I head off up the Beamer Trail to Palisades Creek to find Seth Tanner's mine. Wes uses the day to recover, build strength for the tomorrow and read up on the trails to come.
Looking back at Tanner Beach from the Beamer Trail		This portion of the Beamer Trail looks like a corridor trail
		We miss the mine site on the way out. A well-placed cairn finally leads us to the point where the site is evident. We choose not to go in as we have heard that the air is potential lethal.
Old Tanner Mine along the Beamer Trail	Doug standing at the entrance of the Tanner Mine


Commanche Point from the Beamer Trail	Closeup of Commanche Pt along the Beamer Trail	Lava Butte and Lava Canyon
	Seven miles and 5 hours later, we return to the campsite, having gained and lost another 480 feet.
Lava Rapids - Day 2 Lunch

We shift camp at 3:15 to a new site. We think it is in the zone authorized by our permit. (We were wrong it turns out, off by a couple of miles.) We set the camp up in daylight. Watch a raft group of five boats go by - a scientific group we had met at the old site. Then skinny-dip in the cold water to get cleaned up. We eat together and exchange thoughts of the day.
	Rafters running Tanner Rapids
I wake at 12:15 or so. The sky is free of clouds, but then looking to the west, I say "Oh, shit". The sky is dark. At 1:30 the rain and wind came. I retreat into the tent,hear the sounds of weather, sleep. Come 3:15, I when awake again, the rain has gone and the night skies are clear again. I again move out from the tent. This night had rewarded my looking with 6 falling stars. The rhyme of wishing on a star is remembered. So I do. As the sunsets, feet are treated. I watch the sunset, write some; read some and watch the stars fill the sky. I even listen to the tape again The connection to the canyon is real.