When you’re on a Grand Canyon river trip, right around river mile 98, a rock formation comes into view that is called “the Crystal Ball”. When you see that, you also know that you are about 1 mile above Crystal Rapid. In the days of John Wesley Powell and other pioneers, Crystal Rapid wasn’t much of a rapid at all. But, in the 1960’s, the North Rim received nearly 12 inches of rain in a matter of a few hours. Crystal Canyon and subsequent side canyons flashed and made Crystal Rapid what it is today- probably the most formidable obstacle in all of Grand Canyon for river runners.
When I first started running the river, this rapid absolutely terrified me. It would make me sick to my stomach. I used to lie sleepless in my own bed at home, months away from a river trip and get whipped up into a frenzy thinking about having to run Crystal! Now, I like to think of my strong emotional response to this rapid as a “healthy respect” and an “intensely focused mental state” that only true athletes or practiced meditators are able to achieve.
Once, on a 4 day back camping trip through Grand Canyon, I stopped and looked up from the Tonto Trail and I saw the Crystal Ball. I chuckled, and knew I would not have to run the rapid that day and felt a sense of relief. Then with a sigh, I kept trudging along, knowing that there would be other self inflicted challenges I’d have to face that day, with 9 or 10 more miles to go and an absurdly heavy pack on my back. When I got home, I was inspired to paint that very different view. If you look in the upper right hand corner of the painting, you’ll see the little yellow knob that we river runners lovingly call the Crystal Ball.
Original in private collection.
Matted, signed and numbered archival prints available: 18×24 or 11×14 and 5×7 art card