At Mile 79.1, “Sock” is the first Upper Granite Gorge rapid, and it’s a good one. The entire look and feel of the Canyon has now changed. Steep gullies, sharp-edged ridges and pinnacles adorn the walls of dark schist. At times, it can get very gloomy down in there. Sock is known for its V-Wave, which flips many boats. It waits menacingly, at the end of a long tongue. Lots of adrenaline, unless you have opted for the left sneak. 11 photos.
Sockdolager Rapid, at Mile 79.1
Bearing down on the V-Wave
In low water, Karen does the left sneak, in her dory “Quartzite Falls”
Nearing the bottom of the rapid, marked by the flat-topped prow that sticks out from river left. Low water.
Brahm hits the V-Wave
A commercial oar boat dives into the V-Wave
A commercial oar boat gets swallowed-up by the V-Wave
Fen does the left sneak
Kathy does the left sneak. The breaking V-Wave looks particularly menacing.
Looking back
The little rapid, downstream and around the corner from Sock
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About Evensteven
I am a photographer and author, and live in Embudo, New Mexico, alongside the Rio Grande. I have published a book of photography and accompanying text on running the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. The first (print) edition is out of print, but a second edition is available as an iBook (eBook) through the iTunes bookstore. All Grand Canyon, river and nature lovers will enjoy my book:
The Grand: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-grand/id672492447
I have also published six additional iBooks:
1. The Salt River: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-salt-river/id12449222822.
2. Coyote Buttes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/coyote-buttes/id1271773201
3. Four Cornered, the Land: https://books.apple.com/us/book/four-cornered/id1384038899
4. Four Cornered, The Rivers: https://books.apple.com/us/book/four-cornered-book-two-the-rivers/id1402287568
5. Rio Marañon: https://books.apple.com/us/book/four-cornered-book-two-the-rivers/id1402287568
6. Rio Grande: https://books.apple.com/us/book/rio-grande-new-mexico/id1469126321
http://dictionary.reference.com/slideshows/sevenwacky?prev=baby-animals.cygnet#sockdolager
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