Biological research has helped determine how the river's ecosystem has changed since 1963. Open shafts lurk beneath the woods. Rock dust hung in the tunnel, swirling with each booted step of the waiting miners. The low hum of machinery under heavy load was punctuated by the hiss of the red umbilicus snaking out of the air compressor. Retracing Arizona's Beale Road by camelback.
Camels respond to verbal commands, and their gaits are gentle.
Riding camels in Utah's slickrock canyons. The camel caravan waded across the meandering shallow stream, then climbed the sandy bank to the golden cottonwoods. At night the snow guns and snowcats go to work. Dressed in heavy coats, huge boots, rubber gloves and yellow slickers, they drag guns and hoses around the mountain, stopping off at the pumphouse for hot anti-beer, coffee. Spring water bubbles from the raspberry red and lemon yellow cliffs.