Jeff Maltzman Photography

Jeff Maltzman Photography Vivid landscapes of Arizona, the U.S. West, and beyond.

Today’s post is a little different. I met Kelsey Pfendler back in 2023 when she served as Trip Leader on a rafting trip...
06/01/2026

Today’s post is a little different. I met Kelsey Pfendler back in 2023 when she served as Trip Leader on a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. I could tell immediately that she is an outstanding leader, a quality she proved several times during that trip, including through her calm and skilled recovery of a passenger who went overboard in one of the bigger rapids. I then discovered that Kelsey was training to lead a four-woman team that would row unsupported across the Pacific Ocean from California to Hawaii, a feat they accomplished in the summer of 2024 in just under 41 days.

Most people—if they even had the fortitude to consider such a grueling effort—would stop there. But Kelsey isn’t most people, and she’s now doing it all again, this time by herself. In her own words, her goal is “to row Solo Unsupported over 2,400 miles from Monterey, California to the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu. Along the way I hope to become the first American woman, youngest woman and fastest woman to do so. The current world record is 86 days, 10 hours and 5 minutes, held by Lia Ditton.”

Kelsey is an amazing person, and I’m incredibly inspired every time I think about her perseverance. You can follow the amazing journey on her Instagram feed , where she provides daily updates (she’s currently on day 11) and where you can learn more about her story and why she’s doing this. If you’re moved to do so you can also support her efforts, as this expedition requires a lot of resources. I was honored to be an early supporter, and my photography logo is traveling along with her on the boat, visible over her left shoulder in the second photo, along with those of others.

Keep kicking ass, Kelsey! You are amazing.

Here are the final images from the Grand Canyon float. Enjoy this virtual visit. .americas
05/27/2026

Here are the final images from the Grand Canyon float. Enjoy this virtual visit.

.americas

“We have an unknown distance yet to run, an unknown river to explore. What falls there are, we know not; what rocks bese...
05/08/2026

“We have an unknown distance yet to run, an unknown river to explore. What falls there are, we know not; what rocks beset the channel, we know not; what walls ride over the river, we know not. Ah, well! We may conjecture many things.” - John Wesley Powell

As I prepare for my fifth trip floating the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, I contemplate Powell’s first journey in 1869, reflecting upon the bravery, curiosity, and perhaps insanity that he and his fellow explorers demonstrated while rowing into the great unknown. Unlike Powell, I know the exact distance we will run and the many nuances of the river. Yet every journey is unique, and the Canyon always manages to surprise, delight, and humble me.

A beautiful morning along the Echo Canyon loop in Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona.
04/30/2026

A beautiful morning along the Echo Canyon loop in Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona.

I spent some time in the Dragoon Mountains of southern Arizona with my friend this past weekend. This is one of my favo...
04/30/2026

I spent some time in the Dragoon Mountains of southern Arizona with my friend this past weekend. This is one of my favorite Arizona places to camp, hike, and photograph.

A downstream view of the Colorado River as it’s joined by the Little Colorado River at a point known as the Confluence. ...
04/15/2026

A downstream view of the Colorado River as it’s joined by the Little Colorado River at a point known as the Confluence. The calcium carbonate-laden water of the Little C appears turquoise due to significant scattering of blue light by suspended crystals. The mixing of blue and green at this spot is a beautiful sight.

The Confluence was also the site of a proposed development project that would have constructed a tram into the canyon, delivering up to 10,000 tourists daily into this fragile area. Thankfully, strong advocacy, directed by a group of indigenous leaders for whom the Confluence has cultural significance, led to the Navajo nation voting the proposal down. Never to be held back, however, greed continues to threaten the area. New projects, including additional dams and hydropower plants, have been proposed. No approvals have been granted… yet.

More from the East Rim of the Grand Canyon. All images were made on Navajo land, offering the beauty, grandeur, and powe...
04/11/2026

More from the East Rim of the Grand Canyon. All images were made on Navajo land, offering the beauty, grandeur, and power of the canyon without the people. If you’re interested in exploring this area you’ll need a guide. I recommend , who took great care of me on my recent visit.

Several images from the East Rim of the Grand Canyon, shot this past weekend. I didn’t have the skies and light I’d hope...
04/10/2026

Several images from the East Rim of the Grand Canyon, shot this past weekend. I didn’t have the skies and light I’d hoped for, but with views like these, who cares? I had the most wonderful time.

This area can only be accessed with a Navajo guide. If you want to experience the grandeur of the canyon without the crowds, this is the way. I highly recommend . It’s a newer company owned and run by a young couple, and they’re wonderful.

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood. This was about a month ago in Catalina State Park, just minutes from my house....
04/02/2026

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood. This was about a month ago in Catalina State Park, just minutes from my house.

Water in the desert is a necessary paradox. Life in the arid southwestern US is impossible without it, yet much of the r...
03/29/2026

Water in the desert is a necessary paradox. Life in the arid southwestern US is impossible without it, yet much of the region receives less than 25 centimeters of average annual rainfall. Traditionally, the native human inhabitants of this part of the country relied on the Colorado River’s vast drainage system for survival, concentrating their settlements along rivers, creeks, and washes. As the Western population grew in the early 20th century, the Colorado River Compact was established in 1922 to define the water rights of the seven states that draw water from the system. Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico make up the ‘Upper Basin,’ while California, Arizona, and Nevada comprise the ‘Lower Basin.’ In 1922, each basin was allotted a large, fixed annual volume in perpetuity, regardless of the river’s ability to deliver. Unfortunately, these allocations were based upon inaccurate data derived during very high-flow years. They failed to consider changes that might occur over time and did not allot fair amounts of water to the local Native American populations or to Mexico.

Fast-forward to today. For quite some time we have taken more water from the Colorado River system than snowmelt in its headwaters can replace. The river has been converted into a massive plumbing system and now dries up before reaching the sea. The megadrought that has besieged the Southwest for over 25 years continues, with little relief in sight. This winter’s mountain snowpack peaked early and was one of the lowest on record. The Colorado River Compact defined water usage when the region’s major cities had a combined population of barely one million people. Today, 40 million humans rely on water from the Colorado River, and that number grows every year. And beyond the simple human perspective is the impact on the overall environment and the fauna and flora that depend upon a healthy, free-flowing river.

Continued in comments…

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