Rafting the Grand Canyon; 101.
In February 2015, a friend called me up and asked if I’d be interested in rafting the Grand Canyon that July. I had mixed feelings knowing this trip was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and the weather would be beautiful, but I would need to take 3 weeks off work and this would be my first time back on the water since a previous rafting accident. I had not been on the water since 2007 after our boat flipped on the Deschutes River near Maupin, Oregon. Lifeflight, search and rescue, and other agencies were dispatched to assist our group. Fortunately, no one lost their life nor was critically injured, but it was a very traumatic experience for all who were involved.
Over the following 3 weeks, I consulted many friends who had rafted the Grand Canyon before. Each one of them reassured me that it was the trip of a lifetime, the weather in July would be hot but perfect, the odds of flipping a boat were slim to none, and there was no way I could turn down this offer. When I told my parents that I was considering this trip, they thought I had absolutely lost my mind. They were also part of the accident in 2007 and swore up and down they would never touch a raft on the water again.
My friend’s encouragement plus my parent's fear obviously equaled a hard YES! I was so excited yet so scared all at the same time. Little did I know, this would truly become a trip of a lifetime. The group of friends could not have been more aligned, the adrenaline was pumping high, and the comradery was something I will likely never experience again.
Here is a day-by-day guide on how our trip unfolded;
Day 1 -
Miles: 1 to 16.6
Rapids: Pana Riffle (1), Cathedral Wash (2), Badger Creek Camp (5), Soap Creek Rapid (5), Browns Riffle (2), Sheer Wall Rapid (2)
Flips: 0
Camp: Hot Nana
Day 2 -
Miles: 16.5 to 29.5
Rapids: House Rock Rapid (7), Redneck Rapid (3), North Canyon Rapid (5), Twentyone Mile Rapid (5), Twentythree Mile Rapid/Indian Dick (4), Twentythree and One-half Mile Rapid (4), Twentyfour Mile Rapid/Georgie (6), Twentyfour and One-half Mile Rapid (6), Twentyfive Mile Rapid/Hansbrough-Richards (6), Cave Springs Rapid (5), Twentyseven Mile Rapid (5), Twentynine Mile Rapid (2) – AKA Roaring Twenties
Flips: 3; House Rock, Twentythree Mile, Twentyseven Mile Rapid
Camp: Shinumo Wash
Day 3 -
Miles: 29.5 to 41.5
Rapids: Thirtysix Mile Rapid (4)
Flips: 0
Camp: Lower Buck Farm
Day 4 -
Miles: 41.5 to 56.5
Rapids: President Harding Rapid (4), Nankoweap Rapid (3), Kwagnut Rapid (5)
Flips: 0
Camp: Kwagnut
Day 5 -
Miles: 56.5 to 74.5
Rapids: Sixty Mile Rapid (4), Lava Canyon/Chuar Rapid (4), Tanner Rapid (4), Basalt Rapid (2), Unkar Creek Rapid (6), 73.6 Mile Riffle (2)
Flips: 0
Camp: Upper Rattlesnake
Day 6 -
Miles: 74.5 to 89.5
Rapids: Nevills Rapid (6), Hance Rapid (8), Sockdolager Rapid (7), Grapevine Rapid (7), Eightythree Mile Rapid (4), Zoroaster Rapid (5), Eighty Mile Rapid (3), Bright Angel Rapid (3)
Flips: 0
Camp: Pipe Creek (no camping – overflow)
Day 7 -
Miles: 89.5 to 97.5
Rapids: Pipe Creek Rapid (3), Horn Creek Rapid (8), Salt Creek Rapid (3), Granite Rapid (8), Hermit Rapid (8), Boucher Rapid (4)
Flips: 0
Camp: Boucher
Day 8 -
Miles: 97.5 to 109
Rapids: Crystal Rapid (8), Tuna Creek Rapid (6), Lower Tuna/Willies Necktie Rapid (4), Nixon Rock (3), Agate Rapid (3), Sapphire Rapid (6), Turquoise Rapid (3), Emerald Rapid (5), Ruby Rapid (5), Serpentine Rapid (7), Bass Rapid (4)
Flips: 2; Crystal
Camp: Bass
Day 9 -
Miles: 109 to 120.5
Rapids: Shinumo Rapid (4), Hundred and Nine Mile Rapid (2), Hundred and Ten Mile Rapid (3), Hakatai Rapid (4), Waltenberg Rapid (6), Hundred and Thirteen Mile Rock (2), Hundred and Nineteen Mile (2)
Flips: 0
Camp: Upper Blacktail
Day 10 -
Miles: 120.5 to 136.8
Rapids: Blacktail Rapid (3), Hundred and Twentytwo Mile Rapid (4), Forster Rapid (5), Fossil Rapid (5), Hundred and Twentyseven Mile Rapid (3), Hundred and Twentyeight Mile Rapid (3), Specter Rapid (6), Bedrock Rapid (7), Deubendorff Rapid (7), Tapeats Rapid (5), Hundred and Thirtyfive Mile Rapid (3)
Flips: 0
Camp: Across from Deer Creek
Day 11 -
Camp: Across from Deer Creek, layover day
Day 12 -
Miles: 136.8 to 158.5
Rapids: Dons Rapid (4), Hundred Thirtyeight & One-half Rapid (3), Fishtail Rapid (4), Hundred and Fortyone Mile Rapid (2), Kanab Rapid (3), Matkatamiba Rapid (2), Upset Rapid (8), Sinyella Rapid (2), Havasu Rapid (3)
Flips: 0
Camp: 158.7 Mile
Day 13 -
Miles: 158.5 to 180
Rapids: Hundred and Sixtyfour Mile Rapid (2), National Rapid (2), Dern Glen Rapid (2), Gateway Rapid (3), Lava Falls Rapid (9), Lower Lava Rapid (4)
Flips: 1; Lava
Camp: Tequila Beach, below Lower Lava
Day 14 -
Miles: 180 to 199
Rapids: Hundred and Eightyfive Mile Rapid (2), Whitmore Rapid (3)
Flips: 0
Camp: Parashant
Day 15 -
Miles: 199 to 220
Rapids: Two Hundred and Five Mile/Kolb Rapid (6), Two Hundred and Nine Mile Rapid (5), Little Bastard Rapid (3), Three Springs Rapid (2), Two Hundred and Seventeen Mile Rapid (5), Trail Canyon Riffle (2)
Flips: 1; Two Hundred and Twentyseven Mile Rapid
Camp: Upper Two Hundred and Twenty Mile
Day 16 -
Miles: 220 to 225
Rapids: Granite Spring Rapid (2), Two Hundred and Twentyfour Mile Rapid (3)
Flips: 0
Camp: Flagstaff, Arizona
During the process of getting my degree in Tourism and Outdoor Leadership at Oregon State University-Cascades, I learned the importance of bringing an experience like this full circle with a poem, song, or goofy act. For this trip, I compiled a list of all the things we could celebrate. Everything we experienced from the moment we put our rafts on the water throughout the 16 days we spent on the Colorado River. During our last night camping on a sandy beach, as we were all sitting around a large campfire enjoying the stars, I read this poem called ‘Cheers’;
Cheers to Galen for being hired by a new company while rafting the Grand Canyon.
Cheers to Glen for sharing his readings which are eye-openers for the rest of us.
Cheers to taking time off the boats to explore the slot canyons.
Cheers to the roar you hear when turning the bend to face the next rapid.
Cheers to the serenity of the canyon when the water is still and quiet.
Cheers to the rapids that make your heart beat out of your chest like you have never felt before.
Cheers to those of us that have had scary on-water experiences but are back to give it another chance.
Cheers to all the full moons our fellow river mates got to see.
Cheers to all the grazers who helped clean the dishes.
Cheers to all the shooting start we were able to wish upon.
Cheers to those who came on board for the second half of the trip.
Cheers to the two river mates who were able to join us for the first half of the trip.
Cheers to our layover day & paco pad slip n’ slides.
Cheers to the commercialized boat (YTD) that gave us a bucket of soda.
Cheers to the thunder that shook the canyon & lightning that lit up the walls.
Cheers to the hunger games whistle with 3 fingers in the air before running the big rapids.
Cheers to those who can share their river rafting knowledge with those of us who have very little to no knowledge at all.
Cheers to the beautiful scenery we can enjoy while grooving.
Cheers to Hance, Horn Creek, Granite, Hermit, Crystal & Lava.
Cheers to those of us who were scared but continued to the next rapid.
Cheers to the rowers who kept the spirits high and the fears low.
Cheers to the sunrise for being our alarm clock.
Cheers to no internet, cell service, or rush-hour traffic.
Cheers to such an amazing group of individuals for coming together to make this trip happen and for all the incredible friendships that have been made while rafting the Colorado River.
Grand Canyon Pro Tip:
If anyone asked my one piece of advice before they embarked on the Grand Canyon, I would highly encourage them to pack a helmet. After our boat flipped on the second day in House Rock, I realized how much equipment was exposed on the exterior of the boat and how easily it could have hit any of us on the head causing serious injuries. It was at that moment I wished I had packed a helmet to wear throughout the trip.
Lessons Learned:
· Respect the water.
· Be patient.
· Everything happens for a reason.
· Appreciate ice-cold drinking water.
· Everything gets so dirty & sandy – worth it!
· Pack a blacklight to spot all the scorpions.
· Bring more non-alcoholic beverages.
· 3x the baby wipes than you would expect.
· Put the paco pad under the tent versus inside the tent.
