RAFTING THE 

GRAND CANYON

with the Canyoneers Rafting Company

If you are unable to commit the time or cash to undertake a 14 or 21 day trip through the Grand Canyon, or if you wish to reduce the risk associated with running 160 rapids in the smaller rafts, then a motorized launch trip might be for you. This shot looks down at the Canyoneers raft (from atop the Vishnu schist we climbed to reach Clear Creek Canyon.) The raft is 39 feet long, hinged in 2 places to flex in the big rapids, and equipped with a 40 horsepower outboard motor to help negotiate the rapids. Our crew -- Mike, his wife Josie, and Dallas provided us with a trip of a lifetime. Their expertise, humor, informative lectures, entertaining stories, emphasis on safety, willingness to stop for side canyon hikes, excellent food preparation, and overall concern and friendliness provided all 20 passengers with an exceptional experience. For those concerned that the larger raft might not be any fun, the next 2 photos demonstrate that we still enjoyed numerous drenchings in the bigger rapids.

 

 

 

 

 

A wave from the rapid is just starting to hit the raft. Since we are seated on the upper level seats, this was a medium size rapid in terms of difficulty, but obviously a rapid high on the scale of "splash factor." More difficult/dangerous rapids required us to sit on the floor in the center of the raft and interlock arms with our neighbors.

Here we are seated on the floor as we are drenched by the waves at House Rock Rapid, certainly a "10" on the splash scale. The life jackets are required apparel for everyone whenever on the raft. Our trip leader, Mike, joked that we had better have them on tightly because he was required to account for all life jackets at the end of the trip, but not all passengers. So he always grabs the jacket when someone falls overboard. If the jacket is on tightly, there is a real good chance the body will come back into the raft with the jacket. If not, oh well!

Here I am (on the left) "body-surfing" through a rapid in the Little Colorado River. Normally a vibrant blue color, a storm upriver has turned it brownish. (Not seeing it in its usual color was one of a very few disappointments I encountered on the trip.) I did gain a healthy respect for the power of rushing water from this body-surfing experience. It was virtually impossible to release yourself from the grasp of the current until the rapid played out a hundred yards downriver, at which point you could finally swim to shore to walk back upriver for another run.

This waterfall after a hike up Clear Creek Canyon provided a welcome cool-down on a 105 degree day. Len enjoys the refreshingly cold water as he lets out a yell to the entertainment of the rest of us. We hiked several times each day, always astounded by the beauty we discovered up the side canyons. Our 7 day trip is the quickest trip through the canyon. Longer trips allow more side excursions, of course, but we were satisfied with the amount of hiking we were able to squeeze into each day, despite having to average 40 river-miles every day. Our trip guides got us up around 5 every morning in order to get in our miles and still have hiking opportunities.

Carol readies her camera as her daughter, Chelsea, avails herself of the natural shower. Nathan watches, awaiting his turn. This is a slot canyon at the upper end of National Canyon at Mile 166. Another slot canyon we had fun in was the canyon above Deer Creek Falls where Anasazi pictographs and ancient worm burrow markings are evident.