My Trip of a Lifetime, Part 1

[Azusateach]

You all know that I just got home from an 8 day rafting trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.  Needless to say, it truly was a trip of a lifetime.  To experience such a magnificent place up close and personal is beyond description.  But I've got pictures (lots of them!) to help with the describing.  Here goes!

After our long bus ride we were deposited at Lee's Ferry to "gear up"


The rafts that would be our transportation down the River for the next 8 days.  


There were 27 rafters on our trip, along with 4 boatmen.  I traveled with Marianne & her brother, Erik. We're still pretty clean here!


Checking out a set of rapids early in the trip.  These weren't particularly big, but gave us a good ride.  As you can see, the River looks like chocolate milk.  It's monsoon season in the Canyon, which stirs the water up pretty well.  And it's COLD!  But with daily temps over 100 it felt good to get splashed regularly.


The view of the river from my little perch in the rear of the boat.  We'd have either 13 or 14 rafters each day, depending on who you'd like to hang out with.  We'd usually be on the raft by 8 and off between 4 and 5, with breaks in between for lunch and a hike.


Most folks sat either on the front of the raft or in what we called the "tea room" in the center of the raft.  I found the perfect perch on top of the metal box along the side of the boatman's area.  I could see -- and I didn't get so wet there.  I even got to run Lava Falls from my perch!


The largest, most notorious rapid on the River is called Lava Falls.  Fortunately we had 6 days to get psyched up for it & ran it on Day 7.  Here are a couple of pictures of our partner raft in the thick of it.  Both of our rafts made it through safely, but a dory (smallish wooden boat that's rowed) wasn't so lucky.  It flipped about half-way through its run & we we able to help get the boater & boat safely to shore.

As we begin our run:


Over the first big wave:


Down the back side of it:


More of the story in Part 2.

[BootheBunch]

Wow, Laura!!  Very cool!!!  What an adventure!!  Thanks for sharing!

Lisa

[kimrb266]

We went to Grand Canyon earlier this year and loved it.  The weather was beautiful and I was in AWE looking at the canyon.  We talked to people who just came up from the bottom and were told how beautiful it was and how much fun they had on the river.
 
I'm glad you enjoyed your long awaiting trip.  There's nothing better than exploring what nature has to offer.

[bud121156]

Great Pictures!!!   .......... in the other threads too!!

[cjpoppin]

I'm on pins and needles waiting for part two......So glad you had a good time and it lived up to what you wanted it to be.....Wish it were me......good thing you got home before the rains hit.  I heard they haven't found about 70 people after the rains hit......anyway looking forward to the rest of the story........ :-()

[OC Campers]

Laura, what cool pictures.  The water looks really nasty.  Were you caked i mud by the end of the day?  I am with Carol, I can't wait to see part 2.
 
Jacqui

[Azusateach]

Laura, what cool pictures.  The water looks really nasty.  Were you caked i mud by the end of the day?  I am with Carol, I can't wait to see part 2.
 
Jacqui

Not to toot my own horn, but parts 2-4 are posted -- just not right underneath Part 1.  Enjoy!

[griffsdad]

Wow Laura, what great pictures!!!! Looks like you had a great time!!! And there was Budweiser!!!!! Was there any poker playing?? I could have paid off the trip with my winnings!! Thanks for sharing Laura.

[dkutz]

very cool.  I am not sure I would enjoy the rafting but the scenery is beautiful.

Very nice pics!!

Our high school used to go to Havasupai to hike in and enjoy the falls.  ( I never got to go, always wanted to) Hopefully all was not lost with the flooding.

Poor Jed missed out!

[oreo57]

WOW, look's like a great time, We've done the rim, but never below, thanks for the pictures...!!!

[wavery]

Really cool pics....thanks for sharing.

The rafts are a little different from when I did it in 1981.... :p

[oreo57]

Really cool pics....thanks for sharaing.
 
The rafts are a little different from when I did it in 1981.... :p

In that year I think everything was different, How was the NTU Trailer ?

[wavery]

In that year I think everything was different, How was the NTU Trailer ?

Really enjoy it. Everything is so much easier.

[AustinBoston]

I read somewhere recently that the average visitor to the Grand Canyon spends less than one minute actually looking at the canyon.  I can't imagine what their problem is.

We spent 3 days at the south rim and one day at the north rim (and a day driving the 18 miles from one rim to the other) in the summer of 2001, and it wasn't enough.

We would have liked to do the burro ride thing, but there just wasn't time once we started planning our trip.

Anyway, thanks for trying to raise that average - it needs to come up.

Austin

[Chez Way]

Laura,

Thanks so much for sharing your pictures and the story of your trip.  What an amazing adventure!