Tuesday, September 11
Today is one of our longest days on the Colorado River — 29.5 miles of mostly flat water — giving us time to talk, laugh and think about how much we’re going to miss this Grand Canyon experience. During this hot, slow section some paddlers choose to ride rafts, and that’s okay. I’ve made it a personal goal to paddle all 226 miles so I’m determined to keep my string intact today.
My focus constantly shifts between the incredible landscape of the canyon walls to swirling waters that demand my attention.
A few good-size rapids provide moments of excitement: 205 Mile Rapid (7), 209 Mile (7), and 212 Mile, also known as “Little Bastard” (5). (If you know where it got that name, please tell me.)
Little Bastard provides a memorable moment when Russell zooms in front of me and gets knocked over. It reassures me. If it can happen to Russell, I guess it can happen to anyone.
At mile 213 our stretched-out group gathers together at Pumpkin Springs, an unusual limestone formation that looks like a huge pumpkin. Water pours into the top, turns a caustic, murky green, and then runs over the sides and into the river below. The water inside is not considered safe because it contains high levels of arsenic, copper, zinc and lead. Some of our paddlers climb up the rocks for a view from the top.
At mile 216, the raft that Craig, Eric and Chelsea were on drops them off on shore so they can climb up to a rocky ledge above Three Springs Rapid (2). One by one they jump into the river and float downriver. A few of us in kayaks follow to keep an eye on them through the rapid. At the bottom, Chelsea and Eric make it back to the raft without a problem. Craig gets pulled into an eddy on river right. The current drags him back upriver as the raft floats past, well out of Craig’s reach. I see he’s getting tired and the raft is floating downstream faster than Craig can swim. I paddle over, he grabs the back of my kayak and I tow him to the raft. Later he says, “Thanks for saving my life.” I think he’s half joking but let’s go with it anyway. Chalk up my second rescue of the trip. 🙂
Over the final few miles I paddle on ahead with Jeff Vannoy and Bill Finger. Steve Mace tells us it’s basically “read and run” the rest of the way today, no need to get out and scout, so at each rapid we choose a line and head on down.
The stretch of the river with “minor” rapids between mile 220 and Diamond Creek is often taken for granted by boaters as an easy six miles to the Diamond Creek takeout. Granite Springs at mile 220.5 is rated only a (2) in the most recent version of the guide-book. But unbeknownst to us, in 2016 debris washed down Granite Springs Canyon during a flash flood, narrowing the river at the mouth and depositing boulders in the river. At various flows there’s a very large hole just right of center in the rapid, hidden about halfway down the wave train. It is not easily visible at the entrance. Thankfully Bill, Jeff and I each spot the hole in time to avoid it by charging hard left.
Tonight we camp just past Granite Springs at mile 221.5. Dinner includes spaghetti, salad fresh-baked brownies. So good!
This is our final night on the river and there are emotional speeches around the circle, starting with trip leader Steve Mace. Dave Robey presents a piece of driftwood that we have all signed to Joe Mornini, Team River Runner’s executive director.
Next up is Lonnie Bedwell, who has a knack for getting everyone’s tears flowing, and he doesn’t disappoint tonight as he praises the other four blind veterans and the entire crew and donors who made this trip possible. Lonnie is followed by each of the four other blind veterans.
When it’s his turn, Steve Baskis makes a point of thanking everyone in the group, giving special thanks to our four-man team. He also points out that today is the anniversary of 9/11, the infamous day that changed so many lives, especially his when it led him to enlist in the U.S. Army and serve in Iraq. Steve pays tribute to his best friend in the Army, Victor Cota, who died next to Steve in the explosion in which he lost his sight and suffered multiple shrapnel injuries to his head, neck, arms and legs. Steve’s tribute is a reminder of why we are here and what we are accomplishing, not only for these five vets but for anyone with a disability and EVERYONE who doubts what he or she may be capable of achieving.
