One year ago today I set out on a 12-day Team River Runner kayak trip on the mighty Colorado River through 226 miles of Grand Canyon. I had a feeling it would be special but I didn’t know at the time how profoundly this remarkable journey through the canyon would […]
Category: camping
Grand Canyon — Day 12: Homeward Bound
Wednesday, September 12 Last night I was up as late as I ever have been on this trip — until 9:30! It was our final night on the river so everyone was in a joyous mood, which raised our music-making and revelry to a new level. Despite the jollification, I’m […]
Grand Canyon — Day 11: A Sense of Accomplishment
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 […]
Grand Canyon — Day 10: Lava Falls
Monday, September 10 This morning the mood is different. There’s the usual friendly banter over coffee and breakfast. But as we pack the rafts and kayaks the tone is quieter, more subdued. Each of us is thinking about the giant rapid waiting for us. Before we launch from our campsite […]
Grand Canyon – Day 9: Havasu Creek
Sunday, September 9 It’s day 9 of our Team River Runner Grand Canyon kayak trip. Today is a new day and it’s time to get moving. This morning after a tasty breakfast of fried tortilla shells cooked with eggs inside (which I’m told are called “migos”) we are on the […]
Grand Canyon – Day 7: Bedrock and Deer Creek
Friday, September 7 Our Team River Runner group guiding five blind kayakers through the Grand Canyon paddles 18 miles from mile 119.5 to 137.5. It’s another hot day — 96⁰F — but the water is cold. Flowing from the bottom of Glen Canyon Dam at 52⁰F, the water is said […]
Grand Canyon – Day 6: Crystal and Other Gems
Thursday, September 6 Our sixth day in the Canyon. Last night our camp was at mile 96.5. This morning we’re up at 5:30 a.m. anticipating another day of big rapids, including a series known as “the Gems” because they’re named after precious stones. The rapid we’re most concerned about today […]
Grand Canyon – Day 5: “Tell Me Why It’s Beautiful”
Sept. 4, 2018. Tonight as our fourth day on the Colorado River comes to an end, we camp at Vishnu Creek just above Grapevine Rapid. It rains again this evening as we’re setting up tents, so afterwards we huddle together in a small rain-free spot formed by the overhanging canyon […]
Grand Canyon – Day 4, Part 2: Hance and Sockdolager
Our fourth day on the river had already seen some spectacular whitewater challenges. Now it was time for one of the biggest. According to trip leader Steve Mace, Hance would be the most technically challenging rapid we would encounter during our 12-day trip. I love the following description of Hance […]
Grand Canyon – And Google Maps!
I was asked to not share this news until today. If you’ve been following posts about my experience with Team River Runner’s Grand Canyon trip (The First Three Days and Day 4, Part 1), you may remember I mentioned we had a photo/video crew accompany us during our 12-day whitewater […]