Rafting the Grand Canyon had been on our trip list for a long time. What brought it to the top of the queue in 2002 was seeing a trip with slots available that was accompanied by a string quartet that played concerts at camps in the evening and slot canyons along the way. The trip was done once or twice a season by Canyon Explorations, one of the authorized river tour companies in Grand Canyon.
The trip certainly ranks up there as one of the best trips we’ve done. The Grand Canyon is magnificent, words don’t do justice to it and photographs are only a pale representation of its grandeur. The guides are supremely capable, personable and professional. You can see that your enjoyment is their goal. The NPS and guide companies do an excellent job of protecting the park yet still giving a large number of people the opportunity to enjoy the Grand Canyon with a measure of solitude. You are camping but it is pretty benign and easily managed (a couple in the late 70’s was on our trip and had no difficulty). The food was excellent and ample.
The trip started and ended in Flagstaff where, on day 1, we were transported by van to the put in point at Lees Ferry. From there is was floating down the river in oar boats (large inflatable boats rowed by a guide) or paddle boat (smaller inflatable with 6-8 clients paddling while a guide steered the boat). Along the way we’d stop periodically for hikes or an occasional concert. At night we’d camp on shore and relax while some members of the quartet would play during dinner preparation.
The days in which a rapid was run was always one of excitement. We didn’t have any boats overturn but did have some people ejected from their boats and pulled back in the quieter sections of the river. On the more mellow rapids, some clients would paddle (or try to paddle) the inflatable kayaks (“duckies”) through them.
The rapids are not a frequent experience instead the days on the river are spent floating along, chatting with the guides and other clients. We were there from the last week of June through the first week July so the temperature in the canyon bottom was warm. As the guides would tell us, “if your hot, your stupid” because you have a wonderful cool bath right outside your boat that you jump into and float along with.
On day 15, 225 river miles later, we reached the take out point at Diamond Creek where the vans transported us back to Flagstaff and the start of the trip home.
