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| Rafting | 40.00 Miles |
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| | Rafting | 40.00 Miles | 10 Hrs | | 4.00 mph |
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| no partners | | Government and Beers
Government shut down of the Grand Canyon National Park didn't stop us. With special thanks to the Hualapai people, our raft trip went on as planned. Drove up to Seligman the day before and stayed at the Canyon Lodge. Woke up Sunday and drove to Peach Springs for our shuttle.
The bus ride along Diamond Creek took about one hour. We reached the mighty Colorado and began to prepare our gear for the ride. Dry bags, dry bags, dry bags. Need I say more? If you have something you want to bring on this trip, it will get wet. EVERYTHING will get wet. Didn't stop me from packing my Canon camera and 24mm fixed lens. The camera stowed nicely into the new dry bag hip pack I had just picked up at REI a day earlier.
The first half of the trip (morning)was were we hit all the big rapids. The bigger the rapid, the wetter we got. Huge swells hit the front of the boat and then rocketed upwards. The forward momentum of the boat pushes right through the wall of water. This is a full-on head-to-toe soaking. A shorty wetsuit kept my core insulated from the 45 degree water. Others on the boat made due with splash gear or quick dry clothing.
We stopped at Travertine Falls for a photo-op, then hit some more rapids on the way to our lunch stop at Separation Canyon. The Hualapai raft guides added to the experience by providing historical details and geologic descriptions of the surrounding areas.
The second half of the ride was down a calm stretch of river. No rapids, no splashes. Every now and then, a light mist of water would provide a nice cool down from the hot sun. Once we reached our take-out point, we grabbed our gear and walked up to the helipad for our chopper ride out of the canyon. This was my first ride in a helicopter and the 8 minute ride out of the Grand Canyon did not disappoint. My weight (with gear) somehow landed me in the prime front row seat right next to the pilot. Great views.
After that, it was a 2-hour van shuttle from the South Rim, through Kingman and back to Peach Springs. Fortunately, we had a fun group in the van and the conversations added even more to the entertainment element.
Upon our return to Peach Springs, we had to refocus our plans for the rest of the week. Goverment shutdown cost us our kayak trip through Black Canyon. We started heading towards Flagstaff with hopes set on Page and Lake Powell, but found out that Powell was completely closed as well. Not even access from Navajo side at Antelope Point which surprised me. We decided to room in Flagstaff and come up with a new plan over dinner and beers. |
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| This is my gym. I have to travel down a bumpy road to get there. There are no treadmillls, no machines, and no personal trainers. I walk..I run..I breathe the fresh air. I can go any time I want, as much as I want and there is no membership fee. |
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