June 16-22
Be sure to read the the first part of this post, if you’re just joining us. There I showed the many hidden discoveries we saw along the canyon walls and the heart pounding rapids we ran. I also briefly mentioned how we were unplugged and roughing it for a week. Now, let’s get to the juicy details:
Our daily river routine …
Our days started early – we were up and breaking camp around 05:00, and drinking coffee by 06:00. Then while the boatmen prepared breakfast we disassembled our cots and finished packing everything. After breakfast the kitchen was dismantled, and chairs, cots and luggage all loaded onto the rafts. We began our daily floats before 08:00.
Our days consisted of floating down the river, running rapids, listening to canyon interpretation from our knowledgeable guides, and pausing for pee stops (everyone had to pee directly in the river, imagine that, ladies!), lunch and shore exploration of side canyons and waterfalls. By 5pm we would be unloading and setting up our sites for the night.
All necessary camping gear was provided, and everyone pitched in to unload and reload the rafts each day. Remember I said earlier one of the requirements was you have to be in good physical condition? Those huge orange dry bags (nicknamed “pumpkins”) were heavy!
On the first night of camping, we gathered for an orientation on the fine art of assembling our luxurious sleeping cots. Josh also covered the dishwashing process. Then, we learned how to use the “groover” (for #2), and the pee bucket (for #1, which had to be emptied into the river).
our sleeping cots
We were very well fed considering where we were, and the boatmen were excellent cooks. We gained a couple of pounds! They told us the rafts are like floating restaurants, and they follow a detailed gear checklist and menus for each day, plus snacks for happy hours on the beach. We always had cold water and Gatorade to drink, hot coffee in the mornings and ice cubes for cocktails.
The video below shows the pseudo “kitchen sink” for washing hands, which was mandatory since there are no napkins or any other paper products provided. At breakfast and dinner, plates and eating utensils were available:
We were pretty good at washing dishes. I remembered this system from my Girl Scout days!
We had happy hour on the beach with our new friends at the end of each day:
Each evening we had a new campsite (actually just a spot we “claimed” wherever we stopped) and new views tucked behind bushes and shrubs. But at times the wind and sand decided to join our camping experience! We ended up with sand in every nook and cranny of our luggage, our bodies, our food, and between our teeth! Who needs a spa day when you can get free facial dermabrasion courtesy of Mother Nature? Steve used compressed air to blow everything off, inside and out, when we got home.
The instruction for the groover is to pee in the yellow bucket, toss it in the river, and try not to pee in the groover when doing #2. The groover was the first item to be installed and the last one to be removed at each stop. If you are wondering, the filled groover floated with us along with the trash, then both were dumped at a dump station way down at Lake Mead, 90 miles downstream from where we ended our trip. The rafts are then deflated there and driven back to Lee’s Ferry for the next batch of adventurers.
I took a video of this particular secluded site since it had one of the best views as we did our business 🙂 Just ignore it when I say “bathroom.”
What do you think? Can this pass as a scenic spot for number 2?
As we left that camp I took a picture of where the groover was, as the arrow indicates. I’m thinking of printing a poster of this photo to hang in our bathroom as a reminder of that memorable and beautiful spot.
Our boatmen – Josh, Jackson, Jaren and Jennings – whom we called the “The Four J’s”, did their rigorous jobs with great skill, style and humor. They were like jacks of all trades, and we marveled at how many things they could do and run them smoothly: pilot the rafts, manage logistics effortlessly, cook delicious meals and recount history and river lore as well as bedtime stories – yes there were bedtime stories. They are also all trained as emergency medical techs in case that is needed, but fortunately it wasn’t. They worked their butts off to make sure we were safe, happy, well fed and having a great time. These guys are amazing!
If roughing it does not bother you, we highly recommend this adventure. While it stood in stark contrast to our previous luxurious cruises, the expedition was not short on excitement and enrichment that outweighed the roughness and primitivism. Although at our age (I can’t believe I’m saying this!) it was a bit long for us. There are shorter trips (ie. 3-4 days like those 20 people that we picked up at Pipe Springs ). But they involve hiking down 9.5 miles from the Bright Angel Trail on the South Rim to the river. Or, do the reverse like the 2 from our original group who floated with us for 3 days and then hiked up to the South Rim on day 4.
We recommend Hatch River Expeditions should you wish to do a Grand Canyon rafting trip. There are other operators doing this, but we now know from experience that Hatch runs a smooth, professional operation and are very organized. We had a great experience!
But wait, how did we leave the canyon at mile 188? In style…a helicopter trip is the only way folks are able to get out from here:
…followed by a 40-minute plane ride back to where we started our adventure at Cliff Dwellers Lodge. How cool is that?
Having completed this exhilarating river rafting trip, we felt privileged to experience Grand Canyon in such a raw and thrilling manner. The journey unveiled breathtaking side canyons and gems we had never imagined, all of which are hidden from the canyon’s rims. This trip rounded off our visits to the Grand Canyon from various perspectives. Steve flew us over the canyon in 2005, we explored the South Rim via train in 2018 and drove to the North Rim in 2019.
We are ecstatic to cross this off our bucket list, it was an unforgettable adventure!
Next up: Back to Postcards from Asia
Comments
6 responses to “Roughing it – rafting through the heart of Grand Canyon, part 2”
Wow. Just wow. I’m so impressed that you guys did this trip! I cracked up about the “dermabrasion” and the sand getting everywhere (ahem). It definitely does not sound like an easy trip, but what an adventure! Very much the opposite of your luxurious Viking cruises, lol. I have a very important question. Was there only one groover for all of those people?!
The photos that speak to you about your unique experience are in my opinion the ones to print.
Now a dermabrasion, especially where the sun doesn’t shine, is not going to cajole me into the adventure, but it might just be the price to be paid.
I believe you need to frame the photo prior with the bathroom close up. Haha! You definitely were roughing it. I consider 30 amp and no sewer hook up roughing it. Guess you’ll never see me going down the river. You two are very brave and so adventurous. Great posts! Thanks for taking us along.
OK, that’s the stuff I was waiting for LOL! I agree that 7 days is a tad long, and you had me until the helicopter and plane rides out. But that just means we’d do a shorter, hikier trip if we ever get to add this to our adventures. Thank you, as always, for providing the gorgeous, informative blueprints. Your idea to print the groover picture is priceless — do it!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful adventure. I love all of your posts.
What an amazing adventure. This is right up my alley. Thanks for sharing and taking us along for the ride. Yes, do print the “bathroom” pic. 😊