Start of a Grand Canyon Rafting Trip

[Riverkilt]

Last week I took Thursday morning off and went down to Lees Ferry, Arizona to take pics of a group of friends who were heading downcanyon for a week's whitewater rafting through the Grand Canyon.



This is what the Colorado River looked like at 0600 looking down river from Lees Ferry - the launching point for all down canyon trips.



The outfitters had camped out just downriver from the launch ramp the night before. They brought the rafts upriver to the launch ramp before their paying customers arrived.



Here the lead river guide is briefing his passengers on what to do if they fall overboard. The water is about 47 F so its important to get hauled back aboard or swim for shore before you die of hypothermia....if there is a shore to swim to...



I moved down river to Paria Beach to take this shot of the very beginning of their journey as they approach Paria Riffle, the first whitewater on the trip.



The thrill of the first whitewater - even though its just a riffle.



On downstream - the cliffs are the beginning of Marble Canyon, which will become the Grand Canyon at the confluence of the Little Colorado River 60 miles downstream.



I was able to drive the five miles to Navajo Bridge(s) over Marble Canyon before the rafts floated there...



And this was the last sighting looking downstream under the new Navajo Bridge from the old Navajo Bridge.

[Cygnus]

Lovely pictures, as usual, Ron.

While I'm sorry to see there are no kilts, I am glad to see the boats of happy people heading down to one of the (in my opinion) most beautiful places on Earth. And if my experience with Hatch is any indication, those people will almost undoubtedly gain a few pounds while "roughing it" down the river!

[Riverkilt]

Well, one of the passengers on one of the rafts was "kilted"....pic on another thread...it just doesn't show in any of the pics so left this on the Miscellaneous forum.





Gentleman's name is David and he's from the Charlottesville, Virginia area. He owns a few kilts and often hikes kilted. He wanted something comfy, but expendable, for this trip so he fashioned this "kilt" for himself.

[bdkilted]

Wow, looks great. We are hoping to get to the canyon this year, but my wife said she is NOT rafting.

[Riverkilt]

Take her down the flatwater raft trip through Glen Canyon, which is technically connected to the Grand Canyon by Marble Canyon. Only a few hours, majestic, and no white water. www.raftthecanyon.com

[Santa Wally]

Ron, You know your way around to get those great shots of the rafts going through the riffles, etc. Fantastic photos as usual. Again, thanks for posting

[KiltedDixon]

Great Pics!

[mookien]

Truly Grand! Thanks for posting.

[Tartan Tess]

BEAUTIFUL CANYON!
Ahh, I miss the West.
Ron, I couldn't survive Maine without your pictures that I can "feel" while I sit here in 55 degrees...damp...drizzle
Scratching 33 black fly bites.
How many times have you been down the canyon?

[Riverkilt]

Have yet to raft the Grand Canyon....had a chance to go on this trip but funding, work, and what I didn't yet know was cancer got me to bow out. By the time the cancer was gone and the funding was better and work was in order the trip was full. So, maybe another time.

Understand about the pics. When I lived in the East I'd stay up until the wee hours looking for B western movies on tv just to gaze at the scenery.