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.