Grand Canyon Rafting May 2004

GC Rafting
May 2004

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Day 15: Thursday, May 27 2004
Last full day on the river
Click on pictures to see larger images

Morning at camp

We got up and had blueberry pancakes with syrup and whipped cream for breakfast (yum!). It was hard to believe this was our last full day on the river! Matt asked if Robert and I would do the paddle boat, since now that the exciting rapids were all behind us, people weren't as interested but he still needed a reasonable size crew since the wind was still blowing strongly upriver. We agreed, and so we started out in the paddle boat with Mike, Christina, Conrad and Kathy. Pat had explained that this was a long mileage day, where we wouldn't stop for any major hikes.

Kathy on the paddleboat

The wind was strong, so constant paddling was necessary. I'm sure we weren't very good as a crew - there were a few small rapids and Matt was constantly having to remind us to stay in sync with our paddling efforts. On the long flat stretches in between rapids, we amused ourselves (and probably drove Matt crazy) by singing various rounds and other random songs. It was a hot day, and when we stopped for lunch finally above 209 mile rapid, I found a spot of shade and just rested there. Another group showed up while we were eating and wanted to camp, so we didn't stay long.


River view	Lunchtime

Sharon and Craig switched out for Mike and Christina on the paddle boat, and Pat took over as paddle captain from Matt. Pat was very good as a paddle captain - before we started off for real, he "drilled" us in the paddle commands and was quick to chastise us if we weren't doing the right thing in a rapid! 209 mile rapid has a really big hole and Pat took us on a run that just clipped the edge - fun stuff! We turned to watch Hilary and Jeanne in the duckies. Hilary made it, but as soon as Pat saw Jeanne on the approach he said, "Looks like Jeanne's going for a swim", and sure enough the current swept Jeanne straight into the hole. Jeanne popped up quickly and we rescued her, but her boat stayed tumbling in the hole for quite a while! Eventually it popped loose and we restored Jeanne to her ducky.


Robert ready to paddle	Me during a "travel stroke" rest

Pat had us doing variations on a "travel stroke" so we wouldn't get too worn out (one where everyone pulls, then rests for a beat, then pulls again, in a steady rhythm; and another where each pair of people takes a stroke in succession). We pulled over for a shade break at Three Springs, and then several of us followed Sam up to jump off a small cliff into the river and swim through a little rapid, getting picked up by the boats afterward. That was fun and the cold water was refreshing on such a hot day.


Getting into position (on the cliff to the left)	Ready to jump


Sam in the water	Sam goes through the rapid

On this day we saw a lot of other trips, including a park service trip with the superintendent of the park (they apparently do trips for generous donors - now that's a nice thank you!). We pulled over briefly at Pumpkin Spring (which really does look like a giant pumpkin) to talk to the park service trip, which was camped there.

Afterward, more paddling, with some fun little splashy rapids. Pat offered us a chance to go hole surfing (warning us that it required strong paddling and there was a good chance of flipping), but although I thought it would be fun, others in the boat felt too tired. Finally we pulled into camp at lower 220. We unloaded the boats and then Robert and I found a small spot amidst the trees and head-high bushes to set up our tent.

We had hors d'oeuvres of oysters, triscuits, cheese, leftover gorp, and chex mix, and then Pat gave a talk about our final day, explaining what would happen and what we would need to do to help pack up the boats. He also gave us some special packing instructions for our gear, to make things go more smoothly the next day. Afterwards we had dinner: chicken cacciatore, salad, and garlic bread, with mint chocolate oreos for dessert.

After dusk, we sat in a circle (with a half-moon giving plenty of light) and Pat asked each person to say a little something about the trip. I said something but I don't think it conveyed at all what a special experience the trip was for me. I'd been wanting to do a river trip for so long, and I was so happy that I finally got a chance to have the experience. It's hard to put feelings for someplace as magnificent and awe-inspiring as the Grand Canyon into words. We got to see so much, and yet we saw so little of all that there is to see.

Kristin read a poem by a passenger from 10 years ago, and after that Robert and I went to bed, knowing that we were supposed to get up extra early the next day to get ready for taking out. I was a bit sad, thinking that this was our last night in the canyon! Robert said that he wished we could take a brief break for real showers and to clear up all the various skin issues, and then get back in the boats and keep floating downstream.