Rafting Grand Canyon
The Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park has been written about, talked about, litigated over and has provided inspiration to river runners for well over 100 years. Small groups of river travelers still today take benefit from what Grand Canyon has to offer them in the form of a multi-week journey. During their travels, river runners, called Grand Canyoneer's by Colorado River historian Otis "Dock" Marston, will rely on each other for just about everything during the group's passage on the almost 280 mile long river through the park. This journey has been called by many the most incredible journey one can make on this planet. A river trip through Grand Canyon offers us a chance to get out doors and stay out doors, day after day, week after week,where we have the potential to see the magic of the world we live in, where we can be reminded about how insignificant we are in the scope of things. Rafting Grand Canyon allows us a chance to touch upon not only our humanity but realize the true meaning of humility. This video by Dan Glick might help paint a picture of what the journey is all about. The video is titled the X-Boat Chronicles
One of the things to keep in mind about traveling in Grand Canyon is the time of year you will be in the Canyon. River trips are traveling through Grand Canyon every day of the year. They will see winter snows at Phantom Ranch and up to 72 hour stretches with temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, to 120 degree (+) temperatures in the middle of the summer. The time of year also will dictate how long your river trip is, as the maximum number of days the National Park Service allows varies from 15 nights in the summer to 24 nights in the winter (Lee's Ferry, AZ, to Diamond Creek, AZ). Winter cyclones from the Pacific ocean and summer monsoons from the Gulf of Mexico can make for wet trips, while late spring and fall trips are "mostly" in drier months.
Riverside vegetation is often covered with ice in the December and January months. When a trip goes depends on what date was won in a lottery where demand for summertime river access is very high. A winter time permit, when the nights are long and the weather cold, may be all you can get.
You will see many different types of watercraft in Grand Canyon, from stand up paddle baords to home-made wooden boats. kayaks and rubber rafts. There's a page in this WIKI reviewing the many types of Watercraft you will see in the Canyon. There are also many pages on such topics as the Resources available to help you plan your trip outside of this WIKI, River Safety, A Primer for New Boaters and most importantly, Trip Philosophy. Whatever you do, the intent of this WIKI is to help you in your pre-journey planning so that your experience is indeed, the "Trip of a Lifetime."
A happy couple shares a bit of chocolate after a one boat, two person thirty day Grand Canyon river trip.
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