GRAND CANYON RAFTING SUMMARY

Day 1 - At Lee's Ferry, we packed up the rafts with all the food and supplies we'd require for the entire trip. We then floated a short ways downstream to our first campsite.

Day 2 - After some equipment demos and safety talks, we were on our way! We passed through Marble Canyon and a few smaller rapids. At Mile 12, we stopped at Saltwater Wash and set up camp.

Day 3 - As we continued drifting down the canyon, we began to hit some bigger rapids, including House Rock and the Roaring 20's. We took a short stop at Redwall Cavern then after another 30 miles eventually at Lower Buck Farm (mile 41).

Day 4 - After breakfast, we were back on the river. We arrived at Nankoweap Canyon (mile 53) where we camped. The rest of the day was spent relaxing.

Day 5 - We had a layover day at Nankoweap and did some hiking up to the cliffside granaries.

Day 6 - Most of the day was spent on the river, going from mile 57 to mile 87. The Colorado River was joined by the Little Colorado River, which turned our beautiful blue and emerald water into a silty, murky brown for the rest of the way. We passed by the Sacred Hopi Salt Mines, Hance Rapid (one of the big ones!), and lots of impressive rock colors and formations. We spent the night at Cremation Camp (mile 87).

Day 7 - We stopped at Phantom Ranch and did some shopping and a bit of hiking. We did another large rapid (Horn Creek) and stopped for the night at Granite Camp (mile 93).

Day 8 - We started out the day with three of the most difficult rapids... Granite, Hermit and Crystal. One of the rafts flipped on Hermit but fortunately no one was hurt. After that it was only minor rapids and mostly peaceful floating (except for a short rainstorm) to Bass Camp (mile 108). In the afternoon, we hiked around Shinumo Canyon.

Day 9 - In the morning, we bathed in the fresh water of Shinumo Creek. After some easy floating, we stopped at Elves Chasm to play in the waterfalls. Further down the river, we explored a couple canyons (including Blacktail Canyon where we saw the Great Unconformity... a massive gap of geological history in the rock record). We stopped at Camp 122 for the night.

Day 10 - Today was Bedrock Rapid, the Dollhouse (an interesting rock formation), Dubendorff Rapid and bighorn sheep. We camped at Racetrack Camp (mile 134)

Day 11 - Today was a layover day. We took a huge hike up to Thunder River. There was incredible scenery and spectacular waterfalls! On the hike back down, we discovered a nest of rattlesnakes.

Day 12 - In the morning, we passed through the Granite Narrows, the narrowest spot on the river at only 76 feet wide. We stopped at Lower Deer Creek Falls and to enjoy some fresh water and to do a short hike through the Deer Creek Narrows. We discovered fossilized worm trails and some pictographs. We overnighted at Matkatambia Camp (mile 148).

Day 13 - We did a morning hike up Matkatambia (or just Matkat) Canyon. Once back on the river, we did Upset Rapid on our way to Fern Glen (mile 168).

Day 14 - We drifted past Vulcan's Anvil (the core of an ancient volcano) down to Lava Falls Rapids, one of the most treacherous in the canyon. The cliff walls were now predominantly old lava formations. We finished the day at 194 Camp.

Day 15 - We rafted down to Parashant Wash and took a short walk. It was a day of drifting, minor rapids and gorgeous cloud formations. We set up at 209 Camp and all got soaked in a spectacular evening storm.

Day 16 - We stopped and walked around at the beautiful but toxic Pumpkin Spring (loaded with arsenic). A bit further, at Three Springs Canyon, we stopped for lunch. Our final camping spot for the trip was at Camp 224.

Day 17 - We had to arrive at Diamond Creek by 6:30 am to load up our rafts onto the truck. We arrived back in Flagstaff around 11:30 am.

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