Our Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Adventure!

It was over two years ago that we decided to take a white water rafting trip in the Grand Canyon to celebrate Suzanne’s 50^th (UGH!) birthday, and we settled on Western River Expeditions.  There were many factors involved: these are large rafts (each measures about 37 ft by 12 ft and can comfortably accommodate up to 18 guest and 2 guides), we did not need to paddle (they are run by motor), great meals were provided (as you will soon read and see), and it was highly recommended.  We had to reserve our spot in May 2016 and finally, on September 7, 2017 we were one our way!

Links:
 Our Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Adventure ~ Day 1 
 Our Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Adventure ~ Day 2
 Our Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Adventure ~ Logistics
 Our Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Adventure ~ Day 3
 Our Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Adventure ~ Day 4
 Our Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Adventure ~ Day 5
 Our Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Adventure ~ Day 6
 Our Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Adventure ~ Day 7
 Our Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Adventure ~ Reflections

Enjoy!

Our Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Adventure! ~ Reflections

And you thought I was done………….

It was an amazing trip and the pictures (the hundreds upon hundreds of pictures) do no justice. We reflected a lot on the trip for days after (still are)…….

There were surprisingly many components of the trip ~

•  The rafting itself, the hikes – most really quite amazing and ones we could never get to from the rim of the Grand Canyon
• The guides – Stephen, Nick, Travis & Scott – they did a great job being fun, but taking their jobs seriously, and they fed us all amazing meals,
• The group dynamics. It is only our second (the first being in 2001) group trip and we did not realize that there would be group dynamics, so that was an interesting surprise
• What we already miss (the hikes, sleeping under the stars)
• And what we don’t miss (sand -everywhere!)

Our favorites:

• Hike: Havasu Canyon, Day 6 (both)
• Camp: below Forster rapid, Day 4 (both)
• Breakfast: breakfast burritos, Day 5 (Suzanne); Challah French toast, Day 4, (Brad)
• Appetizer: Caprese Salad, Day 1 (Suzanne); shrimp cocktail, Day 6 (Brad)
• Dinner: Mexican fiesta, Day 4 (both)
• Dessert: warm vanilla cake, Day 6 (both)

The entire group

The guides

Our raft

Our Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Adventure! ~ Day 7

After sort of sleeping through a windy night, we loaded the rafts for the last time (sigh……) as we made our way just eight miles downriver to our departure point. This was, of course, after our last breakfast of eggs benedict, fruit, etc….. (you know the drill by now!)

By 10am we ended up at Whitmore Wash where there is a “helicopter pad” (generously names, by the way) to bring those coming for the 3-day Grand Canyon trip into the Grand Canyon and for those of us leaving to be taken out to dry land.

  Sadly, no more rafting photos, but now….helicopter photos! (Oh and Brad got to sit in the copilot seat – the best one in the chopper – so he have the opportunity to take some aerial photography).

And as has always been the case, Suzanne is the smallest person in the group, so she was stuck in the middle back with no window…….

Six minutes later we arrived at the Whitmore International Airport (don’t be too impressed) ~

We were shuttled (oh, after the shuttle driver refueled the helicopter) to Bar 10 Ranch to……. SHOWERS!!! and a lunch of (once again) deli sandwiches, chips, cookies & lemonade. We then waited around by the Grand Canyon Airlines “terminal”

(I think he’s 14 years old…..)

We took one more small plane ride back to Boulder City, a shuttle or the Las Vegas Airport, a jet home to Portland and to our warm, dry bed……alas, no Milky Way in sight.

But wait....there's more!! Onto Reflections!