I had visited the Grand Canyon many times since my lst trip in 1963, I had peered over both the North and South rim visitor centers on numerous visits, like the vast majority of its visitors, but never actually went down into the canyon. Finally on a late March spring break trip in the late 90's when my 3 kids were still in college that all changed. It was an unforgettable family hiking trip that took 4 of us ( all but my son Mark) from rim to river and back the same day. We left at dawn down the shortest trail, South Kaibab, to the river near Phantom Ranch and then back out the longer Bright Angel trail. The 16 mile hike took us about 14 hours and was one none of us will ever forget !
For years I had also dreamed of rafting the Colorado in a transit trip. It finally happened. When I was on the golf course near my 2nd home near Tucson, I met a new friend, who later invited me to join him in August the following year. He lived right near the launch area where the rafting trips started, and as a business man there, had won 2 places on a river trip. When shortly before the trip, his friend could not go , he called me and asked if I wanted to join him. He said that he would lose the trip if it was not taken in 2010. I then flew to Phoenix in late August and drove to overnight near the Glen Canyon dam, before starting the epic rafting trip the next morning. The adventure is one that you have to experience in person, and is almost spiritual. Once your rafts push off , you are on the river for most of 2 weeks, mostly out of communication with the world. The guides have satellite phones that only work briefly each day when a satellite is directly over the narrow, high canyon walls. There were 8 of us and 3 guides on our trip. At night, we made camp on the sand bars along the river , with mid day stops for leisurely lunches. Each day we took wonderful side hikes up the canyon walls or hikes into some of the canyons to see the more scenic waterfalls. We also took a midday hike from the river up to Phantom Ranch. We viewed the old cabins and relics there and treated ourselves to a cold drink. The Colorado River through the Grand Canyon is truly one of the greatest adventure trips of all and deserves its top ranking. If you ever get a chance, it is the trip of a lifetime and is a wondrous and spiritual experience.
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| The 8 of us about to enter rafts to start our adventure |
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| Gathering gear at the launch site just below Glen Canyon Dam |
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| My friend who invited me on the trip |
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| under way and the only river crossing until Hoover Dam near Las Vegas |
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| Mule deer at river edge |
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| coming ashore for a lunch break on a sand bar |
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| our 1st big white water rapids |
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| Canyon walls becoming ever higher and more colorful |
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| a placid stretch of the river |
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| caves in the canyon walls |
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| huge river edge cave and sand bar, our lunch break |
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| view out from the overhanging cave |
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| another view out, showing the vast size of the overhanging cave |
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| caves and arch on opposite side of river |
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| 1500 vertical foot climb up towards indian ruins, the most photographed view on the river here |
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| nearly to the extensive indian ruins and storage enclosures in the canyon wall |
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| close up view of some of the ancient storage enclosures in the canyon wall |
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| on the river with the towering canyon walls and endless beauty |
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| view of a rare remaining indian relic left in hidden side canyon we hiked to |
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| welcome lunch break at mid day. |
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| leaving rafts and river for side trip hike back to Phantom Ranch |
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| Phantom Ranch historical sign |
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| exiting Phantom Ranch with glass of their famous iced lemonade |
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| rock rimmed bathing pool in Bright Angel Creek |
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| Bright Angel Creek historical sign |
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| Higher walled canyon below Phantom Ranch on the way down river |
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| cruising down a slower stretch of the river |
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| typical lunch stop on a river sand bar with beauty all around |
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| famous duck rock formation on top of canyon wall |
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| beautiful, famous side canyon and stream to explore |
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| hiking up lovely stream and canyon |
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| beautiful falls and inviting pool |
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| Yours truly enjoying a wonderful cool wade in the stream pool |
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| another never ending scene on the river |
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| hiking up another very narrow side canyon during a stop |
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| view of spectacular, narrow side canyon walls |
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| 3 of us as far as we could go in the narrow canyon |
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| me cooling off during trip up a side stream in another mid day stop |
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| raging white water rapids the Colorado is famous for. |
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| lounging during lunch break |
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| 2 more big horned sheep at river edge |
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| hiking back to one of the most famous side stream falls near river |
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| me cooling off in pool at base of high falls |
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| me enjoying extended break at noon stop by falls and pool |
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| getting ready for our dinner after a day on the river |
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| same camp with "happy hour" about to start. We overnighted here |
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| yet another side canyon to hike and explore |
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| The stunning sides of this very narrow side canyon |
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| group wading up a pool while exploring this same side canyon |
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| a calm, very beautiful stretch of river between rapids |
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| cruising lower river now with towering walls |
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| some of the more interesting rock towers and formations on canyon walls |
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| one of the last big rapids on lower river as we neared the upper end of Lake Mead |
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| famous "bee hive" formation at river edge |
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| 3 guides on "dress up night" our last night on the river |
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| scenic landmark and rock formation near our pull out and trip end. |
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| bus waiting to take us up the rough, rocky, steep road in the only side canyon access to the river by motor vehicles |
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