8 replies to this topic

[Heady]

Mile 179.2 - Lava Falls Rapid (8-10) - Perhaps the most difficult, if short, run in the entire canyon. This set is from a private trip I took with some friends February, 2010. We all rowed. We all swam.

I'm in front, the boatman is my pal Willie











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[deadheadskier]

so as a guide you just stand at the front of the boat with a funny wig and your fist raised high in the air?


looks awesome. would love to get on some whitewater again someday. prefarably in a shredder.

[Heady]

so as a guide you just stand at the front of the boat with a funny wig and your fist raised high in the air?


looks awesome. would love to get on some whitewater again someday. prefarably in a shredder.

nah I wasn't a guide. Willie took everything 8+ I rowed many of the ones below 8. "The Grand Canyon section of the Colorado River, like several other big-water Western rivers, uses a scale of 1-10 for rapids, 10 being the most difficult. (The Class I-VI classification of rapids is more common elsewhere in the US and internationally.)"

Incredible adventure. Can not come recommended more highly.

[deadheadskier]

I think it would be awesome, though I lean on the side of boycotting the grand. I think the commercial control of the river is bull shit. Pretty crap that individuals have to be on a many year wait list to go down the river compared to being able to go down with a commercial outfitter with minimal wait.

not that I'm a 'white water' enthusiast. I did participate a bit when I lived in Northern West Virginia / Western Maryland. Found the river culture to be very similar to ski bum culture.

[Heady]

I think it would be awesome, though I lean on the side of boycotting the grand. I think the commercial control of the river is bull shit. Pretty crap that individuals have to be on a many year wait list to go down the river compared to being able to go down with a commercial outfitter with minimal wait.

not that I'm a 'white water' enthusiast. I did participate a bit when I lived in Northern West Virginia / Western Maryland. Found the river culture to be very similar to ski bum culture.

1) Permits are now given out through a lottery. That changed recently. So, 12 of my friends all put in for permits. 2 pulled. We chose the better of the two available time slots they awarded us.

See New Colorado River rafting lottery permit system in place http://travel.latime...a-tr-ntb24sep24 and http://www.nps.gov/g...htedlottery.htm for specifics

2) We rafted it in Feb, when commercial boats are not allowed on the river. Just privates and NPS. Additionally, because of the decreased number of trips in the winter, they increase maximum days you are allowed to spend rafting it to 25. And so we did 25 days. Rather than the 21 you can do the rest of the year.

The solitude you get launching in winter is unbelievable. Say whatever you want, we had this river to ourselves. It was far out.

[deadheadskier]

that sounds a lot better. Guess I just recall reading a Rock the Earth project slamming the commercial control.


I'm sure it was amazing

[Heady]

that sounds a lot better. Guess I just recall reading a Rock the Earth project slamming the commercial control.


I'm sure it was amazing

I would probably bite it and raft during commercial season, if invited. My situation in Feb was I planned on doing the first 90 miles, Lee's Ferry to Phantom.. but Lee's Ferry, the night before launch, we had a second halfer cancel and forfeit his spot AND cash. I took his trip spot, mile 90 to 290 and did FOR FREE. My total cost of running the entire river, with food, outfitted, etc $700. For 25 days! $28 a day! The food alone was worth $20 per day off river it was so good. You eat freakin well on these trips.

We were outfitted by http://www.moenkopiriverworks.com/ all they do is outfit private GCNP trips. It was STELLAR. Like nothing I've ever seen before. Basecamp = luxuaries. No one even car camps this nice. It's crazy how much comfort shit you can bring along on an 18 foot raft. As for booze, we had 10 pony kegs, 10 handles, 100's of canned beers. That sounds like plenty. It's not. For 12 people, all you do is party on the river, you literally begin drinking everyday as soon as you put in. We're talkin "river-ritas" and bloody maries at 10 am daily

[deadheadskier]

yes, the drinking was my favorite part of my whitewater experiences in WV/PA/MD. good liquid breakfast everytime

[Heady]

Seriously. Sm:pimp:king too. It took me a few weeks to readjust to life off the river. I didn't even party like that in college! not even close! I actually think we had one sober day.. just to see what it felt like that was like day 20 or something. We were also getting low on booze, so it was part of a bigger strategy to save