Our raft ran over 140 rapids in my 187 mile rafting trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. The water is 48 degrees F on a hot day. What does running rapids really look like? Where are the wettest seats? When you are cold, where are the driest seats? The photos attempt to give you some answers.
Some background: I took these photos when I went on my rafting trip with Wilderness River Adventures - I was in raft B. The raft B people "parked" raft B upstream, walked downstream to photograph raft A going by, then went back upstream and rode raft B down. It was exhilarating. And wet. |
| Image 1: Waiting for the rafts on the Colorado River |
A. (above) Raft B members waiting for Raft A...
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| Image 2: Dry Raft on the Colorado River |
B. (above) Raft A occupants dry... There are 2 people on each pontoon, and there are inner seats on the main raft body.
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| Image 3: Splashed Raft Running Rapids on the Colorado River |
C. (above) The port pontoon is splashed...
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| Image 4: Next rapid - compare rock background in Image 3 |
D. (above) the port pontoon is doused and submerged...
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| Image 5: Closeup of image 4 |
E. This is a closeup of (D): the Bathtub is hanging on...
(for terms like "bathtub" defined see this post here)
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| Image 6: Notice people 4-7 are wet! |
F. This is a detail of (D):
Person 2 is in the bathtub, Person 3 is in the shower seat,
Person 4, 5, and 6 are on the inner seats,
Person 7 and the brown hat unlabeled person behind him are on the port pontoon.
Remember, this water is COLD, 48 degrees F.
Guides 8 and 9 are in the back - the driest place on the raft.
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| Image 7: Wilderness River Raft passing by on the Colorado River |
G. (above) Another hit on the port side...
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| Image 8: Raft running rapids on the Colorado River |
H. (above) The bathtub is being filled... (remember, there are 2 people on the pontoon...)
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| Image 9: Raft getting wet in rapids on the Colorado River |
J. (above) More water...
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| Image 10: People running rapids on the Colorado River |
K. The bow lifts up and the bathtub is under... again...
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| Image 11: People running rapids on the Colorado River |
L. (above) Pretty much the entire raft is emerging from this - Note the water draining from the seat area between the pontoon and raft body...
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| Image 12: Hanging on while running rapids on the Colorado River |
M. (above) (Detail of L). The front pontoon rider hangs on with his hands, the water has pushed his foot way into the air...
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| Image 13: Rafting on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon |
N. Catch your breath, dry out and enjoy the scenery. There is serenity even, until the next rapids...
If you enjoyed this post you might also like these Grand Canyon posts:
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| Gr Canyon intro |
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| Getting There |
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| GC Lees Ferry |
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| GC Navajo Bridge |
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| GC Indian Ruins |
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| Running Rapids |
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| GC River View |
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| Elves Chasm |
11 comments:
Oh wow, stunning pictures.
Great pictures--I'm afraid that's as close as I'll ever get. I'd be the one on the bank--chicken!
Oh My Gosh!
I live in Phoenix, and now I know why we have never went rafting. I would be so terrified. That looks scary and especially the leg flying in the air. Oh my. Great pics tho. I could be the photographer, just sit and watch everyone come down. No rafting for me. No I don't think so. Did you go? If so I see you lived to tell the story, but you would be braver than me. Thanks so much for sharing. Country Hugs, Sherry
Such fun! Nice post.
Happy outdoor.
I am so envious! What a great trip and wonderful pictures for memory. I hope you've had a great day.
This looks so awesome! Great pics! I so would love to do this.
Hello! Yes, I went on the rafting trip - the raft B people "parked" the raft upstream, walked downstream to photograph raft A going by, then went back upstream and rode raft B down. http://jeanneselep.blogspot.com/2009/06/rafting-day-1-part-2.html describes the raft seating a bit more clearly. I don't know, maybe I will update this blog post with some of that information.
GReAT shots~~~!!
Ohhh my gosh I recalled a trip we took down the Snake River one year... probably one of the most frightened i ever was YET one of the most exhillerating and fun memories.
TTFN~~Claudia ♥
Rafting is so much fun! The Colorado is great for that. Of course here in Phoenix we don't have too many rapids LOL. It is fun to tube down the Salt River though. A great way to cool off. Nice photos......thanks for the tour!
Thank you for leading me here from my Grand Canyon pics! Wow! My son did this some years ago and really had a grand time! I am curious who took these pictures? Love it!
Hello Carolyn,
I took the photos posted here. There were 2 rafts in our party. Raft A parked upstream, we walked on the edge downstream to photo the Raft B going down. Then we walked back upstream and rode down the rapid. Very wet. :)
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