Eric, Beth, Rex, Amy, Christine, and I paddled together through the Lava Falls Rapids on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. Our guide, Tom, led us through flawlessly. Many thanks go to Outdoors Unlimited for the spectacular week-long experience! On this day (July 2, 2015) the river was flowing at about 17,000 cfs.
The rapid went smoothly for our boat (the first paddle boat of our group to go through), but after those quick thirty seconds passed, we spent the following two and a half minutes positioning ourselves for swimmers who washed out of their boats behind us.
Everyone from our four paddle rafts and four supply boats eventually made it to Tequila Beach for our overnight camp. Marco arrived nursing a sore knee from an impact in the raft.
I love Tom’s commands from 9:26 to 9:36 … and the response he gets from all six of us.
“Son of Lava” runs from 11:35 to 12:05.
The famous words of a Raft guide “ALL FORWARD, ALL FORWARD, ALL FORWARD, ALL FORWARD, ALL FORWARD, ALL FORWARD, ALL FORWARD, ALL FORWARD, ALL FORWARD, ALL FORWARD, ALL FORWARD, ALL FORWARD” and what did we do? We went ALL FORWARD. Best adrenalin pumping action I have ever had.
Exactly, Eric. That is the most moving part of the video for me. Sure, the waves were fun, but we were fresh for that part. To keep going with all of us fatigued was special.