Raft
slides from the calm into raging white-water at Granite Rapids.
Hermit Rapids
are cranking -- and awesome!
Sequence of four shots, with Karen at the helm, running one of the many rapids in the lower canyon.
An unbelievably clean run at
Crystal Rapids by Mike -- a true master. Crystal is the most dangerous
of Grand Canyon rapids -- having claimed more lives than at all
other Grand Canyon rapids combined. In such a place, experienced
guides make all the difference.
Rafters throw coins onto this
monument just above Lava Rapids -- a "good luck" tradition
for running the approaching white-water.
One family poses above Lava
Rapids, while guide Katie figures out how to run it.
Raft running Lava Rapids --
clocked at over 20 mph on a GPS unit. Lava is reportedly the fastest
navigable waterway in the United States. Note the huge hole and
wave at the top of this rapid. Hitting the middle of this hole
would flip any raft. Banking off the right hand edge of it in
order to hit the V-wave head on was the key to success on our
day. This raft was already a bit farther right than it would like
to be, and was in danger of hitting the rock below it on the right
-- but it made it safely to the bottom.