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As always, thanks for stopping by.
Q
Although most of the entries in the News are written by Q, there are two voices in Wing and Wing, and the Grand Canyon trip has inspired Janis to sound off:
As some of you know (or experienced yourself), Qen and I just spent 3 weeks rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. It was “hands down” the most spectacular adventure of my life. We were blessed to be traveling with lovely weather, wonderful people, great food and steady flows throughout the trip. The canyon offers marvelous views at every turn, and the fast and cold river are a stark contrast to the serene desert surroundings. Sinuous side canyons beckon with turquoise waters and hanging gardens of maidenhair fern and monkey flower. Towering bluffs hold secrets and clues about ancient peoples who once flourished along the river’s banks. The butterflies were varied and numerous and we delighted in glimpses of other wildlife: big horn sheep, ring-tail cats, condors, velvet ants, shore birds, bats, lizards and snakes.
Part of the popular attraction to floating for 225 miles (or more) through the canyon is, of course, running the wild rapids that punctuate the green coursing line of the river with whitewater exclamation points. With one person at the helm of each boat (and the crew helping the bow to punch through waves), negotiating the rapids becomes an adrenaline-charged rush of preparation, skill, communication, reflex, strength, forecasting and finesse. And when done successfully, the experience usually results in whooping, hollering, rejoicing and laughter. Getting wet – drenched — is a given.
I have transferred all the HD footage, and we got some really spectacular shots. I will be posting a mash-up of the whitewater clips this weekend, so stay tuned for some adrenaline-pumping looks at rafting Grand Canyon!
Q
Just shifting between the trip and civilization is like a sluggish dream. Video review has commenced, and the footage looks good – we’ll mash up a whitewater video before the end of the month.
Q
Three of our GC rafting trip members hiked out at Phantom Ranch, opting to do only the upper half of the river due to time constraints. Randy, Karin and Teresa were a few of the Grand Canyon veterans, each with a trip or two under their belts. Their special presence, insights and contributions were obviously absent in the days following their departure.
Teresa used some of her return time to put together this YouTube video from her photos and movies, and I present it here to tide you over until I get a short whitewater video together (then it is back to the BVI movie).
We made it!
I was given charge of my own raft, and I rowed the whole trip – all the named rapids but Fossil Creek. The group was wonderful, and in the words of one: “nothing magic happened, but it was a magical trip”.
Watch for more pix and stories in the coming days. The canyon floor is still completely without cell service.
Q
