Grand Canyon Rafting Trip!!!

We'll we've been back from our Grand Canyon Rafting trip just over a week now. We left Tuesday around noon to drive down to Marble Canyon. We took the scenic route through Panquitch and down to Kanab. It was really pretty. It took us about 6 1/2 hours to get there. We got down there 7:30 our time 6:30 pm their time. We then got checked in at the lodge and went over for dinner. We both had burgers, which were huge and suprisingly really good.

The next morning we met our group by 7:30 am to get started. After a brief orientation we loaded up our gear and got going. There were 2 rafts in our group and 1 by themselves from Western River that we saw here and there throughout the trip. We had a really good group of people on our rafts, which was a bonus, and the river guides were all amazing!

Our days basically went like this: We raft (sit on the raft and hold on tight when rapids come), lounge, relax and talk during calm waters, eat, go on hikes during the day, then set up camp at night and then sleep. We would set up camp, eat, get ready for the next day and go over schedule and be to bed by sundown, usually by 9pm. We would then get up in the morning at sunrise, around 5:30 am.

The waters are always about 50 degrees (cold) so we all wore our rain gear most of the time. Though it was usually in the 80's during the day, with the canyon wall shadows and the wind down there, we didn't dry off too quickly so w/out the rain gear on it was REALLY cold. On the contrary, the good thing about this time of year is the beauty of the canyon. Since it was still spring, we got to see lots of greenery that tends to die later in the summer. The canyon walls were full of flowers, catuses, trees and animal life. I loved the scenery and the hikes, Steve loved just being on the raft and the water!

It was a really fun trip! I've never been to the Grand Canyon before and it was definitely a rare opportunity to see the canyon from the bottom up. I was really amazed how the canyon changed as we went on. From the type of rock that made up the canyon, to the greenery on it, to the animal life that we saw, it all varied dependin on where we were in the canyon. It was also interesting to note how others have come down the canyon before and died unfortunately. Also the indians that used to live in the canyon was really interesting to learn.

Most importantly, Steve and I got to spend a week w/ each other! Every day and every trip we make helps us grow closer together. We definitely had to work together during this trip, so I'm grateful for that. It's also nice to get away from our "normal life" and try something else that tests our relationship. Thanks for a great trip honey!!! ;)



Here are some pics from Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4158012&l=820b8b1d79&id=731191774

Here is a video from our trip a guy from our group made. I definitely screamed during the rapids :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JXpar5pdrA