Grand Canyon River Rafting Expedition - September 2021 

Mahalo! I think this experience changes you in never-to-be-forgotten and wonderful way. Everyone we went with felt the same. Glad you were able to go twice 😊

Being "unplugged" from social media/society/etc. for the duration was a welcome respite from a sometimes weary world and was made all the better by the people we shared the experience with. The sense of scale and time are awe inspiring as well. Aloha!

It truly was an experience of a lifetime :) Hope it is the same for you. I only wish the video could capture the true scale of the canyon and the wonderment of it all!

Mahalo for your kind words. Enjoy your trip and be safe!

Mahalo! We thought it was unique enough to include. We were in the shadows for about 30 minutes after which was a bit cold 😉

Mahalo!

We went in September and the water is always ~50-55 F

Our thoughts exactly. I did some rapid chasing in a canoe many years ago but decided that the j-Rig raft would be more enjoyable (and safe) for such a long route.

Aloha and mahalo for your kind words :)

Mahalo for your kind words :) We were fortunate in that the Little Colorado wasn't brown that late in the year. We have so many fond memories of that trip and plan to do the North Kaibab and/or Bright Angle hike in and back out sometime in the future. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience for us and I'm happy you were able to relive some of your memories.

Sulphur smell explanation... All those vertical rocks, or pyramidal, or triunghiular shaped etc are petrified buildings just like at Petra, Hegra, Sedona, Utah, red desert Australia, Peru etc. We see here an ancient-culture city melted away and baked up due to an asteroid collision 💥 in the area. The place of impact of the asteroid is a salty lake either dried out or still with water just like The Dead Sea and Salt Lake of Utah, or the (dried) salt lakes of Arabic Peninsula or Australia, or South America. They invented some explanation to all these red rocky formations in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Hegra, Petra, Australia etc but it is baked up limestone bricks. You can see layers upon layers. Further away from the impact the contour of the buildings is very clear and resembles the ancient Indian forts and temples. Please rewrite history. The Dead Sea was formed upon the impact of the meterorit striking the valley of Jordan. Jordan river crossed the peninsula and emptied in the Red Sea prior to this cataclism. Now the course of the river is stopped due to the crater which formed the Dead Sea. South from the Dead Sea you will find Sodom and Gomorrah. Carbonized to white ashes. It was the ground zero of the impact. North of the Dead Sea are cities with remains of vitrified pottery and stones witnessing the thermic reaction of the collision 💥. The city of Petra 80 miles away from Sodom and Gomorrah baked up and melted just like the cities along Colorado River, Sedona, Hegra and Utah did. Utah National Park and Sedona are the remains of ancient-culture buildings with tempels, ziggurats, pyramids and forts just like in Egypt and India. Either they are totally naive telling us that these formations are eroded rocks and mountains or they purposely hide the truth. If you read these reaction than you have the chance to start thinking out of the box, at least if you give it a serious thought. God bless.

Mahalo! It was a wonderful trip 🙂

Thank you - it truly was!

Aloha - we started from Lees Ferry on 15 September.

Mahalo for your kind words. I'll admit - I'd love to see it via oculus myself :)

Mahalo! We all agreed it was the trip of a lifetime - so unique and beautiful:)

Thank You!

Mahalo nui loa for your kind words and Merry Christmas :)

We agree -it was one of our favorite experiences (so far). We hope to do the hike down to Phantom Ranch and/or the raft trip again in the future.

@@travelonourmindsin4k Funny you mentioned the hike to phantom ranch. I did do that 4 years ago with my family and in a few months I’m gonna do a rim-rim-rim hike with my kids. Hard not to love the Grand Canyon.

@@jimshrader7848 We are hoping to go sooner than later and have even looked into the tour where the mules carry your equipment down and back up. Age is a state of mind but then again everyone slows down at some point :P Do you have any video(s) of your trip to Phantom ranch?

Couldn't agree more! The wonderment of childhood combined with a deep appreciation for what we were experiencing made the trip that much better :)

Thank you :) Plan on making reservations at least a year out as these trips book extremely fast.

Aloha! Glad you enjoyed the recap of our trip. We hope to do the rim to rim hike in the near future. And the screams and laughing made the rapids more fun (especially when I was editing) in addition to brining back happy memories :)

Mahalo!

Mahalo for your kind words. Part of what makes it so special is that we are but the blink of an eye in the canyon’s existence. I wonder how much of impact we have made since your visit. 😉

not much. when i went it was hot and the river was much lower and clear. because of that the dynamics were so different

Mahalo!

Mahalo :)

Mahalo for your kind words. We will be traveling to Maui & Kauai soon so stay tuned!

Mahalo!

Mahalo for your kinds word :) The trip exceeded all of our expectations and then some.

Sounds like quite the adventure. We hope to return in the future to explore many of the trails and hikes we didn't have time for. Mahalo for the kind words.

Mahalo - and Aloha from Hawai’i 😉

Havasu was beautiful albeit a bit crowded (other tour groups there). Fourteen days sounds wonderful to us. Our group did do the patio at Deer Creek but not the hike up to the granaries. We plan to return as well and do the Kibab Trail to Phantom Ranch. Mahalo for sharing :)

Mahalo!

Mahalo! It was the trip of a lifetime - so much so that we plan to return in the future and hike the Kaibab Trail. :)

Aloha - thanks for the kind words!

What month/year did you go? Was the water cold? 🙏

@@michaelhatch1255 We went in September and lucked out with clear water up until the monsoon. The water is always 50-50 F. Best time to go is May-June.

Mahalo!

So would we :)

Aloha from Hawaii :) Mahalo for your kind words and as you describe, it was an awesome experience.

It truly was :P

We had a wonderful time and made some new friends along the way. Mahalo for your kind words, it was a wonderful experience.

Mahalo! Perhaps one day you will return 😉

@Hawaii Through My Lens Yes sir I'm going to Vegas in June plan to visit Lake Mead again also I live it.

Mahalo nui loa ;)

@@travelonourmindsin4k aloha

Mahalo! I have re-watched it serval times with friends and have managed to convince a few to look into booking their own adventure :)

Aloha - mahalo for your kind words. We'll check out your channel :)

@@travelonourmindsin4k Thanks 😊 and you're very welcome

Merci for you kind words. It sounds like your visit was as wonderful as ours :)

Mahalo!

Aloha - Western River Expeditions (the company we went with) offers a "photographers only" trip down the canyon that is , unsurprisingly, very popular. In fact, most trips are booked < 1 year in advance. Checked out your channel and your video presentation is very well done - subbed likewise :)

Mahalo!

Mahalo - Happy you enjoyed it :)

Trip of a lifetime - if you get a chance, don't hesitate!

Aloha - Es hermoso e inspirador :)

Aloha! We thought about a dory trip but it was our 1st time on the Colorado and we thought it would be safer (since we are both getting older - lol) to take the jRig. A good friend of ours recommended Western Expeditions and we weren't disappointed! I've read the Emerald Mile and am making my way through "River Master" which is a good read about Powell's Expedition. My ratings were based off of internet research and Belknap's Guide. Mahalo for sharing your memories :)

Thanks!

It was our first experience and we cherish it. In my younger years I would have considered rafting or even kayaking (not down the higher rated rapids) but the J-Rig was both comfortable and exciting while feeling safe at the same time. We didn't notice the infractions you mentioned and there were several outfits at Havasu that day. We hope to someday do the Havasupai side of that part of the canyon and perhaps even stay in the accommodations they offer. Due to their popularity, Western trips book at least a year in advance now so it may be awhile before we return. Aloha!

Hopefully it will be the trip of a lifetime for you both!

Being disconnected from e-mails, news, and the the everyday stresses from an often weary outside world truly was s blessing. Connecting with people and the beauty of the canyon made this a trip of lifetime for us.

Mahalo :) If there ever was an argument for the hand of God at work - the Grand Canyon is prime example.

Mahalo!

Aloha! We wondered the same thing - and how much history is written in the walls of the canyon.

All those vertical rocks, or pyramidal, or triunghiular shaped etc are petrified buildings just like at Petra, Hegra, Sedona, Utah, red desert Australia, Peru etc. We see here an ancient-culture city melted away and baked up due to an asteroid collision 💥 in the area. The place of impact of the asteroid is a salty lake either dried out or still with water just like The Dead Sea and Salt Lake of Utah, or the (dried) salt lakes of Arabic Peninsula or Australia, or South America. They invented some explanation to all these red rocky formations in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Hegra, Petra, Australia etc but it is baked up limestone bricks. You can see layers upon layers. Further away from the impact the contour of the buildings is very clear and resembles the ancient Indian forts and temples. Please rewrite history. The Dead Sea was formed upon the impact of the meterorit striking the valley of Jordan. Jordan river crossed the peninsula and emptied in the Red Sea prior to this cataclism. Now the course of the river is stopped due to the crater which formed the Dead Sea. South from the Dead Sea you will find Sodom and Gomorrah. Carbonized to white ashes. It was the ground zero of the impact. North of the Dead Sea are cities with remains of vitrified pottery and stones witnessing the thermic reaction of the collision 💥. The city of Petra 80 miles away from Sodom and Gomorrah baked up and melted just like the cities along Colorado River, Sedona, Hegra and Utah did. Utah National Park and Sedona are the remains of ancient-culture buildings with tempels, ziggurats, pyramids and forts just like in Egypt and India. Either they are totally naive telling us that these formations are eroded rocks and mountains or they purposely hide the truth. If you read these reaction than you have the chance to start thinking out of the box, at least if you give it a serious thought. God bless.

Mahalo!

Aloha John - I used a GoPro Hero 9, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and a Sony A7III with a Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 lens. I prefer to shoot video in "Linear" mode and in 4K so I can sample down later if need be. Most of the photos I took with the camera are not included in the video since I didn't want to crop them to fit 16:9 ratio RU-vid requires. I mounted the GoPro on a floating NuBear handheld mount/tripod for the calmer sections and used a lanyard attached (to the GoPro) to my floatation vest for the rapids ( my wife and I switched off filming depending on who was at the front of the raft). Best advice would be to take your gear out for a test run before you go if possible. Also - don't forget to bring extra batteries for the camera and a portable battery charger for your phone and GoPro batteries. I'm sure you'll have the trip of a lifetime and I look forward to seeing your results!

The prices vary by length (3 or 7 days). We paid ~$3.5K each (7 day trip) which included all meals and flights to and from Las Vegas. Booking begins each November for the following year (as far as 18 months in advance) and the tours sell out quickly. May is generally considered the best month as far as weather and heat are concerned. Go here to learn more: www.westernriver.com/

Aloha! The rafts continue a further 90 miles/ 3 days down river, transported out near Lake Mead, and then driven back up for servicing if I recall correctly. More info here: www.westernriver.com/grand-canyon-river-trip

Indeed. We learned quite a bit from our guides and a copy of Belknap's (waterproof) Grand Canyon River Guide. Mahalo for sharing.

Mahalo. There are several outfitters that run the canyon - we went with: www.westernriver.com/

Aloha - GoPro Hero 9 Black, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and a few with the Sony A7III. Most of the photos I included had to be cropped to 16:9 to fill the (RU-vid) frame. Mahalo for you kind words.

Mahalo for your kind words! iPhone 11 Pro Max, GoPro Hero 9 Black, Sony A7III :P

Exactly :)

Usually 2 - one with a tent around it (very private) and one with an open view farther away from the camp for privacy. Men and women can both use the river to urinate (although women have to wade in a bit). Both bathroom paths are lit at night with neon glowsticks.

Mahalo for your kind words. The weather was in the mid 90's but we felt comfortable the whole time (even used our blankets at night). It only rained on us the one time and it was gone in 45 minutes. I used an iPhone 11 Pro Max and GoPro Hero 9 Black (since upgraded to the iPhone 13 and GoPro 10) for the majority of what's in the video. I actually brought my Sony A7 III and a few lenses in a Pelican case but rarely used it. I could write a small novel on our experiences and I hope you and yours enjoy your trip as much as we did!

@@travelonourmindsin4k Thank you! I’ve watched a ton of videos and yours is by far the best. Did you have your GoPro mounted? It’s so steady while riding rapids. We had a family situation come up, so our trip got bumped up to April.

@@alenesnodgrass182 I had the GoPro mounted on the floatie stick and then one of the guides fashioned a lanyard of sorts with a carbineer clip to attach it to my waterproof vest. For the shots in the front of the raft I switched between handheld and placing the GoPro in the front of my vest. Thanks for the compliments and I look forward to your video from your trip in April :)

@@alenesnodgrass182 I will be on one of the April 2022 trips, as well! I'm struggling a bit with gear. Would you mind a PM? I would like to hear what base layer clothing you're bringing along Thank you!

@@travelonourmindsin4k That is so helpful! You're the best. Thank you! I'm a little nervous about the trip, but so ready all at the same time.

The company we chose flew us down into the canyon to the departure point - Lee's Ferry.

Aloha - the video features a combination of ambient sound, narration, and music, and notation letting the viewer know what they are seeing at various locations /parts. I suppose each creator has their own take on what suits their experience. I hope you enjoyed ours :)

Aloha - www.westernriver.com/grand-canyon-rafting

Aloha - Grand Canyon rapids are rated on a 1-10 scale. Flat water is 1 while tough rapids like Lava Falls or Crystal Rapids can be rated 10 at certain water levels. The number also represent the difficulty and danger level associated with navigating the rapid by boat/canoe/etc. Hope this helps!

Not sure what qualifies as a "round rock" :) Best estimates are that the canyon itself was "carved" over 6 million years ago - but there are exposed rocks and sediment that are much older than that :)

east of mississippi river have smooth round rocks in creeks and rivers @@travelonourmindsin4k

Aloha Jimmy - Western River Expeditions. Check them out here : www.westernriver.com/?_vsrefdom=p.6767&gclid=CjwKCAjwiOCgBhAgEiwAjv5whKljrWUxUz_IKoWgDecoZlZQFx6ZPiJxztMY72nJysXKEs0YvVTkRxoCHHAQAvD_BwE

Without getting into the CAP and the near drought conditions, it is sad to see what is happening to one of our favorite parts of the country.

Mahalo for your kind words :) Sending much aloha your way.

Mahalo!

We all enjoyed ourselves and were excited on the rapids - pretty much everyone screamed at one point or another :)

Not sure what you're referring to - we had a wonderful trip/experience. Aloha!

Aloha - thanks for the compliment. As far as food handling goes ,I don’t think anyone had an issue with it. Probably better addressed to the company than ran our expedition.

We all enjoyed ourselves and the screams and laughter were genuine :P

The Grand Canyon viewed from the Colorado River is breathtaking. :)

Only in the food line :P

Geez, lighten up. Did a commercial trip with a different outfitter 5/22, no masks.

@@stevethomas760 lighten up about what? People wearing those masks that do nothing? OUTSIDE!!!! Mandated by the CDC along with that bogus vaccine. No. Sorry sir I won't lighten up.

@@secretsquirrel6718 Enjoy

lol. C19 knows not to go right thru those N95 neck gaitors...