Rowing up stream....

[NormMessinger]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/pc923a40e858f71978a9512c3e6be35f1/f51d8879.jpg
Okay, so it only looks like it. This is Lava Falls in Grand Canyon, usually considered the roughest of all the rapids though much depends on water flow. On this expidition passengers were required to walk around while the boatmen doubled up to take each raft through. When this team landed the motorman claimed he had been thrown out. I though yah sure but sure enough, when I got the pictures developed one showed him in the water. I missed it because I had my eye to the view finder. Rubber boats and motors, so impure, so much fun.

[whb]

Norm

Thanks for the picture.

I did one of those raft trips 26 years ago. Lava falls has a big keeper in it. (the type of back wash that a weir creates that keeps you stuck in it). The trick is to power through it. We got to stay on the boat and the guide just opened up the motor and crashed us through the hole. I still remember the solid feel of the wave as it hit us holding on for dear life.

What a trip. Nine days of rafting, beer, camping under the stars, more beer, great meals hiking and still more beer. My buddy and I were 17 at the time and pleased to be treated as adults by the rest of the people on the trip.

We were at Circus circus afterwards playing slots when we watched a couple of cops busting some guys for being in the casino underage. We figured they had to be a least 3 years older than us but legal age 21.

A wonderful trip that I heartily recommend to anyone.

Howard

[Ed Harrow]

He who is one of The Foster Monster's adoptive parents went thru The Canyon last year with his Dad. Great pictures. Great experiences. Great stories. Great memories.

[Bruce Hooke]

Jeez, I'd love to go back there. I went down the upper part of the canyon (Lee's Ferry to Phantom Ranch) with my father when I was about 12 -- in the late 70's. He was leading a geology field trip and I was the "professor's brat." :D