Most kids get clothes, jewelry or money from their parents as a high school graduation

giftnot me. I received a week long rafting trip in the Grand Canyon. I didn't bring my
graduation gift to college in a tangible way, but instead in the form of vivid memories
and photographs.

After flying into Phoenix from Portland we got on the bus early the next morning for the
ride to the put in at Lees Ferry. Once we arrived there we met our guides and reviewed
river safety and rafting techniques. We then loaded into the rafts and headed out into
Marble Canyon and Navajo Indian Reservation land.

Each day on the river was similar, but vastly unique. The adventures everyday were a
distraction from the thought of going to college and we were able to make the most of
our time together as a family.

A conch shell blew as the sun was coming up, announcing that coffee and tea were
ready. I woke slowly, shook the sand off of my sleeping bag and begin packing my gear.
A second blow of the conch shell indicated that breakfast was ready. The meals were
always hearty and homemade. During breakfast, our lead guide Marieke, shared the
day's itinerary and describe the adventures that awaited us. It was "good river karma" to
help with clean up, so after doing the dishes, we formed a bag line to get everything in
the raft.



As the guides finished packing away and securing the gear, one of them lead us
through an energetic twenty minute stretching session on the soft, white sandy beach.

The guides encouraged us to travel with different guides and rafters each day. This was
a fun way to meet everyone and also learn a broad spectrum of information. Each guide
had specialized knowledge about various aspects of the Canyon. However, Jesse was
my favorite as he had the best sense of humor and always started squirt gun fights.

The day on the river included some thrilling white water adventures, picturesque canyon
hikes and a delicious lunch. Each afternoon our guides selected a beautiful beach to set
up camp. Everyone jumped from the rafts, helped unload the gear, then headed off in
search of the perfect section of sand to claim. Since our family of four was the largest
group on the trip, finding a stretch of sand for us that was flat and free of red ants was
sometimes a challenge.

Evenings were very relaxed, but there was always plenty to do. My dad and brother
spent time fishing for the trout that are abundant in the clean waters of the Colorado
while my mom and I enjoyed some bocce ball games. Since none of us brought our
phones on the river, we were able to interact with each other without distractions.
Somehow, the guides found room to pack a few guitars and a recorder as well. The mu-
sic was a wonderful and relaxing addition. At sunset each night, it was incredible to
watch the display of colors and shadows on the canyon walls.


Once the sun set, I strapped on my headlamp and begin unpacking my bed bag. The
guides told us not to lay out our sleeping bags too early, as it could be an invitation to
less desirable insects and animals.

The first morning we went on a wet/dry hike which required us to wade or swim through
water, so Dri-Fit clothing and water shoes were a must. The afternoon hike was another
wet/dry hike in the Shinumo Wash, but we first had to scale a knotted rope to get up into
the canyon.

On day three we spent much of the day at Redwall Canyon, which is a huge chamber,
carved by the river, that can hold an estimated 50,000 people. The guides pulled the
mats off the top of the coolers and built a slip and slide ramp on the sandy slope of the
river. Everyone took turns riding down the slide into the river on inflatable turtles, alliga-
tors and penguins. It was fun being able to embrace my inner child and live in the mo-
ment without worrying what other people thought of me.

Day four was Friday the thirteenth, a full moon and a rafter's birthday. The rafts were
adorned on the front with birthday balloons, and inflatable toys were tied on the back,
making us a very colorful contingent. We stopped at a narrow place in the canyon
where the Marble Canyon Dam had been proposed, but never built, in the 1950s. With
headlamps on, we explored the tunnels and their contents, which included a scorpion
that I discovered along one of the side walls. After dinner and a light show at our
campsite, a number of us went on a night hike up to granaries hidden in the canyon


wall. The longest stretch of the river is visible at this point. Like I could see the future of
the river, I was able to see what was on my horizon but not know exactly what it was
going to be like.

Early on day five, we came to the dramatic confluence of the Colorado and Little Colo-
rado rivers. Whereas the Colorado River water is a deep green color, the Little Colora-
do, with its high alkaline content and minerals, give it a distinctive turquoise blue color.
Everyone had fun riding the inflatables down the rapids, jumping from cliffs into deep
pools and face painting with white mineral deposits.

The final full day of rafting started out with us running Hance Rapid, one of the biggest
on the river. Stories are told of rafts flipping and luckily no one on our trip flipped.

Fourteen of us hiked out the 7.5 mile Bright Angel Trail. We pulled over at the beach
and unloaded our gear for the final time. I strapped on my backpack and started up the
trail at seven in the morning. It was hard to believe how quickly I lost sight of the river as
we headed up the trail. Six hours after embarking on the hike, we arrived at the top. The
view was impressive, but the waters of the Colorado remained elusively hidden from
sight. I missed the Canyon already and am looking forward to returning to finish the trip.
The trip was an incredible way to spend time with my family before heading to college.

My graduation adventure is over, but the adventure of the rest of my life is ahead of me.
Time to clean off the dust and head down the next path.