"Grand Canyon Day 4/5"

Thursday 25^th April

The sun comes up around 5.30 and begins to light up the canyon walls on our final full day on the river.

 

We did some light rapids in the morning as we rafted through the “Ice Box” area.  It is called this because the river cuts through high canyon walls which meant we spent most of our time in shadow. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stopped at Havasu Canyon for a short hike.  The boats pulled in near the rapids and we had to get out directly onto the rocks (not sandy beaches as previously) as the boats bounced up and down.  We climbed up and clambered over the rocks and waded through the creek to get up to Havasu Falls.   
The water was a wonderful pale blue and in places was quite ‘milky’ from the surrounding soil.  We spent an hour or more splashing around in the pools and sunbathing.  It has to be said none of the water we have encountered was actually that warm but it was the excitement of being there that was fun.

 

The rest of the afternoon we spent gliding down the river with a few smaller rapids.  We saw Big Horn sheep on the beaches and some black Ibis birds.  Eventually we get to Lava Falls the last ‘Big One’. Nate our captain skilfully negotiated it safely.  This marked the last of the ‘white-water’ aspect of the trip and we wanted to go back to do it again.

We camped on a big sandy beach called Mile 185 Campsite.  As we sat round the camp in the evening Nate told us the story of how Havasu Falls Creek had flooded one year in the Monsoon season when it was full of visitors.  Fortunately a helicopter pilot had seen what was happening up on the Rim and had warned the tourists below to get to high ground, which saved them.  Glad he told us this story after we had visited the falls!

Friday 26^th April

 

 

We pack everything into our bags and after the photo-shoot of everyone we set off down the river with both boats strapped together.  We only had a few miles to travel down the river before we reached the helicopter pad.

 

 

We get out at Mile 188 having joined the boat at Mile 86.  We have done over 50 named or significant rapids as well as numerous smaller un-named ones.  We say our farewells to the crew who now have to continue on the boats for another 100 miles before they reach the point where they can get them on the trucks.  They meet the trucks tomorrow which will get them back to the Page, a 9 hour drive away.

 

We are to be helicoptered out of the canyon to the Bar-10 Ranch at the top of the North Rim. The flight was only about ten minutes, but the views as we flew over the canyon were spectacular.

 

At the ranch we have a proper shower – lovely!  At 11am we split into two groups, say more farewells and then board our respective planes to take us to either Las Vegas or Page via Grand Canyon airport, where we disembark.

 

We shared a taxi back to the Nat Park with Alex and his dad (who was 71 last Dec) from Austria.  We said our farewells to them as they head off for the remainder of their holiday whilst we get into the RV and get ourselves settled into the Trailer Village campsite at the Grand Canyon where we will spend the weekend.