Grand Canyon Whitewater guide, Grant, was reeled into a life of boating in 2006. He enjoys the connections he can make in Grand Canyon — with the past, with nature and with passengers. Here’s his story, in his own words:

“I was lucky enough to take a rafting trip in Grand Canyon in 2006 and have been guiding since. I have guided on many rivers in the Southwest and feel incredibly lucky to be in Grand Canyon. I really like the human history associated with running the Colorado River rapids. Each early explorer has such a great story to tell. On my first commercial river trip in Grand Canyon, I read this poem about the Canyon that I had found and really liked. It was about this older woman who was so moved by the spiritual nature of the Canyon that she just kept returning. When I had finished reading the poem, one of the women on my trip – in her 70s – started crying. She said, ‘I wrote that poem you just read.’ That was pretty incredible.”

Grant, GCW Rafting Guide