I love everything about this photo.
First, I love that my aunt is the person who took it; that reminds me how much I enjoyed going on this trip with her.
Second, I love the look of absolute glee on the passenger’s face. This is my friend Marian, who I met on this trip. She was celebrating her birthday in the Grand Canyon with her husband and her brother- and sister-in-law. To hear them tell it, this was one of the very best trips of their lives.
I love the friendships we forged on this trip, and the personal relationships I strengthened.
But there’s so much more to this photo. Take a look at the two guides behind Marian, Jeff (on the left) and Jake (driving the boat). Look at the concentration on their faces. Look at that roiling whitewater behind them. And then look, again, at Marian’s face.
This photo, for me, perfectly exemplifies a Grand Canyon Whitewater experience. Jeff and Jake are working hard, navigating the rapid deftly, so Marian can laugh without care. Her only job is to hang on, and to have fun.
Here’s the whole series of photos. Watch Jeff and Jake, and watch Marian.
We sometimes get folks who worry they won’t be “busy” enough, or active enough, on our Colorado River raft trips. There are plenty of opportunities to stay as busy as you want to stay on all of our trips. There are daily side hikes, you often can take yourself for a self-guided hike from camp, and you can pitch in with all the camp chores. But the only job we’re going to assign to you is the job of hanging on, and having fun. This is your vacation, after all … So why not let our guides do the job they do so well, and take the worry out of things for you?