Day 1

Moore Family
of Arizona

My Grand Canyon Rafting Trip August 2000

River Day 1 Sunday 8/20/2000: (Mile 0 - 20.5)

We started from Lees Ferry about 11:00am after the pre-trip discussion @ 8:30am opposite the Marble Canyon Lodge. We all were eyeing each other up - umm... so these are the people I'm going to be on the river with for a week...

Our tour captain was Walt and the second boat was captained by Tom, additional helpers (gofers mainly) were Ely and Drew. We headed to Lee's Ferry where we loaded our gear in waterproof bags and loaded the boat.

Drifting though Marble Canyon was nice - red sandstone walls, narrow - nothing to see above the top but clouds. Not really in Grand Canyon proper yet..

We did pass under the Navajo bridges old first and then new.

Not much action on the river - but occasionally we got a little wet - and Brrr! its really cold water. Remember though it is Arizona in August - so its 100F air temp and 40F water - quite a contrast!

Tary gets instantly wet & cold!

Camp 1: (Mile 20.5)

We stopped for the night at North Canyon – (W River Bank). Just above North Canyon Rapids.

Lunch:

We had a very late lunch here - (sandwiches... but good) and then hiked up the Canyon to small waterhole. (Eli leading) Interesting twisted/folded up rock strata at and below the waterhole - but the waterhole itself was really scummy so we went no further...

Spent quite some time unloading the boat & setting up the kitchen & camp etc.. Good food!

It rained just slightly in the evening then dried out again

Mileage: We didn’t cover much river today - 20.5 miles - due to late start and quite early finish and lots of discussion of the trip on the boat and at camp.

Main Photo Page Enroute Downriver