Did you miss it? You can watch this online discussion, and many others, on the club’s youtube channel HERE. Click HERE to download the slide deck from this talk.
The Colorado River through Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular river trips in the lower 48. For many it is the “trip of a lifetime”. A million things go into an excellent trip, including leadership, group makeup, skill, outfitting and strategy. Our focus for this discussion is on managing risk while on the water. We’ll explore risk management in three areas: rigging, running, and recovering.
We’ll be joined by Mike Hipsher, Grand Canyon boatman and former Wildwater World champion paddler; Marc Hunt, creator of the best video on how to row the Grand Canyon; and Les Bechdel, who along with Slim Ray wrote River Rescue and later founded Canyons River Company with safety as a primary focus. As a bonus our very own LCCC member Ken Goldberg will join with insights from a youth spent having his mind blown in the Grand Canyon.
The rangers at the put-in speak at length about risks found in camp and on hikes, including rattlesnakes, scorpions, falling off cliffs or into the river when you go to pee. To be clear, there is no safe river trip.
Our focus is on how to run the river with a minimum of risk. How do private trips fare on the water, and how can we do better? How DO you run those rapids? What’s YOUR plan for pulling that 18 footer back right side up again? And HOW MUCH of your beer will still be on board? Come join us to hear the experts and ask your questions.
A FEW MORE INTERESTING LINKS
Marc Hunt’s youtube video
Tips for Rowing the Big Rapids in the Grand Canyon
Teresa’s articles on rowing:
Rowing 1: Big Water Strategy for Small Water Boaters
and
Rowing 2: Advanced Beginner Status
Les Bechdel and Slim Ray’s book
River Rescue
and the other book Les recommended
Medicine for Mountaineering and other Wilderness Activities
FOUR EXCELLENT OUTFITTERS
To assist with your non-commercial
GRAND CANYON MISSION
Professional River Outfitters - https://www.proriver.com/
Canyon REO - https://www.canyonreo.com/
Moenkopi Riverworks - https://www.moenkopiriverworks.com/
Ceiba Outfitters - https://www.ceibaadventures.com/
Image courtesy: NPS