Celebrate Your College Graduation With A New Adventure: Whitewater Rafting In The Grand Canyon
College graduation is a major deal. A student no more, it marks the time when you set out into the world and make your mark. But don't kid yourself. You have just spent four, maybe six or even eight years studying hard to earn your degree, so you owe it to yourself to relax. Before embarking on a professional journey, do yourself a favor and visit the Grand Canyon for a Colorado River whitewater rafting getaway.
Of the almost Two million 2012 college graduates, what percentage of them will get to say - after everything all said and done - "I just rafted the Colorado River!"? Chances are, not many.
The Grand Canyon is not only one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World; it's also home to one of the world's wildest, most exciting rivers. There you'll see rock formations that are billions of years old, regal natural beauty unlike anything else you've experienced, and a harsh desert landscape nonetheless filled with all kinds of fauna. Stretching out 277 miles, the Canyon has an average depth of 5,000 feet and is home to five biological life zones and three of four North American desert varieties.
Around 4.7 million people will visit the Canyon this year, many of them at the South Rim. They'll stare in awe, perhaps do some hiking, snap a few pictures, etc. Rafting the river, though, takes you to parts of the Canyon typically inaccessible. A Grand Canyon river rafting trip literally places you in the center of everything. And in so doing, you'll get to ride some of the world's wildest white water rapids, like the 60-foot wide, 25-foot-tall (at peak flow) Crystal Rapid, Lava Falls and up to 70 others. To say it's a thrill is an understatement.
The best way to go is with a commercial river-rafting outfitter. While these guided tours may have waiting lists years long, when you finally get out there, it's like you're a king on a floating throne. Commercial trips last from one to 18 days. The longest takes you the entire way from Lee's Ferry all the way to Lake Mead. A professional outfitter provides you with everything aside from personal goods, including sleeping gear, food, water and all the equipment you'll need on the river. You can take a private, self-guided trip down the river, but keep a few things in mind. First, you'll need a permit of which only about 5,000 are handed out annually. A lottery system determines who gets permits, and it could take years before you do. Second, private trips are not permitted to hire a guide. Lastly, you'll need to collect all the equipment, food and other supplies yourself.
A commercial trip takes care of all that, plus it takes care of all permits, plus transportation for putting in and hauling out. Some outfitters even bus people back to Las Vegas after the trip. More than that, however, you have the benefit of a guide who understands the river, is armed with all kinds of facts and stories and does all of your cooking for you. What's better than that? Hiking in the Grand Canyon is another terrific adventure. Backcountry permits, like private rafting permits, are limited. A river-rafting trip, by comparison, generally involves multiple side hikes from stopping points along the way. Any given day you'll wake up, eat breakfast, pack up camp and set out along the river. Upon stopping for lunch, your guide might lead a hike to some spectacular location. Then it's back in the water before hauling out again for dinner and sleepy time. You'll do all of it over again the very next day, too, but no two days will be identical.
Even with a commercial trip you'll want to book early, as they do fill up. If you're graduating in May or June and haven't made any plans, it's worthwhile to inquire with a host of outfitters, as you never know what's available. Guaranteed, you'll always remember your Colorado River rafting vacation. Like the river, which is never the same in the life of its continual flow, you will never be the same after experiencing it.
About the Author
Hatch River Expeditions http://www.hatchriverexpeditions.com is a commercial rafting outfitter offering Grand Canyon river raft trips and hiking expeditions that will thrill and educate all participants. Their skilled guides will take you on the adventure of a lifetime, showing you the river and canyon as few see it; they will make sure that all your senses are well stimulated, and will educate you about the importance of conservation.
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