Colorado

We enjoyed a 21 day trip on the Grand Canyon from Lee's Ferry to Pearce Ferry. Flows for the trip were 12,000-20,000 cfs and were around 15,000 cfs most days. We had 15 people on our trip (2 switched out at Phantom) with four 18' rafts and four hardshells. Moenkopi Riverworks provided our rafts, gear, and food pack.

Our camps, with mileage in parentheses, were as follows: Day 0, Rigging Lee’s Ferry (0); Day 1, Jackass (7.9); Day 2. Indian Dick (23.0); Day 3, Nautiloid (34.8); Day 4, Upper Saddle (47.2); Day 5, Main Nankoweap (53.2); Day 6, Carbon (64.7); Day 7, Upper Rattlesnake (74.1); Day 8, Lower Cremation (87.1); Day 9, Granite (93.4); Day 10, Lower Bass (108.3); Day 11, Randy's Rock (126.4); Day 12, OC (136.6); Day 13, Upset Hotel (150.3); Day 14, Stairway (171.0); Day 15, Lower Whitemore (188.2); Day 16, Upper 220 (219.7); Day 17, Upper 220 (219.7); Day 18, 243 (242.5); Day 19, 264; Day 20, 279; Day 21, Pearce Ferry take-out (279.5). The reservoir elevation at Mead was 1046' and we had good current all the way to the take-out (it was easy to make it 5 miles/hour).

We enjoyed good hikes and side exploration at Nautiloid Canyon, Nankoweap Granaries, Little Colorado, Carbon Canyon, Unkar Delta, Clear Creek, Phantom Ranch, Shinumo Creek, Elves Chasm, Blacktail Canyon (with live music), Tapeats to Deer Creek, Matkatamiba Canyon, Havasu, Book of Worms, Trail Canyon, Travertine Falls, and Columbine Falls.

While the first few days were cool, the weather was exceptional. We had no major wind or rain during our trip (we did have major wind on our rig day). Most days the temperatures were in the 70's during the day and 50's at night. The cactus were just starting to bloom (a little later than usual). Tributaries, particularly those coming in from river right were running high and brown and the river had a high level of turbidity.