Colorado

The Grand Canyon is one of the seven Wonders of the World. Magnificent views of the geological record are on prominent display throughout a journey through this canyon. Every day that passes reveals new eras of time and new aspects of creation.

The long history and lore of the Grand Canyon have built the whitewater up to heroic proportions in the public mind. However, river running knowledge, skill, and equipment have improved tremendously in the century that boaters have been running this section of the Colorado River. By modern outdoor sports risk standards the Grand Canyon is a very reasonable adventure.

The gradient tells the tale as most of Grand Canyon is flat water. The infamous 1 to 10 rating system does not mean that these rapids are harder than class 6. The hardest rapids on the run were simply given a 10 rating and everything else was rated respectively lower. A Grand Canyon 10 corresponds approximately to a class IV rating on the international scale.  The 1 to 10 rating was system developed for heavily loaded large rafts, and a 10 on this scale might not require a single stroke from a kayaker (though perhaps a lot of bracing and rolling if one wanted to try that!). Experienced river runners can apply their usual river-running judgement.

The skills required for a kayaker to negotiate Grand Canyon include:

1. A bomber roll. The water is cold and the river is so wide that swimming to shore is difficult.

2. The ability to turn sideways to a big wave train and paddle out of it.

3. The ability to keep your balance and your cool in sustained funny water (whirlpools and boils occur at the bottom of many rapids and along eddy lines).

4. The ability to scout and choose a big-water line and smash it.

The skills required for an oarboatman in the Grand Canyon are in some ways much more difficult. Rafts are typically overburdened and heavy. It takes a good understanding of the rapids, early decision making and positio

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