July 5: after a 5-hour bus ride around the northern side of the park, we landed at Lee's Ferry, Marble Canyon. Six oar-powered rafts, each of which could hold 4 passengers and a guide, and one extra baggage raft, awaited us, packed full of food, beer, the guides' belongings, empty toilet vaults, tents, and more beer. Each guide has a designated boat, which is his/her home while on the river; the guides retire to their boats when they need a little breather from the clientele and also sleep on them since all their stuff is right there, and it's less sandy and MUCH cooler than the land.


Here is the beginning of what turned out to be the trip of a lifetime. My father and I went on a 13-day oar trip down the Grand Canyon with Arizona River Runners, starting July 5th at Lee's Ferry.
Here I am July 4th, in one of the weirdest places in the world: Las Vegas.
Although of course I'm doing this after the fact, I'm going to post in approximate chronological order - which means it will be backwards to read in that annoying blog way unless you skip down here first and go up. Good luck!