Wandering Zen – Rafting the Grand Canyon

 

 

A raft trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon is on many bucket lists!  Today we are joined by Caprice LePante who shares her adventure from the planning stage through the preparation, and then recants her tales of the river and how this trip changed her life in so many ways.

 

  

 

 

Oars.com

Caprice did her research prior to booking and really liked what she read, heard and watched online about Oars.  They’ve been around since the 1970s and have many options to choose from.  She chose the ‘Sampler’ and as you listen to her talk about the trip, she was clearly glad she did.  You can get all the scoop on their website – Oars.com.  Here is what they say about the Sampler:

 

Highlights

  • Scenic flight from Las Vegas
  • Visit a working cattle ranch
  • Hike, horseback ride or skeet shoot
  • Helicopter ride to the river
  • Fun whitewater, ideal for first-timers

 

Adventure Overview

This shorter section of the Colorado River is a good trial for folks not sure they are ready for a longer Grand Canyon rafting trip. We meet you in Las Vegas and transport you by van and small plane to Bar 10 Ranch on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for an afternoon of ranch activities including horseback riding, horseshoe pitching, hiking, and skeet shooting topped off with an evening of country entertainment. The next morning, you fly by helicopter into the Grand Canyon where your rafting guides await your arrival at Whitmore Wash. We’ll cross the shattered Hurricane fault zone before heading west into the final majesty of the Lower Grand Canyon. This Grand Canyon rafting trip on the Colorado River provides excellent opportunities to hike and explore this exquisite desert wonderland. Several beautiful side canyons invite you to linger in spring-fed streams. Your Grand Canyon adventure ends with a jet boat ride across Lake Mead and a return shuttle to Las Vegas by van.

 

Links to more information, history, and things to see and do in the area:

Here is a pictorial taste of the adventure from Part 1:

Let the adventure begin!

Aloft over Lake Mead

Ready to off-road

Time for a hike

Incredible terrain

Ready to submerge

Co-pilot

Activities at the Ranch

Taking some cover!

Marking their spot in history

The forces of nature

The adventure continues...

Hoover Dam

Twilight at the Ranch

Also mentioned in this episode:

The Anaheim Hills Oak Canyon Nature Center – A 58-acre natural park nestled in the Anaheim Hills.  A year-round stream meanders through the park.  Consisting of three adjoining canyons, four miles of hiking trails traverse one of the few remaining areas of oak woodland and coastal sage scrub in our region.  Native wildlife makes the canyon their home and is just waiting to be discovered.  Also located on site is the John J. Collier Interpretive Center, a small museum with live animal and regional natural history exhibits. 

The Nature Center is ideal for those who are just stepping into the wilderness for the first time or for those more experienced trekkers who are seeking a short hike.

If you’re headed to Vegas from So Cal – take a little extra time and check this out:

Bar 10 Ranch, Grand Canyon, AZ

Las Vegas

Hoover Dam

Boulder City

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