The epic adventure of rafting the Grand Canyon for 20 days in February 2018 was journaled each night to our children. I (Marcie) offer you a glimpse into the trip one day at a time. For the sake of simplicity, I have not changed the text; this was written to our children – I don’t normally refer to Dave as “Daddy.” As with all else on this adventure, the writing smoothed out and became more natural as time passed.

I reference my foot in some entries – on Dec 15, 2017, I injured my foot at a trampoline park. Five days prior to launch, permission was granted to lose the air-cast walking boot. The podiatrist strongly encouraged protecting the foot as much as possible on this trip. I didn’t exactly go against medical advise but it was close.

Grand Canyon - Day 1

Day 1 - Feb 3 Lee’s Ferry (river mile 0) to Lower Jackass (river mile 8.9) River Miles: 8.9 (Mom) woke up early, the moon was so bright it illuminated the tent. Cold!! We packed up the tent and Ads texted me as we did so. It was so…

Grand Canyon - Day 2

Day 2 - February 4 Lower Jackass (river mile 8.9) to Upper North Canyon (river mile 20.7) River Miles: 11.8 We slept great, praise God! But breakfast was a little bit slow and everyone was a bit confused. Breakfast: bagels with cream…

Grand Canyon - Day 3

Day 3 - February 5 Upper North Canyon (20.7) to Nautiloid (35.0) River miles: 14.3 Today was an awesome day! We ran 10 rapids. The stretch is called the Roaring Twenties. We slept well. I woke once cold but Daddy got me an extra fleece…

Grand Canyon - Day 4

Day 4 - February 6 Nautiloid (35.0) to Nankoweap (53.4) River miles: 18.4! We got your message on the satellite phone! So glad you three are well. We also got a message from Caroline’s mom that the Eagles won the Superbowl - sorry G-Pops.…

Grand Canyon - Day 5

Day 5 - February 7 Nankoweap (53.4) to Lava Canyon (65.9) River miles:12.5 This morning we woke and ate breakfast (oatmeal) and hiked up to the Nankoweap granaries. The granaries are rooms built into the Redwall where the native Americans…

Grand Canyon - Day 6

Day 6 - February 8 Lava Canyon (65.9) to Nevills (76.1) River Miles: 10.2 It was a short day on the river. We hit this camp around 1:00 PM. We thought about going further but three big rapids are downriver with no chance to camp in between.…

Grand Canyon - Day 7

Day 7 - February 9 Nevills camp (76.1) to Across from Pipe Creek camp (89.3) River Miles: 13.2 miles What a day! We were up before the sun with a call for breakfast from Caroline. Everyone was still tired but we had 3 rapids in front of…

Grand Canyon - Day 8

Day 8 - February 10 Across from Pipe Creek (89.3) to Emerald (104.4) River Miles:15.1 Grandpa woke us at 6 AM. Daddy got up immediately to get ready to ferry Grandpa across the river. Today was Grandpa’s hike up and out of the canyon.…

Grand Canyon - Day 9

Day 9 - February 11 Emerald Camp (104.4) to Bass Camp (109.0) River Miles: 4.6 Today was a light day on the river. We woke at 7, as the tent began to lighten with daylight. The wind had stopped blowing. Sunshine and blue sky greeted us…

Grand Canyon - Day 10

Day 10 - February 12 Bass Camp (109.0) River Miles: 0 Layover day = day of rest. We woke around 7. Breakfast was slow in prep. We had pancakes, sausage and blueberries. Dark clouds loomed in the sky so I found the rain tarp and coaxed…

Grand Canyon - Day 11

Day 11 - February 13 Bass Camp (109.0) to Lower Blacktail Camp (120.7) River Miles: 11.7 We woke to rain. Clouds covered the high reaches of the canyon. The morning was a dreary affair. Breakfast was eggs to order (fried - medium) over…

Grand Canyon - Day 12

Day 12 - February 14 Lower Blacktail (120.7) to Owl Eyes (135.2) River Miles: 14.5 Happy Valentine’s Day! We loved hearing your voices this morning. I woke at 5:50 to NO rain. But the inside of the rain fly was wet with heavy condensation…

Grand Canyon - Day 13

Day 13 - February 15 Owl Eyes Camp (135.2) to Ledges Camp (152.1) River Miles: 16.9 I woke to silence - No rain! I got dressed and then I turned on the lantern to wake Daddy and it started raining! Really hard. Blerg. I waited for a…

Grand Canyon - Day 14

Day 14 - February 16 Ledges Camp (152.1) to Tuckup Camp (165.2) River Miles: 13.1 The laundry did not blow away and was dry by morning. I pulled on a clean pair of long underwear - luxury! I did not sleep well. I was awake frequently…

Grand Canyon - Day 15

Day 15 - February 17 Tuckup Camp (165.1) River Miles: 0 Our layover day dawned with blue skies! The sun was shining but not on our camp yet. The canyon walls prevented the sunshine from hitting us. We were on breakfast duty - so up and…

Grand Canyon - Day 16

Day 16 - February 18 Tuckup Camp (165.1) to Above Anvil Camp (178) River Miles: 12.9 Coffee call came at 6:45. I slept restlessly from 4:30 on. I had to pee but didn’t want to brave the cold so chose to hold it which meant restless…

Grand Canyon - Day 17

Day 17 - February 19 Above Anvil (178.0) to Hualapai Acres (194.6) River Miles: 16.6 The wind gusted all night long. I heard it down at the river or rustling the grasses and then a few second later the whole tent would shake. We slept…

Grand Canyon - Day 18

Day 18 - February 20 Hualapai Acres (194.6) to Granite Park (209.1) River Miles: 14.5 Last night the temperatures dipped below freezing. I wore Daddy’s purple fleece pants over my long underwear. I also pulled the sleeping bag liner…

Grand Canyon - Day 19

Day 19 - February 21 Granite Park Camp (209.1) to Two Hundred and Twenty-Two Mile Camp (222.2) River Miles: 13.1 Daddy and I slept through the coffee call this morning. Dawn was well on it’s way when we heard the breakfast call and…

Grand Canyon - Day 20

Day 20 - February 22 Two Hundred Twenty-two Mile (222.2) to Diamond Creek Take-Out (225.9) River Miles: 3.7 Morning dawned with blue skies and sunshine. It was cold but not as bitter as the last two mornings. The coffee call came so we…