The Ditch (Grand Canyon Rafting Trip) Part 8

4/3 Granite (93.8) to Emerald (104.4)

It's been a few days since my last post because I've had to set aside my river hat and put on my undergradute-student-who-is-desperately-trying-to-pass-her-classes hat, but I got all of my assignments submitted for Discrete Math...and getting caught up Intro to Computer Science sounds like a problem for Future Kellie. I thought a strong academic performance pre-river would have established enough discipline and solid weekly routines to sustain me through the end of the semester. Boy oh boy, I could not have been more wrong. My experience on the Grand changed me in many countless positive ways, and at least one less-positive way. I definitely became THAT student. Big whoops.

Anyway, I had written up a lovely crew spotlight on Chris, which I am excited to post, but I need to table it for a day because after reviewing the trip itinerary for today's post, the spotlight needs to go to Avery because today was Carnage Day. But we'll get there in a second.

We left Granite camp and immediately ran Granite Rapid. It's a big rapid but I don't recall any significant issues or hero lines. From Granite until a little after Mile 106(ish), we didn't really get to let our feet off the proverbial gas. This section of river is pretty burly, and includes what is known as "The Gemstones" or "Gem Series" Rapids. From Western Rivers:

"Agate, Sapphire, Turquoise, Emerald, Ruby, and Serpentine; are the names of a half dozen rapids in that many miles. The Gem Series Rapids, often considered the younger siblings of the larger rapids upstream which include; Horn Creek, Granite, Hermit, and Crystal. Though smaller in size, the Gems should never be taken lightly. The power of the waves and drops in the Gems often surprise the most experienced boatmen, especially at low water when shallow boulders capable of destroying an outboard engine creep closer towards the surface."

As I was looking for a supplemental explanatory link, I was like, "hey, wait a minute, why isn't Crystal [rapid] included in the Gem Stone series?" Well I'll be damned if they are not even remotely the same thing and shame on me for such an egregious error. If you're curious, you can read all about it from what looks to be a very scholarly and reputable site.

So yeah, today was a BIG day of BIG rapids. Granite (8), Hermit (8), Crystal (8), Tuna Creek (6), Sapphire (6). I wish I could remember more about all of the rapids other than Crystal, but Crystal occupied a lot of brain space on this particular day (and you will find out why shortly), so I will rely on the editorial team to provide any relevant information and/or photos for other rapids.

So let's get right to it. Crystal Rapid. From the RiverMaps book:

Mile 98.8 - Crystal Rapid has strong holes at the top of the rapid and a large rock garden at the bottom. Scouting on river right is done both along the riverbank and from a debris fan bluff on the upper end of the debris fan. Either a right or left run will avoid the top holes, though if you run left, don't go too far left or you'll have to deal with a very strong eddy fence and pour-over at the top of the Slate Creek eddy. Just past the eddy the river left wall projects into the river and can flip rafts as well. Once past the upper holes, staying way left or way right of mid-stream can clear the rock garden at the foot of the rapid. (RiverMaps)

Brad and me scouting Crystal

Photo credit: Chris Inman

A different crew running Crystal before us

Photo credit: Chris Inman

I think if folks are relatively familiar with rapids on the Grand, most folks will probably list Crystal and Lava as the two most notable rapids. In fact, if you're familiar with the Emerald Mile (fastest run on the Grand), Crystal flipped their dory. I've heard varying accounts of how high the wave wall was when they ran it, but "multiple stories high" seems to be consistent during the 1983 run. Crystal can mess up your day. Helicopters are often called into assist with medical emergencies and or dislodging pinned rafts.

We took our time on the scout and came up with a good plan for running Crystal. Avery went first in the kayak, followed by Cory/Chris, then Joe/Andy, then Steve/Doug, then Brad/Ada/me. Avery made it through fine and waited in an eddy for the rest of the crew. Cory's boat made it down and pulled into an eddy to wait. Steve's boat, despite a good line, got hit with a wave that seemingly appeared out of nowhere (I think I heard people refer to it as New Wave?), and that's when the carnage ensued. Watching an 18-foot raft flip is not a thing you want to watch happen.

Good news is that both Steve and Doug were able to get out of the way of the raft and swim into an eddy for safety. Our boat was able to grab Doug out of the water and Steve made it on shore. Both were safe and unharmed. And then there was the boat. The boat...got stuck on the rock garden.

This is where I'll pause to do a crew spotlight on Avery!

Photo credit: Chris Inman

Photo credit: Chris Inman

My connection to Avery is very special in that he is a graduate of the Westminster Outdoor Education and Leadership (OEL) program. I had Avery in several classes and he was a participant on the 2020 Field Semester.  I can't remember what I've discussed in posts already--I probably mentioned the OELFS so I'll skip it, but check out the website if you're curious. It was on the OELFS that Avery discovered a love and talent for whitewater. Since then, he's become an incredibly adept hardshell kayaker and raft guide. He currently serves in a leadership position for a rafting company in Idaho. Having Avery on the trip as a safety boater was really indispensable. Not only did he save several swimmers (myself included), but he really earned his keep on Carnage Day. He single-handedly managed to dislodge the stuck raft (link to Avery's video on IG) from the rock garden and get it moving downriver where the rest of the group could meet up to attach flip lines and get the boat back right side up. Total boss move. Proud teacher moment: it's also been so fun and rewarding to watch Avery develop as an outdoor educator and leader--not only in his technical outdoor skills (especially whitewater), but also in his human skills (namely, communication and giving and receiving feedback). Also a grill master. Well done, Avery. Grateful to have had an opportunity to share this experience with you and thankful for your contributions. We debated on whether Avery's river name was going to be "Human Z Drag" or "Tigger" (from the bouncing required to dislodge the raft from the rock garden). Tigger won :)

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We got the raft downriver, assembled the group and some flip lines, and eventually got the boat right side up. Worth noting is how incredibly calm everyone stayed through this process. Each person had a role, they knew what their role was, people communicated clearly and directly, and everyone chipped in. It was really a beautiful demonstration of effectively responding to a critical situation as a team. Well done, everyone. 

As far as additional carnage--the boat was stuck upside down with a pretty significant current for an extended period of time. As a result, there were some items dislodged and some damage to the boat. One of the oar tower cobras (the thing that keeps the oar in place) got completely sheered off. Shoutout to mechanic Ada for having the oar tower fixed lickety split! Most of the toilet paper was pretty wrecked (it was our groover boat). A cell phone was claimed by the river, among some other odds and ends. Most of the Bills Bags got waterlogged despite being sealed correctly. Overall, the priority and most important thing was that humans were safe and that the boat was in fixable condition. It was a bummer to lose some stuff and have things get wet. I commend Doug and Steve for their incredible patience and positive attitudes throughout the whole ordeal. It could have been very easy to end up in the "everything sucks and I hate everything" mentality after getting flipped, losing some stuff, and getting all your personal gear wet. They were absolute champs. And honestly, it's the sort of flip that could have happened to any of our boats. And we found out later that it DID happen to another groover boat of another rafting party that we ended up camping with several times. Sometimes shit happens to your shit boat.

Regrouping after the Carnage
Photo credit: Chris Inman

We got through Crystal, licked our wounds, and continued through the Gem Stone series until reaching Emerald Camp. Dinner: Chicken Stir-Fry and Rice.

Emerald Camp was rocky. 
Photo credit: Cory Inman

Not the best campsite, but still some great views.
Photo credit: Andy James

Cory emerged from his tent dressed like a Von Trapp Family Singer, so Joe and I added a few NRS straps to complete the look.

Photo credit: Kellie Gerbers

I don't remember much else from Emerald Camp. We were all pretty gassed after the big day. I may try and get another post up tonight--whatever I can do to avoid coding HW!