Tips for Rowing the Big Rapids in the Grand Canyon (Colorado River Whitewater Rafting)

First Prize - 2022 National Paddling Film Festival, Accomplished Amateur Category

00:00 Intro & Overview
14:29 Badger Creek Rapid
18:16 House Rock Rapid & Downstream Ferry
35:14 24-Mile (Georgie) Rapid
37:57 Hance Rapid & Scouting Technique
49:48 Horn Creek Rapid
54:59 Granite Rapid
59:46 Hermit Rapid
1:04:11 Crystal Rapid
1:11:48 Bedrock Rapid
1:21:54 Upset Rapid
1:26:28 Lava Falls
1:40:12 209-Mile Rapid
1:45:50 Risk & Rower Readiness
1:50:22 Conclusion, Credits, and Download Info

Here's a unique "how to" instructional video for those aspiring to get behind the oars of a raft in the Grand Canyon. It includes action video from all the major rapids, diagrams, and analysis alongside helpful advice on skills and technique. And it is organized into chapters - one per major rapid. Our aim is for this to support enjoyment of trips and especially safer trips.

As promised in the video, here is a link to the downloadable pdf file containing all the rapid diagrams and other helpful info. Viewers report that they found it helpful to take either a printed version or the digital version on a device along with them on the river to review at camp or while scouting. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GgAS...

And here is the link to a downloadable version of this video. It's a 1 GB mp4 file. At 640x360 it's suitable for an iPad or smartphone, and that should work fine for portability. Please use the link for downloads only, and not for streaming. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DEmW...

Marc Hunt is a longtime whitewater kayaker and river runner from Asheville, North Carolina. He's been enjoying Grand Canyon whitewater since 1982. He co-founded the original outfitting business on the Ocoee River in Tennessee in the 1976 and later went on to leadership roles at Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina. With numerous trips on rivers around the US and internationally, he has an extensive background in whitewater safety, paddling instruction, and guide training.

Based on feedback and questions since original publication, here are a few notes from Marc for clarification/interpretation of video content:

For those that don't mind using devices in the Canyon, I recommend downloading the video so rowers can watch a chapter on a given rapid the evening prior to running it. Diagrams can be reviewed on devices, or they can be printed in advance and taken along. There is so much info in the video, it might be hard to retain key points without taking the resources along. Downloads are limited to personal use in support of river running in the Grand Canyon and may not be re-published without permission. To share this video with others, it's best to simply provide the link to this YouTube version.

In the intro and overview section, where I discuss the disco move (i.e., turning around and rowing from the opposite sitting position), I see that as perhaps useful in less-intense situations like when one is working through chaotic swirls below a rapid, and not so much to be used as a technique in the heart of a big rapid where it would be difficult to quickly reposition one' self in the raft.

Some have wished I had provided routes through additional rapids, with Deubendorff being of prime interest. My hope is that with study of the video and putting the scouting and routing skills to use in the rapids covered, the rapids not covered in the video will become easier to manage. When it comes to Duby though, I favor a left to right downstream ferry given that there are a couple pour-overs on the left-side run should one get a little off-route there.

Some say that they do find it challenging to adapt to the downstream ferry with confidence. I'll just emphasize again that for those not yet familiar, practicing the downstream ferry with intention and repetition early in the trip - or preferably on other rivers in the months leading up to a Grand Canyon trip - is the key. And note that adapting to timing of all moves in the Canyon can require some learning due to the heavier-loaded of rafts packed for a multi-week Canyon trip.

I'll continue to provide updates here based on welcomed feedback.

*****

Partial Credits for Music Arcadia
Wonders by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/
The Evening of Departure by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/