When Elderhostel posted the Grand Canyon river rafting adventure, I was probably the first one to register back in November 2001. I have been wanting to take this kind of trip for some years now, and the Elderhostel trip looked like the best way to do it.
Elderhostel is a non-profit organization providing educational and travel programs for U.S. senior citizens. The description of the trip stated that it could accomodate fifteen people plus the raft crew. That meant I would be traveling with others in my own age group.
This photograph was taken during our trip, but I thought I would show it now, to give you some idea of the kind of rafting available on the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon.
The trip began with a group meeting/orientation at Flagstaff, Arizona. The next day we were bussed north to near the Utah border and began the rafting trip at a place called Lee's Ferry. From there we spent eight days on the water, camping out on the river's edge for seven nights. On the eighth day, we were picked up a Diamond Creek, some 225 miles down river and through the Grand Canyon. We were bussed back to Flagstaff, for a hot shower, a celebratory dinner, and a good night's rest.