From the Ski for Light Bulletin - Fall 2010
by Nancy Stevens
For my fiftieth birthday present, with help from a partial grant from Challenged Athletes foundation, I took the trip of a life time rafting in the Grand Canyon. Many people who had experienced the canyon told me it was life changing for them.I thought about what would make this trip life changing for me? The packing list sent by the staff at Canyon Expeditions was very small. I asked myself could I really only bring 4 shirts, then I asked the harder question: could I live without my watch and without my Book Sense to read me to sleep? With some apprehension, after our orientation, I left my high tech conveniences in my suitcase. I had the opportunity to do a rim to rim hike in the canyon last year, and thoroughly enjoyed the peacefulness of the canyon, however, we had to reach camp sites by a certain time. I was always mindful of my progress in trying to keep up with the other hikers over the 4 day trip.This year, because we did not have a schedule to keep, I truly experienced the meanings of being in the moment and going with the flow. The guides were absolutely fantastic and gave us options at dinner of what was in store for the next day. Our typical routine was rafting, hiking, lunch, rafting and dinner. Then we slept under the stars with the sound of the river to lull us to sleep. The unique part of this company is that they offer the opportunity for 6 people to paddle in a paddle raft, kayak in a single person kayak known as a ducky or we could choose to ride in an oar boat. The way we knew it was time to start packing in the morning was the sound of the Conch shell blown by one of the guides. When the second sound of the shell echoed off the canyon walls a bit later, we knew breakfast was ready. We had no idea what time it was by the clock. We just knew it was time to begin another day of adventure. I spent the majority of my days paddling in the 14 foot paddle raft with 5 other paddlers, and our trusty guide Matt.The fourth day of the trip, I had one of the most amazing experiences which I never imagined happening for me. I had the opportunity to paddle myself in one of the duckies through a small rapid. I have tried paddling in a single kayak on a lake in the past, and usually ended up going in circles. How-ever, on the river, I was able to feel the direction of the current and use the paddle to steer. This was going with the flow. I paddled by listening to the guide in the paddle raft giving instructions to the 6 paddlers, and by listening to the other kayaker calling out go left or right. Go meant I was where I wanted to be. It's hard to describe the thrill I felt when the paddle guide suggested that he thought I would be able to paddle through the rapid. Joy who was in the second ducky described the river just before the rapid as a V shape where the water is very calm and still. As we paddled up to the V, Joy yelled right, go, go, go. I felt the ducky slowly being sucked into the point of the V where the waves began splashing up in to my face. The ducky rocked back and forth being pushed by the water. I just kept thinking to myself stay upright, go with it, use the paddle to stay in the wave. Joy was behind me excitedly hollering go, go, go. Yippee, I was where I needed to be! Matt was in front of me in the paddle boat saying all forward, forward 3. Before I knew it we were done within 30 seconds. Both Joy and I finished upright in our duckies. We were elated. I threw my hands up in the air still holding my kayak paddle.The experience of successfully paddling the ducky through a rapid in the Grand Canyon was a thrill I'll never forget. I am still not quite clear how this trip changed my life, but it reminded me that over and over, the SFL philosophy is still true; if I put my heart and mind to something, amazing things are possible.