Photo Courtesy of Ron Macdonald
The first trip of 2015 hit the water this past Saturday. Every year the anticipation for those first Grand Canyon white water trips builds and builds throughout the winter months. Once blossoms begin to bloom and the snow begins to disappear from the San Francisco Peaks, life begins to return to both the Flagstaff office and the Marble Canyon warehouse. That bit of activity gets us excited for the year ahead. Hatch came up with a list of some of our favorite reasons that rafting season has rolled around.
- Boats in the yard – There really is nothing better than cruising up to the warehouse and seeing activity and bustling workers prepping and rigging the rafts for a season. The rafts spend their winters safely rolled up inside of the warehouse which leaves the yard naked and vacant. Once those first rigs begin, boats litter the driveway awaiting their next journey.
- Guides filter in from around the world – Ever met a river guide? These lads and ladies come from all walks of life but one thing they all have in common is their spirit. From skiing in the Rocky Mountains to teaching middle school kids or even traveling to South America in the off season, river guides have stories to tell and might be some of the most interesting people in the world. Having their energy and light back around here makes us happy to have them back.
- Seeing return clients and catching up – Lasting relationships have been built on many a river trip. Some guests travel with Hatch every single year. Though perhaps not much communication takes place in the off season, getting back together on the river feels like no time has passed. Guides, staff and owners look forward to this every year.
- Meeting new guests on an adventure of a lifetime – Just like first date nerves, meeting and knowing new clients brings excitement to the staff. Though many a river trip launches every season, each one provides a special and unique dynamic. The ability to meet travelers from around the world and connect in a place as magical as Grand Canyon is pretty special.
- The Canyon is callingand we must go – Being away from Grand Canyon is like being away from a close friend. Both experiencing the dazzling cliffs for ourselves as well as sharing it with others fulfills some basic needs for Grand Canyon lovers. In a sense it could be described as returning home every year. Like salmon return to the river of their birth, so do members of the river community. Somehow the Colorado River provides a sense life and happiness while in the presence of pure solitude.
Looking forward to the 2015 Grand Canyon white water season brings anticipation and eagerness. This first launch is just the beginning of what promises to be a fantastic rafting season. Join us for the journey and the ride and create memories to last a lifetime!
