TGC Dispatch Teaser

Here's a little sneak peek at the footage from the Grand Canyon. I am presently working on the first dispatch from the Grand! The theme will revolve around the lifestyle of expeditions.

The Grand Canyon in images

Wow! 20 days of river, 360km of pure beauty and immensity. 

Just got back from the Grand Canyon with 15 friends. The trip was simply amazing, the scenery breath taking and the waves surprisingly big. It is pretty hard to resume the trip or even put words on it. The simplicity of the lifestyle on the water is addicting: waking up, cooking, packing and paddling that's the way to live! 

When everybody met in Flagstaff, Az before the start, spirits were really high and everybody used the day to complete equipment prep and buy alcohol for the next 20 days!!!

 David stoked to have found a good beer selection

 Talking about the next 20 days at the local micro-brewery

 So, that's what you call poutine!!

After a final night in civilization, and a bender for some! We all headed up to Lees Ferry to meet up with Ceiba outfitting company and figure out how to pack our lifes and food for the next 3 weeks.

Trying to figure out how to pack everything into 5 boats 

Bruno, the steamboat, impatient to get moving 

The feeling was awesome, when we pulled out of the eddy and got in the current for the first time. Everybody was smiling and starring all around at what would be our world for this expedition. 

First morning, ready to head out 

 The Canyon and Navajo bridge at distance

The first nights were blessed with this awesome moon shine 

 Bruno escaping one of the first major obstacle at House Rock Rapid

Slowly but surely, our lives changed and adjusted to this new reality. We went to bed early and got up with the sun in the morning. We had breakfast, packed our gear and went paddling. When we got at the next camp, we unpacked, build ourself a home for the night and had dinner while talking with the group. Our routine changed and got that beat that only expeditions can bring! 

Camp, that's what I called Home for that night 

 Looking at my backyard

 I guess that's why they called it the Grand Canyon

 In some places, rocks were eroded to create magnificent caves

All the group stoked!!! 

Classic after dinner time

 Take away all of modern's life entertainment and they become kids again!!

Big thanks to our outfitters, everything was awesome, 

but make sure you all check BIG EATER!!

 Closing up the raft for the night

Then, after a week on the water it all seemed to have become normal! Paddling in this landscape became the norm. But, when you stopped, looked and enjoyed the scenery, you became aware of how lucky you were to be there at the moment.   

One of many giant walls

Drying my gear at another awesome camp

Looking at what was to come tomorrow

Walking up to the granaries

The crew chillin' at the granaries

Even E.T. enjoyed the site

The view before going to sleep

After 7 days of paddling it was time to take a day off! It seemed weird, but yes we took some time off from our vacations!!! The weather in the Grand Canyon was amazing for this time of the year. Well, the sun did all the difference, shady days and nights were kind of cold, but whenever the sun was out it felt just like summer. This warmth was perfect to enjoy a quick cold bath or a cold beer!!!

First day off, what's better than a beer in the sun?

Incredible view at the river awaiting us

Looking through the glasses! 

I guess some people were here before us... Native rock carving

Seems like the world was revolving around us for once

Little city created by our camp

Then, it was finally time for some paddling. The rapids on the Colorado aren't really though or technical, but the volume creates some of the biggest waves I've seen. The rapids are pretty much all approached the same way! Follow the main water vein, aim at the big waves and enjoy!! Still, a few rapids had big features and were fun to scout and run. 

Looking over for the next big wave

The crew walking up for seconds

But then, I guess that paddling wasn't enough... Some of us also packed some climbing gear to enjoy the many many rock aspects along the way. On shorter days, we had time to hike a little and find some boulders to climb. These little sessions were really fun and changed from sitting on the water. 

Adam trying to find his way on the first route

David looking so concentrated

What else was there to do but smile?

Looks like this one wasn't that easy after all

Again, what's better than a fire, some friends and an awesome place?

A few rapids made us think a little harder, Ermitt's wave

On top of the world, well my world at least!!

As we started to make our way down the river, the landscape slowly changed, following the geology and the climate. Walls started to rise higher as we made the descent through the harder rocks of the basement. Scarce vegetation at the begging slowly changed to more bushy trees and cactus. The weather also changed a little becoming less stable with occasional cloudy days and rain showers. 

Variable weather over the walls of the Grand

Putting up camp and leaving afterwards had a special feeling during the trip. Everybody helped and all the efforts were made to follow the strict "leave no trace" policy. That included setting up a clean kitchen, a fire pan and a "porto putty"! All of the solid waste including ashes and human waste were brought back with us. When pulling out every little scrap of food, garbage and burnt wood were picked up. All of this enabled us to still have the feeling of discovering an unknown place at every river corner. 

Home, different, but still home

One of many side canyons with flowing creeks

Another beautiful waterfall, a bit tall to be runable 

Since only 10% of the river contains rapids, a lot of time was spent stretching on the rigs. These 18 footers raft made it easy to live on them with other cramped up kayakers! The constant current makes it a bit easier on the shoulders and makes progress easy. This allowed for short days on the water, many stops along the way to enjoy the scenery.

Jo, stretching his legs and warming up his shoulders

Walking those enclosed side canyons makes you feel small 

At some point, we all felt like explorers

I guess I have to say that Lava Falls was the highlight of the whitewater portion. The rapid is pretty impressive from the scouting point on river right and the features are impressing. A major hole in the center is easily avoided but the right has enormous crashing waves big enough to swallow a raft, let alone a kayak. So we were all anxious to run it. The line was chosen and ran with success! 

Adam heading back to his boat at Lava Falls

Magnificent day ender

Waiting out a rain storm, with a book and some warm tea

David finding his way on yet another route

"Hugging the pregnant woman" move

Nigh time reading before a good sleep 

The group was very well balanced, combining experience with youthful energy. All of us, all leaders had moments where we could give our input and other moment where we had to keep it for ourselves. The trip enabled us to learn and grow as human at the same time.    

The crew on the morning of the last day of river

Brigitte and Étienne chatting and enjoying the sun

Pumpkin spring, because of the shape or the smell?

Boats floating down the last bite of river goodness

David discovers that it's higher than it looked

By the end of the trip, food was getting scarce... So, we had to improvise and use the best of our imagination to get meals going. Fortunately, it wasn't the same for the alcohol!! So we used the last night to eat what was left of the food in a magnificent "Tou'ski" and drink what was left of the beer, wine and scotch. I guess we can call it a success!!! 

Last night, last scraps of food!!! 

Good old E.T. the toilet keeper

An awesome lineup for a good night 

Happy endings are always the best

Leaving the Grand's paradise

In retrospective, I can only say that it's pretty hard to put words on that kind of trip. No words can describe the view, the immensity and the spirit of the place. But here's a few stats!!!

Beta: 

20 days

361 km 

16 people

5 rafts

9 kayaks

10 days of beans

400 beers

9 bottles of scotch

30 liters of wine

10 jokes a day from David

10 boxes of shit

560 pictures

50 Go of footage

After all of this, the only thing floating in my head is: "What's next?"...