Epic Grand Canyon Adventures: A Repeat Guest’s Journey with Arizona Raft Adventures

Grand Canyon Trips 1989-2021

Written by Mildred Cox, about all of her AzRA trips!

I took my first white water river trip in 1980 and have since done 23.  The most recent trip was through Grand Canyon with AzRA in May/June 2021. My first Grand Canyon trip was with AzRA in 1989, and since then, I have done 7 more GC trips and all but one was with AzRA.  All 8 of these GC trips were from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek although one was a bit farther. Five of these trips were in oar rafts with a paddle boat along and one also had a dory along.  The last 2 trips I took used motor rafts. When I decided to retire, the very first thing I did was pick up the phone and call AzRA to book a trip. But alas, they were already booked up so I had to settle for another company. 

One thing I remember about the GC 1989 trip was when we camped at Nankoweap.  It was mid-October and the World Series game was being played in San Francisco.  Several of the guides took a sat radio to try and listen to the game between the SF Giants and the Oakland Athletics.  In a while, they came running back to camp telling us about the major earthquake that had hit the SF/Oakland area.  There was a guy on the trip who was from SF, but of course we couldn’t find out more about the impact of the quake until after the trip.  This was not the only time something major happened when I was on the river and only found out about it later. 

My next GC trip was in 1991.  Between these 2 trips, we had some amazing and legendary guides – Dave Edwards, Ed Hasse, Martha Clark and Drifter Smith. Drifter was reading Cadillac Desert so of course I had to get a copy and read it.  I still have my copy of this amazing book. 

Over the years, I have been so lucky to have been with such outstanding guides though I suspect all AzRA guides are outstanding.  Those that come to mind are Dave Edwards (1989 and 2012), Ed Hasse (1989 and 2014), Bev Caifa, Randy Tucker, Jim Norton, Kevin Greif, Laura Fallon (2012 and 2021), Kelli O’Keefe (2014 and 2021), Steve Mace and Tom O’Hara. On the 2014 trip, Ed Hasse had invited Louise Teal along as a swamper.  Having read her book, I was so pleased to meet and spend time with her. 

My most memorable hikes were: 

1. Up Havasu Creek to Beaver Falls. The turquoise water and travertine pools were beautiful.  The grapevines were so thick we walked through a tunnel of grapevines.  The next time I went, the grapevines and travertine pools had been swept away by a gigantic flood.  Side note from AzRA: we no longer go to Beaver Falls due to the ask from the Havasupai People to not go onto their land without a proper permit.
2. Up Tapeats Creek and then along Thunder River to where the water bursts from the limestone canyon walls. Thunder River is the shortest (1/2 mile) and steepest (drops 1200 ft. in ½ mile) in the US. 
3. To the Patio above Deer Creek Falls. 
4. To the Granaries at Nankoweap. 
5.  Matkatamiba. Randy Tucker saved me from taking a really bad fall here. 

All of these hikes have beautiful views, but they are tricky and you have to be very careful.  I’ll always remember someone telling me, “You can sight see or hike but you can’t do both at the same time.” No truer advice ever given.  

Over the years, there have been technological advances.  First is the self bailing raft.  It was a lot of work using those buckets to bail the water from the raft. Second is the battery operated water filter which sure beats physically pumping the filter and I was told Kevin Greif invented this.  Lastly, the pee cup prevented a lot of toe injuries by not having to stumble down to the river or to the groover in the middle of the night. 

All but one trip was from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek.  This trip must have been in late October because we could see snow up on the rim and the river was muddy.  I hadn’t bathed or washed my hair in 8 days and was anxious to get off the river.  When we got to Diamond Creek, we found that the road had been washed out and the poor tired boatmen had to row us down to Lake Mead where a jet boat was coming to get the guests and take us out.  The boatmen still had to keep rowing.  I’ll never forget our trip leader telling us, “It’s not when things go smoothly but when they don’t that make for the best memories and stories”. 

This, of course, reminds me of the time I was attacked by a wild animal late at night in my tent no less.  It was dark, everyone was asleep. It must have been warm because my tent door was unzipped.  I felt something run across my stomach and figured it was a grasshopper. Then something bit my finger. It was bleeding. I needed to find it and get it out of my tent. I used my flashlight, moved stuff around and finally found the culprit in a corner of the tent.  It was a mouse!!  I used a cloth to pick it up and put it outside. Then I zipped the door.  Fortunately, there was a doctor on the trip and the next morning I showed him my injury.  He said not to worry because mice rarely carry rabies.  What a comfort!!  I have often imagined that the next morning after we packed up and rowed away that little mouse was bragging to his buddies about how he attacked the invaders and ran us off his beach. 

Occasionally when going on these trips, people would ask if I was going with a friend.  I would say, “Yes, but I don’t know them yet”.  The best thing about river trips is the people – the guides and the guests.  All are interesting, adventurous and personable. I’ve met some on these trips whom I have kept in touch with almost 20 years.  One day on the May 2021 trip, I looked around and everyone had a smile on their face. Where else can you be where this happens?  And that’s why I like these trips. 

My name is Mildred, from Dallas TX and I am 75. 

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