Solo Kayak Descent of the Grand Canyon

[@kennyc388]

74 year young flat water kayaker. Thanks for taking me along Aaron.....a beautiful video with appropriate music. Nice work young buck.

[@kevintriolo4133]

So cool the way the water color changes so drastically in that little side canyon!

[@connorcoultas9629]

Havasu Creek is beautiful.

[@at6686]

If you ever float the grand, hiking havasu is a highlight not to be missed.

[@Thomas-h4n5h]

Thank you! Beautiful run.

[@deb6061]

Thanks for the ride along! 😃😃😃

[@kinerskorner1]

This is on my "must do" list!!! Great video!!!

[@BroadcaststoNowhere]

Having done that exact run, thanks for the memory refresh. I flipped in Lava at the exact same spot. It is a level up doing it solo. Good job trying to catch that wave at the end! Music was nice touch...

[@stimpyyouidiot1071]

Have watched this a few times. Dreaming of my own adventure in the future hopefully. Thanks again 👍

[@julikenn]

Well done mate especially the rolls in rough water!

[@brohoe520]

This is amazing great way to clear your mind and have peace!

[@miggrodriguez9996]

Nice video! I just went to visit the majestic Grand Canyon, no kayaking, just hiking and walking along south and east rims and down the Angel Bright trailhead short down walk. Seeing this video makes me want to go back one day and try the kayaking in the Colorado River.

[@SouthernYak]

prepping for a GC trip this fall and stumbled on your video. really nice edit!

[@80hitultracombo]

Dude, I got butterflies in my stomach just watching when you crested that wave in Granite. Magical.

[@joshuas3282]

Damn, and i thought i was a good paddler. Very well done. Those rapids had some character.

[@seananderson5450]

I would love to do that trip. I’m looking to go along the a company I just have to have my kit and roll dialed in. Nice job and thanks for posting. Cheers from California!

[@ohiovetoutdoors]

Beautiful!

[@markmecikalski4947]

Beautiful video, really grabbed me. It told a story..showed you getting ready and getting into kayak, then the beautiful calm side canyon, then wild rapids and success. Camera placement wonderful. The music seemed incongruous...what does a New York boy have to do with the Grand Canyon?...but it works fabulously..rather calm music juxaposed with the roiling water in the video was great contrast, and also including the paddling sounds underneath the music..I'm not an artist or a critic and I've only paddled a little, but I think there is something really good here.

[@aaronblau9302]

Thank you!

[@mikeemmons4062]

Looks like an amazing run.

[@thewanderingbooler]

I’d love a go at this!

[@sorsorscience0787]

Incredible skills. I am wanting to get into this and learn how to kayak as well as you do. Hopefully I have a chance in my life to do this sometime. I would be terrified of my GoPro falling off the back without my noticing!

[@aaronblau9302]

Thank you!

[@DanRansom]

Awesome video Aaron - that v-wave smash in Lava!

[@kelleyrogers8107]

This is epic.. what a trip

[@ThomasHayden]

As long as I've considered the Grand Canyon (2 privates & 1 commercial), I've never even considered going down there alone. What an amazing adventure! What a humbling experience. What an amazing journey of self discovery! I do hope nobody ever does this again, though. Too many young men would die down there if this became popular.

[@canyontritt4488]

Ive been paddling for a while now. Last year we did a 21 day trip down the Grand canyon.

[@BladePressure]

Cool story bro

[@cpuffdragon]

What a legend

[@Danny-nz6jn]

That’s amazing. Good lines

[@scotthartman1691]

As a 13-timer myself - all privates - I've long considered a solo. Good on ya for doing it.

[@rivernet62]

I kayaked the canyon in 1990 and my memory of lava is exactly like your footage: paddle, paddle, paddle, ... greeeeeen. I came out right side up, did you?

[@connorcoultas9629]

I think he flipped in the V. I did too when I ran it 😂😂

[@Danny-nz6jn]

Best video I’ve seen

[@aaronblau9302]

Thank you!

[@rossharlow-outdoors4690]

Wicked!!!!!.........Loved it man!........Subbed!

[@AZbowhunter1968]

Awesome !

[@number4cat1]

How much did your boat weigh loaded?

[@kucharzow]

I am just starting my adventure with kayaking, beggining from opening a small kayak rental office in Poland, nearby Warsaw on Jeziorka river. Nevertheless, I would really like to take such kind of a trip to be in my portfolio as well. I am sure I will take kayak adventure through Colorado River, starting from Grand Junction in Colorado and finishing in Las Vegas. Anybody wants to join? By the way, I would not be a Pole if I would not mention Aleksander Doba who swam Atlantic Ocean in his kayak. Do you know him already?

[@ahsanmohammed1]

Did he havd a boat pushing him?

[@boofingdragon]

nice! I just got a permit for a Jan launch date and will also be soloing.

[@cheskybaba4864]

Fantastic Aaron! Obviously you did this a long time ago , but about how long was the trip in distance and time?

[@aaronblau9302]

Thank you! I took 9 days to run the 225 miles from Lee's Ferry to Diamond Creek.

[@cheskybaba4864]

That's quite the adventure. Live life to its fullest. Did you see anyone else along the way?

[@karlmcaidey1084]

The original sound of rafting is missing.

[@marijoprofabosnjakmatic1275]

Wauuuuu

[@cwgumby]

Holy shit

[@isaacmont3623]

Great video!! Thanks for posting. What type of Kayak and paddle are you using? THANKS.

[@aaronblau9302]

Liquid Logic Stinger XP and an AT paddle.

[@russellsmith3855]

Solo not worth it... take a friend safer great video

[@HeadPack]

That is an impressive paddling technique you are exhibiting there. How long did it take you to reach that level?

[@markrogers4765]

mark r again commented before u finished WOW WOW!

[@hidehikosekita4994]

what name is your green kayak? This mail is from Japan.

[@aaronblau9302]

Liquid Logic Stinger XP

[@hidehikosekita4994]

@@aaronblau9302 I visited to U.S. 47 times for just down river.

[@johnrflinn]

How hard was it to Eskimo Roll this kayak with all your gear?

[@aaronblau9302]

That's a good question... I don't recall it being too bad!

[@chachee15]

i love these songs, who are they from? Great video. Cant wait to do that myself.

[@aaronblau9302]

Glad you enjoyed it! The songs are: Only Living Boy in New York - Simon and Garfunkel Riverside - Agnes Obel Belispeak - Purity Ring

[@txkayak3r331]

how did you mount your camera and what did you have to do to keep it stabilized?

[@aaronblau9302]

I used a Jackson Levator GoPro mount, it hooks onto the grab handle. Stability is all GoPro's internal magic!

[@patrickcannon8869]

That video was legit. Thank you for sharing. What kind of kayak are you using in the video?

[@aaronblau9302]

Thank you! Liquid Logic Stinger XP, the skeg is really nice to have on flat water.

[@hansoncollin]

Could you give specific location points where you dropped off and picked up your kayak?

[@aaronblau9302]

I put on the river at Lee's Ferry and took off at Diamond Creek.

[@AaronFleishman1]

If you're looking to do this, it's a lot more involved than just showing up and paddling. You need a permit to put-on, which are only available via lottery through the National Park Service. There are a lot of rules and regulations that need to be followed, and significant experience is needed.

[@markschuette3770]

did you get a permit? i'm thinking about doing this but without a permit so that i don't have to wait years!

[@Michael65429]

Better get a permit!

[@todddaugherty110]

Hmmm? Totally unsupported? A raft trip could take say 14 days at the least. Granted, yaks can go a lot faster. So let's say you did it in 10. So you carried shelter, sleeping gear, cooking gear, fuel, water filtration, first aid, clothes, 10 days worth of food, and all manner of miscellaneous gear in that yak? Hard to believe the Park Service grants permits for that, especially as far up the ass the Lee's Ferry Rangers go.

[@aaronblau9302]

Not totally, I had to rely on the generosity of other trips for a cold beer here and there! All that other stuff you listed though was in my kayak!

[@todddaugherty110]

@@aaronblau9302 Very impressive sir. Kudos. I used to be a serious solo backpacker, so I understand the thinking that has to go in. Later, a spoiled rafter with the kitchen sink. How many days on the river?

[@kayakmb]

Plus all his shit, literally all his shit. Carried in the white PVC tube between his legs, you can see it in the opening shots. Great video Aaron, really gives the feel of the peace and the chaos of kayaking the Grand Canyon.

[@ahsanmohammed1]

Let natural sounds play, not music.

[@connorcoultas9629]

That would not be nearly as interesting as you think.