VTR No. 23: The Colorado River Through the Grand Canyon (6000-9000 CFS)

This Video Trip Report includes House Rock, Georgie, Unkar, Hance, Sockdollager, Horn, Granite, Hermit, Crystal, Bedrock, Dubendorff, Upset, Lava, and Mile 205 Rapid.
On this trip, the flows varied between 6000 and 9000 CFS.
Learn more about rafting and kayaking the the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River at www.whitewaterguidebook.com/a....
⚙ SUPPORT GEAR GARAGE:
• Become a Gear Garage member- / @geargaragetv
• Consider supporting the show on Patreon- / zcollier
🚣 ZACH & NORTHWEST RAFTING COMPANY:
• Learn more about Zach-www.nwrafting.com/about/zacha...
• Online Whitewater Rowing Course-www.whitewatereducation.com/p...
• Online Fundamentals of Swiftwater Rescue Course-www.whitewatereducation.com/p...
• Guided trips and instruction-www.nwrafting.com/
• Outfitter Safety Kits: A Handy Checklist-www.nwrafting.com/articles/sa...
📸 SOCIAL MEDIA:
• Instagram- / geargaragetv
• Twitter- / zcollier
• Facebook- / nwrafting
📽️ RELATED VIDEOS:
• Gear Garage Series- • Gear Garage Episodes
• R-1ing with the Hyside Mini Max- • R1-ing with the Hyside...
📦 FAVORITE PRODUCTS:
• Kokatat Huck Throw Bag-amzn.to/3n9wMza
• Spyderco Atlantic Salt Knife-amzn.to/32xThaX
• Fox 40 Sonik Blast Whistle-amzn.to/3zcRpQL
• Bluewater Titan Anchor Sling-amzn.to/3sCkgN1

[@rtennant]

You identified the hardest thing about Lava -- thinking you're too far right when you're not. All of your runs were pretty spot on, congratulations!

[@martinginsburg7222]

Your calm approach & demeanor is worth a save of this video to forward to first time GC boaters when I'm blessed with a trip. A lot of the videos raise the anxiety level, but yours is calming.

[@abbgdr]

Great lines!! you nailed it!

[@modalmixture]

Weird that the river was so silty in September! I ran it early October 2023 and it was absolutely clear.

[@rtennant]

You may not have gotten to the left of that rock in Hance, but still, this is one of the most far left runs I've seen in recent years in Hance. Even I, a very conservative boater, hasn't made it that far left yet. But I have another chance to try at the end of this month.

[@tfleishman1]

Great trip, It was so good to see your runs.last time I was there was 1998 and I took the same conservative , straight forward lines, your technical boater skills were not being tested in the Grand. I grew up backpacking and later river running through the ditch. Bravo for you, love your site and more laissez bon temps rouler for your future trips.

[@tylertastemaker]

Maaaan I wanna do this trip so bad. Thanks for another great vid Zach!

[@MRobards11]

Love these videos Zac, keep them coming! Cheers

[@jaya2137]

Just came off the canyon 4 days ago amazing trip

[@rtennant]

You missed Bedrock by a mile, I really can't understand why everyone else can't.

[@jamusomeighan5194]

Really enjoy your stuff!

[@GearGarageTV]

Glad to hear it!

[@TheBullwheelSlam]

Did you find Augustus Gloop in the chocolate river?

[@jimburton7308]

You call your lines conservative but I call them spot on. I’m heading down early May. I’ve kayaked it 5 times but this will be my first time on the sticks. I will be trying to copy your “conservative” lines! They look great to me!

[@GearGarageTV]

Have fun!

[@MrWils25]

I think the super silty water is a little harder to read.

[@mickfarrell6622]

100% true!

[@portlandpaper9975]

Nice spinies brah

[@GearGarageTV]

Spinnies AND Insie-Outies

[@TypeIIAdventures]

What’s the flotation on that vest?

[@whitewatermoving]

What time of year was your trip? We shove off on the 26th of march in a couple weeks. Also love all your videos. You do a awesome job every time’ 🙌

[@GearGarageTV]

October. I'm glad you like the show!

[@fnaBrb]

I notice that you aren't rowing against your oar stops a lot of the time. Is there a reason for having the oar stops at the locations they are at? Thanks.

[@GearGarageTV]

Some people place their oar stops in very particular places. I’m no too picky in Class III river.

[@ptwood123]

You are for sure wrong about Upset super easy rundown the left, miss the lateral at the top left and let the current take you, plus that is where all the fun is.

[@GearGarageTV]

Everyone on our trip went left and they said it was easy

[@jeffreycompton3334]

For the record pretty much every private trip flip I hear of is trying to go right. You made it look good but most people blow it.

[@joshf-o6696]

I've been down the left, the right, and then center. Center was definitely the most exciting, trying to get right of the hole at the bottom but having to tee up to the wave 🌊

[@tedjohnson401]

Twice down the Right, last time down the Left. Just push through that first diagonal at the top as far left as you can get, and then just tee up for all the laterals coming off the wall. Super fun. Now to get up the nerve to go left at Crystal this August.....

[@ptwood291]

@@tedjohnson401 I have run left at crystal the last couple of trips it is a great line at lower flows, just watch out for the left wall below the big left eddy!