Direkt efter uppladdning av dagens cykelrunda, kom det två mail med vykort från Grand Canyon utmaningen.
Det första för att ha kommit till 100 km och det andra för att ha kommit till 112 km av den totala sträckan.
Vykort 100 km
Sjätte vykortet
As I progressed along the river, I rafted through Kwagunt Rapid. Not an overly difficult rapid with average sized waves but the current was so strong that it kept pushing the raft towards the exposed rocks. As with any rapid, flipping in it was not ideal as there was no chance to self-rescue, making the ride bumpy and exhausting. Continuously course correcting, I made it into calmer water and carried on to the next one, which was quite uneventful.
Vykort 112 km
Sjunde vykortet
As I entered the Grand Canyon proper, I sensed a change. The canyon became deeper, the river more powerful, more imposing. This is where the advanced rapids awaited my arrival.
Mera info vykort nr. 6
As anticipated shortly after the 60mi (96km) rapid, I reached the confluence of the Colorado River with its major tributary, the Little Colorado River. This was the end of Marble Canyon and the beginning of the Grand Canyon proper.
A significant difference at this junction was the change in water quality and colour. Up to now, the Colorado River was a cool, clear and blue-green shade. The Little Colorado River was a muddy brown, a result of too much silt due to heavy rains muddying its usually vibrant blue colour.
So here I was at the junction where the green of the main river blended with the murkiness of the little river. The further along I travelled the browner the river became leaving the dark green shade behind. The canyon walls were no less impressive but the murky water was no longer inviting. Perhaps just as well since the water temperature was an average 48°F (9ºC) so I no longer felt the desire for a swim.
Mera info vykort nr. 7
Around mile 64 (107km) the lower part of the canyon walls have significant mineral deposits. Known as the Hopi Indian salt mines, this is where the Hopi Indians come to gather salt for ceremonial purposes. A pilgrimage here was also a rite of passage for young males entering adulthood. Considered sacred ground, the area is off-limits to outsiders and rafts on the river are not permitted to stop and explore.
Four miles (6.4km) later I rafted past Tanner Canyon and through Tanner rapid. The murkiness of the water was really showing and a far cry from the green colour in Marble Canyon. The rapid was named after Seth Tanner, a 19th century prospector and guide. He was responsible for expanding and improving the Tanner Trail down to the river. Legend has it that the trail was used in the late 1800s to drive stolen horses and during the prohibition era of the 1930s likely used by moonshiners (liquor smugglers).
Norm and Doris Nevills were pioneers in commercial river running in the 1930s. Norm was in charge of the expedition on the river and Doris in charge of logistics. Norm was credited with numerous ‘firsts’ such as: first person to run through the canyon more than twice, first to run a commercial run through the canyon, first to take women on a commercial trip, and and first to take women through the canyon. Norm was also proud of the fact that he never flipped a boat on any of his river runs. As prominent figures in Grand Canyon history, they were bestowed with their own rapid at mile 75 (120km), known as Nevills Rapid.