You're Always Above Lava
Here's a flashback to fiver years ago today, October 5th, 2019. Sally and I are sitting in my boat after I rowed Lava Falls Rapid.
Lava Falls is a major rapid located at river mile 180 on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Depending on how much water is flowing downstream, the rapid is rated as a 9 to 10 on the Grand Canyon scale or a Class V on the international scale. The rapid is about 100 yards long and drops 37 feet. The average run in Lava Falls is about 15 to 20 seconds.
Thank you to Holly Dean for the photo.
I had only started rowing a raft less than a week earlier, and my prior experience before that was limited to rowing a few miles on flat water. With a lack of experience, Sally did not want me to row Lava, and she sure wasn't going to be crazy enough to be in the boat with me. But I'm glad she joined me for a photo on my boat afterward at Tequilla Beach, where we had a short celebration before continuing our journey downstream.
There are close to 80 major rapids on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Notable rapids include Hance, Granite, Hermit, and Crystal, but even when it's days away and many miles downstream, you always seem to be thinking about Lava in the back of your mind. As one of our boatmen said to me after rowing Lava Falls, for those lucky to return to the river repeatedly, "You're always above Lava."
He was right; after running Lava, your mind turns to the next trip. You begin to dream about the good times and amazing adventures you'll have on the river. You will be back above Lava, somewhere upstream, thinking of what you are approaching and anticipating your next run.