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Hermit rapid run Culebra Grande

This is the first picture in a sequence. These Pictures were taken with 2 different cameras. Hermit Rapid in the Grand Canyon is notorious for its huge standing waves. At 18,000 cfs they constrict to form a harmonic celebration of big water. In this first picture we are heading down the back side of one of the smaller waves near the top. Follow these links for the sequence. In picture 2 we are clearing the top of the largest wave. In picture 3 we are coming down the back side of the big wave. After realizing that we were not going to flip, I was able to exhale. We were counting the waves because in picture 4 you can see the flipper wave. This wave is out of sync or out of phase with the rest of the harmonic. For this reason it curls back and has been flipping rafts. I thought that this was the 7th wave. Anyway after big wave 6 we started to move to the left. In picture 5 you can see that we have missed the reversal.

I would like to thank the crew that went on the Culebra Grande. Dave, Abby, Ian, and Donica never once wanted to take the easy route. We knew lava was coming up, and we had to take the big water when we could for practice. No one backed down. The boat and the people were awesome. I often talk of experiencing this life style vicariously through my customers, but this was absolutely the best. Building this little boat that was that much fun, and then getting to run it through the big water of the big rapids in the Grand Canyon. It is an experience I will have trouble duplicating. Believe me, I will try. Thanks to the Culebra Grande Crew.

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