Fighting my way through this angry rapid will stand as one of the most exciting minutes in my life.
It was day twelve on a 16-day private expedition paddling the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. A week of rain caused major flash floods upstream. We woke up the previous morning to 500 foot waterfalls on all sides of the canyon. Two side creeks flashed at 9,000 cfs.
I had a moment sitting alone in the eddy with Lava Falls roaring behind me when nine months of anticipation and primal fear lifted from my shoulders.
Paddle on.