Posted by Annegret Pfeifer on Jul 11th 2025
Part 2: Rafting the Grand Canyon
Life on the River: Simple, Satisfying, and Surprising
Hydration became a mantra. We drank water constantly, starting before breakfast, which helped our bodies adjust to the desert heat. Meals were another highlight—three hearty, delicious feasts a day that left us all in awe (and definitely not any lighter!).
Breakfasts featured everything from French toast to eggs benedict. Lunches brought sandwiches, wraps, and salads. But dinners? They were next level: grilled pork chops with applesauce, sautéed shrimp over rice, Mahi Mahi steaks, even beef tenderloin with baked potatoes and all the dressings. All capped off with fresh salad and a dessert baked in cast iron dutch ovens. We ate like royalty, even in the heart of the wilderness thanks to our most dedicated crew.
Canyon Magic
The boatmen weren’t just guides—they were storytellers, historians, geologists, and naturalists all rolled into one.
They shared tales of the canyon’s past, explained its mesmerizing rock formations and colors, and pointed out wildlife and plant life we might’ve missed on our own.
With their stories of people and events of the Grand Canyon they weaved us bit by bit into its power and magic.
Every day brought new side hikes and revealed hidden gems—breathtakingly beautiful slot canyons, turquoise waterfalls, secret swimming holes.
We explored, splashed, climbed, and laughed until we were sore, sandy, and tired while being totally in awe.
Reflections from the River
If you ever get the chance to raft the Grand Canyon—go. You won’t come back the same.
It is hard to put into words what it feels like to live in the Grand Canyon, even if just for a little while. The vastness of it all, the rush of the rapids, the silence between them, the feeling of being so small in such a grand place—it was humbling, magical, and deeply grounding. Yet there is also this power of the flowing water
Being on, in, or beside the powerful, flowing waters of the Grand Canyon does something to you. Little by little, it pulls the stops and worries from deep inside and washes them away. You begin to sync with the current, not just of the river, but of your own life.
Nature here doesn’t just heal—it recalibrates. It is a force all its own, one that shakes things loose, clears the static, and puts you back in motion. Whatever felt stuck before—thoughts, fears, stories you’ve told yourself for too long—they start to unravel, dissolve into the rhythm of the river.
You return changed. Grounded. Alive. Flowing in a way that’s hard to explain, but impossible to forget.
I am beyond grateful to have shared this adventure with my family and this amazing group of family, friends and the magical crew of 4 from Grand Canyon Expedition - the best river company ever.
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