Little Colorado River

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.

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.

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The team at The Conqueror Challenges
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