{"id":16741,"date":"2018-06-28T09:00:13","date_gmt":"2018-06-28T16:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=16741"},"modified":"2018-06-22T09:55:02","modified_gmt":"2018-06-22T16:55:02","slug":"self-support-kayaking-the-grand-canyon-is-for-chumps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2018\/06\/28\/self-support-kayaking-the-grand-canyon-is-for-chumps\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-Support Kayaking the Grand Canyon is for Chumps"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are very few river trips in the world that are as coveted by such a large population of boating women and men as the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. The 280 miles (depending on where you take out) is some of the most awe-inspiring geography I\u2019ve ever had the pleasure of traveling through. As miles fall away, you feel as if you\u2019re traveling further and further into the past. Deeper into the geology, deeper into the heart of the earth and the history of the world. It feels like you could touch the ancient civilizations that lived thousands of years before us. Clearly, there\u2019s only one way to experience this trip: with thousands of beers stashed away in drop sacks, a four-burner stove, six propane bombs, 75 pounds of cast iron, and 10\u2014yes ten\u2014groovers.<\/p>\n

If you wanted to be a chump, you might leave the raft behind and find your way into a kayak. That\u2019s right. A goofy, plastic, shiny, torpedo looking craft where A. you sometimes flip upside down and B. it\u2019s extremely difficult to make mixed drinks on the go. Take it from me, you should definitely go the way of the rubber\u2026<\/p>\n

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The 6 hours spent at the put-in and take-out to derig a rafting trip is a great time to bond with friends.<\/strong><\/span> You could argue running every sandy strap attached to god-knows-what for god-knows-why after 20 days on the river through your cracked hands is a great alternative to exfoliating, but, hey, it\u2019s part of the experience (and you won\u2019t have to pay for that manicure later!). Packing a kayak is way too quick…you can pack it in the comfort of your own home, load it on the truck, and put-in right when you show up. No muss, no fuss, no pondering for hours where to rig that last groover. I personally think tetris is a good time.<\/p>\n

And at the take out, there\u2019s no pleasure in feeling the nozzle blast stale air through your hair as you crack open that valve. No, unfortunately, you simply peel off your drysuit, grab that clean pair of clothes out of the shuttle-rig, load the kayaks and go. Where\u2019s the closure? Where\u2019s the rolling of 18 foot rafts in the sand? What are you supposed to do with all your extra time upon returning to home base? You mean, I don\u2019t have a boat to unroll\u2014again\u2014and clean?<\/p>\n