Werner Team Member, Matt Young sent us an electronic postcard, in which he tells us about the beauty and pace of life in the Grand Canyon during winter months....
In 1869 Jack Sumner, a member of Powell's first expedition through the Canyon described his experience in one sentence: "We Broke Several Oars and Most of the Ten Commandments." I think his quote sums up the canyon experience pretty well. Although we didn't actually break any oars, we had our fair share of mishaps, but most of all we had a ton of fun.
For 25 days our world existed within the shelter of the Grand Canyon's walls, thousands of feet below the rim. Nearly a mile above us the rest of the world continued to move at its blistering fast, distracted pace. For 25 days at river level 15 lucky people got an opportunity slow down, focus on the present, and live the good life. Some days we floated, some days we hiked, some days we celebrated, others we recovered. Regardless of what we did, each day was absolute paradise. We went to sleep each night, either rocked by our friend's guitar or serenaded by the sounds of the flowing Colorado. Each morning we anxiously watched as the sun slowly made its way down the walls to warm us in camp.
The Grand Canyon experience is about so much more than whitewater. The hiking, the scenery, and the fact that you are running the classic of all classics makes this a worthwhile experience. What made it one of the finest experiences of my life was the camaraderie that can only be reached among fifteen people who are so closely sharing the same experience for 25 days.
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