Rafting The Grand Canyon With A Group Of Gay Men






by Howie Holben


We tested ourselves and committed to drive from Oklahoma to California and back in a two week period. We traveled 1001 miles in just one day, which anyone can tell you was quite a feat. We were planning to do a gay Grand Canyon trip along the way.

With the steep cliffs that the water and wind had eroded away. It was one of the first national parks in the United States and was dedicated as such by Theodore Roosevelt on Nov. 28, 1906. Although the river is 286 miles long, ranging in width from 4 to 18 miles and is as deep as a mile, it is not the longest river in the world. Nor is it the widest.

The entire adventure from Lee's Ferry to Lake Mead is 275 miles and takes 17 days to complete. The cool thing is though, if you chose this course all the rafting companies offer food, tents and all the supplies you need to enjoy your extreme camping adventure. I would definitely do this with my children considering all the things I missed when I went back in 2001.

There are so many things to see from hidden water falls to old native villages hidden within the back parts of the canyon. After all you are on one million acres of land. With so many opportunities for exploration the Grand Canyon brings the explorer out while in safe and capable hands of the guides who have been on this river for more than 75 years.

I can't remember being so cold out in the sunlight. We drifted lazily down the river watching the wildlife passing by. To our amazement we had caught a glimpse of a Bald Eagle which according to our guide was a rare sight to see.

There are signs posted that show a well fit man walking into the canyon. The sign reads: Each year we rescue hundreds of people from the canyon. Most of them look like him. Or for the more extreme traveler there are rafting trips that will take you on a 17 day rafting adventure through some of the wildest white waters in the United States. - Although one can go for the 2 hour rafting trip which is the one I took.

Gay rafting, with such stunning views and wild life to see, no wonder why the Pueblo people considered the canyon a holy site and made pilgrimages to it for clarity on spirit walks. Many of these 'walks' have left their mark on the faces of the canyon. I know that when I went in 2001 I missed a lot of cool things to see.

All in all though the experience was well worth it. Especially when a storm blew in. My partner was standing on one of the out looks reading a sign that was posted. The sign said 'If you feel the hairs on your neck stand up, step back. You can be struck by lightening.' Sure enough as he was reading it I watched his hair stand up as if he had been rubbed by a balloon. I snapped a quick shot, he stood back just as a bolt of lightening lit up the entire canyon. Gay Grand Canyon rafting was an amazing experience and one I shall never forget.




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