Photography Internship: Grand Canyon River Expedition

So, how did I get on this trip of a lifetime?

Hatch River Expeditions came to the NAU photo program with a new internship opportunity for two photography students to document a 7-day motorized rafting trip in the Grand Canyon. This would be a fantastic chance to demonstrate the special skills needed to shoot a unique experience like this in our portfolios and provide good marketing content for Hatch. After submitting a portfolio and going through an interview process, me and another student named Storey (@storeywelch) were selected back in March. We met with the Hatch communications team a few times at their office in Flagstaff to prepare for the trip in June. 

How Packing Worked

Normally, guests on this trip receive a small dry day bag that is accessible on the boat and a larger dry night bag that holds their duffle bag and sleep kit (sleeping bag, cot, pillow, tarp.) In addition to these, I had another large dry bag that kept my large camera backpack and tripod safe as well as a small dry bag that I would put my camera in during really large rapids. This small bag also held items like spare batteries, sd cards, cleaning supplies, and camera rain gear that I used to shoot in rapids. All of these bags were secured to the boat throughout the day and taken off at camp. 

Duffle Bag- clothes, shoes, toiletries, etc

Day Bag- sunscreen, sunglasses, rain gear, extra hiking shoes, hiking bag, sun hat, bandana, chapstick

My Special Small Bag- Sd cards, batteries, camera, camera rain gear, cleaning supplies, one other lens

My Camera Bag- Backup camera body, camera lenses, more cleaning supplies, battery chargers

What this trip entailed:

This was a 7-day and 6-night rafting trip traveling 188 miles down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. We launched the boat at Lees Ferry and traveled to Whitmore Wash where we flew out of the canyon by helicopter. Each day we experienced intense rapids, beautiful hikes, ancient ruins, multiple waterfalls, and fun swimming spots. My trip’s diverse group of 24 people were all adventurous, friendly, and excited to explore this seventh wonder of the world. This trip was a bucket list item for many who were there. 

We rode on large rafts that had various sections of seating. The front of the raft was called “the bathtub” for obvious reasons. There were seats along the sides of the rafts where guests could sit with their backs against the gear pile in the middle of the boat. Towards the back of the boat, there was the “tearoom” which was a square-shaped section where people could sit and face each other and get less wet during the rapids. Our guides were driving from the very back of the boat and would point out sights along our journey. 

Motorized Trip pdf

What camp life was like:

Hatch provided all of the camping gear we needed for the trip such as the sleep kits, camp chairs, hand-washing stations, and the groover (toilet for going #2).

We would stop to set up our campsite around 5 pm each evening chosen by our guides and depending on our current location. Everyone would form a zig-zag line to move camp gear, night bags, and kitchen equipment off the boats and to the front of the camp which was called a fire line. Teamwork was a required part of the trip. Then we would find an area to set up our sleeping cots while the guides began to prepare dinner. Each night we would eat a three-course dinner and sit together in our camp chairs to socialize and relax before bed. After eating, we would wash our own dishes as well. 

Camping in the Grand Canyon means sleeping under the stars without a tent, which took some getting used to. It tends to stay fairly warm in the evening but the sleeping bag was helpful when sand would blow in the wind. We had to make sure to keep our bags closed to prevent any desert critters from hiding in them overnight. We camped on sandy land right off of the river and would use the river for cooking, washing up, etc. 

What you need for this trip:

  • Sun protection like sun hats with a chin strap, long sleeve UV shirts, sunglasses, and sunscreen

  • Lotion and Vaseline!

  • A good pair of hiking sandals like Tevas or Chacos are a must

  • Moleskin/athletic tape for blisters

  • Baby wipes and Campsuds for cleaning up

  • A microfiber towel

  • A large water bottle with a good carabiner 

  • Chapstick

  • A journal to write and reflect in at the end of the day to remember the details of each day’s adventures

If you ever go on a trip like this, prepare for a great deal of sun, wind, and sand. The river water is basic, not neutral, so your skin dries out a lot. Lotion and Vaseline are necessary. Temperatures reach over 100F during the day, but the water is usually under 50F in the summer, so it’s two extremes. In order to enjoy this incredible place called the Grand Canyon, you have to get a bit uncomfortable, but Hatch provides a lot to try to help you feel better (ie. camp chairs, meals, sleep kit, snacks, water, and Gatorade.)

What I should have brought:

Since this was a brand new internship opportunity that Hatch has never done before, Storey and I were the first photography students to ever experience this. There were a few things I learned I would do differently if I were to ever do a trip like this again (with my camera specifically):

  • A small pelican case in place of the small dry bag for my camera gear so it could be more easily accessible on the boat and throughout the day.

  • More lotion for the sand and dryness. I am from the desert and even I underestimated it.

  • A small hiking bag with a camera gear section and a water bladder/camelback inside. 

  • Probably some drinks, but the guests were all super nice and gave me some of theirs

Day-to-day breakdown

Day 0: Arrival

On the day before we launched, I drove to Cliff Dwellers Lodge in Marble Canyon where everyone on a Hatch river trip stays for their first night. I checked into my room and met the Hatch crew at their warehouse next door to the lodge. I ate a huge mac and cheese dinner with the Hatch river guides in the warehouse made by my soon-to-be guide Kelsey and then repacked my camera gear into the dry bags with Storey before going to bed.

Day 1: Launch

We woke up and got breakfast at the Cliff Dwellers Lodge restaurant before bringing our stuff out to the pick-up location. Here, we met the other people who would be joining us on the trip and packed our things into the provided dry bags. We hopped into vans that picked us up and drove us to Lees Ferry, where we would begin our trip. We loaded the boats, put our life jackets on, learned how to board the boats, and had a safety lesson from Kelsey. We launched the boats and were off on our 7-day adventure. One of the first sights we saw was about seven California Condors flying under the Navajo Bridges, which are extremely rare, massive birds because there were once only 22 left in total. By about 4 pm, we stopped to set up our first camp. We learned how to form a fireline and set up our camp set up. We had our first dinner: grilled chicken, pesto pasta, and salad before it quickly got dark and surprisingly chilly. I couldn’t sleep this first night, but I got to stay up awhile to take some astro photos with Storey and a guest on the trip named Avi who also enjoyed photography.

Day 2: First full day

For our first full day, we stopped at a spot called Redwall Cavern. Explorer and geologist John Wesley Powell claimed it was a vast amphitheater that could hold about 50,000 people. This may have been a bit of an exaggeration, but it was at least 100 feet deep and full of fossils. Many folks on the trip joined together to play ultimate frisbee in the cavern. I thought this was special as they were all vastly different ages and had only just met one another. Later in the day, we hiked Saddle Canyon which led us to a thin waterfall far into a narrow limestone canyon. The guides had told us we would start with an easy hike to see what level everyone was at, but this was a moderately challenging hike that required climbing narrow ledges for over half the trail. I had a blast hiking this trail, but it was definitely a challenge for many. By the time we had all returned from the hike back to the river, it was late enough that the guides decided we would set up camp there at the start of Saddle Canyon. For dinner, we had salmon with rice and greens.

Day 3: Woah, Blue Water

This may have been my favorite day of the trip because of the many times we got wet! We started the day by stopping at the Little Colorado River where the water was a bright turquoise blue. The way we could clearly see the line where the water changed from a dark green color to the light blue felt magical! We hiked about 15 minutes from the river to a good spot to swim and float down the small rapids. Our guides gave us a pro tip to wear our life vests like diapers to keep our heads above water. The guides also brought floaties that we all took turns riding down the river on!

After a fun few hours of swimming and hiking, we hopped back on the boats and rode through a wild section of the river known for its large rapids like Horn Creek, Granite, Hermit, and Crystal. Just past these rapids, there was a section of six rapids around mile 100 called The Gems named Agate, Sapphire, Turquoise, Emerald, Ruby, and Serpentine. We got completely soaked throughout these rapids, and some waves covered the entire boat. To take photos through the rapids and on the water, I used plastic rain gear to protect my camera. It was essentially a plastic tube that I could put my arm through to hold my camera and had a drawstring around the end of the lens so no plastic covered the lens itself. It didn’t look the prettiest, but it kept my camera safe for the entire trip. I took some photos through these rapids, but most of the time they were so large I had to put my camera away and hang on with both hands. As the rapids calmed down, we continued down the river through an area with jagged black cliffs and small whirlpools. It felt like we were headed to an evil villain's lair in Mordor. 

We stopped for camp at our guide’s favorite campsite which was shaded by trees. We had build your own burritos for dinner and sat in a circle excited to talk about the fun day we just experienced. As I sat there laughing with people who I had only met a few days ago, I felt incredibly comfortable with them and it was a joy to be there. 

Day 4: Camping at an Oasis

Our camp was directly in front of a large rapid, so we immediately started the day with some more fun. The river water was normally quite cold, but in the morning before we spent time in the sun, it was freezing. The boat I mainly rode on went through the rapids first so I could use my telephoto lens and photograph the second boat through the rapid. I knelt on top of the highest point of the boat towards the back to get a clear shot, and two of the guests held on to my life vest to make sure I didn’t fall off the boat. 

Our main stop for the day was Elves Chasm. Here, people could climb up through a cave underneath a waterfall and jump from the middle of the falls. People who wanted to jump had to first swim through deep water to reach the cave. The hike to this beauty required rock scrambling and careful footing. It was extra challenging for me because I had my camera hanging from the strap in a cross-body fashion since I didn’t have a good hiking backpack with me on the trip. 

The beach we stopped at to camp was in direct sun so it was easily at least 100 degrees. The guides told us if we hiked up from the beach for about 5 minutes, we would find relief. What we found was a little oasis. It was another waterfall, shaded by a cliff, and a stream leading down to where we came from. We all took turns standing under the waterfall to cool off and then relaxed by the stream. Most people brought their camp chairs and drinks to stay there until the camp was shaded. The 10-year-old on the trip who I had become friends with began a game that involved the rocks in the stream. Many other people joined in and it was nice to see even the adults connecting with our surroundings instead of being consumed by technology. One of my favorite parts of the trip was getting away from social media and distractions. Once the beach was shaded, we all climbed back down for a steak dinner with mashed potatoes, veggies, and even a birthday cake for one guest celebrating her birthday on the trip!

Day 5: The Tri-Waterfall Hike

The Deer Creek Falls hike we did on day 5 made us realize all of the previous hikes were just for practice. Guests had the choice to stay at a large waterfall near the boats, hike up to the Patio above this waterfall, or continue on to find another waterfall a few miles back. About half our group stayed at the first stop and the other half went all the way up. Of course, I said let’s do this and went on the hike, but we hiked so fast I couldn’t take many photos. Shoutout to Storey who put my camera in his camera backpack so I didn’t have to struggle with it like I did on the last hike. 

From the first falls, we hiked almost straight up to a fantastic view of the Colorado River. We continued along the top of a slot canyon where the water for that first waterfall came from. This part involved a narrow ledge with some fully exposed spots, so anyone afraid of heights might have froze here. This is where the Patio was located with a few cottonwood trees and a small waterfall flowing into that slot canyon. Past this spot, we followed the water up through desert, rocky cliffs, and even a corn field to get to the Dutton Waterfall and a place called the Throne Room. This was a place unlike I’d ever seen because it was full of “thrones” built from rock slabs near the waterfall that people could sit in. From there, we could climb up behind Dutton Waterfall and look down at the valley we hiked through. After enjoying this beautiful place for a bit, we trekked back down to the tall waterfall we started at – which ironically was the most magnificent. 

We stopped at a beach in the middle of a river rapid for camp. After another fireline and setting up our cots, my river trip friends and I went to explore a chasm not far from camp that we spotted as we parked the boats. Back in this slot, we found two massive boulders blocking the path. Storey and my friend Rebecca climbed up the first bolder just to see if they could. We returned and had another amazing dinner with pork, beans, corn, and applesauce.

By this night, I was pretty burnt out attempting to photograph everything we did each day, camp life, and rapids while also trying to be a guest on the trip. It was difficult to have time to clean up, set up my cot, take photos, relax, explore, etcetera. Since we were nearing the end of the trip, there was also the pressure to photograph anything I had forgotten to capture yet. The people I had gotten close to on this trip noticed that I was struggling and set up my cot for me, got me a Dr. Pepper, and reminded me to take a second to take care of myself. I will never forget their kindness and how much they helped me get through this trip. 

Day 6: Lava Falls and Havasu Canyon

The last day of our trip is truly a wild story. The day started calmly at Havasu Creek, where we played in some more bright turquoise waters. We used the floaties again and spent the entire morning exploring this sanctuary. After lunch, we headed for Lava Falls – the most famous and most technically challenging large rapid in the canyon. Storey and I both rode on the first boat so we could get off after the first part of the rapid to photograph the second boat going through. Only we didn’t get to stop and didn’t get to take any photos. As we braced ourselves for this intense ride, our boat’s engine failed and our guide couldn’t control the boat. No one besides our guide, Kelsey, and swamper (second in command), JP, knew that this had happened, so everyone was having fun and screaming as the boat went through the biggest waves I had seen all week. After this first section of three in Lava Falls, Storey and I wondered why we weren’t stopping to get off. We saw Kelsey frantically trying to get the engine started and I accepted whatever fate was in store for me as the boat floated backward into the second portion of Lava and towards the massive cliff walls of the Grand Canyon. We bounced off the wall towering above us and spun through more rapids. At this point, everyone knew something was wrong because Kelsey was yelling commands at JP and began throwing things out of a storage box at the back of the boat. In under two minutes, she swapped out the failed engine for a new one and whipped the boat back around in the third section of the rapid. No one fell out of the boat and the boat didn’t tip or get punctured. Kelsey truly saved us because the second boat had waited further behind for our plan to take photos of them and wasn’t there to help us in any way. 

Everyone was pumped with adrenaline after this and enjoyed one last night at camp together. We had a spaghetti dinner and reminisced about our favorite parts of the trip before heading to bed under the stars. 

Day 7: Helicopter Home

We made sure to take a group photo together before we left. I set up my tripod and took interval photos so I could join in and ensure that I got at least one shot with everyone smiling and looking at the camera. We went to the helicopter pad in the canyon and flew out in groups of about 6 to Bar 10 Ranch. It felt strange to see other people from outside our little group and be back in civilization. We waited for about an hour for our plane flights to either Las Vegas or back to Marble Canyon where we started. The people on our trip were from all over the country, so their flight depended on where they needed to travel to next. We all very sadly said goodbye to one another before boarding. This was hard to do because I had become so close with these people on my trip and had created some strong connections in just a week. To my surprise, it felt like saying goodbye to family. I flew back to Marble Canyon with Storey and a few others from my trip over the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We all got breakfast together back at Cliff Dwellers Lodge before we dispersed to go home. Storey and I stopped at the Navajo Bridge – the bridge we went under on day one – to look down at the river we were just on. I felt like a different person looking down at the river from where we started after learning and experiencing so much in only a week in the canyon. All I could think about was how I wanted to go on adventures like this with my camera for the rest of my life. 

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