Doring colorado



They started as small, willowy, flat bottom fishing boats with high sides and a sharp prow. This was redesigned and equipped to tackle rapids better and to hold more people. It was presented to the world as McKenzie’s ‘drift boat.’ It formed the base for future innovations. Eventually Grand Canyon Dories was founded by Martin Litton during the early 1970,s and has had a major role in popularizing the art of whitewater rowing.



Today dories are made from wood, with foam for comfort and fiberglass for buoyancy .They are upto 18 feet long, 56 inches wide and easily hold four passengers and an oarsman. A horizontal bottom and inverted ends make them easy to maneuver on the river. Their rigid hulls make it impossible for them to bend with the waves as rubber rafts do. Instead, a sharp prow splits the waves . An added thrill remains from the fact that these dories can snap on rocks, unlike the rubber rafts which are flexible. So be sure to get a competent guide who knows his way through the rapids.



The journey taken by Dan through the canyon included four boats for 16 clients, rowed by a three-man, one-woman crew of seasoned guides. It included camping on different sites along the river, cooking in the open air, sleeping under the stars and using chemical toilets. The Grand Canyon, unlike other rivers, uses a scale of 1-10 for rapids, 10 being the most difficult. Thereby the journey varies from lounging for hours on the calm river and enjoying the scenery to pounding heart beats on a grade 5 rapid drop. So gear up and book yourself a trip on the wild river Colorado.



Thanks: Dan Leeth



Read