Day 1: Friday July 19th
Floated "The Daily" in our life jackets, on some tubes, and a blow up kayak. Took forever! and there were zero rapids. Not recommended.
Hit up Porcupine Rim on our mountain bikes. This trail was obviously for very advanced riders! There were cliffs, boulders, and steep drop offs. We didn't make it very far, but it was a ton of fun! I did take a fall...but it was when I was pushing my bike!
Went window shopping and explored the city
Went hiking in Mill Creek on a trail that took us through the water and to a waterfall!
Day 3:
Hiked to Delicate Arch
Biked Slickrock-our new favorite mountain bike trail!
Day 4:
Slept under the stars
Rafted West Water
West water rapids were pretty intense. The stretch is 18 miles long and you have cliffs on both sides of you so you can't really get out of the river. The first hour and a half is a slower stretch then you have heavy rapids for about an hour and a half, then the last hour and a half is slow. The rapids are different here than what we are used to in Jackson. The canyon makes it so that there are steep drop offs which cause some pretty bad death eaters that just suck the back of your boat into the current. Luckily Alexa's friends work as guides and were able to go on a kayak to show us where to go. They floated this stretch a week before we ran it and on Skull rapid they told us to go right, but a rock had surfaced since they last ran it and we basically went over the rock. Trevor, Kym, and Alexa fell out of our boat. Trev held on and went over the next rock. My dad was guiding us and was able to pull Kym in pretty quickly. Alexa got stuck under the boat for a minute but was able to get back in pretty quick. Next came our guide kayak with Chels and Kenz and the rapids flipped them over as well. Randy was guiding the other boat and they hit it exactly how we did. My mom and Stephanie went out. Stephanie was able to hold on to the boat but saw my mom get sucked under the boat. My mom was under water for about 45 seconds. We didn't realize how scary her situation was because we were coming up on the next rapids and couldn't really tell what was happening. We made it down the river and we had to leave right after so we wouldn't get home too late. The next night my parents came home and my mom wanted to share her experience because it was pretty traumatic for her. She sent us this email:
GRATEFUL TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY
On July 22, 2013 I was seconds away from dying. We invited family and friends to join us in Moab on a white water rafting trip. Doug went to great lengths to plan and organize everything. It was part of our family - Jessica and Trevor, Robert and Stephanie, and Amber. Doug’s brother, Randy and his sons Michael, Brandon and Richard (Austin). Trevor’s sisters, Ashley and Alexa, his brother, Eric (Blub) and Trevor’s friends Oliver and Kim. Also Alexa’s friends, who are guides down there came along in a 2 person kayak. Just FYI, 8 of 18 people went out of the rafts. Doug and I were in separate rafts.
We did an intense section on the Colorado River. Where the rapids are the edges are rock walls, so there is no getting out for miles. It was a 17 mile run total. We went between two large boulders that the water was rushing over the tops and creates what we call a “death eater” meaning it pulls the boat backwards and under. So it pulled the back left side of the boat down and water ran in. Stephanie and I went out. I remember being worried about her and wanted to help her. She grabbed the rope and said she reached for me but just saw me get pulled under. I went down and popped up under the raft. I reached up with my hands. I saw the blackness of the raft bottom and the shadow of my hands right in front of my eyes. I immediately started left with my hands thinking that would be the direction I came from- who really knows what direction I was headed? Anyway, my thought was “if I go that way, I will be fighting against the current”, so I headed right a few hand steps, then second thought about going left again, which I did 1 or 2 hand-steps. About that time I decided “I need to breathe soon! I am in trouble” At that point, I knew I just needed to commit to one direction and go. I thought, “so this is the way that it ends?” I thought about how does it happen? Do I take a breath of water? Or, can I hold my breath until I pass out? I decided to wait ‘til I pass out, even though I wasn’t sure it was realistic. I decided to pass out and hope my lungs wouldn’t fill with water and that they could revive me. So I continued right and hoped that I wasn’t traveling length-wise of the raft. I thought, “my grandkids are not going to white water raft!” My Patriarchal blessing came to my mind, it says I will live long upon the land. So I thought that I would live, but wondered if I hadn’t followed the spirit and that actually I would die. Finally, my hands weren’t touching the raft and I fully expected to pop up beside the raft. I was thinking-“wow, just in time!” Then I found myself having to swim up toward the surface of the muddy water. I was fighting not to take a breath. My lungs were hurting. I ended up swimming about 6 feet up- I really thought okay I can make it 1 more second. I had to keep saying that to myself and I finally thought Oh my gosh, I’m not going to make it- this can’t be right! But I held on for another second, which finally was barely enough! I was so exhausted when I came up. My life jacket was too big and I was fighting that a little. I had come up 20 feet or so behind the raft. Apparently I had been taken down by an undercurrent. I was going to do what I would normally do and just put my feet downstream and go to the raft. I noticed a slower area to the right. I thought if I went under again, I would not have the ability to hold my breath again. So, I went to the slow area for a short moment and hit against some rounded rocks, then I realized that maybe the raft wasn’t able to stop which would make my journey longer. So I pushed out to the stream and was so relieved to see them not too far off. They pulled me in and I was so worn out, all I could do was sit there and breathe. Amber told me to just sit in the middle and rest. Another rapid was coming and life went on. It was weird to think, “I just nearly died!” And
things go on as normal. Later they told me of Robert, Amber and Randy worried about where I was and being surprised when I popped up so far behind them. Others from the other rafts also were worried and said “you were under for a long time”. Randy said no one he has ever seen has been under for so long. It was probably about 45 seconds, but when you don’t know if you will take another breath and you’re fighting for your life, it’s pretty tough, pretty exhausting.
I couldn’t stop wondering about what if it would have been Brandon or Ashley or a grandchild. Would have they made it? What if there would have been rocks to slam into and get knocked out or trapped by the current. I would hate for anyone else to have this experience and worst of all not live to tell about it. I can’t help but to think we should stop while we still have good memories and not a disaster.
I have told a few of those that I was with, including Doug, but they cannot comprehend how close I was to not making it. It made me realize how dangerous white water rafting is and I no longer want my family to do it. I love them all too much. I would hope that we could find fun activities that are safer.
I realize that I should take this as a wake -up call to focus on eternal principles and prioritizing what is truly important in this world and the next. I know that I can spend more time feasting on the scriptures and falling to my knees in prayer. I know I can spend more time in the temple. I spend hours working out, so spending time to draw closer to God and striving to become like Christ needs to be a bigger part of my daily life. How could I regret spending more time knowing Christ and my Heavenly Father? They are the ones that guide my life for all that is good for me and my family. I could never regret spending time with my family. We have a wonderful family, including the in-laws. I love to see the loving, caring relationships they have. My desire is to treat others the way that Christ would—to develop the charity of Christ. His kind, gentle ways showed the love He has for others. He has a way of correcting/guiding me and leaving me feeling loved. I believe in Christ! I am a fan of Him and His ways.
2 Nephi 4:34 34 O Lord, I have atrusted in thee, and I will btrust in thee forever. I will not put my ctrust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his dtrust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
On July 22, 2013 I was seconds away from dying. We invited family and friends to join us in Moab on a white water rafting trip. Doug went to great lengths to plan and organize everything. It was part of our family - Jessica and Trevor, Robert and Stephanie, and Amber. Doug’s brother, Randy and his sons Michael, Brandon and Richard (Austin). Trevor’s sisters, Ashley and Alexa, his brother, Eric (Blub) and Trevor’s friends Oliver and Kim. Also Alexa’s friends, who are guides down there came along in a 2 person kayak. Just FYI, 8 of 18 people went out of the rafts. Doug and I were in separate rafts.
We did an intense section on the Colorado River. Where the rapids are the edges are rock walls, so there is no getting out for miles. It was a 17 mile run total. We went between two large boulders that the water was rushing over the tops and creates what we call a “death eater” meaning it pulls the boat backwards and under. So it pulled the back left side of the boat down and water ran in. Stephanie and I went out. I remember being worried about her and wanted to help her. She grabbed the rope and said she reached for me but just saw me get pulled under. I went down and popped up under the raft. I reached up with my hands. I saw the blackness of the raft bottom and the shadow of my hands right in front of my eyes. I immediately started left with my hands thinking that would be the direction I came from- who really knows what direction I was headed? Anyway, my thought was “if I go that way, I will be fighting against the current”, so I headed right a few hand steps, then second thought about going left again, which I did 1 or 2 hand-steps. About that time I decided “I need to breathe soon! I am in trouble” At that point, I knew I just needed to commit to one direction and go. I thought, “so this is the way that it ends?” I thought about how does it happen? Do I take a breath of water? Or, can I hold my breath until I pass out? I decided to wait ‘til I pass out, even though I wasn’t sure it was realistic. I decided to pass out and hope my lungs wouldn’t fill with water and that they could revive me. So I continued right and hoped that I wasn’t traveling length-wise of the raft. I thought, “my grandkids are not going to white water raft!” My Patriarchal blessing came to my mind, it says I will live long upon the land. So I thought that I would live, but wondered if I hadn’t followed the spirit and that actually I would die. Finally, my hands weren’t touching the raft and I fully expected to pop up beside the raft. I was thinking-“wow, just in time!” Then I found myself having to swim up toward the surface of the muddy water. I was fighting not to take a breath. My lungs were hurting. I ended up swimming about 6 feet up- I really thought okay I can make it 1 more second. I had to keep saying that to myself and I finally thought Oh my gosh, I’m not going to make it- this can’t be right! But I held on for another second, which finally was barely enough! I was so exhausted when I came up. My life jacket was too big and I was fighting that a little. I had come up 20 feet or so behind the raft. Apparently I had been taken down by an undercurrent. I was going to do what I would normally do and just put my feet downstream and go to the raft. I noticed a slower area to the right. I thought if I went under again, I would not have the ability to hold my breath again. So, I went to the slow area for a short moment and hit against some rounded rocks, then I realized that maybe the raft wasn’t able to stop which would make my journey longer. So I pushed out to the stream and was so relieved to see them not too far off. They pulled me in and I was so worn out, all I could do was sit there and breathe. Amber told me to just sit in the middle and rest. Another rapid was coming and life went on. It was weird to think, “I just nearly died!” And
things go on as normal. Later they told me of Robert, Amber and Randy worried about where I was and being surprised when I popped up so far behind them. Others from the other rafts also were worried and said “you were under for a long time”. Randy said no one he has ever seen has been under for so long. It was probably about 45 seconds, but when you don’t know if you will take another breath and you’re fighting for your life, it’s pretty tough, pretty exhausting.
I couldn’t stop wondering about what if it would have been Brandon or Ashley or a grandchild. Would have they made it? What if there would have been rocks to slam into and get knocked out or trapped by the current. I would hate for anyone else to have this experience and worst of all not live to tell about it. I can’t help but to think we should stop while we still have good memories and not a disaster.
I have told a few of those that I was with, including Doug, but they cannot comprehend how close I was to not making it. It made me realize how dangerous white water rafting is and I no longer want my family to do it. I love them all too much. I would hope that we could find fun activities that are safer.
I realize that I should take this as a wake -up call to focus on eternal principles and prioritizing what is truly important in this world and the next. I know that I can spend more time feasting on the scriptures and falling to my knees in prayer. I know I can spend more time in the temple. I spend hours working out, so spending time to draw closer to God and striving to become like Christ needs to be a bigger part of my daily life. How could I regret spending more time knowing Christ and my Heavenly Father? They are the ones that guide my life for all that is good for me and my family. I could never regret spending time with my family. We have a wonderful family, including the in-laws. I love to see the loving, caring relationships they have. My desire is to treat others the way that Christ would—to develop the charity of Christ. His kind, gentle ways showed the love He has for others. He has a way of correcting/guiding me and leaving me feeling loved. I believe in Christ! I am a fan of Him and His ways.
2 Nephi 4:34 34 O Lord, I have atrusted in thee, and I will btrust in thee forever. I will not put my ctrust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his dtrust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
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