R. to l.: Marva Mitchell of Stockbridge and her daughter Lajuanda took a Colorado River rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. They are shown above at the second day’s campsite while dinner was being prepared. “The three-day Grand Canyon River tour is 3 days and 2 nights outdoors rafting through Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. The group of 28 plus four guides are divided between two J-Rig rafts. They begin with a group bus transport from a Las Vegas hotel to a commuter airport for a 45 minute flight to Bar 10 Ranch in Arizona. Helicopters transport groups of five over the canyon’s south rim down to the river at mile marker 188. They provide cots, tents, sleeping bags, chairs and prepare all meals on gas grills. At night we listened to the sound of the Colorado River under thousands of stars. Moonrise illuminates the campsite and you are nearly able to read a book. Sunrise casts a warm glow through the high canyon walls. During the day we rafted through over 15 class II and III rapids. We passed massive sandstone cliffs, lava walls, and other various colored walls. We explored hidden waterfalls and pools and saw hawks and Big Horn sheep. After more than 100 miles the trip ended at Lake Mead where a bus returned the group, passing by Hoover Dam,” said Marva.