Day One
Arriving early in beautiful Boulder City, NV, our group decided to do an 8 mile round trip hike along the old railway that linked Boulder City to the Hoover dam construction site. The historic trail provided breathtaking views of Lake Mead, remnants of the old shanty towns, and tunnels created by dynamite explosions. We got down to Hoover Dam in the early afternoon and took in its entire cement splendor and the final resting place of over 100 construction workers. After the hike we ventured to the shores of Lake Mead and proceeded to feast on BBQ chicken and vegetables.
Day Two
We got up at dawn and headed down to the base of Hoover Dam to meet up with our river guides and pack our gear into the canoes. As we paddled through Black Canyon, we were dwarfed by the huge cliff sides and boulder formations. We made a stop at Boy Scout Canyon to hike, rappel, and rock climb through the canyon. We had lunch on the river bank then headed out for the 2nd leg of the trip. We paddled a few more miles until we got to Arizona Hot Springs Beach. In the evening the clients participated in a therapeutic exercise, had a Dutch oven meal, and a roaring campfire. It was amazing to be camped on the edge of the river under a perfectly clear night sky hearing the calming sound of the river and watching the twinkling of the brilliant constellations and searching for shooting stars.
Day Three
Up at sunrise and down on the beach doing yoga in the bottom of the canyon. With the morning sun creeping over the cliff sides and the different colors gleaming off the rock formations, it provided the perfect back drop for serenity. We resumed canoeing out to a few more beaches and did some rock hopping, bouldering, and exploring. As we paddled down the river we came across a herd of Big Horn Sheep with their young babies drinking at the river’s edge. We continued down the river and went through a narrow stretch where the cliff sides went up 1,000 feet and completely blacked out the sun. Eventually the river opened back up and we proceeded into Willow Springs, AZ. At our camp site, we built a fire with the last of our wood and spent the evening sharing our experiences and reliving the excitement and challenges of the journey. It was nothing but smiles and laughter as everyone had a great time.
Day Four
Today we woke in excitement because we are seeing Lake Mead by air. We split up into small groups and boarded the helicopters. We had an amazing experience flying over Lake Mead from 1,000 feet in the air. The view from above was breathtaking. For most of the group it was their first helicopter flight and one they won’t soon forget. Our day in the air continued when we headed into Bootleg Canyon for an afternoon of zip lining. We got geared up in parasailing harnesses and carabineers and hiked to the top of the mountain with our trolleys in hand. We spent the next few hours zip lining down 2,000 foot steel cables at speeds of 60 + mph. The views from high above the canyon floor were amazing with sights of Lake Mead, Las Vegas, and the Colorado River. On the way back home, we spent the time sharing stories about overcoming our fears and dealing with anxiety as well as providing each other with feedback on what we observed and how each person excelled and grew on the trip.
