Dangerous, Adrenaline Rush, Stunning and so Much Fun

I wasn't going to write up a post for today.  But even though it's extremely late at night and I just got back from a tiring yet amazing trip and 13 miles of hiking today alone.  Of which I finally was able to take a bath 3 days overdue from dirt, sand, river water, layers of sunscreen and visible sweat and discovered what I was sure was mostly dirt and sand is apparently a crazy dark tan, guess spf 30 wasn't quite enough:) oh well.
Since I am still awake and wired on way too much Pepsi that I drank to keep me awake on the long drive home. I figured I might as well write this post!

This week was stock full of adventure, even before I left for my trip to Moab, Utah.  I will have to share some of the other details at a later time.  But for now, to keep the post shorter I will tell you what I just got back from.

I invited a co-worker to go White Water River Rafting, since this gal had never done a single adventurous thing in her life (her words), never been to the mountains or camping...  I decided to take it as an invitation to introduce her to adventure at full force.
Since she knew nothing about white water rafting, I gave her a few details, enough to keep her interested, but decided not to scare her with too much information. I may or may not have mentioned what we were going to do was some of the best craziest  white water rafting in the country.

The particular section of the Colorado river we were going to be doing because of an awesome wet spring and recent storms is currently at an extremely high level.  Because of this, the danger increases like ten fold, or so I was told.
Few days before the trip, I found out that a couple of guys died on one part of the section we were going to be doing.  I thought about it a bit, and decided it would not be a good idea to tell the friend coming about this.  For two reasons, one selfish because  I didn't want her to bail.  But second because sometimes it's just better to not know, so you don't freak out or freeze up if something does happen.  Although, I did have a very loving sister who was freaking out and begging me not to go... I love her, but of course I wasn't going to listen!

I am an adrenaline junky who doesn't get stressed or freak out about things, the the extra danger and knowledge that the absolute worst bad possible thing to have happen to me could happen, should of scared me.... But it actually just made me more excited to do it.

Anyhow, we scored this amazing beautiful campsite right along the Colorado river.  (Picture to the right. Stunning huh! This particular calm section was about 56 miles from where we would be going the next morning for our adventure.  Which would NOT be so calm.

Late the night before our river trip, I visited the grocery store to grab some ice.  When you're dealing with 90-100 degree temps, you need to keep the ice coming:)
I happened to be alone when I was standing by two search and rescue men, who were talking about a couple of other people who were lost on the river that day.  One guy said, the river was just to crazy dangerous, and even they wouldn't be on it if they didn't have too.

But I realized I better let my friend know a tiny portion of what to expect to prepare her so it wasn't such a shock the next morning.  I did NOT tell her about the deaths, but I reminded her that death could happen and we talked about how to relax and use a clear mind in high stress situations just in case to increase your survival chances.

Next day, was super fun and just awesome, the river was amazing and scenery absolutely stunning!  I am not going to go into the details, I will wait until I get the pictures developed (water proof camera:)

However, I will say we had extremely very dangerous moment that occurred near the section that took the lives of a couple others a few day's prior and almost took a few more just the day before. We had what our guide said after was way too close of a call.
I'll tell you about the awesome details another time.  But I am not going to lie, even knowing and experiencing how intense and dangerous it was to have a brush with the absolute worse case scenario. (We had an amazing guide that worked himself to exhaustion to save us.)

That one moment, was seriously the absolute best thrill of the entire white water rafting that day!  I could have done it a dozen or so more times, the adrenaline rush was great. I don't think I was the only one on the raft that would agree, but I am pretty sure the guide was praying nothing else like that would come up again!

What else did I do on this trip?  Well I visited Dead Horse Point, one of the most photographed vista's in the world.  I just wish it was a little less cloudy the evening I took this photo.  But it was still beautiful to see again.

Also visited Arches National Park and hiked 13 miles yesterday in 100 degree temps in some of the most beautiful spots in the park.  (Ya my co-worker who came loved it, but she was out of shape. But she did it, and I am pretty sure when she goes to get out of bed in the morning, she's going to want to kill me, LOL.  But on the plus side, she should thank me, I hiked her to exhaustion so she should sleep really well tonight, LOL LOL.
Also finally hit my first 30,000+ Fitbit Step Count day:)  Woot Woot!
I'll share details on the hiking adventures another time too.

On one hike, I even took a running start to get a good jump to then free climb scale a 28 foot sandstone vertical cliff, but I will mention I only made it up ten feet before a very nice man from France climbed down to give me his hand and help me get my foot holes wedged in a crack so I could make it up the next bit.  I was slipping on the sands on the rock from a recent rain.  Falling would have meant a very big plunge into a bowl of unknown muddy water and depth below.  I may or may not of made it on my own, but I won't lie I very much appreciated his helping hand as he almost did the splits to keep his hold and grab my hand at the perfect moment to give me the leverage I needed to do the rest.  Even more appreciative because there were about fourteen strangers below watching to see if I could do it, or give them a great laugh if I plunged to the depths below.  Luckily I wasn't their laugh, but as I continued to hike on, I could hear that the next hikers to attempt it weren't so lucky.
See girls, chivalry is not dead!

The last night of the trip we were walking to the outhouse around midnight and 2 jeeps full of cute guys who were camped just down the river from us pulled up and had two spots left inside one of the jeeps and they were heading out for a midnight jeep trail ride on one of the most hazardous 4X4 Jeep trails in Moab called Hell's Revenge.  They invited us to come.
I have to admit, this is partially my only regret in the trip.  But, I turned it down, I still can't believe I did, I have always wanted to ride this trail and it would have been awesome!

My stupid common sense kicked in, and I thought, 2 jeeps full of cute guys whom I only met a second before, midnight 4X4 trail driving in an area that ruins many vehicles who attempt it during the day, unknowing if they were experienced or just first timers, miles away from anyone else...  Well ya, so I said no.  In my younger years I would have probably hopped in the backseat and said "drive" without a second thought.  Looking back at it, I am pretty sure it would have been fine, I saw their jeeps in great condition the next morning, and they seemed pretty decent. Oh well... That is what I get for using my common sense, LOL

Okay, so this post is probably way to long already and despite the overflowing caffeine in my system right now, I think I am finally tired enough to fall asleep pretty quickly so I'll end it.  But I will say, even though I have been in this part of my state dozens of times.  I never get bored with the deserts beauty.  I seriously live in one of the most beautiful states in the country, ya I am prejudice!
Now that I have the adrenaline adventure bug in me, I am already trying to decide what/when my next adventure is going to be!

Landscape Arch in Arches National Park

So tell me; have you been to Moab or Arches before?  Have you been White Water Rafting in Class III-V rapids before?