Hazel had an assignment to write a “narrative story” for school. The teacher told her to focus more on making the story exciting than worrying about accuracy, so some of the details are off a bit. But I liked the story.
By Hazel:
My Narrative
My Adventures In Arizona
“Are we there yet?” I asked for the millionth time.
I sweated like a pig as my dad drove down to Arizona.
My dad just sighed in response.
We were heading to the Grand Canyon, and I was really excited. We weren’t just going there to look at the scenery, we were actually going to raft down the canyon with 14 other people. I was some weird combination of terrified but also crazy eager just to
start rafting.
As the day passed, the piles of stuff in the car slowly shifted onto the inflated rafts and more and more people came. When night came, we set our alarms and went to sleep. In the morning, we set off on our 16-day, no internet, rafting trip.
The first couple of days were easy. The rapids were small, and everything was going really well. People were energized, the food was fresh and yummy, and no one had fallen out of the rafts yet.
Then we came to our first big rapid of the trip. Everyone was a little nervous because it was a massive rapid with crashing waves that would throw you into a solid rock wall if you faltered. The kayakers went first and navigated through the treacherous waves with ease. Then the rafts followed, one after the other, in a little line like ants
marching, till it was me and my dad’s turn.
We rowed into the humongous waves as they crashed over us and drenched us to the core. We made it through to calm water and I was so relieved. At dinner that day, everyone was happy and cheering that we all made it through without flipping or falling
out of the boat.
“I was terrified,” I whispered to my friend Maya as we went to go swim.
“I know right? Like I honestly thought I was about to die,” She whispered back to me.
After that rapid, the waves only got bigger, and the currents only got stronger. We faced rapid after rapid of perilous waves and swirling whirlpools. As we continued deeper into the canyon, the walls of rock loomed above us, showing millions of years worth of geology.
On day 9, I learned about the infamous Lava Falls, the rapid known for flipping almost every boat that dared to challenge its treacherous waters. By then, we had been away from civilization for long enough to be grumpy and irritable at times, but otherwise happy and thrilled to have this crazy opportunity.
On day 10, we reached Phantom Ranch, a point in the canyon where you can buy candy and ice. It’s the only place that you can hike out without disappearing forever.
I was so happy to have ice that I didn’t even care that the lemonade was 9 dollars for a cup the size of a grande Starbucks drink.
We hiked up narrow side streams and slippery canyons, saw gorgeous waterfalls and beautiful panoramas, and spotted majestic bighorn sheep and soaring condors.
Every day, something new happened. One day, we scrambled up a short but steep trail to reach this beautiful glass pool of crystal-clear water. Another day, we delicately walked up this narrow, high pathway to reach this stunning waterfall.
On day 12, we reached a series of rapids known as The Gems. On Crystal, the most famous gem, we all got out of our boats to scout out the high waters of the rapid. I nervously whispered to our head boatman, Jason.
“Do you think we’re gonna flip?”
“No, I’ve done this river five times and I’ve never seen anyone flip,” He replied with a reassuring smile.
“Ok,” I said, not fully convinced.
We all headed back down to our boats and prepared ourselves for the rapid. One by one, we pushed off the shore and into the swirling water. When it was my turn to enter the crashing waves, I was terrified. We rowed into the turbulent current and positioned ourselves to enter the chaotic waves. We rowed and rowed through the bumpy crests of water till we came out on the other side.
At the end, we turned the boat upstream to watch the rest of the boats go through, but instead of boats in the water, there was a person in the water! We frantically rowed across the water to the brightly colored bobbing helmet. Jason tiredly
swam over to us and clung to the boat as we hauled him into the boat. Panting from exhaustion, Jason thanked us and me and my dad went to regroup with the rest of the boats.
After that scary experience, I was even more terrified for Lava, but it was only two days away, so I would have to prepare myself somehow.
On day 14, it finally came. Lava was here. I was so scared that I considered taking the 3-mile walk around Lava, but what if Lava was fun and I missed it? I didn’t know what to do. When we pulled into the scouting cove, I was shaking with terror. We walked up the path and saw the crashing, enormous waves that threatened to swallow us whole and I was even more scared. The rowers and kayakers scouted out their routes while I sat still, contemplating whether or not I should walk the route and bypass the rapid. In the end, I decided I would face my fear.
We pulled out of the cove and rowed into the rapid. The waves tossed and turned us all around like a washing machine, and wave after wave of freezing water lifted the boat and threw it back down again. I held on tight to the straps on the side of the boat
while my dad rowed furiously. We rowed over this big wave that almost tilted the boat straight up, and I gasped with terror. We reached the end of the rapid and I sighed with
relief. Everyone was so happy.
Our last big rapid was Lava, but there were lots of easy, fun rapids in the last two days, and there was lots of fun swimming and relaxed rowing. Sometimes, in the small
rapids, we would swim them. It would feel like one of those wave pools at waterparks, but it was even more exciting. Even though I had a great time on the river, I couldn’t wait to go home and see my family and my friends again.
On day 16, we packed up our boats and drove our separate ways, with our hearts full of joy and our heads full of memories.
