Grand Canyon flood 1983 100,000 cfs part one of two

[doug81280]

I was working at Phantom in 83. We had real concern that the dam might go. Had survival caches at several spots on the Tonto Platform.

[WalnutCreekRanch]

Great video, I was a passenger on a Wilderness boat during the flood and we were one of the last ones that got to ride Crystal. The boat had flipped the day before. This was my third trip down the river and it was totally different. Rapids that had no names and were only numbers were dangerous. One ripped our pontoon partially off with me on it, it was the ride of a lifetime. Lava seemed fairly tame by the time we got to it since it was so high. No beaches were they should be Great job Les& Mark

[AlSwearengen15]

Wow really is amazing. I cant imagine actually being able to boat into Redwall Cavern

[timskrbelieve]

I put on the day before they closed the canyon on a private trip with some folks from Flagstaff. Myself and 3 other kayakers and a paddle raft and motor raft. The Park Service started flying into our camp via helicopter and talking with us on a regular basis. The river was HUGE, I got swallowed by a couple of whirlpools, they just sort of sucked me down, I'd flip and they disappear, nothing really dangerous. The hole at Crystal was big. Lots fo fun,

[Arbitrage69]

Thank you Youtube for disabling the audio. What else might you do to make it less enjoyable?

[kingmike40]

I know a guy who lived in vegas in 83. I was in vegas in 2003 and noticed that lake mead was way down. Travis, the guy who lived in vegas, told me that he could walk across the hoover dam and touch the water on the lake mead side. I was told that hoover dam had to keep its gates open full for 30 days.

[Jeffe01]

See updated full video on Vimeo. Some great additions!

[tardgo]

We went down directly after the highest water but the river was still as high as anyone has seen since.

I remember that eddy at right side of Chrystal very damn well.

Pull for your life!

[scottgaffney69]

Wow, that video brings me back. My family got on the river with Hatch River Expeditions just before they closed the canyon down. Considering the youngest of us was 13, my parents were a little freaked. The canyon was virtually empty midsummer (we came across one group at the Little Colorado), no beaches, and rapids where the guides have never seen them. The water got so high that the hole at Crystal washed out, but the carnage was lashed to the shores downstream. It was certainly memorable.

[ecjohnson010]

It was awesome watching this at the GTS last weekend! What an awesome weekend... can't wait till my season gets rolling now. I want to know what the first song is and the song that's playing in the Lava footage. Thanks!

[Jeffe01]

Joe Ely off the Letters from Laredo album; Just to Get to You, and Gallo Del Cielo. My favorites! (and fitting perhaps!). Not sure who this is, but hope to see you on the water.

[ecjohnson010]

Thank you much... see you in the ditch.

[ecjohnson010]

Oh, looked at this again... I'm Ethan, I'm working my first season for Canyoneers. Then hopefully some baggage for CanX or OU in Septemeber.

[Jeffe01]

Best of luck, amigo. It's the best job in the world.

[Jeffe01]

Best of luck, amigo. It's the best job in the world.

[floatinonthefreshies]

We were their that year early on @ 56,000. Thanks for the incredible footage as it grew.

[moviedude34]

Aww that looks fun,

Redwall cavern is flood to the back!!!!!!

[Jeffe01]

Actual video footage in part two!...

[Jeffe01]

I think it's set for Saturday at 7 pm....but you know river guides.....

[Joannawysiwyg]

Jeffe, what time will this be shown at GTS? I don't want to miss the group-watching experience. There's gonna be some great audience response!

[Jeffe01]

Will be at the GTS yes. With high qual images on CD and DVD available...hope you're there. Jeffe

[Joannawysiwyg]

Good job! Great images, titles just right. Are you showing this at RGTS? Hope so!

[Jeffe01]

Make sure you check out part 2!

[dbmkjhk]

Uncle Paul and Rachel,

I stumbled across this video on YouTube. It shows a slide show from the 1983 Grand Canyon flood. I hope you enjoy it.

Dave Mills