
GoPro Family member Shon Bollock recently set out to document he and his father Steve's journey to recreate a Grand Canyon rafting trip that they first embarked on in 2005. Sixteen years-and a whole lot of adventures-later, they were able to rally two other boatmen from the original group to execute what could only be described as the bookend trip of a lifetime. In fact, embracing the time we have on Earth became a main theme in the video, titled: GoPro: Impermanence | Rafting the Grand Canyon.
The short documentary, shot 100% on HERO10 Black + MAX, follows the four rafting veterans on a 24-day, 280-mile trip down the Colorado River as they battle not only the elements but Father Time, too. Between sharing fond memories of life on the river-and making new ones-one of the boatmen, Marty Sochet, openly wonders when the three 70-plus-year-old boatmen would become liabilities rather than assets on trips like this. (Spoiler: As you you'll see in the video, this won't be any time soon!)
We caught up with Shon, who is a former professional kayaker in addition to filmmaker, to hear more about what went into the making of Impermanence and all the feels that come with watching it. Here are 10 questions with the creator:
1. How many of the original crew from the trip were there?
Shon: From the original crew on our 2005 trip, we had four of us, which happened to be all the boatmen. I was the only raft guide on our trip that was under 70 years old, and given how tired I was, if my fitness level is half of what the other boatmen had going, I will consider myself lucky. It was truly impressive to watch them navigate the river with grace and with minimal mistakes.
2. How did the dads' (a.k.a. the subjects of the video) meet?
The Dads all met through being river rats oddly enough. My dad, Steve, was guiding for Turtle River Rafting company and met Marty while he was kayaking on the Owyhee in the early 1980s. Marty and Rick were already kayaking buddies and my Dad was the first person to let Rick row on Lower Klamath. Rick was invited on their Grand Canyon trip in '85, which ended up being the first time he had ever rowed his own raft for a whole trip. Eventually, Rick was the owner of Turtle River Rafting company where many in our river circle cut their teeth learning how to guide. Fast forward a couple decades from '85, and they all had children who grew up together eventually joining forces for our first Grand Canyon trip together in 2005.
3. How long did prep take for the trip? And did you always know you'd want to film this reunion trip?
The Grand Canyon permit lottery is a complicated system, one where your odds of winning decrease every time you go on a trip. Our boatmen, not including myself, have nearly 40 private trips down the canyon under their belts. Given those odds, we were fortunate that Gareth Plank, one of our local friends up here in Mt. Shasta, won the permit lottery and extended us the opportunity to jump on his permit. This means we had about 8 weeks to get all of our logistics, gear rentals, shuttle and transportation situated for the trip.
If you ever get the chance to go on a private trip down the Grand Canyon, it's an opportunity that you literally drop anything and everything to be a part of, and I mean anything quit your job, rob a bank, sell a kidney, whatever it takes.
4. Did you raft the exact same section of the river?
We had the same put-in at Lee's Ferry as my first trip but this one was longer. Our 2005 trip was 16 days, and we took out at Diamond Creek but this trip we took the full 24 days and went through the entire canyon taking out at Pearce Ferry, 280 miles from our put-in. Since I was a teenager the last trip, my awareness of the place and the magnitude of the endeavor was pretty lost on me. The effort our fathers put in to get us down that stretch of river at such a young age was nothing short of amazing. Pretty sure I called them all psychopaths about a week into our trip because it became very clear how difficult it would be to bring a pack of teenagers down there for such a long stint in the wilderness.
5. They call it grand for a reason.' What a great quote at Mile 52! Were you starting to get loopy out there? Or what day did the I haven't seen civilization in X days' brain start to kick in?
Not quite yet, haha. At that point you are not even 25% into the expedition, so you want to pace yourself. I think if you have visited the rim of the Grand Canyon you are in awe, but the magnitude of the geological time you float through really expose how tiny and insignificant we are. Despite all the struggles I had during our trip, I really wanted to be as present as possible, trying hard to not look at the map or count days. Once you pass Diamond Creek, the character of the canyon really changes, and in those last few days you become overtly aware of the drought happening below by the towering silt banks.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Shon Bollock (@shonbollock)
--
6. Around 9:21 there is an epic view of the camp from the ridge above. What time did you usually get on and off the river for the day and was there a lot of hiking in those off hours?
That was actually a view from the Patio, which was a day hike. We ended up camping just downstream of there since camping isn't allowed at spots like this on the river to preserve the more heavily trafficked areas.
We had a very diverse range of experiences and hiking desires on our trip, which led to some challenges around making time to hike but also creating reasonable hours on the water.
Our crew was made up of early risers which lead us to getting off the beach around 8 a.m., but we weren't usually getting to camp until around 4 p.m., which set us up for some long days.
Full transparency, I had a lot of hiking amb
More from GoPro
25/07/2022
GoPro skate athlete and overall wonder woman Leticia Bufoni is being honored with TWO Guinness World Records today. Leticia will receive the honors today at the...
15/07/2022
We're about to take a deep dive with Beneath The Waves-an organization GoPro for a Cause has supported since 2020. Beneath The Waves is dedicated to promoti...
07/07/2022
We were honored when Mason Ho hit us up asking if we wanted to see one of his favorite local spots on the North Shore! Naturally, we jumped on the chance to see...
02/07/2022
Nearly 28,000 HERO10 Black clips from 131 countries were submitted for the chanc...
30/06/2022
We recently had a GoPro Awards submission that is in the running for the cutest video of all time. These cute kits poked their head out to enjoy some summer sun...
30/06/2022
Whether you're a surfer, swimmer, snorkeler, Sea-Doo-er or just plain love water, getting awesome underwater video is the ultimate way to share your submers...
28/06/2022
In 2018, GoPro for a Cause championed The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization with the objective of ridding the world's oceans of plastic. GoPro was th...
23/06/2022
It's time to take a break from late night binging and tune into Mother Nature. For the first time in 18 years, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will...
23/06/2022
GoPro Labs has been home to some of the most exciting GoPro innovations-turned-c...
21/06/2022
Nearly 28,000 HERO10 Black clips from 131 countries were submitted for the chanc...
18/06/2022
Once again, to honor this year's International Surfing Day, we are spotlighting a surf-related organization that's near and dear to GoPro, Bay Area-base...
18/06/2022
Surfing is deeply rooted in GoPro's history, so we're happy to take any excuse we can get to celebrate and enjoy the sport. Today, in honor of Internati...
02/06/2022
In a minute, we're gonna need some summer sunshine to pump us up.
That'...
27/05/2022
Nearly 28,000 HERO10 Black clips from 131 countries were submitted for the chance to be featured in the fourth annual Million Dollar Challenge highlight reel. U...
26/05/2022
We out here breaking records, AND we're keeping it in the GoPro Family, specifically the GoPro Snow Team.
We are thrilled to announce that Swedish freesty...
24/05/2022
Nearly 28,000 HERO10 Black clips from 131 countries were submitted for the chance to be featured in the fourth annual Million Dollar Challenge highlight reel. U...
20/05/2022
Tragedy is often accompanied by triumph, on scales both big and small. As the wo...
12/05/2022
GoPro Family member Shon Bollock recently set out to document he and his father ...
10/05/2022
GoPro for a Cause is committed to inspiring and enabling all people to make a positive impact on our world. Our mission is to inspire social engagement by lever...
10/05/2022
Nearly 28,000 HERO10 Black clips from 131 countries were submitted for the chance to be featured in the fourth annual Million Dollar Challenge highlight reel. U...
10/05/2022
Whether youre a backpacker looking for adventure or a suitcase-toting city traveler, your camera is a must-pack travel essential. But not all cameras are made e...
10/05/2022
The whole point of hiking is to enjoy the outdoors. That means unplugging from the noise of your smartphone, it means living in the present moment, and most of ...
26/04/2022
In November 2021, GoPro for a Cause teamed up with California and Mexico-based organization WILDCOAST, or COSTASALVAJE in Spanish, to help tell the story of the...
21/04/2022
GoPro is all about capturing unforgettable experiences and living in the moment, so the last thing you want to be worrying about is battery life. Here are a few...
21/04/2022
The latest try on haul trend isn't Abercrombie or American Eagle-although both are experiencing quite the comeback-it's GoPro Graphic Tees. Launching to...
19/04/2022
We're pumped to welcome surfing standout and ultimate grom Jackson Dorian to the GoPro Surf Team! At just 15 years old, Jackson has an air game that rivals ...
12/04/2022
Featuring HERO10 Black's Emmy Award-Winning Video Stabilization Technology at Just 54 Grams, Bones Delivers a Specialized Solution for FPV Drone Cinematogr...
11/04/2022
Pro-Focused Feature Updates Include ReelSteady Stabilization, Lens Correction ...
08/04/2022
When youre on the road, you need a backpack that keeps your belongings organized, secure and protected from the elements without holding you back. The best trav...
07/04/2022
Family Portraits is an employee spotlight series, highlighting the incredible people at GoPro around the globe. In this series, you'll meet employees workin...
06/04/2022
Nearly 28,000 HERO10 Black clips from 131 countries were submitted for the chance to be featured in the fourth annual Million Dollar Challenge highlight reel. U...
06/04/2022
On March 2, 2022, GoPro employees from around the world gathered virtually to celebrate, learn and understand how we are all connected to the concepts of Divers...
31/03/2022
The Quik app is getting an update today that makes highlighting your favorite mo...
31/03/2022
HERO10 Black Creator Edition Puts Hollywood in Your Hand' with Emmy Award-...
29/03/2022
Nearly 28,000 HERO10 Black clips from 131 countries were submitted for the chance to be featured in the fourth annual Million Dollar Challenge highlight reel. U...
26/03/2022
Whether youre surfing big waves or riding down a mountainside trail, your GoPro has to stay protected to get the best shot. After all, whos gonna believe your a...
26/03/2022
From road biking to track cycling, mountain biking to BMX, theres never a dull moment when youre riding your trusty two-wheeler. Its capturing the excitement-in...
12/03/2022
What happens when the GoPro Skate team takes over Los Angeles, Calif., for a day? The whole city becomes their skate park, no rail goes unhit, GoPro durability ...
09/03/2022
Waterfall drops with your kayak camera arent just thrilling, they are life-changing and, with a camera along for the ride, your friends get a look at the action...
09/03/2022
If you've noticed the uptick in female content on GoPro's channels over the past week, it's no mistake! We are putting the female-first pedal to the...
22/02/2022
We are thrilled to welcome 15-year-old phenom Kai Jones to the GoPro Snow team. Hailing from the land of Corbet's Couloir, Kai caught the eye of the ski wor...
18/02/2022
Nearly 28,000 HERO10 Black clips from 131 countries were submitted for the chance to be featured in the fourth annual Million Dollar Challenge highlight reel. U...
15/02/2022
Whether its wheelie races, shredding the local track or sunset cruising that revs you up, adding a GoPro motorcycle camera will ensure that you can relive the m...
13/02/2022
Nearly 28,000 HERO10 Black clips from 131 countries were submitted for the chance to be featured in the fourth annual Million Dollar Challenge highlight reel. U...
10/02/2022
Nearly 28,000 HERO10 Black clips from 131 countries were submitted for the chance to be featured in the fourth annual Million Dollar Challenge highlight reel. U...
02/02/2022
Nearly 28,000 people from 131 countries submitted their favorite HERO10 Black clips for the chance to be featured in the third annual Million Dollar Challenge h...
01/02/2022
Innovation in In-Camera Sensor and Software Stabilization Brings Home the Win at the 73rd Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards
Were excited to announce...
31/01/2022
Family Portraits is an employee spotlight series, highlighting the incredible people at GoPro around the globe. In this series, you'll meet employees workin...
28/01/2022
GoPro Snow athletes Elena Hight and Sage Kotsenburg have been crowned the winners of the Natural Selection Tours first stop in Jackson Hole. The two battled the...
20/01/2022
Photographer Travis Burke has an eye for capturing and sharing the outdoors. Whether its freediving, eclipse chasing or tiny-home-building, Travis's knack f...