Voices of the shutdown: "Trip of a lifetime" canceled

Judy Harrison, from Eugene, Ore., has been planning what she calls "the trip of a lifetime" for almost two years.

She and 19 friends have taken a full month off their various jobs to raft and kayak down the Colorado River.

Everything is planned, from getting gear and food in and out of camp sites to transporting various equipment.

However, the entrance to the Colorado River is now closed because of the government shutdown, and since Oct. 1, all groups have been told to go home, with no word on reimbursements or new dates to raft the river.

Armed park rangers even guard the various entrances as to not let visitors in.

"More money is being spent on the law enforcement to prevent trips from launching than what it would cost for a NPS [National Park Service] ranger to check in and give orientations to groups that are to launch," said Harrison.

As a group, they've invested more than $30,000 in the trip. They've paid National Park Service permit fees, outfitter costs and spent money on travel and food, most of which are non-refundable or recoverable.

"By all means, none of us are angry with the park system, we understand that they're just doing their jobs. If anything, it's all the more painful for them. They're doing the complete opposite of what they want to be doing and not being paid for it," said Harrison.

Harrison and her group had planned to be on the river for 21 days.

"We're still going to go. We've invested too much not to," said Harrison. "If not, we'll eventually just end up packing up and finding something else to do. But we're hoping that this will happen cause it's one of those trips of a lifetime."

Asked what she thinks of Washington, and those responsible for the shutdown, and Harrison responds, "I think everyone is frustrated with both sides, I think everyone thinks they are being selfish and not really hearing the people."