ESCORTED SMALL GROUP TOUR
Trip Length: 7 days
Trip Dates:
Sep 5-11, 2011
6 nights from Moab, Utah.
2 nights in lodging and 4 nights on the river.
Rates: $2295 double
based on sharing a room and a tent | $165 single supplement for private room at Gonzo Inn
| Gonzo Inn, Moab Utah | |
| Transfer to put in at Potash | |
| On the river | |
| On the river | |
| On the river | |
| Fly from Hite Marina to Moab | |
| Flights to home city |
Much of America's desert southwest is defined by one river, the Colorado. Born of snow pack high in the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado River courses its way south and west into the state of Utah,becoming at once a creator and a characteristic of the magnificent scenery of the Colorado Plateau. This region is renowned worldwide for its superior national parks, including Arches, Bryce, Zion, and Canyonlands – vast, rugged terrain of red and tan rock cliffs, sculpted spires and deep canyons. This area brims with Native American and Old West history, not to mention scores of adventure opportunities: rafting the Colorado, hiking or horseback riding through a picture-book setting of dramatic buttes and pinnacles, mountain biking on Moab's notorious Slick Rock, 4x4 touring Utah's splendid, remote backcountry, and much, much more.
No matter what you're looking for in a vacation, Canyonlands National Park has it all: exhilarating whitewater, big-beach camping; phenomenal side-canyon hikes to geologic and historic wonders of Cataract Canyon, and astounding views from the back roads of the Needles region. Prehistoric Puebloan ruins, and petroglyphs and pictographs are common along the river's shores and in canyons—inspiring visions of a wilder North America. Ancient history is likewise on display in the many fossilized remains embedded in former seabeds. Many species of wild animals are found along the river's edge, drawn to the only major source of water in the area. Finding shelter in riverside tamarisks, willows and cottonwoods, bighorn sheep, deer and great blue heron can be seen, as well as ring-tailed cat, fox, beaver, and bobcat.
The rapids in Cataract Canyon are rated Class III in April, September and October, Class III+ in August, Class III+ to IV in July, and IV to V with peak flow usually occurring during the last week of May and the first week of June during maximum snow melt.
Less famous than the Grand Canyon a few hundred miles downstream, Cataract Canyon is, nonetheless, a premier southwest destination. Come experience the best of Canyonlands National Park with Gamma Mu this season and you'll understand why we are excited to offer this trip to our members.
The Colorado River is not dammed above Cataract Canyon, and its varying water levels at different times of year provide a whitewater experience for everyone. In the high-water season of May and June, experienced whitewater enthusiasts delight in the huge waves and the famous ―Big Drops,‖ which at times can make even the Grand Canyon's Lava and Crystal Rapids seem tame. This is the greatest navigable whitewater in the U.S. at certain water levels. Later in the season, from July through October, as the water levels drop, this becomes an outstanding river with less intimidating rapids suitable for all ages and levels of experience.
Before the advent of automobiles and airplanes, very few travelers saw the Canyonlands region. Away from the reach of the river, water and shade are exceptionally scarce. This ―no-man's land‖ retains many signs of early human involvement in the landscape. Prehistoric Pueblo ruins are the featured attractions on quite a few of our side hikes. Our
guides are well versed in the ancient lore of this country and delight in sharing their knowledge. More recent human activities with the arrival of Mormon pioneers, ranchers and prospectors in the late nineteenth century, write the next fascinating chapter in the history of this region.
Cataract Canyon is a geologic work of art in progress, a real-world classroom in which we can see up-close millions of years of the earth's history. The remarkable coloration in the Canyonlands region—reds, whites, grays and every shade in between—begs questions about how and where these rocks were formed. Bent or broken, sometimes rippling like waves on the ocean, the multi-colored layers and striations along the river corridor bear testament to the powerful forces at work beneath the surface of the earth.
Every trip is different depending upon the group, other trips on the water and sometimes the weather. The following is a sample of what our trip might be like.
We meet at the Gonzo Inn in Moab, Utah. At 7:00pm will rendez-vous in the lobby and shuttle to the Desert Bistro for dinner and a pre-trip meeting. This is an opportunity to meet your fellow travelers and guides, and ask any last-minute questions. Your guides will give you a thorough trip orientation, and pass out your waterproof river bags so that you can pack your belongings that evening.
We drive south of Moab to our Colorado River put-in at Potash. The scenic 40-minute drive follows the river into Meander Canyon where the walls rise majestically above our heads, and serve as a backdrop for innumerable petroglyphs. Upon arrival at Potash our guides give a thorough safety talk and orientation to our boats and gear. Pushing off from shore, we leave the familiar behind and begin our unique adventure through Canyonlands National Park.
The first 50 miles of your river trip will be motorized. You will be astounded by the absolute redness of the sandstone looming skyward, by the bright green willows thriving beside the river, and by the fairest of desert blue skies. The cooling breezes and inviting cool of the Colorado conspire to relax, to calm, and to invigorate. At a pace pleasantly different from our nation's highways, geologic panoramas slowly develop and change before you.
Depending on the group, the pace of the trip will vary from Moab to Hite Marina. Canyonlands begs to be explored on foot, allowing the rafts to introduce you to spectacular side canyons, prehistoric ruins, seasonal waterfalls, and incredible vistas.
In addition to the time spent on the rafts with your guides there will be opportunities to choose from a variety of activities. Spend a morning floating as you watch the red rock walls changing in color each hour of the day, or maybe lounge in the shade during lunch, a fresh veggie pita in one hand, and that novel you've been yearning to finish in the other. Others may take an afternoon hike to ancient Indian dwellings. You might just have that urge to explore growing alongside your confidence that you have come to the right place.
Our group may walk to Lathrop Ruin and view ancient pictographs of what is believed to be a solstice calendar, and painted outlines of ancient Anasazi hands that ‗grab' your attention. Or maybe you will have the opportunity to explore Indian Creek Canyon where fascinating Anasazi ruins and a stunning seasonal waterfall await you. Rest assured whatever hikes you and your guides take, the views will inspire more than just a few snapshots. The first refreshing day on the river, spent splashing and playing, storytelling and laughing, carries us past Pyramid Butte, the mighty Goose Neck, and Dead Horse Point. (This spectacular spot, immortalized in Ridley Scott's Thelma and Louise, is where the movie's heroines launch themselves and their car over the cliff and into our imaginations.)
Just above the Confluence we change from motorized travel to oar-powered rafts.
After the mighty Colorado winds us through The Loop (an exceptional example of the river's convoluted twists and turns and a venue for another great hike) we reach The Confluence. The waters of the Green River join our party and Cataract Canyon begins, hinting at the whitewater to come. The Green River merges with us as it leaves Stillwater Canyon and ends its 300+-mile journey from Wyoming. In a slow mix, the clearer waters of the Green take some miles before they concede to the browner Colorado. Our anticipation grows.
Our first day generally sets the pace for our time on the river. Typically, we spend a few hours on the water in the morning, sometimes stopping for a great hike or a visit to a historic site. Come lunchtime, we pull over to a sandy beach and enjoy a delicious picnic. After feasting and relaxing on the beach (or perhaps swimming, a game of Frisbee or a nature walk) we get back in our boats for more exciting whitewater. Mid- to late-afternoon, we stop and make camp; you grab your bags and set up your tent while we take care of the kitchen and ―living room‖—camp chairs and the site for tonight's campfire (if permitted). Before long you'll be savoring pleasing hors d'oeuvres and the beverage of your choice! Read, nap, or just sit back and laugh with friends and family as we prepare dinner. After another satisfying feast, the evening is yours to spend however you wish. Maybe music, stories or jokes will bring us together tonight; maybe the popping of the fire, the whisper of the river and the clarity of the big, star-filled sky will encourage silent reflection on the amazing wilderness that is, for now, our home.
About three miles beyond the Confluence we will stop at Spanish Bottom, on the verge of our first major rapid. Here we find a fading 1893 inscription from the steamer, Major Powell, where it turned around twice, not daring to take on the rapids immediately below. We are in the Maze District, and nearby rock formations are shouting to be explored. We may take a hike 1,500 feet up to the Doll House, with astounding views in all directions. Walking amidst the giant boulders and eroded rock wonders places the human body in a different scale of surroundings. Look back across the Colorado to the Needles District or climb to the Beehive Arch, another intriguing example of the equation: sandstone + wind + water + copious amounts of time = geologic marvel.
During spring runoff Cataract Canyon boasts some of the largest whitewater in North America. Summer and autumn trips are less harrowing, but with rapids like Mile Long, Capsize and the legendary Big Drops, this section still offers plenty of excitement. As we begin the next morning and drop into Brown Betty Rapids, the preceding days' anticipation of Cataract explodes in cool water and huge smiles. Whatever the water level or the type of boat you are in, the rushes of adrenaline with each new rapid are balanced by the knowledge of your guides' experience and focus on safety. In between the thrills, ask your guide to tell the tale of John Wesley Powell's historic 1869 first descent through these formidable rapids.
All this goes without saying how delicious our cuisine will taste each night, our day's adventures stirring up a hearty appetite. Perhaps you will enjoy grilled salmon with orange zest, wild rice, and a fresh, mixed salad. Or maybe a lean, juicy steak with mushrooms. With the excellent care our guides provide, you'll notice we do genuinely want this to be a memorable experience, right down to the making of new friends and the magnificence of the wide desert sky.
On the last day, we arrive at the end of Cataract Canyon and near Lake Powell. As we travel toward Hite Marina, it is difficult not to imagine the wonders drowned in Glen Canyon below us. The bittersweet ending is now here. Thankfully, the scenic flight to Moab grants a bit of time to reflect, as we trace our path backwards through Cataract Canyon from high above, looking down on the beautiful landscape with a birds-eye perspective.
Weather permitting - you should be at the Gonzo Inn between 4-6
pm. Tonight we will dine at Centre Street Café or similar and overnight at the Gonzo Inn.
Make your way to the Moab Airport for your homeward bound flights taking with you incredible memories of another Gamma Mu special events.
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The eclectic expression of southwest influences, retro 70's and industrial era is entertaining and tantalizing to the senses. All Gonzo Inn, Moab Utah, hotel rooms are uniquely decorated with superior furnishings, vibrant colors and hand-selected materials |
$2295. 00 per person based on sharing a room and tent.
$ 165.00 single supplement for private room at Gonzo Inn.
- 2 nights at the Gonzo Inn in Moab Utah. Standard room.
- Skilled professional guide service
- 4 days / 3 nights catered camping
- Dinners at the Desert Bistro or similar and Center Street Café or similar, breakfast both mornings at the hotel
- All meals from dinner on Day 1 through dinner on Day 5
- Beer, wine, sodas and some liqueurs
- Expedition equipment, including 2-person shared tent, sleeping bag, pad and dry bags
- Oar rafts, jet boat transfer and motorized j-rig support boat
- All transportation to the river and back, including the flight from Hite Marina to Moab on the last day
- Air transportation to and from Moab
- Ground transportation to/from airport in Moab and Gonzo Inn
- Alcohol at restaurants
- Insurance of any kind, including travel insurance
- Items of a personal nature (an equipment list will be provided)
- Gratuities
Utah is home to some of the most diverse scenery and history to be found anywhere in the United States. There are nearly a dozen national parks, national monuments, and national recreation areas, as well as many state parks. Here are some highlights you may want to check out:
- Over 150 years ago, Brigham Young and his followers, moving west in search of religious freedom, came to the Great Salt Lake. Hard work and determination turned this desert into a productive heartland for the Church of Latter Day Saints. Salt Lake City today stands on the eastern shores of the largest inland body of salt water in the United States and is known as the ―crossroads of the West.‖ In downtown, Temple Square is home to the Mormon Temple, Tabernacle and Visitor Center, providing an insider's look at the city's Mormon heritage. The State Capitol is also located downtown and is well worth a visit. Salt Lake City boasts museums of Fine Art and Natural History, rounding out an experience in the cultural and historic perspectives of this city.
- Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park are located 4 hours south of Salt Lake City, off Interstate 15. These parks highlight fascinating rock formations that have made southern Utah famous. Bryce Canyon is known for its display of color, boasting reds, yellows and browns not typically seen in rock and stone. A visit to Zion is out of this world with unbelievable rock configurations and hanging gardens that are commonplace in the many canyons open to exploration.
- You will have an opportunity to visit this center for outdoor enthusiasts. It is the jumping-off point for excursions into both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, and provides some of the best 4x4-touring, mountain biking and hiking in the world, not to mention whitewater rafting.
- Be sure to visit Dead Horse Point, located just nine miles from Moab, and see for yourself one of the most spectacular panoramic views in America. This state park is a must-see at sunset as the changing colors of countless spires, buttes and cliffs fade into the night.
- Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park flank Moab on either side. Arches takes it name from the highest concentration of natural arches in the world where there are over 2,000 arches, interspersed with balanced rocks, spires and fins of shaped sandstone. Incredible views of the snow-capped La Sal Mountains are the backdrop to an already impressive foreground. Canyonlands is divided into 3 regions: Island in the Sky, the Needles, and the Maze. In each of the parks expansive and memorable views await around every turn. Off the highway is where views are at their best, featuring broad landscapes of some of the most striking backcountry hiking and mountain-biking trails on Earth.
Our outfitter and operator for this trip will be O.A.R.S.
O.A.R.S. has been in business since 1969 and that is no accident. Great trips on some of the world's best rivers, coastlines and mountains are the recipe for this success. Always focused on the clients and their vacations, it is their genuine—if not biased—belief that river trips and wilderness vacations are extremely valuable life experiences. That said, they have committed themselves over the years to providing the best trips available, always with an eye on improvement. Here are a few things we believe set their trips apart:
In 1969, O.A.R.S. became the first exclusively oar-powered rafting outfitter to offer river trips through the Grand Canyon. The immediate success of these trips inspired founder and president George Wendt to expand his business into the largest and most geographically diverse rafting, sea kayaking, and multi-sport company in North America.
Over the last 40 years, the family-owned and operated company has shared in the world's waterways with more than 450,000 guests. With more than 75 itineraries on over 35 rivers and coastlines worldwide, four decades of experience in the industry, and some staff members who have been with the company since nearly the beginning, O.A.R.S. is routinely recognized for serving up some of the ―Best Trips on the Planet,‖ and for setting the standard for top-notch guides, expertise and superior service.
Their employees are the single most complimented component of their organization and the number one reason over 60% of O.A.R.S. travelers return for additional trips or are referred by past guests each year. Their reliable, responsible and experienced guides are some of the best anywhere. All are qualified in CPR and First Aid; many have earned credentials in Wilderness First Responder, swift water rescue and Leave No Trace. They are friendly, open, and approachable, and they want to share and learn along with you. Their vast experience and knowledge of not just the river, but also the entire region, virtually guarantees an in-depth adventure and that your questions will be answered. So that our guests can take the best advantage of our guides' skills and personalities, we maintain the best guide-to-guest ratio in the business: only four guests for every guide.
The meals served are hearty and sumptuous, complete with fresh fruits and vegetables throughout your entire journey. The menu features great camp cooking in a wilderness atmosphere. Wake up to pancakes, omelets, or eggs cooked to order, complemented by bacon or sausage, juice, and plenty of fresh-brewed coffee, tea and cocoa. Satiate your appetite at lunch with a delicious spread of cold cuts and cheese on assorted breads, hummus and veggies in soft pitas, or tasty taco salad wraps. At the dinner table, the guides' cooking skills truly shine. You may snack on hors d'oeuvres while waiting for fresh green salads, vegetables, pasta, rice and the main course: steak, grilled salmon, Baja tacos, sizzling fajitas or perhaps a delicious Dutch oven lasagna. Vegetarian options are available if you tell us of your preference ahead of time. And, if you can find room, there will always be something for dessert. Expect to eat as well – or better – than you do at home, without having to do any of the work.
The boats and equipment are top-of-the-line and rigorously maintained. Rest assured knowing that we use only the best and most reliable. All river-related gear is included and we offer many accessories to ensure your comfort on dry land as well. To give your camp by the river most of the comforts of home we provide sturdy tents, warm sleeping bags and thick sleeping pads.
For a detailed packing list please call us at 1-888-677-2632 or email us at info@coda-tours.com for our Cataract Canyon Travel Planner, also included in your confirmation packet when you book.
Our Cataract Canyon trip begins and ends in Moab, Utah. Moab is accessible by plane, auto, and van shuttle.
You may fly into Salt Lake City, Utah or Grand Junction, Colorado, which are serviced by several commercial airlines. Charter flights from Salt Lake City and Grand Junction to Moab are available through Red Tail Aviation 800-842-9251, Slickrock Air 435-259-6216 or Salmon Air 800-448-3413. Great Lakes Airlines (307-432-7000 / www.greatlakesav.com) offers commercial service from Denver to Moab. You can arrange a van shuttle from the Moab Airport into Moab with Roadrunner Shuttle 435-259-9402. Make reservations for the shuttle service in advance.
Make reservations well in advance for all shuttle services. Bighorn Express (888-655-7433) runs a daily shuttle from Salt Lake City to Moab. Check their website for schedule and fees (www.bighornexpress.com). You can arrange a charter van shuttle from Salt Lake City through either Bighorn Express or Roadrunner Shuttle (435-259-9402). From Grand Junction, a charter van can be arranged with American Spirit (970-523-7662) or Roadrunner Shuttle.
A $500/person deposit is required at the time of reservation. The balance is due 60 days prior to departure.
If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, notify us as soon as possible. The cancellation fee after you've made your deposit can range up to the entire trip cost, based upon the number of days prior to your trip that we receive your cancellation notice. We regret we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies. For this reason, we strongly urge you to investigate trip insurance (see Insurance).
Cancellations 60 days or more prior to the trip earn a full refund less a $250 deposit. Cancellations 59 days or less prior to your trip are not refundable.
Medical Under most circumstances, if you are of an adventurous spirit and in reasonably good health, you should have no problem enjoying this trip. People with heart trouble should have their physician's approval before taking an adventure travel trip.
Although every effort is made to insure a safe trip for all, we strongly recommend that you protect yourself, your belongings, and your vacation through the purchase of a short-term traveler's policy. A trip cancellation policy covers your non-refundable payments in most cases, should you have to cancel your trip at the last minute due to illness or injury. Trip participants should realize that in the event of illness or injury on an adventure travel trip, evacuation could be prolonged, difficult and expensive. Personal belongings and cameras are carried entirely at the owner's risk, and O.A.R.S. Gamma Mu and Coda International Tours Inc. accept no responsibility for lost, damaged, delayed or stolen property.
Everyone is required to sign a standard Acknowledgement of Risk before the trip, acknowledging awareness that some risks are associated with the trip. Safety is of the utmost concern on our trips. However, due to the nature of the activities, a condition of your participation is that you will sign this form and return it to our office before the trip begins. Anyone who refuses to sign the form will not be allowed to participate, and consistent with the cancellation policy, there will be no refund of the trip fees at that time.
O.A.R.S. Canyonlands, Inc., Gamma Mu and Coda International Tours Inc. and cooperating agencies act only in the capacity of agent for the participants in all matters relating to transportation and/or all other related travel services, and assume no responsibility however caused for injury, loss or damage to person or property in connection with any service, including but not limited to that resulting directly or indirectly from acts of God, detention, annoyance, delays and expenses arising from quarantine, strikes, theft, pilferage, force majeure, failure of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled, civil disturbances, government restrictions or regulations, and discrepancies or change in transit over which it has no control. Reasonable changes in itinerary may be made where deemed advisable for the comfort and well being of the participants, including cancellation due to water fluctuation, insufficient bookings (this trip requires a minimum of 15 guests), and other factors. There is risk in whitewater rafting, particularly during high-water conditions. Rafts, dories and kayaks do capsize. You could be swept overboard. Your guide will make every attempt to assist, but you must be strong and agile enough to ―self-help‖ and ―float-it-out‖ without further endangering yourself or others. We reserve the right not to accept passengers weighing more than 260 pounds or with a waist/chest size exceeding 56 inches. We may decide, at any time, to exclude any person or group for any reason we feel is related to the safety of our trips. We are experienced at accommodating people with various disabilities. Please give us an opportunity to make you feel welcome. We need to discuss any special requirements ahead of time. On advancement of deposit the depositor agrees to be bound by the above recited terms and conditions. Prices subject to change without notice.
WHITEWATER RAFTING
