Right from the first phone call the people there were only too anxious to help.
I had several long phone calls with them trying to get a feeling for what the trip was like & the various alternatives available.
The actual trip itself was well run. The leaders knew the river, it's history and the wildlife. We took hikes into side canyons normally twice per day, and this always gave us something new to see (from waterfalls, to spectacular views of the river and also fossils).
The food was excellent, well prepared and varied (at times it was hard to believe that it wasn't being flown in secretly at night !!).
I felt that the 8 days (motor powered) was just right. It gave time to unwind and to really enjoy the river AND the canyon. Obviously coming from Europe meant that I had longer to spend anyway so perhaps this influenced my feelings.
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From: (a. m. rushton)
I had a very good experience with Sleight Expeditions. Email me if you don't have their address/phone number and I'll look it up at home. You could probably arrange a 5-6 day paddle trip for halfway (Lees Ferry to Phantom Ranch or from the Ranch to mile 188) A motor trip could do the whole thing in that time.
I did the 12 day trip from Lees Ferry to mile 188 by rowing (non-motorized) raft. If you have ~6 days, I would recommend a rowing trip from the Ranch to mile 188. I thought the second half of the canyon was the better half, but I'm glad I did the whole thing.
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From: sheldon@makesys.COM (Sheldon)
I went on an 8-day trip about 18 months ago with Canyon Explorations, and they were really good people! They had one 'paddle boat' that one could switch in and out of. Most fun I've ever had!
I don't know if they offer 5 day trips, but a 3 or 4 day trip might be a little too short, in my opinion. You'd be amazed how hard it is to leave once you get into the wilds of the canyon!
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From: rsk@gynko.circ.upenn.edu (Rich Kulawiec)
My personal advice, which is worth what you're paying for it, is to paddle the boats yourself, and spend as much time as possible in the Canyon. It won't be easy, but there is nothing like drifting along quietly in the midst of nowhere, or digging in hard to blast through a big hole. If any of your prospective guests are curious about what it would be like, recommend that they take a day trip sometime this summer on a similar river to get a hint of what it would be like. For example, the lower New River, in West Virginia, is sometimes called 'The Grand Canyon of the East', because its hydrographic characteristics are somewhat like the Colorado's. Anyone who rafts the lower New and loves it will enjoy the Canyon; anyone who gets freaked out by its 8-foot standing waves is probably not going to like being in the Canyon very much. I would guess that the American in California, the Royal Gorge of the Arkansas in Colorado, and the upper Hudson in New York might also be comparable in size to the Colorado River.
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From: Sea Bass (scs8@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu)
I know guides who've worked for ARTA and they seem to be a very together company. Keep in mind they run lots of different rivers, so the gudies might not be as intimate with the history and geology etc. of the Grand Canyon.
I have always heard good things about Sobek, but have nothing specific to tell you on them.
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From: collier@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (Ken Collier)
Having worked on the Grand I have made many friends who are still working as river guides. My favorite company is Expeditions out of Flagstaff. These guys are into showing their customers a great time from the food to the day hikes, and of course the whitewater. However, I'm not sure if Expeditions has any motor rigs. Furthermore, since I've been out of the commercial scene for several years I don't have any idea what prices are like. Canyoneers is another company that has some great boatpersons (somehow boat people just doesn't sound politically correct). They too are based in Flagstaff and they run motor rigs or oar rigs. There are some companys out of Page that have been around for many years. One that comes to mind is owned by Georgie White, a spunky river runner who is now in her 70's(?) I don't know anything about her company but you might want to get a Page,AZ phone directory and call for info. I think she only runs motor rigs.
>If I rafted just 1/2 of the canyon is the upper or lower half better >(more rapids, more beautiful formations, camp sites etc.)?
The most exciting rapids (Crystal and Lava) are below Phantom Ranch (1/2 way) If you are unable to run the entire river I recommend hiking in on the Kaibab or Bright Angel (~9 miles) and meeting the trip at Phantom Ranch. This is typical. From here you will travel through the deepest part of the Inner Gorge and will get to experience the most beautiful places in the Canyon.
>What else do I need to know (I have rafted on the Chattooga before)?
As you ask for information from each of the outfitters be sure and ask for an agenda so that you can get a feel for the balance between 'on river' time and 'off river' time. And most importantly, how well you can expect to be fed.
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From: Herberg_David@tandem.com (David Herberg)
Small corrections:
collier@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (Ken Collier) writes: > There are some companys out of Page that have been around for many > years. One that comes to mind is owned by Georgie White, a spunky > river runner who is now in her 70's(?) I don't know anything about ^^^^ she's going on 86 this year! > her company but you might want to get a Page, AZ phone directory ^^^^^^^^ Las Vegas, NV > and call for info. I think she only runs motor rigs. ^^^^^^^^^^ right!
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From: schultz@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Dennis Schultz)
Yes, Georgie White is quite spunky, unfortunately a little less so, these days. I had alittle encounter with her down by the put-in at Lee's Ferry back in May of '89. We had had a birthday party for me the night before, and me and a buddy of mine (who shall remain nameless) passed out down by the river(in order to watch all our gear,i.e. we couldn't find our way back to camp). About an hour before dawn, I heard this noise somewhere nearby. Since we had failed to cleanup and stowe gear properly, I naturally assumed it was some critter gittin' into our food supply. Being sleepy (i.e. lazy), and de facto group leader, I asked my buddy to investigate. Being sleepy (i.e. also lazy), instead of investigating, he simply threw a rock at the source and the noise stopped. At dawn we awoke to the sound of Georgie's voice, complaining to her compatriots of being hit in the head by a rock about an hour earlier. She had made the mistake of camping next to us drunken, suspicious, rockthrowing rowdies. We immediately went to her and apologized profusely. My buddy even had the nerve to ask her to have his picture taken with her. She graciously complied. She IS quite the lady, and actually stil very spunky (the rock fortunately only grazed her!), but I think she takes more care in choosing her camping spot these days!
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From: mike@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Mike McNelly)
I've rafted the river 3 times in the past 3 years in oar framed rafts but never with commercial guides so I can't comment on the companies. You might try calling the ranger at Lee's Ferry, Grand Canyon National Park, to get a personal recommendation. Lee's Ferry is the usual put
Either half of the trip will have big water in places. You'll probably see slightly more big water in the second half but it's a close call. The scenery is different for both halves but each is spectacular in its own way. I'd be hard pressed to make a recommendation either way.
On a 7 day trip you probably will be limited in the amount of off-river hiking simply because of time constraints. Any extra time you can afford is well worth it.
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From: susswein@anrchy.cxo.dec.com (Steve Susswein)
I'd definitely recommend against Dvorak's. I'll spare you all the gory details, but the end result of the trip I booked through him was that I testified at the trial of a fellow customer who was sueing him.
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From: rkg@sactoh0.sac.ca.us (Rick L. Gordon)
I believe the group that runs the Grand is no longer ARTA. AZRA bought out ARTA years ago. ARTA mainly does tours in northern UTAH - Green, Ladore, Yampa, etal.
Back in the days that I did some commercial rafting (Assistant Boatman for ARTA) some of the good rafting groups were OARS, Grand Canyon Dories, the outfit owned by the guy that Seldom Scence was based on (can't remember the name - Hatch?).
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From: toma@hpspdla.spd.HP.COM (Tom Anderson)
I recommend ARTA. For years they have been very respectful of western rivers and staffed with courtious, competent guides. As for the other point brought to light in this string regarding motor boats and comercial outfitters, as long as Utah keeps electing Orin Hatch to the Senate, there will always be motor boats and comercial outfitters in the canyon. Hatch's father or uncle (or both) founded Hatch River Tours in Vernal Utah. They have the highest number of user days of any outfitter on the river.
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From: rex@pangea.Stanford.EDU (Rex Sanders)
I've been down the Canyon twice in 18 months with OARS on research trips - once with oar boats (during non-motor season), once on a big motor rig. OARS did a great job. The oar-powered trip was MUCH nicer than the motor trip. Worked our b*tts off on both trips, but there are much worse places to work hard.
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From: maryk@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Mary Koenig)
I went down the Grand Canyon in October with Sleight Expeditions. This is an old company on the Grand Canyon started by Ken Sleight who used to do Glen Canyon and led the battle to try and save the Canyon from Glen Canyon damm. His son runs the business now and I thought they did a first class trip. Nothing fancy but a great group of guides who make you feel at home. For more info contact:
Sleight Expeditions
P.O. Box 40
St. George, UT 84771-0040
phone: 1-801-673-1200
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From: Jeffrey R Behan
3 most common worries of river trip participants: scorpions, snakes and rapids. The 3 things they SHOULD worry about: sunburn, dehydration and taking care of their FEET. Adequate footwear will add greatly to your enjoyment of the rough and variable river/desert environment. Bring light hiking boots or sturdy running shoes for hiking and some good quality thongs or sport sandals (Teva brand, or equivalent) for in the boats and in camp. Get your feet used to them BEFORE you arrive.
Clothes: 'synthetics on the river, cotton in camp' is a good general rule of thumb, but may not apply during midday in the summer when wet cotton helps keep you cool. During the summer, be prepared to spend several hours a day in 90-110 degree sun. |
