Western Section Grand Canyon Rafting

There is a 3-4 day motorized rafting trip in the Western section of the Grand Canyon. In addition, there are a few oar trips for this section; however, because there are only seven oar trips that launch per season in this section, which means they are often booked over a year in advance. Most trips in the Western section include a night at the Bar-ten Ranch a working family dude ranch in the remote Arizona strip area of Arizona, near the rim of the canyon. This section has frisky, wet rapids and the scenery is gorgeous, however, it is sometimes called the “Introductory section” of the canyon, as the more famous rapids are upstream, as well as longer hikes up spectacular side canyons. All these trips conveniently begin and end in Las Vegas and include a helicopter ride into the canyon. Prices range from $967 -$1459 for the motorized trips and there are several trips discounted this season! This video is a nice overview of the trip done by a person who did the trip.

John Wesley Powell turns 175

Happy Birthday Major!
Born March 24, 1834, John Weslwy Powell rambled around in his youth studying the natural sciences before joining the Union Army in the Civil War. After loosing his lower right arm in the Battle of Shilo he began his explorations of the American West in 1867 in the Rocky Mountains and along the Green and Colorado Rivers. On May 24, 1869 at the age of 35 and with a party of nine men, four boats and 10 months worth of food, they set out from Green River, Wyoming beginning his famous three month journey to explore record his findings, eventually running the Grand River (later the Colorado River) through the Grand Canyon. He made a second trip (ending the trip 144 miles into the Grand Canyon) in 1871. His work on the Geology, Ethnology and Native American languages of the region still stands as remarkable work of the day and in his paper The Arid Lands of the Southwest, his views on future water allocation in the region was visionary. He was the first director of the US Geological Survey and retired in 1894. He moved to his summer home in Haven, Maine where he died September 23, 1902. His accomplishments are still held in high esteem by river runners in the Grand Canyon and elsewhere. Join us on a trip into the Canyon to retrace his steps and experience the fun and beauty of this United Nations World Heritage Site, www.rivers-oceans.com. The picture is from the Powell Museum at Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomingdale where Powell taught. He is dressed in a shirt of the Grand Canyon River Guides.

Worldwide Adventures On and In the Water

Rivers & Oceans Travel was established in 1986 by veteran Grand Canyon river guides to help people find rafting, sea kayaking and dive destinations best suited to their wishes. Since then people have been turning to Rivers & Oceans for guidance about active vacations to domestic and worldwide destinations. Our expertise extends beyond Grand Canyon rafting trips and includes other great rivers in Utah, Idaho and Alaska along with SCUBA and sea kayaking adventures in Baja, British Columbia, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. The outfitters we work with are seasoned professionals providing fun, active vacations. Searching for the trip that's best for you or your family can be a daunting assignment. We know. We also know how to put these trips together, at no additional charge, saving you the time and legwork.Rivers & Oceans A Travel Co., Inc.Flagstaff, Arizona 800-473-4576/928-526-4575 fax 928-526-8268
www.rivers-oceans.com