This is information about the southern Utah trip, scheduled for Oct. of ‘09.
Greetings to all of you who expressed an interest in our southern Utah hiking trip,
Kate and I have been hard at it contacting hotels, rental car companies, etc. to firm up the trip details and a price. Here is the “Official Trip Offering”, I’ve repeated some of the info sent out in the original invite, just to keep everything in one email. Note the change in dates!
Overview: We decided to go in Oct., 2009, as the weather will be cooler, the crowds sparser, and the aspens and cottonwoods glowing. This area of southern Utah has been shaped by the Colorado and Green rivers and is geologically and scenically fascinating. We’ll spend most of our time in three very different national parks - Arches, Canyonlands, and Capital Reef. Although the focus will be on hiking, there is also much of historical interest which Kate will share with us. She has a lot of information and handouts on the local geology, outlaw history (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), impact of the Mormon immigrants, the Anazasi, local flora and fauna, etc. so we will have an (optional) lecture/discussion most evenings, but no final exam is planned! Although the focus of the trip will be hiking, there will be sharing of cultural information.
Our plan is to fly in and out of Salt Lake City and use rented vans to get around, staying in motels near the parks. Every day there will be some hiking, ranging from “leg stretchers” on the days with more driving, to hiking days where we will offer both moderate (5-8 miles) and challenging (8-12 miles) opportunities. Most hikes will have relatively little altitude gain and loss and the “airyness factor” (which I define as places where a slip could mean injury or death) is quite low. We will be no higher than 6.000 ft., so any shortness of breath you experience will be from exertion, not lack of oxygen in the air!
Dates - Oct. 10 - 21, 2009.
Tentative itinerary:
Oct. 10 - fly to Salt Lake City and overnight there.
10/11 - drive to Moab (4-5 hours) in our rented vans. Arrive in time for an afternoon hike in Islands of the Sky (Canyonlands NP) and enjoy the sunset. Overnight Moab hotel.
10/12 - 13 - hiking in Arches NP, overnights in Moab.
10/14 - an early start for some beautiful hikes in the lower portion of Canyonlands, then overnight in Monticello
10/15 - more hikes in Canyonlands. Overnight Monticello.
10/16 - drive to area of Capital Reef NP along the “Trail of the Ancients”. Along the way stop at Anazasi (ancient native Amercians) Museum in Blanding, and a walk in Natural Bridges National Monument. Overnight in local motel.
10/17-18 - Hiking in Capital Reef NP. Overnights same motel.
10/19 - drive to Goblin Valley for a beatiful hike, with overnight at Green Lake.
10/20 - drive to Salt Lake City with time in the afternoon/evening to explore the sights of the city.
10/21 flights home.
Our guide: Kate is a very experienced professional tour guide. I first heard about her from her parents, patients of mine, who told me about this adventurous daughter of theirs who travelled the world leading trips for Mountain Travel Sobek, one of the oldest and most respected adventure travel company. When I finally had a chance to meet her, she planned a wonderful trip to Alaska for us several years ago. On recently reconnecting with her, she suggested a trip to southern Utah, an area she loves and where she and her husband, Stan, hike regularly. (Kate and Stan live in Alaska for the summer where they run a raft outfitting company and Kate continues to lead trips for Mountain Travel Sobek. In the winter, they move to Salt Lake City, where Kate manages a ski resort restaurant and enjoys the slopes.)
Trip price - The expected price for the trip comes to $1,150 per person double occupancy. I say expected because the price could change slightly depending on the number of participants, the price of gas, the final lodging cost, etc. Most of you said you’d prefer to “sleep cheap” to keep the price down, so the motels I’ve contacted are Econolodge/Comfort Inn type of places - nothing fancy, but comfortable. The trip price will include transportation in our rented vans driven by Kate and me, hotels/motels including one in Salt Lake City at the beginning and end of the trip, a “pack your own” lunch (we’ll provide the basics - bread, lunch meat, PB&J, granola bars, etc.), Kate’s expert guidance and cultural information,, and coolers with cold drinks after the hikes. The trip price does NOT include - breakfasts (although most of the hotels offer a continental breakfast) and dinners (which will be on your own at local restaurants), transportation to and from Salt Lake City, tips, and items of a personal nature.
Deposit and cancellation policy - To sign up for the trip, send me a deposit of $500 per person, along with the sign-up/release of liability form attached. There are just 13 places open (not counting Kate, Nancy, and me) and 27 of you who have expressed interest. I will pretty much accept people into the trip as deposits are received. I’ll form a wait list from those whose letters I receive after the 13 spots are filled. In early August, I will firm up the price and send out a notice requesting the remainder due. Any “singles” I will match with a room-mate if possible. If you prefer to room alone or I can’t match you up, I’ll figure out a single supplement charge.
Any cancellations before August will result in a return of the deposit, minus $50. After I come up with the final price, if it is above $1150, you may cancel without penalty. Cancellations after final deposits are received will be subject to a $100 charge if I can replace you from a waiting list, or a $500 charge if I can’t (since prices are based on spreading the cost among the group).
I’m leaving Tues. for two weeks in the Ecuadorean highlands and the Galapagos. So I won’t be able to return any emails during that time frame.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you. This should be great hiking trip in a beautiful area with a lot of nice people!
Larry