GRAND CANYON RAFTING - SPRING 2010 - "HIKERS SPECIAL"

You will enjoy the Canyon in a whole new way as the Spring bloom adds even more color and beauty to an already amazing landscape. All three trip types will allow you more time for additional side canyon hiking and discovery in the milder temperatures of April. Average day time highs range in the mid-80’s and night time lows in the mid-50’s. Some additional physical conditioning is required for the mandatory 7.5 mile hike in or out on the 6 and 7-day trips. (NOTE: This is the only time we will offer these three trip-types during the 2010 season.)

April 03-14

12-DAY MOTOR POWERED TRIP $2,695 / per person**
The 12-day/11-night adventure travels 225 miles through the Grand Canyon. The trip starts in Marble Canyon, AZ or Las Vegas, NV if you use our optional transportation package. Your trip will end on the 12th morning at Diamond Creek with transportation to nearby Peach Springs, AZ. You can arrange your own transportation from there or select our optional ground transportation that will return you back to Las Vegas, NV.
LAS VEGAS BUS OPTION: Optional $95 per person charge for bus transportation from Las Vegas, NV to Marble Canyon, AZ and your return to Las Vegas, NV at the conclusion of your trip.

April 03-08

6-DAY MOTOR POWERED TRIP (with hike-out) $1,295 / per person**
The 6-day/5-night hike-out trip starts with your arrival in Marble Canyon, AZ. This 6-day trip is perfect for those wanting a shorter motor-powered trip with more hiking. Your 6th morning will bring you to Phantom Ranch and the start of your ascent to the South Rim.
LAS VEGAS BUS OPTION: Optional $65 per person charge for bus transportation from Las Vegas, NV to Marble Canyon, AZ the morning the trip starts. (There is no return transportation included with this package.)

April 08-14

7-DAY MOTOR POWDERED TRIP (with hike-in) $1,695 / per person**
The 7-day/6-night adventure starts with a brisk hike from South Rim, Grand Canyon to the Colorado River. You will travel 135 river miles to your take-out the 7th morning at Diamond Creek. We will provide transportation to nearby Peach Springs, AZ. You can arrange your own transportation from there or select our optional ground transportation that will return you back to Las Vegas, NV.
LAS VEGAS BUS OPTION: Optional $65 per person charge for bus transportation from Peach Springs,
AZ back to Las Vegas, NV. (There is no pre-trip transportation included with this package.)


*All passengers 16 and older must pay a $12 National Park Entrance Fee (except 7-Day hike-in passengers)

**Prices shown include the 10% Early Season Discount.

To Book Your Adventure call 1-800-477-7238

Arizona Highways Travel Show

Arizona River Runners will have a booth at the Arizona Highways Travel Show http://www.arizonahighwaystravelshow.com/ on Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31, 2009. This event is being held at the Phoenix Convention Center in Hall F and the hours of operation are from 9:00am to 6:00pm daily.

If you live in the Phoenix area and have been thinking you always wanted to do a Grand Canyon Whitewater Trip, this is the summer to go! Stop by the show, say hello and pick up a four-color brochure and schedule.

Recent Equipment Upgrades | Grand Canyon River Trip

Arizona River Runners has always strived to make sure our guests are as comfortable as possible on their Grand Canyon Rafting adventures. Recent equipment purchases and substantial redesign of our motorized rafts were done with our passengers comfort in mind. Come see why we call it "high-tec camping."

This year we're going to take "roughin' it" to a less literal place with some very welcomed adjustments to our gear.

For more info about our 2009 trips visit our website.

* New above ground cots for all motorized trips
* New larger tents with two doors
* Improved seating arrangements on rafts with thicker pads for your comfort

April morning 2008 before Lava Falls

We receive many requests each year from our passengers about some of the Grand Canyon river stories and poetry that the guides share during the course of a rafting trip on the mighty Colorado River.

A number of the passengers from one of our early April trips last year requested that we share a copy of this reading that one of the guides, Travis, so passionately shared with the group the morning before they ran Lava Falls.

Photos by Robert Morcom

A Boatman's Prayer by Vaughn Short from the book Raging River - Lonely Trail

"Dear Lord here on this river bank
Before we launch today,
Please listen for a moment
To what a boatman has to say

Now I don't claim to be a saint
And my souls not lily white
Sometimes I yield to temptation
Sometimes I drink too much at night

Down here I'm not an angel
Don't even want to talk about the town
With all its woes and pitfalls
And the things that get you down

So I'm really in no position
To ask for much from you
But if you could see the way
Please try and hear me through

Life down here's a pleasure
And there's beauty everywhere
So I'm really not complaining
In my humble little prayer

The thing I'm trying to get across
In my stublin' bumblin' way
Is a boatman he's not really bad
No matter what they say

But a boatman's life's not easy
Although I'm not trying to alibi
There's no turning back up river
There's no use to even try

Whatever lies before you
You've got to see it through
You can't stop half way
And back off and start anew

Its just things aren't as easy
As they look to those outside
It's more than jumping in a boat
And going for a ride

Now I'm not too worried
About what's down the way
'Cause I've done this many times before
When I didn't even pray

Oh! I don't take it lightly!
I've always got to know
There's an old lion a roarin'
In the river down below

But we'll make it through the rapids
There'll be no problem there
That's really not the reason
For me to say this prayer

The reason I'm a talkin'
and it's not easy for me to say
Just please don't view us boatmen
In the ordinary way

I love this world you made us
And I love the rivers too
I like the things that are simple
And I like the work I do

But could you sort of look the other way
And a few small things forgive?
For it's a little different
This kind of life I live

I have no neighbors watching
To see what I do each day
So it's just a little easier
To stray off the narrow way

Now I have no church to go to
They just aren't built down here
But I see your walls and canyons
And I feel you very near

Now I'm standing here a rattlin'
I've talked for quite a spellI
still can't seem to get across
What I'm try to tell

It's just please try to overlook
Some of the things I do
I may not be like your other children
But I feel very close to you."

Amen

By the way it was a successful Lava run.