Arizona River Runners Wants You to Know...

The Arizona Office of Tourism has announced the 2011 Arizona Official State Visitor's Guide will now be available to consumers at no charge. This informative guide provides a wealth of information to visitors, and residents alike. Information on Arizona's history, golf courses, arts and culture, resorts and spas, dining and shopping, and so much more. It has information on camping and recreation, fun family adventures, including Grand Canyon rafting vacations ! It encourages and entertains readers to discover what this great state has to offer as a premier vacation destination. Get a copy today for your wonderful Arizona vacation.

To obtain a complimentary copy of The Arizona Office of Tourism's Official State Visitor's Guide log on to www.Arizonaguide.com, or call the Arizona Office of Tourism at 866-298-3312.

(From Arizona Highways "A New Guide to the Grand Canyon State")

Experience the vacation adventure of a lifetime on an Arizona River Runners rafting trip. Since 1970 we have provided complete Grand Canyon whitewater rafting trips. Whitewater rafting through the Grand Canyon offers a unique view of one of the most popular natural wonders of the world. Arizona River Runners has grown to be one of the most innovative, and well-respected outfitters operating in the Grand Canyon. Call us at 1-800-477-7238, we'd love to see you venture down the Colorado!

Rafting through the Grand Canyon Takes Teamwork ~ Arizona River Runners Style!

There's a whole team of people that make it possible for you to go rafting in the Grand Canyon with Arizona River Runners. First, you call the office and talk to Shirley or Pam, Judy or Dick. Sometimes I'm in there but that's only when they are desperate. So, the office people help you make your reservation and they help you get prepared for your rafting trip. "Getting prepared" entails different things for most everybody. Some people need more guidance than others. Some people are real greenhorns as opposed to the veteran rafters that are returning for more of the good stuff.

When you actually get to the launch of the river trip you meet more of the team.....your guides and their helpers (swampers). Now you're looking at the first string....the A team. You and your crew.

But, other team members have worked in symphony to get everybody to this point. There are people that work in the warehouse and keep it stocked, clean and organized so that others can pack the rafts. Somebody de-rigs and/or unpacks the rafts. Others on the ARR team do mechanical stuff....they work on the motors or frames and the rest of the equipment to keep it running smoothly.

Drivers on the Arizona River Runners team keep us moving. ARR has two 18-wheeler rigs that transport rafts, crew members and equipment from the end of the trip back to the warehouse and then, when it's time, everything goes back to the launch site at Lee's Ferry.

Each of these ARR people and there jobs are integral parts of Arizona River Runners rafting trips . Add YOU to the team and we have a trip of a lifetime just waiting to happen. We couldn't do it without you.

The ARR team is experienced and waiting. Waiting for you.

So call us now and book your trip of a lifetime! Come be a part of a great team, you won't regret it!

Arizona River Runners 1-800-477-7238 or info@raftarizona.com

Lunch in the Canyon on an Arizona River Runners Rafting Trip!

I'm pretty easy to please in the food/eating department. A real appealing part of this is that somebody else prepares my meal AND cleans up afterwards. That is certainly the case on an Arizona rafting vacation with Arizona River Runners. Don't get me wrong.....the food on ARR rafting trips gets high marks in the culinary realm on it's own. The fact that I enjoy great meals with very little effort on my part is a bonus.

I've tried to duplicate some of the wonderful cuisine that I enjoyed in camps along the way and the one that is clearly a standout is Mexican Train Wreck. It is a salad that is served at lunch in a pita pocket. I've served it many times without the beauty of the Grand Canyon as a backdrop and everybody still loves it.

Here's the recipe I go by:

MEXICAN TRAIN WRECK

Serves a big bunch

3-4 c. chicken, canned or grilled, cut into bite size

1 c. tomato, diced

1/2 c. onion, diced

1 14 oz. can black olives, chopped

1 14 oz. can beans (black, pinto or kidney), drained

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

1 c. salsa

1/2 c. avocado chunks or guacamole

1/2 c. sour cream

1/2 head of lettuce, chopped or shredded

2 c. tortilla chips, crumbled slightly

Mix all together. Serve with salsa, guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheese and chips.

Spoon into pita pocket or serve over a bed of shredded lettuce.

This recipe is quite flexible and can be tweaked to your liking. I often leave out the crumbled chips and the shredded lettuce so that leftovers can be enjoyed the next day or frozen.

For your Grand Canyon rafting vacation and fabulous meals, call Arizona River Runners at 1-800-477-7238!

Bon Appétit in the Grand Canyon on an Arizona River Runners Rafting Vacation!

When you raft the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon with Arizona River Runners you will enjoy some really good food. It won't be your typical camping food or that dehydrated stuff. No way! It will be delicious, fresh foods cooked by your guides, who really know their way around the kitchen.

A week on the river with Arizona River Runners might include chicken breast, grilled over hot coals or thick, juicy pork chops. Some nights the dutch ovens turn out lasagna that will offer you choice of meaty or vegetarian. You might savor a pineapple upside down cake still warm from the dutch oven or brownies, gooey and hot. Salmon steaks are one of my favorites. Mexican night offers chicken fajitas or maybe burritos that you build yourself. Rib-eyes just off the grill comes with a bucket of garlic mashed potatoes. Fresh veggies and fruit make perfect salads and sides.

Breakfast beckons you out of your sleeping bag. Every day starts with hot coffee, tea and juice. Some mornings it's eggs to order or blueberry pancakes with sausage. Build your own omelet and watch the chefs skillfully fold it all together for you. There's fresh fruit, yogurt, granola and oatmeal too. Bite into a toasted muffin spread with jam or peanut butter. Perhaps French toast will be a favorite of yours.

At lunch, pile up a dagwood sandwich with sliced turkey, roast beef or ham with choice of avocado, tomato, lettuce, cheese, red onion.....I'm sure I'm leaving out lots of stuff. There'll be olives and pickles and peppers too. Peanut butter and jelly is also available. ARR guides also make a really fab tuna salad.

One of the most popular lunches is called Mexican Train Wreck. You put everything that would be in a mexican food meal, plus the salsa, sour cream, lettuce and chips and chunks of chicken into a bowl. Stir well and..... Wa! La! You've got Mexican Train Wreck. It's a delicious twist on chicken salad.

You won't have ALL of these things on one trip....there just simply isn't enough time but those are a sampling of the kinds of meals that you will savor. Sure, Sara Lee makes an appearance with cheesecake and the like. We appreciate her talents.

Food, on our Grand Canyon raft trips, is delicious. Menus are flexible and for those of you that have certain food restrictions or requirements, let us know your specific needs and we'll make sure you'll enjoy meal time too.

Being in the Grand Canyon is exhilarating. You're going to be busy, exploring, hiking, rafting and doing all kinds of "campy" things. Great food will add to your amazing Grand Canyon rafting adventure. No doubt in my mind!

For your Grand Canyon vacation, call Arizona River Runners at 1-800-477-7238!

Bring On The Clouds On Your Arizona River Runners Rafting Trip

Clouds take on an increased importance during your Grand Canyon Rafting Trip. They serve an array of functions; likely, functions that you've not often considered. Sometimes they are a welcomed ally. Other times they are a dark threat.

They are a dramatic addition to all your photos. High flying wisps of cirrus clouds play across your view finder. White, dense, humongous, puffy specimens of cumulus clouds make the blue of the sky even more vibrant. They hover high in the atmosphere or cling to the canyon walls around you.

Cumuli nimbus can add layers and depth to your photography. Their thick, gray mass warns you of potential rain. A deluge can create waterfalls and streams of water that have an ephemeral role in the Grand Canyon. Lucky are those that witness rain unleashed from cloudy skies.

Clouds can provide respite from the heat of the sun. On the Colorado River, drift into the shade of a cloud and enjoy the coolness there. As you hike, a cloud might offer some relief from the baking rays of the sun Clouds can shield you for a time.

Clouds likely will blow across the vast skies and enhance your experience in the Grand Canyon. There is no doubt that whatever form they choose; they will sway your surroundings. And no doubt, that having endured the varied influences of clouds you will return to your home with an awareness and appreciation of clouds that you did not have before.

Bring on the clouds. There ought to be clouds.

Call Arizona River Runners for your adventure of a lifetime 1-800-477-7238!

Starry Starry Nights (On an Arizona River Runners Rafting Trip)

When was the last time you slept under the stars? Were you a kid? Have you ever slept under the night sky? Camping along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon gives you the IMAX of star gazing.

On the river the Milky Way commonly appears as a flurry of so many stars that it is a magnificent, starry presence in the night sky. There are so many stars that they blur together. On a cloudless night it stretches lazily across your entire view.

You can track a satellite as it hurtles through outer space. Watch as it moves through the darkness, made visible to you only by it's reflection of the sun's light. Not all that moves are satellites. Don't be fooled by airplanes, maybe a red-eye heading for Los Angeles. Satellites are plentiful. They have jobs to do.

Constellations are everywhere. The Big Dipper, The Little Dipper, Orion's Belt, North Star, the Scorpion. Your view of this starry display will vary. As you slumber through the night, the stars will march across your view in the sky. The moon may rise and diminish their brightness but they are still there. No doubt you will witness some shooting stars.....these sprinters slash across the darkness. They flare brightly as they burn and die away.

As morning light creeps into the sky, the stars begin their retreat. The light of the sun overpowers their brilliance. But they are always there and they will show themselves again tomorrow night when the sunshine passes and the clouds vanish and darkness settles in.

Arizona River Runners would love to take you out camping under the night sky on a river trip. We offer 3-day trips to 13-day whitewater rafting adventures. Call 1-800-477-7238 for your Starry Starry Night experience.

Unplugged on a Grand Canyon Rafting Trip with Arizona River Runners

Allow yourself the freedom of no phone, no TV, no computers, no NONE OF THAT STUFF. The Grand Canyon can fill up your senses. You worked hard to clear you calendar and actually go on this rafting trip. Work it to the max. Leave your daily demands behind. You’re on the river now with Arizona River Runners.

You can move to the cadence of the river and the moon and the stars. You don't even need a watch. You are not on a schedule, nor do you have an itinerary. Your main responsibility is to have as much fun and wonderment as humanly possible. The Grand Canyon will bombast you with truly awesome surroundings. Drink them in. Allow them to penetrate your mind and soul.

Your time unplugged is short. Rediscover your friends and family. Talk with your kids and play goofy games together. Ask questions and listen to their answers. Take pictures but most of all...unplug and make new, wonderful memories.

Arizona River Runners rafting trips vay in length, from 3 days to 13 days. You decide how long you want to “unplug.” Call us now at 1-800-477-7238 for your adventure of a lifetime!

Arizona River Runners and The Bar 10 Ranch Celebrate 25 Years of Adventure!

This summer, Arizona River Runners is celebrating 25 years of flying river-rafting guests to the Bar 10 Ranch, a working cattle ranch on the Arizona Strip. Sharing the ranch experience with rafting guests provides visitors the opportunity to see a different part of the Canyon during their journey. Five generations of the Heaton family have been ranching on their property, located on a distinctive, narrow piece of land on the north side of the Grand Canyon, since the early 1970’s.

Arizona River Runners guests see ranch hands in action during their visit - doing everything needed to keep the ranch operating smoothly and also providing musical entertainment and dancing for guests. The Bar 10 produces their own all-natural grass fed beef (Bar10Beef.com) on their 10,000 deeded acres, with grazing rights to 225,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management and Arizona State lands. The current ranching operations run approximately 1,000 head of cattle.

“Back in the day” it was common to add an airstrip for ease of “commuting” to and from town, which was over an hour away. It was about this same time rafting the Colorado River became a popular tourist activity. It wasn’t long before hundreds of people were floating down the river through the Grand Canyon, just a short distance from the Bar 10. When cattle prices fell, and interest rates soared, patriarch Tony Heaton recognized a business opportunity in the Colorado River. By the time river rafters got to a point near his Bar 10 Ranch, they had already been on the river for six or seven days, the length of time most people go for a vacation. Tony offered rafting companies the option to end their trip a few days earlier – just below the climactic Lava Falls Rapid, and use his airstrip to catch flights back to Las Vegas. He quickly organized teams of mules, and he and his four young sons were soon bringing awestruck tourists up from the river to his ranch, on mules, then in a converted school bus to the airstrip back to Las Vegas. Soon, Tony brought rafters to the Canyon for the shorter trips the outfitters offered.

It was about 1983 that Tony decided to build the lodge to heighten the river runners’ ranch experience. Tony and Ruby transported all the lumber, brick, windows, and other materials over the eighty miles of dirt road in a cattle truck.

All six Heaton children labored beside their parents, with unyielding commitment, energy and enthusiasm.

Later they added covered wagons to provide additional, private sleeping, and were surprised by their popularity with guests. In 1985, the Heatons set aside the mules in favor of helicopters and quickly saw the numbers of visitors to the Bar 10 Ranch increase to 6,000 per season.

Today the ranch sees over 13,000 guests a year, with rafting season from April into October. In addition to river guests, they welcome individuals, families, and groups. Guests are treated to delicious country-style buffet meals, using their own all-natural grass fed beef (Bar10Beef.com). The Bar 10 crew provides evening entertainment, and ranch activities include horseback riding, skeet shooting, hiking, and relaxing. ATV rides and helicopter tours are also available.

The one thing that never changes is the genuine, friendly, western hospitality.

To read more on the Heatons and the Bar 10 Ranch visit http://www.bar10.com/aboutus.amp.

For more information on lodging and activities visit http://www.bar10.com/

To book your rafting trip with Arizona River Runners and experience the Bar 10 Ranch and all it has to offer call 1-800-477-7238.

Getting Aquainted in the Grand Canyon with Arizona River Runners

Maybe there are two of you going on an Arizona River Runners rafting trip. Maybe you are traveling alone (I did, on my first Grand Canyon River Trip). Maybe there are 12 of you who are best friends and family. No matter what your numbers, you are about to meet (and eat and sleep with) a whole new group of friends.

Your fellow river rats will very soon be your good pals. There's something magical about facing the unknown together. You'll conquer new territory as each others best advocates and supporters. The guides are there to ---"guide" you and help you on your journey. But you need to be an active participant in your own story. Be busy about getting acquainted. Introduce yourself and your friends and family to others that you don't know. You are all facing the same things. You have a lot of the same questions and worries.

You are about to have a fabulous week together so meet and greet one another right away. Don't waste a minute of your time being shy. There are grand things to explore in the canyon and fascinating things to discover about your fellow campers as well.

Enjoy everything about your Grand Canyon trip. Visit www.raftarizona.com for your Colorado River rafting trip today!

A View From the River on an Arizona River Runners Rafting Trip

Check out these YouTube videos that a couple of our rafters took white water rafting through the Grand Canyon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfXtGsrZL6w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoQuROavQSE

Have fun and enjoy the "ride"

For your adventure on the river call 1-800-477-7238!

Duct Tape on Your Arizona River Runners Rafting Trip?

Really, when we reflect on the world of possibilities.... there are very few situations that can't be improved with Duct Tape. That's right. Consider that lowly, common roll of silver gray tape. It can be used to patch your sandals or fix the strap on a water bottle. A little known fact about duct tape is that each year a college scholarship is awarded to a student that makes their high school prom dress (or tuxedo) out of duct tape. Oh, but let's stick to applications of that common, linear stickiness to river purposes.

Arizona River Runner guides have it readily available, so no need for you to bring your own. Unless of course, you are hoping for one of the many bright colors they now come in. Real river rats only use silver. Let's just name a few of the most likely uses.

• Tape over a blister rubbed by new sandals. Duct tape effectively protects your boo boos so that you can continue with your fabulous Grand Canyon adventure. Duct tape “band aids” work well for feet, hands and any other body part.

• Tape that rip in your backpack. Or close up the hole left by a ring-tailed cat exploring your bag.

• Re-attach the sole of your sandal to the strappy part. Repair any other "blow outs" that may have occurred.

• Make a loop for your cup on your life jacket.

• Repair damage to sunglasses or glasses.

• Mend your britches.

• Label your "Hefty trash bag" luggage. Sometimes this is your best choice when you are leaving the river.

• Shore up your favorite hat that has served you well on your Grand Canyon trip but has suffered greatly during the week's escapades.

The applications for Duct Tape are endless. When you head out for your ARR raft trip, file this info in your brain so that when life happens, you have the limitless arsenal of duct tape as a tool to the solution of just about anything that comes your way.

"Go to the river and become whole." Unknown Author

Multigenerational Grand Canyon Rafting Adventure with Arizona River Runners

Multigenerational vacations are a growing trend in the travel industry, and families worldwide are seeking opportunities to spend precious time together. Extended families are looking for adventures that incorporate ways to spend time bonding, learning opportunities that can be shared, unforgettable sights and a level of comfort suitable to all ages.

One family who joined together for their “adventure of a lifetime” is the Sommervilles, who embarked on a Colorado River rafting trip with Arizona River Runners last summer, as a 70^th birthday celebration for grandfather Ronald (Rags). The Sommervilles’ group included family from South Africa, the UK and the US, ranging from age 8 to 70. As well as being a chance for this far-flung family to reconnect and spend time together, Rags recalls the trip as “an education in the deepest and best sense of the word” that he truly treasures sharing with his children and grandchildren.

The Sommerville crew embarked on a 7-day adventure through the Grand Canyon with experienced Arizona River Runners guides who handled the details and kept the trip well organized. “The guides established a sense of trust through a subtle strength and the ability to handle everything that came their way,” says Rags. “Because of that, we had complete relaxation and peace so we could enjoy the experience of this great event.” Rags’ wife, Merle, loved the fact that the guides were careful and kept everyone safe, but didn’t “fuss”, allowing everyone to partake fully in the challenges of the trip. The family jumped off of waterfalls, navigated exhilarating rapids, slept under the stars on camp beds, and had the opportunity to do something different every day.

The setting for this multi-generational trip couldn’t have been better. The Grand Canyon is a place that has a lasting impact on visitors of all ages, offering up views of towering canyon walls, Indian ruins, seldom-seen wildlife, and gorgeous river vistas. Nature abounds in the Canyon, and the Sommervilles all learned a great deal about Canyon wildlife, history and geography from their guides and by simply observing and interacting with that incredible landscape. Those who have experienced the Canyon know that there is a magic about the Grand Canyon that is a treasure to be shared with loved ones, as age differences seem to melt away.

The exhilarating challenges of life in the Canyon offer bonding opportunities for rafting guests, and the Sommervilles appreciated the chance to reap the rewards on the river with family members. Of course, delicious, abundant freshly-cooked meals and the opportunity to make new friends along the way were welcomed benefits of the trip as well. Rags counts the trip as an unforgettable experience and says, “Not one thing could have been changed for the better – Arizona River Runners did a wonderful job.” Merle admits to wishing the family was taking the trip again this year.

As families take the time to plan their summer breaks, considering multi-generational trips reminds us of the wonderful opportunities to create lasting memories for our children and grandchildren, while enjoying an experience that appeals to all ages.

Arizona River Runners offers a variety of Colorado River rafting experiences, from 3-day getaways to 13-day oar powered trips. Operating since 1970 as an authorized concessioner of Grand Canyon National Parks, Arizona River Runners is one of the most innovative, progressive and well-respected outfitters in the Grand Canyon today.

Call Arizona River Runners at 1-800-477-7238 to book your family rafting adventure!

Functional Footwear Facts for Your Grand Canyon Whitewater Trip

Take a minute to consider your footwear for your upcoming Grand Canyon Raft trip. There are a few different aspects that you need to consider when making your choices. One of the more important things to realize is that most every hike or walk that you go on, will probably encounter water. You will almost always walk through or swim through some water while you have your shoes on, so, you probably don't want to bring your good hiking boots. The footwear that you do bring should:

1) Be comfortable wet or dry.

2) Have good traction on land and on the boat.

3) Have enough support to hold them to your feet while scrambling on rocks or around the boat.

I've done 40 or 50 Grand Canyon river trips and I don't ever take sneakers. I take 2 pairs of sandals. Something like Tevas or Chacos. (One of my pairs I bought at Target and they have lasted 10 trips and are still going strong.) They have straps over the toes and around my ankle from behind my heel. I can tighten them so that I can climb rocks and hike in them. They are rubber so that I can get them wet, they still have good traction and are comfy.

You may want to bring sneakers. We have a "Shoe Bag" on the boat for you to keep them in if you want them during the day. Just remember the whole water everywhere thing. Some people like the support of dry sneakers for in camp at night. You'll pack those in your personal bag. Campsites are often on very fine sand. Footwear that traps the sand can get uncomfortable. Flip-flops are very workable for camp too.

Critically important --- break in your footwear before you get to the river. Even if you have had them for a long time, wear them and soften them up again before your trip. If you don't want to do this then bring socks to wear to protect all those blisters you will undoubtedly develop. Socks may look really geeky with sandals but at least you will be able to walk. Sometimes the sand causes even well broken-in shoes to rub your feet and cause problems. We have lots of band aids to take care of you!

So that's a little more insight on footwear appropriate for your upcoming Grand Canyon adventure. There's lots to do and see and you'd like to be comfortable doing it all. Check our online store for footwear and other helpful river gear.

River Fashionista Tips from Arizona River Runners – Function Follows Fashion!

So you are heading out on a rafting trip and are wondering what to wear. We all want to look great in those vacation photos (check these out and post your own on Flickr), so here are some head-to-toe tips for packing light and staying comfortable throughout your ARR experience.

You will be out in the sun. That means you may want to wear a hat, especially if you are follically challenged. But even for those with a full head of hair, a brim helps keep the sun out of your eyes. Your hat should have a strap, because you don't want to lose it if the water gets wild or the wind kicks up.

Quick-drying nylon shorts and bathing suits are great, but being out in the sun means you'll need protection for your skin. Nylon pants and a light nylon, cotton or quick-drying long sleeved shirt are great for layering in case you start to burn.

For cooler times and rainy weather, a lightweight fleece or fleece lined will help you keep cozy. Rain gear is a MUST! Look for quality pieces that are waterproof, not just water resistant. The point is to stay dry! Pants and jackets with elastic cuffs at the ankle and sleeve work best. A jacket with a hood will keep you much dryer than a poncho, and really a jacket is so much more fashionable. Ponchos are so last year.

Bring two pairs of shoes - it's nice to have dry feet in camp, and you'll need to wear shoes on the raft, which will get wet. Tennis/athletic shoes are recommended, and you can bring sturdy sports sandals with heel straps (no flip flops). Red Rock Outfitters has some great options. Think Teva, Chaco, Merrill - you know outdoorsy. This is the Grand Canyon we're talking about! Socks are nice for camp, and also if you develop sore spots from any of your shoes. In any case, try to bring shoes that are already broken in and comfy.

Don't be tempted to wear a different outfit in every photo. Really! Everyone will be wearing the same thing more than once, getting sand on their stuff, and hanging things out to dry. It's just the way we roll. Pack light in a soft gym-type bag and we'll pack it into our waterproof bags before we head out.

Once you're signed up for a trip, we'll send you a complete packing list. If you want to get a sneak peek of the best in river fashion, check out Red Rock Outfitters.

Grand Canyon River Outfitters Support Conservation Fund

Arizona River Runners is one of the fourteen licensed Grand Canyon National Park’s river outfitters that have managed the Grand Canyon Conservation Fund, a non-profit enterprise established in 1988. Each year, approximately eighty percent of all passengers on professionally outfitted Grand Canyon river trips donate $1 per day of their river trip to the Grand Canyon Conservation Fund. This money is then awarded in the form of grants to non-profit conservation groups, as well as groups working to provide outdoor experiences for those with physical and socioeconomic challenges. Organizations like the Grand Canyon Trust are working hard to protect the Canyon and its natural beauty, while other groups like River of Dreams help provide river trip scholarship assistance to the disabled. Grand Canyon Youth’s mission is to give teens an experiential education along the rivers and canyons of the Southwest while promoting environmental awareness, community involvement, personal growth, and teamwork among people with diverse backgrounds and the Peregrine Fund is committed to the reintroduction and protection of the California Condor through their efforts at their Vermillion Cliffs site in Northern Arizona.

Managed by volunteers for over 20 years, the Grand Canyon Conservation Fund makes sure that 100 percent of donations go directly to the effort of protecting and conserving the Grand Canyon and providing access to those who would otherwise not be able to share in the Grand Canyon river experience. In the past 13 years, the involved river outfitters have raised over $1,000,000 in donations which has been awarded to these and other non-profit organizations in the form of grants. A lot of care and attention goes into choosing the groups to receive these funds and each individual grant generally ranges anywhere from $5,000- $20,000.

One of the most exciting new projects that the GCCF is becoming involved in is the potential of a Grand Canyon River Heritage Museum to be located at the South Rim. Participating outfitters are currently working with the Grand Canyon Association to determine the feasibility of converting the historic laundry building, located within walking distance to the rim, into this new proposed museum which will tell the history of rafting the Grand Canyon.

All of the non-profit public interest organizations involved with the Grand Canyon Conservation Fund are working hard in an effort to continue to spread awareness, education and conservation in the Canyon. Anyone can help make a difference and all donations are fully tax deductible as charitable giving. Each person to donate as little as $1 is helping to preserve one of the world’s natural wonders and is giving people an opportunity to experience that which they might otherwise never be able to.

Please visit http://gcroa.org/Pages/gccfund.htm for more information or to make a donation.

A Day on the Job with a Grand Canyon River Guide

If you had chosen the career of a river guide, you just might think that you have the best job in the world. So, what makes the job of a Grand Canyon river guide so much better than your Average Joe’s everyday gig? You will probably need to spend a week in the Canyon with one of river guide to find out. After taking part in a Arizona River Runners’ rafting adventure on the Colorado River you’ll have no problem understanding why river guides love to go to work everyday. Compare a day in their “office” to a day in yours:

Guides in the Grand Canyon start their day with coffee and breakfast in the majestic setting of one of the most amazing natural wonders of the world. They’re not fighting traffic, and it’s easy to see how starting your day floating through the morning calm of this breathtaking river feeds your soul instead of draining it. You get a sense of your part in the natural world, and how inspiring that world really is.

No fluorescent lighting for river guides, and forget about staring at the glare of a computer screen or those tired old memos from the boss posted on your cubicle walls throughout the day. These guides enjoy the ever changing scenery, experienced from the Colorado River vantage point that many people will never see.

No ringing phones, overflowing inboxes, expense reports and sorting e-mail spam. There’s a rhythm to the days, but rafting trips are far from routine. Every bend in the river brings a fresh perspective and the chance to experience something new all over again – you might be facing the adrenaline pumping rush of whitewater rapids, or the chance to float lazily for a while and take in the scenery of afternoon clouds contrasting against the blue sky and Canyon walls.

Been doing the same ol’, same ol’ on the job for years? River trips are fantastic learning experiences. Arizona River Runners guides come from a wide variety of backgrounds, all with a passion for the river that has allowed them to soak up a wealth of knowledge and some pretty incredible stories that they will share throughout the trip. Ask them questions and take in as much as you can. From learning to read river conditions and practicing environmentally responsible camping techniques to Grand Canyon history and folklore, these river guides will keep you informed every step of the way.

On a rafting trip, you’ll experience teamwork and bond with the others on your trip in a way you’ll probably never see in the office. The river serves up challenges and rewards throughout the days to enjoy with your new “co-workers”. No gossip in the breakroom, no competition for the big promotion. These trips develop teams led by some of the most knowledgeable guides in the business, successfully navigating the challenges of some of the biggest whitewater in the North America. You just might develop a new definition for the word “success” after sharing some time in their workplace.

Flushing Out the Facts About the Toilet on a Grand Canyon Rafting Trip

A Room With a View

You may be wondering how our trip participants go to the bathroom – it is a very common question that we get asked. You have nothing to worry about when you come on one of our awesome trips because we provide you with a safe and clean place to go to the bathroom. The toilet is always the first thing that is set up in camp and the last thing loaded back on the boat when we leave – we even have a special key system to ensure your privacy. Our guides will give you a full explanation of everything to guarantee a pleasant experience.

Personal hygiene and sanitation are a big concern. To address this issue, there are two mandatory hand-wash systems set up in camp.

Don’t worry too much, Arizona River Runners takes care of all your personal needs. Call us for more intimate details: 1-800-477-7238

2010 Passengers: Did You Receive Your Trip Information Packet for Your Arizona Rafting Vacation Yet???

If you have booked your Arizona River Runners Rafting trip you should have received your trip packet by now! If you have not received your packet be sure to contact us: http://www.raftarizona.com/.

Make sure to fill out and return the “Trip Participation” form! This is a National Park requirement.

We look forward to a great season on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon!

http://www.raftarizona.com/trip-information/

Call us now and get your packet… or else you’ll miss out!