Arizona River Runners Provides All the Treats on Your Rafting Trip

Do NOT bring your own, personal snacks on a Grand Canon rafting trip...here's why. No matter how well they are wrapped or stashed away, the canyon critters will search and they WILL find them in your gear! The scent lures in these bandits to steal these delightful treasures. They will burrow and gnaw through whatever bag, box or backpack you have them hidden in, and they will scamper away in haste - totally excited by their heist! You won't even know it happened until you awaken in the morning. So, the travesty is twofold. One, you have lost your treasured tidbits. Two, you have a hole in your daybag or backpack where a very determined ring-tailed cat has knoshed.

There is LOTS of delicious food at meal time, and there are a variety of snacks on the boat for your enjoyment throughout the day; chocolate bars, granola bars, licorice, pretzels, nuts...There is even a cooler on every boat stocked with apples and oranges that are available at all time.

So do yourself a favor and don't put edibles in your personal gear. You will be sorry if you do!

For more information on what to bring and pack on your white water rafting trip with Arizona River Runners, give us a call at 1-800-477-7238 or visit www.raftarizona.com

Arizona River Runners Featured in Outdoor Photographer Magazine

Outdoor Photographer Magazine features Arizona River Runners in their June 2010 issue, p.60. Kerrick James, author and photographer, suggests seeing the Grand Canyon "from within." And Arizona River Runners concurs. One of the most spectacular sights of the world is best viewed from the bottom looking up. James says, "Be adventurous and get away from the hordes of tourists who crowd the plateau to see this natural wonder from a completely different perspective." There is nothing like a river trip to experience the vastness of the Grand Canyon, the excitement of the rapids, the vistas, the brilliant stars at night - the "grandness" of it all!

Not only does James give you a sweeping and beautiful narrative of the Canyon, but his insights and tips for shooting it are invaluable. He suggests how to pack, store and what equipment to bring on your Grand Canyon rafting trip. Remember to pack plenty of charged batteries, there's no electricity on the river!

James states, "There are a number of river companies permitted to operate in Grand Canyon National Park, but my favorite is Arizona River Runners, based in Phoenix, (800)477-7238, www.raftarizona.com."

To read the article in its entirety, visit www.outdoorphotographer.com

To see Kerrick James' photography, visit www.kerrickjames.com

What People are Saying About Their Arizona River Runners Rafting Trip

Here are testimonials from two recent rafters on their Grand Canyon rafting trip.

"This trip was hands-DOWN one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. I felt reconnected with nature, God and peace. There is such calmness of mind in the river and canyon. Combine that with laughter while getting soaked and eating Payday candybars - it was magical. I felt completely safe and taken care of. Felt like I was part of a tribe. Great staff. Great people. I went alone and had a blast. THANK You for having a company that provides a valuable experience for people. As a NYer, the Grand Canyon is one of the best kept secrets of the planet. ABSOLUTELY loved it. Cheers to you. You have a fan in me!" Amanda, 8 Day Trip, May 16th, 2010

"Sleeping under the stars was incredible. Food was excellent. The crew was phenomenal. The guides were very knowledgeable and insightful. Took time to talk about the canyon formation, plants, history and wildlife. Ranch experience was wonderful! The horseback ride, ATVing, food and entertainment was great. The ranch was clean, and sleeping in a covered wagon - unbelievable! This was the trip of a lifetime. Thanks very much ARR!" Paul, 3-Day Escape, May 28th, 2010.

To book your trip of a lifetime, call Arizona River Runners at 1-800-477-7238 now!

Zee Ziploc Ees Zee Best!

Ziploc loc bags are quite possibly your best friend on a Grand Canyon Rafting Trip

Why, you ask? Let me count the reasons:

1. Wrap up dirty, mucky sandals or shoes.
2. Corral wet clothes.
3. Pack away a stinky, worn outfit.
4. Keep your wallet dry in the bottom of your bag. You’re going to need it to get home.
5. Shampoo and other gooey lotions and potions have boundaries is a baggie.
6. Keep your toothbrush and toothpaste together. This is extremely handy.
7. Tissues do much better in a bag.
8. Put your “flying home” clothes is a bag of their own.
9. Toiletries pack well in a simple ziploc baggie.
10. Use a ziploc as your own personal trash receptacle in your campsite. Dispose of it in the morning.
11. A ziploc bag with some ice makes a great ice pack for “boo-boos”
12. Here’s the biggy…stash you camera(s) in a ziploc, it protects them from water and the sand!

These are just of the few ways to use baggies. There are plenty more. Remember for your trip, use them while packing, and then throw in a dozen more assorted sizes too. They don’t take up any room at all, and you’ll be glad you have them along!

Arizona River Runners is more than happy to assist you with all your packing needs. If you have any other queries call us at 1-800-477-7238.

Rosanne Rosanna Bandana and Arizona River Runners

The simple cotton bandana is one of the more practical items you can bring on your Grand Canyon rafting trip. Aside from the points you get for style, it has many other uses as well. Moisten it and wear it around your head, neck or shoulders and it will instantly cool you down. This is a good ploy throughout the day or for when you head out on a hike. Your friendly bandana can save you from sunburn… just cover the areas that are constantly in the sun, knees, feet or ankles, and ward off those blistering rays. For more traditional uses, you can blow your nose, wipe the sweat from your brow, or use it as a napkin! Don’t forget, there’s always the do-rag application or babushka for those bad hair days (and you will have them!). A few other ways to use your bandana: a headband or hair tie, clean your glasses, this comes in very handy as your glasses do get splashed. These are just a few of the ways your bandana can be functional. Above everything else, it’s easy to pack, inexpensive and comes in a plethora of colors. Make sure you have washed it a few times before you go if possible. The older the better. Wow! Get yourself one - even our guides wear them.

At Arizona River Runners, we want your rafting trip to be memorable. Call us today at 1-800-477-7238 for a river adventure of a lifetime!

Meteor Showers Over the Grand Canyon and Whitewater Rafting with Arizona River Runners

If this is how clear the sky is in the morning, just imagine it at night!

Stargazing in the Grand Canyon is well – grand! The complete absence of light (except for the moon at times) enables you to see the stars at their most glorious. When the last camper has gone to bed, and all is quiet you are blanketed by a night sky bursting with stars, stars so bright you want to reach out and touch them. The night sky in the Canyon is indescribable; at certain times of the year you may even see meteor showers.

The Grand Canyon is the perfect location not only for stargazing, but to behold a meteor shower as well. Small fragments of cosmic debris entering the earth’s atmosphere at extremely high speeds produce meteor showers. Each time a comet swings by the sun, it produces large amounts of small particles, which will eventually spread out along the entire orbit of the comet to form a meteoroid "stream." Depending on where the Earth's orbit and the comet's orbit intersect, meteors appear to fall from a particular place in the sky for a few days, maybe within the neighborhood of a constellation, thereby giving the meteor shower its name.

Perseid meteors will appear to "rain" into the atmosphere from the constellation Perseus, which rises in the northeast around 10 p.m. in mid-August. At its peak, the shower could produce up to 100 meteors per hour. This year's shower should peak on the night of August 12 and the morning of the 13^th. The thin, crescent moon will be out of the way early, setting the stage for a potentially spectacular show. (There is the possibility of seeing meteors any time from July 23 - August 22 as well). The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Perseus. For best viewing, look to the northeast after midnight.

Arizona River Runners offers a number of rafting trips during this “meteor peak season.” To see a meteor shower is awe-inspiring! And what better way to experience a meteor shower than camping out on the banks of the Colorado River on a rafting trip? Call us at 1-800-477-7238 for your adventure of a lifetime and indulge your love of the night sky!

Arizona River Runners April Photo Contest Winner

July 2009
Originally uploaded by njsue

Thank you njsue for this great picture! It truly is worth a thousand words! Here is what njsue said about their river trip.
"That's my boy! We loved EVERYTHING about our trip. Our guides Erica, Mac, Brian and Dillon totally rock!! We can't wait to come back - and would never ever run the river with anyone but ARR!!"

Don't forget to post your photos/videos on our flickr photo contest of your May rafting trip. We name a winner every month! Just go to http://www.flickr.com/groups/1338167@N23/ and post away!