Extreme Tanning in the Grand Canyon on Your Arizona River Runners Rafting Trip

You are about to embark on a wonderful adventure on the Colorado River as is winds its way through the Grand Canyon. You will see and do and learn things that will forever hold a special place in your soul. Much of your Grand Canyon Rafting Trip will be in wilderness areas; remote and far, far, away from the electronics of the rim world.

You and your fellow rafters will eat, sleep and play out of doors. By day, you may have clear skies. Clouds might provide respite from the sun's burning rays or clouds might provide torrents of rain. In the Grand Canyon, clear skies, the color of deep oceans, can stretch endlessly above you. These are extreme tanning days.

Take care. Protect yourself from burning under the sun. Especially vulnerable areas are: 1) the top of your hatless head, 2) your ears peeking out from under your hat, 3) tops of your shoulders, 4) tops of your thighs from your shorts to your knees, 5) tops of your feet and toes peeking out of your sandals. These areas are facing up, straight toward the sun as you sit on the boat. The sun's rays are intense in the Grand Canyon. Couple that with the fact that you are outside all day long.

Sun protection is a must. Sunscreens and lotions, a good hat, long sleeved shirts and long pants (scrubs are wonderful) are your best defense. Remember, you don’t need super high SPF protection, anything above a 30 just adds more chemicals to your skin, but you use what you like. Our motto is :Apply, Reapply, Repeat."

No matter what level of tanning you might enjoy, it is important not to get burned. Sunburn, sand and more sunshine is a miserable combination. A combination you'd like to avoid. The sand and the sunshine are always going to be there. It's up to you to avoid the “burn.”

Visit us at www.raftarizona.com for all the information you need on your Grand Canyon Rafting trip!

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!

Rafting a River Dance With Arizona River Runners

The Colorado River in the Grand Canyon is a pool-drop type river. That means that the current beginning below Glen Canyon Dam (this is officially Marble Canyon) flows smoothly until something gets in its path. That would be rocks. The water "pools" upstream from the rocks until it "drops" over. Sometimes a huge boulder may sit alone in the middle of the current or other times large deposits of debris have been washed into the main river current from a side canyon. This forms the rapids. The river "pools" serenely above the rapid, spills over to continue on and the boats drop down to the river below. None of these look anything like a waterfall. The drop in elevation slopes downward so that there is a navigable path for you and the rafts. It's thrilling. It's wet. It's powerful.

As the water level changes so, too, does the relationship between the water and the rocks. Some rapids become more exciting and dynamic when the water flow increases, while some rapids become less of a ride. On the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, water levels vary depending on the release from Glen Canyon Dam. Water is enormously powerful, rocks move around, and the rapids change. This is truly the river dance. It is a dance that every ARR guide is thrilled to share with you.

To raft through the Grand Canyon with Arizona River Runners call 1-800-477-7238 or visit us at http://www.raftarizona.com/.

A Letter to Arizona River Runners

We would like to share a letter with you from a rafter who went on our June 8th, 6-Day Trip. Enjoy!

Dear Arizona River Runners,

When my mom first proposed the idea of a white-water rafting trip I have to admit I was slightly more than apprehensive about spending five days with twenty plus strangers, eating, sleeping, and boating together. As I was later to discover my worries were unwarranted and the trip turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. I have traveled all over the world, and taken several guided tours through national parks. My encounter on the Colorado River trough the Grand Canyon was some of the most beautiful and peaceful scenes I have ever witnessed.

The crew: Ani Stube, Dan Hall, Michael "MAC" Cornwell and Greg Eastwood were truly amazing from the start. All were welcoming, friendly and very knowledgeable. They were of constant entertainment and maneuvered the river as if they had been riding it their entire lives. Travis Veracammen, our Trip Leader, was exceptional. His love for the canyon showed in everything he did. His constant vigilance for all of us campers kept everyone safe. Most of all, he kept everyone around him laughing. This is a remarkable person and I am so thankful to have had him as our Trip Leader.

By the end of our journey, the entire group had melded into an extended family. Our experience in the canyon with Arizona River Runners brought us together like nothing I have ever come across before, and I credit that to the wonderful spirits of our guides. All shared tears when it came time to go our separate ways. ARR provided my family and me with more than a vacation; it gave us a life changing experience that will stay with us forever.

I hope this company will continue to share this adventure with many people for a long time to come. Please take care of our guides, they are like family to me and I miss them deeply. You run a really great program. Keep it up.

Sincerely,

Monica A. Lum

Honolulu Hawaii

If you have any questions please call us at 1-800-477-7238.

Arizona River Runners Rafters' Reviews

Read these reviews from Arizona River Runners' Rafters.

"The geology of time that we passed never ceased to amaze me, The variations - spectacular, beyond anything I've ever seen before. The concentration of geological activity all in one place! I want to praise the guides - obviously very hard work and yet they were always cheerful and helpful. I always felt that they were concerned about our health and safety and yet encouraged us to have fun, and maybe push ourselves just a bit, while still reminding us to know our limits." (Marilyn M.)

"My trip throught the Grand Canyon wa a life-changing experience that I never could have managed on my own. Your guides restored my confidence in the next genreation, and the Canyon nourished my soul. Please extend my heartfelt thanks to TJ, Riley, and Kenny. (I intend to write a letter to the National ark Sevice praising your company)." (Sandy B.)

"It's hard to explain the calming influence this trip has had on our family- we have all changed for the better on so many levels. Our kids (teens) have asked if there are other trips that are out there that are similar - not sure if we can to it!" (Lori H.)

"Here's a taste of life on the river from our trip at the beginning of June - take a peek:

http://web.me.com/anneryan/GrandCanyon/Movie.html"

Thank you to all our rafters - we love your comments. At Arizona River Runners we want all our passengers to "experience the trip of a lifetime!"

To book your journey call us at 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

Arizona River Runners Flickr Photo Contest Winners "Nankoweap Sunset"

Our second winner is from jnetx "Nankoweap Sunset" - this is a beautiful photo taken at dusk.
Thank you for your great shot and for making the trip. Hope you had a wonderful time!

Arizona River Runners wants your rafting photos!
Go to http://www.flickr.com/groups/1338167@N23/pool/
to post your pics of your rafting trip - who knows you may be the
next winner of our Grand Canyon Photo Contest!