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Grand Canyon National Park: Exploring the North and South Rims |
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Program Number: |
2804RJ |
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| Start
and End Dates: |
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| Duration: |
6 nights |
| Location: |
Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Price starting at: |
$1,160.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city |
| Program Type:
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National Parks; On the Road; Natural History
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| Meals: |
17;
6 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 6 Dinners |
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| Meal
Options: |
Vegetarian |
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Join us on this "Best Of" Grand Canyon adventure. Experience the distinctive character of both rims - the vibrant South and the remote North rims. Travel to the geological beginning of the Grand Canyon at Lees Ferry on the banks of the Colorado River. Top off your adventure with a memorable scenic flight over the Grand Canyon. Gaze into the mile-deep chasm with multi-hued, 2 billion-year-old rocks that preserve ancient landscapes and life forms. Discover the canyon’s diverse and distinctive life zones along the way, from the Sonora Desert to Ponderosa Pine and Spruce-Fir forests.
Highlights
• Take a thrilling, narrated scenic flight over the Grand Canyon aboard a fixed wing aircraft, enjoying bird's eye views of the Colorado River and inner canyon. Learn about the national park's colorful human history and geologic story from local experts. • From the North Rim, take in the endless vistas at Point Imperial and sunrise and sunset at Bright Angel Point or from the historic Grand Canyon Lodge. • Journey through the spectacular scenery of the western Navajo Reservation to Marble Canyon and dip your toes into the chilly waters of the Colorado River at Lee’s Ferry. Scan the skies for California Condors throughout the journey.
Activity Particulars
Walking up to two miles a day on paved and uneven surfaces, optional longer hikes available. Elevations from 7,000 feet on the S. Rim and 8,000 feet on N. Rim. On the South Rim the distance between the lodging and dining area requires up to a 1/4 mile walk.
Date Specific Information 6-9-2013, 9-8-2013, 9-13-2013
Please note that 2013 program dates will not include a flight over the Grand Canyon, this option will be offered starting in 2014. 2013 program dates will include a scenic drive through Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon en route to the Grand Canyon.
8-18-2013, 10-1-2013
Please note that 2013 program dates will not include a flight over the Grand Canyon, this option will be offered starting in 2014. 2013 program dates will include a scenic drive through Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon en route to the Grand Canyon.
Itinerary Summary
Arrival Scottsdale, 1 night; coach to Grand Canyon South Rim, 2 nights; coach to Grand Canyon North Rim, 2 nights; coach to Scottsdale/Phoenix, 1 night; departure.
Coordinated by Northern Arizona University.
Grand Canyon National Park
Within the borders of its 1.2 million acres, this World Heritage Site offers bikers, hikers, rafters and campers everything from breathtaking vistas to high adventure. Its 277 miles of raw rock and water continue to amaze generations of visitors.
Phoenix
Phoenix is a thriving metropolis surrounded by majestic mountains. Along with the visual beauty of the land, the city has a rich heritage of Native American and Hispanic cultures. Native American and western expansion influences are seen in the art and architecture of Phoenix, and an abundance of museums and art galleries showcase the culture.
Scottsdale
An affluent city adjacent to Phoenix, Scottsdale enjoys an annual average of more than 330 days of sunshine, a factor that, along with the area’s wide-open desert landscape, makes the city a haven for golfers. Scottsdale’s vibrant nightlife and busy hotel scene are balanced out by its proximity to mountain areas popular with outdoor enthusiasts.
Mesa
The Hohokam Indians settled what is now Mesa 2,000 years ago, constructing a canal system that exists to this day. Apaches, Spanish explorers and Mormon pioneers followed in the footsteps of the Hohokam. Currently, Mesa is the third-largest city in Arizona, and one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.
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Accommodations
Scottsdale: Luxury desert resort, with private “casitas” beneath Camelback Mountain. Grand Canyon South Rim: Park lodging near the rim. North Rim: Historic Union Pacific cabins near the rim.
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| Road Scholar Instructors | | These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur. | Bruce Banker
| | Bruce Banker is a graduate of Northern Arizona University, where he studied natural sciences and geology. He lives in Flagstaff and has worked for the National Park Service as a naturalist on the north rim of the Grand Canyon, Chaco Canyon National Historic Park and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Bruce also serves as an outdoor educator for the Grand Canyon Field Institute. Bruce has taken students to many of the far-flung corners of the Southwest and has a few good stories to share. | | | | Mike Young
| | Mike Young has lived in Arizona for 40 years, and taught math and geology at Yavapai College prior to his work with Road Scholar. To convey the Arizona landscape, Mike uses a broad range of topics including botany, natural history and geomorphology. He has worked as a commercial boatman, designed and constructed his own home, and conducted field exercises throughout the intermountain west. He is an accomplished hike leader who challenges hikers of all skill levels. | | | | Richard Stephens
| | Rich has been director of Northern Arizona University’s highly popular Road Scholar programs since 2001. He previously spent many years in the field as a program coordinator and group leader, where he honed his skills and learned the importance of detailed, pre-trip planning. Before making his home in Arizona’s spectacular red-rock country, Rich spent 10 years in Yosemite National Park and the Santa Cruz mountains as an environmental educator. | | | | Matt Turner
| | Matt Turner has lived in the Southwest since 1982 and currently resides in Prescott, Ariz. He has traveled extensively in the region and has done work in field ecology and cartography. In addition, Matt is an ecological consultant and a professional photographer. | | | | Jeff Strang
| | Jeff Strang's knowledge of the environment stems from over 35 years of hiking, paddling, and photography in the outdoors, his extensive experience as a naturalist, as well as from his education at the University of Oregon and Lewis and Clark Law School. In 1987, Jeff filed a precedent-setting lawsuit against Oregon polluters under the Clean Water Act. Jeff has been leading Road Scholar programs since 2002. In his free time, Jeff enjoys biking to work, hiking, kayaking, outdoor photography and studying geology. | | | |
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