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Cloud Ridge Naturalists
holiday rafts
  Of Tiger Walls and Canyon Wrens
 

LizardOF TIGER WALLS AND CANYON WRENS:
A NATURALIST’S JOURNEY ON
THE YAMPA AND GREEN RIVERS
May 24-30, 2009
7 Days/ 6 Nights

Audrey Benedict, Dr. Emmett Evanoff, Dr. Geoff Hammerson, Dee and Sue Holladay, Dr. Mike Scott, and Dr. Ed Wick

The Yampa is one of the premier wilderness rivers in North America—a world where life is written in water and history in rock. Gathering strength from its two main tributaries, the Elk and the Little Snake, the Yampa has carved a spectacular canyon through the eastern arm of Dinosaur National Monument. Our oar-powered raft journey begins at Deer Lodge Park, at the Monument’s eastern edge. In the capable hands of our guides from Holiday River Expeditions and benefiting from the expertise of our remarkable team of leaders, we’ll spend five days exploring canyon worlds powered by the energy of the desert sun and shaped by the flow of a river that still dances to its ancient rhythms. The stage is set by the extraordinary geology of this water-sculpted landscape— the stories behind the scenery both dramatic and compelling.

Cave above Yampa
             Cave above the Yampa, photo Alice Levine

The river is truly the lifeblood of this desert country. As we float through a succession of buff and vermillion canyons refreshed by the verdure of cottonwoods and boxelders, the flutelike songs of canyon wrens echo from the canyon walls. Not surprisingly, the Yampa remains the last stronghold of the Colorado River System’s endangered native fish species—their unique life histories rivaling those of the Pacific Northwest’s legendary salmon. The names of the places we pass on this 71-mile float trip—Mather’s Hole, Tiger Wall, Warm Springs Rapid, Steamboat Rock, Mitten Park Fault, Whirlpool and Split Mountain canyons—are part of the rich fabric of river lore. Join us for our 20th journey on the magnificent Yampa River—an unparalleled wilderness and learning experience.

Price: $1,350 (includes a $500 deposit)
Group Size: 20
Trip Rating: 2

Price Includes: 5-day raft trip (oar-powered) by Holiday River Expeditions, all river transfers, crew gratuities, six naturalist guides, all meals and beverages on the river, a final group dinner, and 2 nights’ lodging at the Best Western Dinosaur Inn in Vernal, Utah.
Does not include camping gear (which can be rented from Holiday) or roundtrip transportation to Vernal, Utah from your point of departure. Our river adventure begins on May 24 at 8 pm in Vernal and concludes with departure for home on the morning of May 30th.

Yampa
the Tiger Wall, photo Audrey Benedict

Registration form 2009 (PDF) |  Trip Information Page

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