The Grand Canyon. The name itself reflects the awe which this special place engenders. Carleton‑the‑Grand‑Canyon will give you an opportunity to experience the canyon in an extraordinary way, and with enough time to begin to get a real feel for it.

This is real adventure travel. We will ride some of the biggest white‑water rapids in North America, camp at night on sandy beaches along the river, and be free of many of the comforts and distractions of modern life–no cars, phones, TV or e‑mail. Instead we will spend our time with more elemental things–the river, the weather, the plants and animals, the rocks, and each other. Our group of 20 Carleton alumni and friends will travel in dories, beautiful, stable, and exciting, which will be rowed by skilled professional boatmen guides. We will be outdoors 24 hours a day, camping, hiking, running the river, and living in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Do note that it will be hot, that there is little protection from the sun most of the day, and that the river water is cold. No unusual skill, strength, or experience is needed beyond ordinary ability to move about and the willingness to take things as they come. Not recommended for children under 12.

The trip will be led by Beth Schwarzman, ‘66, geologist and leader of the 6 previous Carleton Grand Canyon trips. We will be traveling through textbook examples of geology; Beth will help to explain the "naked geology" that creates the scenery of the Grand Canyon. She will be joined by Perry Mason, the John E. Sawyer Professor of Philosophy and Liberal Learning at Carleton. His expertise in environmental ethics will enrich our understanding of the many important environmental issues brought to the fore in the Grand Canyon.

Basic logistics

We will meet at the airport in Las Vegas in the early afternoon of September 15th, travel by bus about 250 miles east to Marble Canyon Lodge. Here we’ll repack into waterproof bags, meet our boatmen, and sleep indoors for the last time on the trip. The next morning we’ll travel the last 3 miles to the launch site, load our stuff into the boats, and push off on one of the most spectacular journeys in the world. On October 2ndwe will emerge out of the canyon through the Grand Wash Cliffs, tanned, and with our minds full of grand images, and leave our boats to travel by bus to Las Vegas for our returns home.

Cost:

The total cost of the trip is $ 3,940. This includes transportation between Las Vegas and the river; the river trip itself from launch to take‑out including all meals; dinner and lodging at Marble Canyon Lodge; and study materials including a printed river map/guide.