The Alumni Affairs Office is excited to offer you the chance to experience Arches National Park and the opportunity to raft on the Colorado River. Our faculty member for this trip will be Professor of Astronomy Joel Weisberg who will teach us about the nighttime sky, pointing out stars and constellations. Our alumni expert, Mark Gonzalez ’83, will be our resident geologist. Mark works for the U. S. Forest Service and will be our leader as we explore the rocks and formations.

SCHEDULE

The program begins in Moab, Utah on Wednesday, July 22. Plan to arrive in Moab on Tuesday, July 21 as we will be leaving for our hike early Wednesday morning. An optional activity on Tuesday evening is a “dinner and a show” which begins with a buffet meal on a covered patio on the banks of the Colorado River. After dinner, the group will board a jet boat with stadium seating for a sound and light show on the Colorado River. As the sun sets and the Southern Utah sky darkens, the red rock cliffs come to life with controlled illumination. Participants will hear about Native American legends, the early American settlers, the geology and history of the rock walls.

Wednesday the group will explore Arches National Park with a guided hike and scenic tour including lunch. The afternoon will allow group members to be on their own and then gather in the evening for a sunset vehicle safari of Arches National Park.

Thursday morning is the beginning to the two-day rafting adventure on the Colorado River. We will camp on the shores of the river. After breakfast and packing on Friday July 24, the trip back down the river begins with an approximate arrival time in Moab of 2:30 pm.

PRICING

The cost of the trip ($650 for adults, $550 for children) includes Tuesday and Wednesday nights at the Gonzo Inn in Moab, hike and sunset safari in Arches National Park, and two-day rafting trip on the river (all meals, snacks, camping equipment, and beverages are included). The Tuesday night dinner and sound and light show is optional at a cost of $50.00 for adults and $40 for children.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Merilyn Calcutt at the Carleton College Alumni Affairs Office (800-729-2586, 507-222-5602 or mcalcutt@carleton.edu).