Summary

Dolores River - Ponderosa Gorge/Slickrock Canyons - 4 Days

Prices From	USD$ $640.00
1st Departure	01.01.0001
Provider	Dvorak Kayak & Rafting Exp Inc
Destination	Dolores River
Duration	4 days
Challenge	Difficult
Avg Rating	Not Rated

Upper Dolores River: "Ponderosa Gorge 47 miles Class III-IV 3 days - Slickrock Canyon 50 miles Class II-III 1-2 days

The Dolores four day trip offers more unbroken miles (200 miles in 10 days) of wilderness river running than any other river trip in the lower 48 states. One of America`s best which ranks only with the Grand Canyon of the Colorado and the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. SEASON: This river is an early SPRING run and best mid April through mid June. Low water in the summer and fall dictates the possiblility of changing trip to the San Miguel River. See river notes for more details.

Itinerary

Day 1

General Itinerary for multi-day Expeditions And So It Begins River Magic Dvorak Style! When you reserve your adventure with Dvorak Rafting & Kayak Expeditions, you will be taken care of from the time you meet us until we send you on your way at the end. We will schedule pre trip meetings to check our lists and finalize last minute details before you fly, shuttle or walk to the river launch sites. We will fit you out with your personal floatation device (PFD), issue your waterproof bag for personal gear to transfer your river gear into, confirm your camping equipment is there (tents/sleeping bags/pads/rain gear/wetsuit/boots etc.) and gather everyone to the circle for introductions and a river safety talk. Once we are a river family, we will designate the rafters and kayakers to their crafts and we will be on our way. “We are now officially on “River Time” Diversity! A week, two days, three days, or more, Dvorak Rafting & Kayak Expeditions cater to all tastes. Right from the start, our staff does the tough stuff – the glory of adventure, without the worry! Based on your input, our consultants will help you choose a personally – suited expedition, a getaway, vacation, challenge or another river feather in your hat! From this point, we will takeover and do all the planning, make the lists and check them twice, the cooking, and the loading and detailing. Kick back and soak it all in. However, if you desire to recall the rugged, rough and tumble routes of “roughing it”, we can go there, too. Tents or Castle? Some like it wet and wild. Others like it quaint and calm. Just like our selection of nine rivers in the southwest Dvoraks offer you choices; sleep under the stars in your skivvies, tent on a sandy riverbank, cozy up in a bed & breakfast or luxury base camp with us on the Arkansas River Center in walled tents with the hot showers right next door! Great granite fireplace and pavilion for families, corporate groups and afternoon Bar B.Q. after a day of rafting. Morning Sunrise Dawn is accompanied by the sweet morning chorus of the river birds singing, rustling tents opening, and nature stretching its wings and the call of “Cawfeee” hot and rich to your senses. As you make your way to the kitchen, the smell of fresh bacon, pancakes and nibbles of fresh fruit and juices entice your appetite to begin the day. Your crew leisurely shuffles about, while breaking down camp and packing up the rafts in preparation for the days adventures ahead. By the time, the sun moves into camp over the canyon walls you will have packed your dry bag and will have taken the fleece off to ready for the days rapids and hikes to come. Afternoon Delight! Now that you’re wet and wild, you have explored a side canyon or perhaps walked back in time to the ancient one’s ruins or stopped for a snack on the water’s edge on a sunny beach - your tank of adrenaline has come and gone and guess what ? There is still half the day left. Your guides will set up a banquet of lunch delicacies for your delight and relax as you take in the grand view of this wilderness canyon as you sip a cool drink on the river’s edge. After lunch we’ll pack up for a afternoon run of whitewater and not so river wild water where you can swim or play till we reach our river camp this late afternoon. River Dance Begins First timers will rest assured that when we arrive to camp for the night your guides will set up camp and help you or show you how to set up tents. The camp shuffle-dance will begin as the dinner crew prepare the evening meal and sets out your appetizers and cold drinks and wine for after all that fresh air - “fuel for the fires of appetite” will have taken over. Dvoraks is famous for always making sure they are dinners are plentiful, delicious and to die for! Meanwhile the rest of the day is yours to relax, read, and play river games with the crew or visit with your family and new river friends. The setting will have by now doubled your distance from jobs, freeways, telephones and workday responsibility. You will have sharpened your senses to those around you and will inhabit the delights of this natural world around you. (Make sure we know when there’s a birthday or anniversary because there will be one in the works from the kitchen crew) A Good Nights Sleep! Sleeping well is an essential luxury of any vacation. Our guests bed down in roomy four season tents with floors and flys, warm sleeping bags, atop self-inflating pads. Our bed & breakfast guests snooze like royalty in four-star comfortable choices; (Western, Tudor, Victorian, Eclectic, Country styles). You will find them just downright incredible. As you move away from the open fire after the recounting the day’s escapades and post dinner drinks, hot cocoa, tea or cool water you will never remember your head hitting your river pillow. Just before you close your eyes one last time - look up and see STARS like you have never seen before! Variety is the Spice of Life You can count on each day of your trip having some new twists and turns and a wild ride or two along with some quiet gentle moments on the river. Water will be a big part of each day as the full days run is from about 9:00 a.m. thru until 3-4:30 p.m. Some days have more hiking - others are more rafting. One thing for sure is your trip will be like no other and the friends, laughter and experiences will be a good time – every time! Please feel free to call our adventure consultants for more details and do look over the float notes for those special and unique qualities our rivers will offer you. Remember the memories never go away and it is up to all of us to protect these resources for our children and their children beyond our time. The whitewater thrills will fade but the tall tales just get taller every year! “River Magic” Dvorak style!

Gear List

THE TRIP PACKAGE The following are included in your Dvorak Expedition • All boating equipment/life jackets/drinking water • Pre and post trip arrangements as described • 1 - 12 days of rafting or instructional seminar • All on-river meals (lunch day 1 through lunch last day) • Rain jacket with pants (PVC) • Eating utensils, plates, complimentary Dvorak cup • Waterproof dry bags/containers for personal gear • 6-man rain tarps for shelter in kitchen area You are responsible for the following • Transportation to the arranged meeting point or put-in • Meals and lodging at the arranged meeting point • Personal clothing and other sundry items • Transportation at the arranged drop off point. • Pre and post lodging and meals List Gear Item Header Description PERSONAL EQUIPMENT LIST Please limit your gear to 30 pounds in weight. It should be able to be packed into a standard duffel bag. This list should cover everything for a safe, comfortable trip. • Compact sleeping bag (not down) with Ensolite pad • Small backpack style tent w/ fly & ground sheet • Long john style wetsuit/boots for cold months * • Long pants (one light weight to block the sun & one warm wool or pile/fleece type*) • Nylon shorts or swim suit under wetsuit • Long sleeved shirts (one warm*/one light weight) • Non cotton shirt or poly propylene top (fleece top) • Warm jacket*, wind proof or Fleece, water resistant • Pair of tennis shoes - tie on preferred or wet boots. • Wool socks will help keep feet warm in tennis shoes • Sun glasses with loss protector/keeper (with UV protection • Sun block (over 5,000' altitude - lots of UV exposure) • Hat for sun protection (tie-on) • Rain gear is provided unless you want to bring your own • Small towel / biodegradable soap/shampoo/lotion etc. • Flashlight and extra batteries with new bulb. • Bandanna and a pair of lite gloves for sun protection. • Personal items kit (hygiene) medicines etc. • Waterproof camera or a very good waterproof case. • EXTRA BEVERAGES - PLASTIC containers of liquor, CANNED beer wine coolers. An adequate supply of soft drinks is provided. If you prefer diet drinks please request them in advance. Wine is provided with evening meals. • OPTIONAL ITEMS: Field glasses, protection , Journal notebook, book, pliers (for use in taking things from fire i.e. coffee, hot water, etc.), Day pack for side hikes and extra Zip Lock Bags. * Can be excluded during warmer weather List Gear Item Header Description RENTALS TENTS, SLEEPING BAGS & WET SUITS • $15 Lightweight Sleeping Bag / Ensolite pad • $50 Three man dome tent with floor + ground sheet • $10 Therma-Rest Sleep pad, inflatable • $25 Long John Wet suit with boot per trip Note: These items need to be reserved in advance and payment is due along with your trip balance 45 days prior to departure. Be sure to give your height, weight and shoe size for wet suit rentals. List Gear Item Header Description THE FOLLOWING WILL BE PROVIDED • Rugged inflatable self-bailing rafts 12 to 16 feet in length. • Personal flotation devices (type V) • Waterproof dry bags for personal gear. • First aid and safety supplies. • One guide per raft and a ratio of 1 to 4 on any instructional clinic. • Rain gear—unless you want to bring your own • In addition, we have rental equipment that consists of tents, sleeping bags, pads, and ground sheets. We also have wetsuit and boot rentals available per day or trip. • You can choose to be either in a paddle raft (participatory) or an oared raft, (passenger). Paddle rafts have 4 to 6 persons and one guide.

Travel Information

Activity Location Turquoise Lodge: Cortez, Colorado 535 E. Main St. Cortez, CO 81321 USA

Is This Trip For You? This trip is one of true beauty. If you are a person that wants wilderness, loves the mistique of the ancient ones and their ruins and paintings to tell their story and like to camp in the wilderness but wish to have a touch of class with our personal staff taking care of all the cooking and professional guide involvements...... then this is a trip for you. Great whitewater and scenery beyond the imagination. Food Food Description : All on-river meals are provided, beginning with lunch the first day and ending with lunch the last day. The food is fresh and hearty and the guides will prepare it for you while you enjoy the homey atmosphere generated around each river camp. You can set up your tent or go for an evening walk, relax, read, or join the guides in the kitchen if you so desire. A typical five day menu may include as a main course BBQ Steak, Baked Fish, Pork chops and dumplings, chicken enchiladas, seafood spaghetti, cashew chicken Chinese, Teri-yaki Chicken, Mexican chili, combination entrees, fresh vege-tables and salads, Dutch-oven desserts or breads, hors d'oeuvres, fresh fruits, fruit juices, coffee, tea and complimen-tary glass of wine with dinner. Lunches are buffet style with a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, fruit, cheeses, sliced meats, nuts and juices or sodas. Breakfast includes fruit juice, eggs in all styles, special pancakes, French toast, melons, fruit, cereals with milk, sausage, bacon, coffee, tea or hot chocolate. We can accommodate special diets with advance notice and almost always the menu suits the vegetarian. Though we carry ample supplies of juices, coffee, tea and hot chocolate we encourage you to bring extra soda, beer wine or other beverages you may prefer. You can arrange for us to pick up specific beverages for you prior to the trip or you can stock up before we head to the river. Any liquids you bring must be in unbreakable containers and limited to one case per person. ALCOHOL You're welcome to bring alcohol as long as it is in unbreakable containers. Discretion in alcohol consumption during whitewater days is strongly advised. If you would like us to pick up a particular beer and bring it to the river, please advise and payment can be made for your purchase at the river put-in with your Trip Leader. Money You will not need any cash during your trip. GRATUITIES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR TRIP COST. Trip leaders will have various souvenirs (t-shirts, hats, sundry items for sale at your meeting location or end of trip) Destination Location The Dolores River is second only to the Colorado River's Grand Canyon in unbroken miles of river running and quality of whitewater, making the Dolores one of the best river trips in America. It is a river of many faces. Beginning high in the San Juan mountains, at about 8,000 feet, the waters of the upper river reflect the green of the Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir that line its banks. This stretch includes the legendary Class IV Snaggletooth rapid and challenging stretches of water culminating the fury of the Narrows. Lower down, the river winds through Slickrock Canyon where the silence is broken only by the roar of whitewater. Several side canyons contain fascinating prehistoric Anasazi pictographs and ruins. It is slick rock, quiet water, tree lined campsites and whitewater, a river of many moods, one that will change your view of life. Travel Companions Maximum for a trip is 25 persons on the Upper Dolores. Groups larger then 25 maybe able to obtain a second launch to accommodate a party. Contact our office for more details. 800 824.3795 Guide(s) Guide(s) Description : Our guides are experienced men and women skilled at handling their craft. They all have current first aid, CPR and Swiftwater Rescue training and have fulfilled guide qualification requirements in the states of Colorado, Utah, Texas and New Mexico. Trip Leaders have thousands of river miles on all classes of rivers including all those Dvorak Expeditions run. Transportation PRE-TRIP ARRANGEMENTS BY PLANE: Arrive in Cortez the day prior to the trip. Dvorak Expeditions will pick you up at the TURQUOISE MOTOR INN at 7:30 a.m. on the morning of the first day of your trip and transport you to the river put-in point near Cahone. All trips over 5 days will leave out of Grand Junction: At trip's end Dvorak Expeditions will take you to your lodging in Grand Junction, Co., the afternoon of the last day of your trip. You can fly out of Grand Junction the following morning. BY CAR: Meet at Bradford Bridge (see map) by 8:30 a.m. on the first day of your trip. Dvorak Expeditions will rendezvous with you at the river put-in parking lot or you will see their van & trailer, etc. Shuttle of your vehicle will need to be arranged prior to the trip. Call for cost and details. You will have your vehicle at the Bedrock take-out around 4:00 p.m. on the last day of your trip. Alternate Shuttles or pick up locations available. Call to clarify. 800 824-3795 NOTE SHUTTLES: On trips longer than 5 days, you will need to arrange to have your vehicle shuttled to the appropriate take-out point. Cost will vary according to length of shuttle ($70-175estimate). TRANSFER COST (Pick Up / Drop off) : 3 to 12 day trips, pick up and drop off by Dvoraks $35 per person. TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS AT TRIPS END After derigging and loading equipment late afternoon on the last day of your trip, Dvorak Expeditions will either: • Shuttle you back to either Cortez or Grand Junction. . • Arrange to have your car shuttled to the take-out at an extra cost. (See your confirmation letter) . Although you can usually make a connecting flight home after 7:00 p.m. on the last day of the trip, we recommend you fly out the following morning in case inclement weather or other circumstances delays our arrival in Grand Junction. Remember, "River Time" is unpredictable. INFORMATION BY AIR: Airport into Cortez, Colorado has only a couple of flights from Denver and Albuquerque connections. If you choose to drive into Cortez please inform our office of your travel plans. Cortez is serviced by Continental Express from Denver with three flights daily Sun. - Fri. and two flights Saturday. It is best to book your air round trip from your home city rather than booking from Denver. Alternate Airport is at Grand Junction, CO. This would be valid for longer trips such as 5,8,10 day trips as the finish point is closer to Grand Jct. CO. Airlines with flights into Walker Field, Grand Junction, Colorado airport from connecting cities. BY CAR: Slickrock or Bedrock can be reached easiest by car by either: (1) Taking I-70 to Grand Junction then take Hwy #50 south to Whitewater, then Hwy #141 south to Slickrock. To get to Bedrock, turn off Hwy #141 onto Hwy #90 just north of Naturita, or (2) Taking Hwy #50 west to Montrose, south on Hwy #550 to Ridgeway, west on Hwy #62 to Placerville. Continue west on Hwy #145 to the Hwy #141 junction. Go south on Hwy #141 to Slickrock or north on #141 through Naturita to Hwy #90 to get to Bedrock. Money  : Additional cash requirements: You will need to arrange all pre and post lodging and meals before and after your trip. Gratuities are not included in the trip cost. You will not require any monies during your trip. Valuables should be stored in the safe at your lodging or you can keep valuables in the waterproof bag provided by Dvoraks. A small amount of money maybe needed during shuttle for snacks at the end of trip. DVORAK'S WILL PROVIDE THIS EQUIPMENT: We furnish rugged inflatable self-bailing rafts 12 to 16 feet in length. We provide all necessary river equipment, pfd's (Type V), water-proof dry bags for personal gear, first-aid and safety supplies. There is a guide on every raft and ratio of 1 to 4 on any instructional clinic. In addition we have rental equipment that consists of tents, sleeping bags, pads, and ground sheets. We also have wetsuit and boot rentals available per day or trip. You can choose to be either in a paddle raft (participatory) or an oared raft, (passenger). Paddle rafts have 4 to 6 persons and 1 guide Accommodations ACCOMMODATIONS We recommend the following lodging pre- and post-trip: (Flying into Cortez then Our pick-up location in Cortez:) The Turquoise Inn & Suites 535 East Main Street Cortez, Co. 81321 Ph. (970) 565-3778 (Our 3 or 5 day trips) The Grande Vista Hotel 2790 Crossroads Blvd. Grand Junction, CO 81506 (800) 228-2828 or (970) 241-8411 The Ramada Inn 752 Horizon Dr. Grand Junction, CO 81506 (800)272-6232 or (970)243-5150 Ray's Motel  & The Bunk House  123 E. Main St. or PO Box 50 Naturita, CO 81422 (970) 865-2700  DSL and heated pool. Best Western / Red Arrow Motel 1702 East Main St. (Hwy 50) Montrose, CO 81401 (800) 468-9323 or (970) 249-9641 TRAVEL