Summary

San Miguel River - All Sections - 5 Days

Prices From	USD$ $799.00
1st Departure	01.01.0001
Provider	Dvorak Kayak & Rafting Exp Inc
Destination	San Miguel River
Duration	5 days
Challenge	Easy
Avg Rating	Not Rated

San Miguel River Class I - III: The San Miguel River winds its way through Rocky Mountains' alpine terrain near Telluride, Colorado and Trout Lake to a desert confluence with the Dolores River 80 miles north. Sandstone canyons vie with granite passages for nature at its best. Some rare riverbank plant life thrives here and as you work your way toward the Dolores and lower elevations, the flora and fauna will change seemingly around each bend. Class II and III rapids along the Upper San Miguel provide challenging kayaking and rafting. Trips varying in length from 1-5 days can be done on the San Miguel and trips of 6-12 days are available by combining the San Miguel with the Dolores.

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! INSTRUCTIONAL COURSE ADDITIONS TO ITINERARY. This itinerary will have a morning briefing with students for kayak instruction and some skill refreshing sessions each day. Some of the sessions will be done in "Teachable Moments" during your progress down the river. A gear introduction will occur the morning before you depart on the trip. All of your personal gear will be stored on one of the rafts and only your kayak floatation will be with you during the day. Your instructors will be carrying safety gear, first aid and water plus snacks for you during the course.

Gear List

The following items are included in your Dvorak Expedition: • All boating equipment/life jackets/drinking water • Pre- and post- trip arrangements as described • 1-5 days of kayaking or rafting instructions • 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.



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) • Small towel/biodegradable soap/shampoo/lotion etc. • Flashlight and extra batteries with new bulb • Bandanna and a pair of light 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. Complimentary wine is provided with evening meals. OPTIONAL ITEMS: Field glasses and water-proof protection, Journal notebook, book, pliers (for use in removing things from fire like coffee, hot water, etc.). Daypack for side hikes and extra Zip-Lock bags. *can be omitted during warmer weather



• $15 Lightweight Sleeping Bag/Ensolite pad • $50 Three-man doe tent with floor & ground sheet • $ 5 Therma-Rest Sleep pad, inflatable • $ 20 Long John Wet suit with boots 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.



• 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.



As of: Jan 1, 2006 Fishng Licence FEES Colorado Resident / Non Resident Extra Rod Stamp $5.00 / $5.00 5day $21.00 / $21.00 1day $ 9.00 / $9.00 Annual $26.00 / $56.00 Senior Annual (over 64) FREE / N/A Child (under 16) FREE / N/A Website for more information and purchase licence prior to arrival in Colorado. www.wildlife.state.co.us

Travel Information

Activity Location San Miguel River at Placerville, CO Junction of Hwy 62 & 145 General Store Placerville, CO 81430 USA

Food 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 Teriyaki Chicken, Mexican Chili, combination entrees, fresh vegetables and salads. Dutch-oven desserts or breads, hors d’oeuvres, fresh fruits, fruit juices, coffee, tea and complimentary 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, and 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. ALCOHOL You are 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 GRATUITIES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR TRIP COST. WHILE WE NEVER DEMAND A TIP AND IT IS YOUR DISCRETION WHETHER OR NOT YOU WISH TO TIP, WE PRIDE OURSELVES THAT ONE OF THE GAUGES WE USE FOR YOUR SATISFACTION IS THE GRUTUITY AT THE END OF THE TRIP. (15-20% estimate) IF YOU ARE EVER NOT SATISFIED WE EXPECT YOUR COMMENTS TO MAKE OUR EXPEDITIONS MORE EXCELLENT FOR FUTURE TRIPS. 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. Destination Location The San Miguel River winds its way through alpine terrain near Telluride and Trout Lake to a desert confluence with the Dolores River 80 miles north. Sandstone canyons vie with granite passages for nature at its best. Some rare riverbank plant life thrives here and as you work your way toward the Dolores and lower elevations, the flora and fauna will change seemingly around each bend. Class II and III rapids along the Upper San Miguel provide challenging kayaking and rafting. Trips varying in length from 1-5 days can be done on the San Miguel and trips of 6-12 days are available by combining the San Miguel with the Dolores and Colorado Rivers. Guide(s) 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 all 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, Co. the day prior to the trip. Dvorak Expeditions will pick you up at your motel 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 Telluride, Co., about a one and one-half hour drive. Call to confirm times. By Car: You will need to arrive in Placerville, Co. (the junction of Hwy 62 and 145, which is the turn off to Telluride) by 8:00 a.m. the morning your trip begins. Camping is available in the Telluride Town Park or at various Recreation sites along the San Miguel River. Dvorak Expeditions will send you a map of the exact rendezvous site with your trip confirmation package.* *Trips longer than 5 days necessitate flying out of Grand Junction, Co. at trips end if flying, or arranging a car shuttle to the trips’ end point if driving. We will work these logistics out with you when you book your trip. If driving from Grand Junction, take US 50 to US 550 and travel south to C62 and take C145 to Placerville. TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS AT TRIPS END After de-rigging and loading equipment late afternoon on the last day of your trip, Dvorak Expeditions will either shuttle you back to Cortez or Grand Junction. Arrange to have your car shuttled to the take-out at an extra cost. (see confirmation letter) Although you can usually make a connection flight home after 7 p.m. on the last day of the trip, we recommend you fly out the following morning in case inclement weather or other circumstances delay our arrival in Grand Junction. Remember “River Time” in unpredictable. ACCOMMODATIONS: The Turquoise Motor Inn 535 East Main St. Cortez CO 81321 (970) 565-3778 The Grand Vista 2790 Crossroads Blvd. Grand Junction, CO 81506 (970) 241-8411 Ray’s Motel 101 Main St. PO Box 310 Naturita, CO 81422 (970) 865-2235 Best Western/ Red Arrow Motel 1701 East Main St. (Hwy. 50) Montrose, CO 81401 (800) 468-9323 or (970) 249-9641 TRAVEL INFORMATION BY AIR: There are several airlines with flights into Walker Field, Grand Junction, CO. airport from a variety of connecting cities. Cortez is served by Continental Express from Denver with three flights daily Sun.-Friday and two flights Saturday. It is best to book your air round trip from your home city rather than booking from Denver. BY CAR: Slickrock or Bedrock can be reached easiest by car by either: (1) Taking I-70 to Grand Junction and then taking US 50 south to Whitewater, then CO141 onto C90 just north of Naturita, or (2) Taking US 50 west to Montrose, south on C 550 to Ridgeway, west on C 62 to Placerville. Continue west on CO 145 to the CO 141 junction. Go south on Hwy CO 141 to Slickrock or north on CO 141 through Naturita to CO 90 to get to Bedrock.