Grand Canyon River Expedition

September 13–20, 2008

April 18–25, 2009

Join us for an out-of-this-world adventure, running the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. In eight memorable days of exciting rapids, hearty meals, and sleeping under the stars, we’ll cover the entire 280 miles of the Canyon. Beginning at Lees Ferry, Arizona, ending at Pearce Ferry on Lake Mead, the exhilaration you’ll feel as your raft plunges through the waves cannot be described, it must be felt.

Professional boatmen with more than 10 years rafting experience on the Colorado River will lead the trip, accompanied by study leader extraordinaire Peter Patton, who is Vice President and Secretary of the University, and Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

In addition to riding the rapids, there will be many opportunities to explore the other wonders of the Canyon—to play in the pools and waterfalls of the warm tributary streams, walk the winding side canyons, and sit in the shade watching the river swirl past.

There is no better way to enjoy the Colorado River than during mid-September when temperatures are beginning to cool, and in the company of Wesleyan alumni and friends.

Price (effective 2009): $2,400 per person, includes meals, and all rafting and sleeping gear.

See below for information about study leader Professor Peter Patton, or to learn more about our tour operator, visit the Grand Canyon Expeditions web site. To request a brochure or to learn more about Wesleyan travel programs, please contact Gail Briggs at (860) 685-3979 or gbriggs@wesleyan.edu.

Study Leader

Peter C. Patton is professor of earth and environmental sciences at Wesleyan University, where he has been a member of the faculty since 1976 and also currently serves as the Vice President and Secretary of the University. His research interests are in the general field of geomorphology and have included the impact of catastrophic floods on river systems, the geologic history of river systems in semiarid climates and the hydrology and geologic evolution of the estuaries along the Connecticut shoreline. Professor Patton has also extensively researched the evolution of river systems on the Colorado Plateau and the modern hydrology of the Colorado River drainage basin, and has received funding for his research from NASA, the National Science Foundation and the Long Island Sound Research Fund.