Rocky Mountain Wildwater - Itinerary
day 1
After meeting at the Salt Lake City Airport, we’ll drive to the city of Moab and begin to prep for the first two days of our adventure…canyoneering!! At our first campsite, we will learn a few Moondance and backcountry basics, including how to set up a tent and the intricacies of correctly using a backcountry stove. After a little practice, you’ll be a mountaineering pro in no time! Enjoy a warm meal, and continue to enjoy your new found company as we prepare for an exciting two days.
day 2-3
The process of canyoneering includes rappelling deep into grottos, hoodoos, glacial eratics and natural arches, and allows you to witness some of the most sinuous landscapes of not only the Moab desert, but also some of the most secluded, undiscovered areas of our country. Explore deeply hidden waterfalls and streams unlike anything you will discover above ground. Learn to trust your fellow climbers, as you take that first step out of your comfort zone and into a unique experience that will leave you feeling free and ready for more. Canyoneering is a truly unique experience, and an exciting addition to the Rocky Mountain Wildwater agenda.
day 4-6
We’ll spend the first part of the day learning new and important skills for our backpacking section, including how to properly load and balance a backpack for an extended backcountry experience. Three solid days in the backcountry allow one to get a true feel for wilderness travel, and you will undoubtedly find yourself captivated throughout our leg in the San Juans, Colorado’s largest and wildest range. Imposing peaks, sweeping flower-filled alpine meadows, and tumbling mountain waters will be our closest neighbors, and will offer us a backdrop unlike anywhere else in the world. Another important aspect of our backcountry experience allows us to practice our Leave No Trace tactics. Leaving campsites and trails cleaner and more pristine than we found them is an essential part of preserving our national parks and forests. Moondance prides itself on this practice, and you will leave your backpacking section with a much greater and deeper respect for the outdoors!
day 7-11
After exiting the breathtaking San Juans, we move forward to the meat of our trip - a 5 day white water rafting section on the famed Colorado River! Formerly known as the “Grand River,” the mighty Colorado offers epic Class III and IV rapids through Cataract Canyon – one of the most pristine and beautiful sections of the river. We will paddle through remote and beautiful desert canyons, cook amazing food while falling asleep on river’s edge, and partake in some of the most exciting white water that the lower 48 has to offer. There is nothing better than soaking in the rays and enjoying the stunning scenery one minute, and the next minute finding yourself ferociously paddling through heart pounding, thrill inducing rapids – there is simply no alternative!
day 12-13
After pulling ourselves off of the Colorado (as difficult as it may be!), we will head back to Salt Lake City to clean gear, wash your clothes, and shower up. However, no Rocky Mountain Whitewater trip is complete without a grand banquet on our last night. Here we can revel in the past two weeks, cry laughing while discussing fond memories, and exchange email and phone numbers. You will leave Salt Lake the next day with a newfound passion for the outdoors, and new friends that will last a lifetime.
See also
- Program Chart
- Get Your Gear
- Multisport Adventures - Other trips