Posted by Grant Collier on March 17, 2009 at 1:09 AM
I'm planning another rafting / photography trip in Dinosaur National Monument, this time down the Yampa River (the above photo is looking towards the canyons that the Yampa flows through and is near where the trip would end). I want to see who might be interested in this trip.
The company that did this trip last year doesn't have anything available for the Yampa this year. So I've found a new company that can give 25% off if we get 7 or more people. This would be a 3-day trip from Deer Lodge Park to Echo Park (as opposed to the normal, longer trip to Split Mountain). They have oar boats, so you won't need to paddle, but they'll also have inflatable kayaks should anyone want to paddle. The price is $416.50 with the discount and includes food and transportation from Vernal to the take off point. Their web site is:
The dates available are 5/22-5/24 (Fri-Sun) or 5/31-6/2 (Sun-Tues).
I think we'll need to put down deposits fairly soon to get the group discount. But there should hopefully be plenty of oppurtinity to join later if you're undecided. So if you are interested in this trip, please let me know which dates would work and whether you would be able to put down a deposit for this trip right away or whether you're not 100% sure whether you can go.
Grant
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on March 17, 2009 at 2:35 AM
I was just about to bug you about the Yampa trip.
Count me in for two slots. Eric definitely wants to join us again.
Either departure date works for us.
I can put down one deposit now.
Eric will need to get the vacation dates approved, so he needs some firm dates before commiting.
The kayaks should make up for the lack of paddle rafts.
I thought the paddle rafts were the best part of the last trip.
How's the snowpack in the Yampa drainage?
With all this hot weather, I'm thinking the earlier date might be the better choice.
Thanks for taking the effort to organize this again.
Posted by Phillip Noll on March 17, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Timing is everything and I need to work on mine! I just booked a 5-day trip on the Yampa in June! Wish I would have known you were going to set up an RMNP trip--would have liked to get to meet some of you! Oh well, maybe next time. Hope you all have a great trip!
Hi Grant...
You can put me down as a maybe...how much would the deposit be? I also have to get approved through work. Earlier date would be best. Though I have to say I was getting into the paddling last time...there were times I wish I could take out my camera, like just before the last night's camping spot...that was a beautiful canyon. Of course this trip will be skipping that part of the canyon.
Great photo...love the way the cliff mirrors the shape of the sand bar.
Either of those dates should be pretty good for water. Even in the dismal year of 2002, we were able to run our trips all the way through June. It may or may not be high, but it should be fine. Plan for chilly weather: I've frozen my butt off on the Yampa more than any other river.
The guides I've met from Dinosaur Expeditions have been great, knowledgable, adventurous folks. Should be a great trip! Wish I could join you, but I expect to be working trips up there instead.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on March 17, 2009 at 1:35 PM
My son, Eric, can get vacation for either set of dates.
So, that makes 2 firm commitments from us.
I am very interested in and would really like to do this trip. Deposit is no problem. I could do the first date (5:22-5:24), but have a conflict for the second date.
Rod.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on March 18, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Got another 3 possibles for my group. They should be able to decide by this weekend.
No preferance in dates.
So that brings my total to 2 definite, 3 possible.
It looks like I wouldn't be able to do the early one...too many people off that day at work. So the second dates are my only option.
Cynthia
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on March 19, 2009 at 2:55 PM
I can add one more firm commitment.
My total is now 3 definite. Still no preferance on dates.
Posted by Grant Collier on March 19, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Darn, now for the dates I have to decide between Rod and Cynthia... perhaps the one who bribes me the most! I'll wait to see if anyone else replies and I'll ask some of my friends if they can join. If there's more people who want one date over the other, I'll go with that. Otherwise, I guess I'll have to flip a coin, as both dates work for me.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on March 19, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Grant, I think a duel between Rod and Cynthia needs to be arranged.
Based on this thread, I only count a total of 5 firm commitments.
Do you have some others that will get us to the 7 minimum ?
Posted by Grant Collier on March 19, 2009 at 8:19 PM
Bill, I have one other person who might make it and haven't asked others yet (though they're mostly out of state, so it's not too likely). I'm not sure if we'll need exactly seven. I'll call the guide and let him now how many we have and see what he says regarding discounts. I think if we can get five deposits in, that should be enough for now. And finding two more in two months shouldn't be a problem.
Also, I didn't mention this before, but our group of photographers will probably be part of a larger group of people who sign up separately for the raft trip. Since we didn't stop too much just to take photos last year, I figured this wouldn't be an issue. I didn't want to try to arrange a private trip when we just got seven people last year. So, even if we can't get more than 5, we can still go on the trip (we just may not get as much of a discount).
Discussion
13 repliesThe company that did this trip last year doesn't have anything available for the Yampa this year. So I've found a new company that can give 25% off if we get 7 or more people. This would be a 3-day trip from Deer Lodge Park to Echo Park (as opposed to the normal, longer trip to Split Mountain). They have oar boats, so you won't need to paddle, but they'll also have inflatable kayaks should anyone want to paddle. The price is $416.50 with the discount and includes food and transportation from Vernal to the take off point. Their web site is:
http://dinoadv.com/utahrafting/yampariver.htm
The dates available are 5/22-5/24 (Fri-Sun) or 5/31-6/2 (Sun-Tues).
I think we'll need to put down deposits fairly soon to get the group discount. But there should hopefully be plenty of oppurtinity to join later if you're undecided. So if you are interested in this trip, please let me know which dates would work and whether you would be able to put down a deposit for this trip right away or whether you're not 100% sure whether you can go.
Grant
Count me in for two slots. Eric definitely wants to join us again.
Either departure date works for us.
I can put down one deposit now.
Eric will need to get the vacation dates approved, so he needs some firm dates before commiting.
The kayaks should make up for the lack of paddle rafts.
I thought the paddle rafts were the best part of the last trip.
How's the snowpack in the Yampa drainage?
With all this hot weather, I'm thinking the earlier date might be the better choice.
Thanks for taking the effort to organize this again.
You can put me down as a maybe...how much would the deposit be? I also have to get approved through work. Earlier date would be best. Though I have to say I was getting into the paddling last time...there were times I wish I could take out my camera, like just before the last night's camping spot...that was a beautiful canyon. Of course this trip will be skipping that part of the canyon.
Great photo...love the way the cliff mirrors the shape of the sand bar.
Cynthia
The guides I've met from Dinosaur Expeditions have been great, knowledgable, adventurous folks. Should be a great trip! Wish I could join you, but I expect to be working trips up there instead.
So, that makes 2 firm commitments from us.
I am very interested in and would really like to do this trip. Deposit is no problem. I could do the first date (5:22-5:24), but have a conflict for the second date.
Rod.
No preferance in dates.
So that brings my total to 2 definite, 3 possible.
It looks like I wouldn't be able to do the early one...too many people off that day at work. So the second dates are my only option.
Cynthia
My total is now 3 definite. Still no preferance on dates.
Based on this thread, I only count a total of 5 firm commitments.
Do you have some others that will get us to the 7 minimum ?
Also, I didn't mention this before, but our group of photographers will probably be part of a larger group of people who sign up separately for the raft trip. Since we didn't stop too much just to take photos last year, I figured this wouldn't be an issue. I didn't want to try to arrange a private trip when we just got seven people last year. So, even if we can't get more than 5, we can still go on the trip (we just may not get as much of a discount).
Dave Cale