Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 3, 2010 at 4:37 PM
I've signed up for a 7 day, photo oriented, dory trip down the San Juan River. The trip will run May 15 to May 21, 83 miles, from Bluff to the Clay Hills takeout.
Andy Hutchinson will be the lead boatman. I had the pleasure of riding in his dory through the Grand Canyon last April. Not only a superb boatman, he builds his own dories, and is also a top notch musician. His guitar and banjo concerts add a lot to the river experience.
The photo above was taken during a lunch time banjo session in the Redwall Cavern, Grand Canyon. The acoustics were astounding!
Please note a dory trip costs more than the standard raft trip. The dories seat only 4 passengers, and a supply raft is need to carry gear. So, if you comparison shop, you will find cheaper trips. I find the dories worth the additional cost.
Photo gear can be carried safely in the dories. There are front and rear dry hatches with easy access.
FYI - I have no financial interest in this trip. I'm just a full fare paying passenger.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 3, 2010 at 4:40 PM
Here's Andy providing some extra thrills in the Grand Canyon last April.
Note the San Juan River only has Class III rapids. So you will stay much drier.
Posted by Todd Caudle on February 3, 2010 at 6:10 PM
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 3, 2010 at 6:32 PM
Todd...you have a "unique" mind.
Posted by Koveh Tavakkol on February 3, 2010 at 10:28 PM
I'm feeling disturbed here.
Posted by Morris McClung on February 3, 2010 at 10:40 PM
I need to be "Delivered" from this forum! Bill, that looks like a great trip. Wish I was younger and had money and time. Oh, well 3 strikes and I'm out.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 4, 2010 at 12:06 AM
Hey, Morris, there was an 80 year young lady on the 16 day Grand Canyon dory trip, so you get one strike back.
She figured if the dory flipped, it would be a great ending.
No luck, so she'll try again this year.
Posted by Adam Schallau on February 4, 2010 at 12:54 AM
That looks like an awesome trip. I wish the budget would allow for me and my wife to participate.
Have a great trip!
Posted by Kurt Bowman on February 4, 2010 at 1:03 AM
Looks like a blast! Should I bring a banjo?
Posted by Bill Brennan on February 4, 2010 at 9:21 AM
When I played hooky for a Grand Canyon trip at 17, my English teacher assigned me to read Deliverance on the water. Fortunately, that was not my first river trip, and Arizona's a long way from Georgia.
San Juan trip sounds fun Bill, long time since I've been there. Killer rock art. Nice shots! That's a sweet take on Redwall Cavern, you really got the glow. What's the rapid, just out of curiosity?
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 4, 2010 at 11:51 AM
Jackson, the rapid is Granite.
I rode the supply raft so that we could eddy out and wait for the dories to make their run.
It was a tough choice between getting some action photos vs. taking the "A" ride.
But I figured we had plenty of big ones on the agenda for the day.
Posted by Don George on February 4, 2010 at 11:58 AM
Discussion
12 repliesHere are the details:
http://www.riversandruins.com/trips/going-for-the-light-2010-dory-trip-focusing-on-art-and-phototography-trips-preview
Andy Hutchinson will be the lead boatman. I had the pleasure of riding in his dory through the Grand Canyon last April. Not only a superb boatman, he builds his own dories, and is also a top notch musician. His guitar and banjo concerts add a lot to the river experience.
The photo above was taken during a lunch time banjo session in the Redwall Cavern, Grand Canyon. The acoustics were astounding!
Please note a dory trip costs more than the standard raft trip. The dories seat only 4 passengers, and a supply raft is need to carry gear. So, if you comparison shop, you will find cheaper trips. I find the dories worth the additional cost.
Photo gear can be carried safely in the dories. There are front and rear dry hatches with easy access.
FYI - I have no financial interest in this trip. I'm just a full fare paying passenger.
Note the San Juan River only has Class III rapids. So you will stay much drier.
She figured if the dory flipped, it would be a great ending.
No luck, so she'll try again this year.
Have a great trip!
Bill Brennan
San Juan trip sounds fun Bill, long time since I've been there. Killer rock art. Nice shots! That's a sweet take on Redwall Cavern, you really got the glow. What's the rapid, just out of curiosity?
I rode the supply raft so that we could eddy out and wait for the dories to make their run.
It was a tough choice between getting some action photos vs. taking the "A" ride.
But I figured we had plenty of big ones on the agenda for the day.