ARIZONA, GRAND CANYON WINTER PASTURES - USA

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During the heyday of the West's ranching era, wide terraces in the Grand Canyon served as a refuge for cattle from winter storms. These benches — the "Esplanade" — vary in width from 200 yards to a mile wide, and thanks to the exquisite scenery and solitude, are an inviting location for winter camping and exploring. Definitely not to be confused with infamously tedious donkey rides, this is a rigorous horse pack trip into some of the canyon's least frequented drainage's. It is rough going in this country, and riders often dismount to lead the horses through particularly treacherous stretches. Once the trail drops off the north rim, you are unlikely to meet anyone but the odd desert bighorn sheep, wary mule deer or perhaps glimpse a condor soaring overhead. On this riding holiday, the groups are small, and everyone must be a competent rider.

Trip length 6 days/ 5 nights Ride only price 2008/2009: £805 2009/2010: £895 Departure dates 2008/2009: 30 Dec 2008 – 4 Jan 2009 (FULL), 23 Jan – 28 Jan** 2009, 15 Feb – 20 Feb 2009 (FULL) ** Women only trail** 2009/2010: 28 Dec 2008; 24 Jan and 14 Feb 2010 Approximate riding time per day 6 hours daily Riding ability required Comfortable at walk, trot, canter and some galloping in rough terrain. Group size 3-7 Meeting point (getting there) St George, Utah, USA Transfer Included from meeting point. Shuttle bus from Las Vegas to St George, Utah US$30 each way. Flight guide London to Las Vegas return £360-470. See below for flight info. Single supplement 2008-2010: £83

SAMPLE ITINERARY - ARIZONA, GRAND CANYON WINTER PASTURES

Day 1   
Pickup in St. George at 1:00pm. Transfer to Hack Canyon where the first camp is located. Become acquainted with the horses and perhaps there will be time for a short ride near to where we will be camping.

Day 2  
After a hearty camp breakfast in the frosty air, saddle the horses and pack the pack horses. Follow the trail down Hack Canyon to the Esplanade, a bench of the Supai formation which runs parallel to the Colorado River and varies in width from 200 feet to a mile. Keep your eyes open for wary desert bighorn sheep, which are often seen in this area.  

Day 3
Today's ride takes you deeper into the Canyon as far as Chamberlain Cove, where camp will be made for the night. Along the way, explore the various drainages cutting through the Esplanade. Ride further on to Dripping Springs Canyon, from where one has a spectacular view of the Colorado River some 1500 feet below. 

Day 4 
Head down Chamberlain Canyon to Kanab Creek. Tonight’s camp will be made in this major tributary of the Colorado River.

Day 5  
Leave the pack horses at camp, and ride down Kanab Creek, exploring the inner gorge and some of the side canyons.    

Day 6
Climb at a steady pace up Kanab Creek to Hack Canyon to the rim. Help load the horses and transfer back to St George, arriving no later than 6.00pm. (Note: Accommodation is not included on this night, so be sure you either make a hotel or shuttle reservation for this night.)

**THE ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO WEATHER AND OTHER UNFORESEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES, as with many of our riding holidays.**

The weight limit for this ride is 15 st/210 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
The price of the ride includes all lodging, food, camping equipment (except sleeping bag), horses, tack, guide and transfers to and from St. George, Utah to the start of the ride.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
The price does not include liquor, gratuities, international flights and the shuttle van service to and from St George.

FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.

Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.

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