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Southwest Literary Center

		No words, nor pictures can describe the beauty and grandeur of this area… Harsh and fragile, stark and beautiful - you have to see it to believe it. - John Wesley Powell, 1869
Writing on the Green River September 16 to 21, 2007 Join us for six days and five nights of writing and canoeing on the Green River. With author Jeff Biggers (Into the Sierra Madre and The United States of Appalachia), we will follow the path of John Wesley Powell. We'll read from his journals, and keep our own, as we paddle and explore this magnificent land. We'll stop to explore side canyons, examine rock art, plants, animals and the geology of the canyon and river systems. Our river exploration begins at Crystal Geyser, where we may be fortunate enough to witness an eruption. At night we will be camping on beaches in primitive settings along the Green River. Portable toilets and all other equipment except your sleeping bag and pad will be provided. Every night we'll enjoy fireside programs and discussions, weather permitting. After five days of canoeing we will take out at Mineral Bottom. This is easy beginner canoeing with no experience necessary. However, we must be prepared as even on flat water at canoe may tip so all our gear will be stored in dry bags and each person will have a life vest. Everyone participating will need to be capable of moving around in the water if a canoe does tip. This simply means doggy paddling, no other swimming ability is necessary. Trip participants will be required to provide a medical release, legal waiver and transportation form. These forms are critical to menu planning, guide preparation and logistics planning. They must be returned at least three weeks prior to trip departure. Twelve spaces only are available. The cost of the trip is $1,395 and includes writing instruction, guides, camping equipment (excluding sleeping bag and pad), transportation to and from Moab to the put in and take out sites, meals (excluding breakfast on Day 1 and Dinner on Day 6). Itinerary Your Team Registration and Payments Required Forms and Releases (Requires Adbobe Acrobat Reader) Acknowledgement of Risk Medical History Medical Release Form Transportation and Rooming Transportation and Trip Preparation What to Bring Photo Gallery
Itinerary Day 1: Trip Start Meet in the lobby of the Bighorn Lodge in Moab, Utah at 8am for orientation to the program and hand out dry-bags for packing. Go over detailed information on packing and other important logistics. After packing, we will load the dry-bags into the van and depart for Crystal Geyser. After arriving at Crystal Geyser, the guides will load the canoes and get ready to put in. After lunch, our head guide will give brief canoe instruction and river safety talk. We put in and paddle 14 miles to Dellenbaugh Butte, named by Powell for the youngest member of the 1871 expedition, the 17 year old Fredreick Dellenbaugh. Here we focus on Powell's first journal inscriptions of the trip. Meals provided: Lunch, appetizers, dinner and dessert. Day 2: Dellenbaugh Butte to Trin Alcove Paddle 11.5 miles to Trin Alcove. Named by Powell on June 5, 1869. Here we focus on the fauna and flora found in the canyons. Meals provided: Breakfast, lunch, appetizers, dinner and dessert. Day 3: Trin Alcove to River Register After breakfast we paddle 9.5 miles to Tenmile Canyon, stopping in Oak Grove to examine petroglyph panels and old cowboy trails. After lunch and an exploratory hike in Tenmile, we'll be on our way to the River Register. Here many river runners have left their signature in the rock, some dating back many years. We'll make camp across the river at the mouth of Keg Spring Canyon. Total miles for the day will be 12.5. Meals provided: Breakfast, lunch, appetizers, dinner and dessert. Day 4: River Register to Two-Mile Canyon In the morning, paddle 8 miles to Bow Knot Bend. Hike up Bow Knot Bend to the Saddle. Before descending on top, lecture on geology and viewing more inscriptions of early explorers left on the steep walls. After lunch, we paddle 8 miles to Two-Mile Canyon and camp. Meals provided: Breakfast, lunch, appetizers, dinner and dessert. Day 5: Day Hiking in Two-Mile Canyon Enjoy your choice of a restful or exploratory day in and around Two-Mile Canyon. Relax on the banks of the river with Powell's journals or venture into side canyons. Meals provided: Breakfast, lunch, appetizers, dinner and dessert. Day 6: Two-Mile Canyon to Take Out at Mineral Bottom Paddle .5 miles to Horse Shoe Canyon. Lecture at bottom of this canyon about the Great Barrier style ruins and rock art. Paddle the remaining 7 miles to the take out at Mineral Bottom, stopping at an island near Hell Roaring Canyon for lunch. Take out at 3pm. Return to Moab around 4pm. Meals provided: Breakfast, lunch. Back to Top
Your Team Jeff Biggers (Writing Instructor) has worked as a writer, educator, radio correspondent, and community organizer across the United States, Europe, India and Mexico. He is the author of the books In the Sierra Madre and The United States of Appalachia: How Southern Mountaineers Brought Independence, Culture, and Enlightenment to America. His award-winning stories have appeared on NPR, PRI, and in scores of travel, literary and music magazines, and national and foreign newspapers. He has been a commentator on National Public Radio's Morning Edition and for Pacific News Service national syndication. His work has received numerous honors, including an American Book Award, a Lowell Thomas Award for Travel Journalism, a Field Foundation Fellowship and an Illinois Arts Council Fellowship. He serves as a contributing editor to The Bloomsbury Review, and is a member of the PEN American Center. In the 1990s, as part of his work to develop literacy and literary programs in rural, reservation and neglected communities in the American Southwest, he founded the Northern Arizona Book Festival. In the 1980s, Biggers served as an assistant to former Senator George McGovern in Washington, DC, and as a personal aide to Rev. William Sloane Coffin at the Riverside Church in New York City. Born in Ohio, raised in Illinois and Arizona, he earned a B.A. in History and English at Hunter College in New York City. He also studied at the University of California in Berkeley, Columbia University and the University of Arizona. He and his wife Carla, and their two boys, Diego and Massimo, presently divide their time between Illinois and Italy. The Southwest Literary Center's mission is to promote excellence in literature. Regarded as the most comprehensive literary organization in New Mexico and one of the major literary centers in the Southwest, the Center presents the Santa Fe Writers Conference, the Writers Reading Series, the New Mexico Discovery Awards and other programs. Moki Treks offers scheduled and private treks in Montana, Utah, Arizona, Canada and Australia. They specialize in cultural heritage and were a finalist in the 2004 World Legacy Awards, which recognizes excellence in environmental, social and cultural travel. In October 2006, Moki's Canyon de Chelly trip was selected in National Geographic Traveler's 50 tours of a lifetime. Back to Top
Registration and Payments Reservations are on a first come, first serve basis. To reserve your space on the journey, simply mail a deposit of $300.00 per person. Checks, money orders, VISA and MasterCard are acceptable methods of payment. Reservations can also be made by phone by calling (505) 577-1125 or (505) 982-9301. After a reservation is made, a confirmation package will be sent. Please complete the waiver of liability, medical and transportation/rooming forms and return them to us with your deposit. Payment in full is required 60 days before departure. Your deposit is nonrefundable if you cancel. Payments In order to ensure credit card information security, please call us to make a credit card payment: (505) 577-1125 or (505) 982-9301 Otherwise, send check or money order by mail to: Southwest Literary Center 826 Camino de Monte Rey/A3 Santa Fe, NM 87505 Cancellation Policy If you determine cancellation is necessary, upon receipt of written notice: + 60 days prior to program, you will receive a full refund less your $300 deposit +45-59 days prior, you will receive a 70% refund less your deposit +30-44 days prior, you will receive a 50% refund less your deposit +If you cancel less than 30 days for any reason, you entire fee will be retained If the Southwest Literary Center cancels the trip due to weather or insufficient enrollment a full refund, including deposit, will be given. No refund will be given once you participate in the program. A credit for a new program may be considered based on the circumstances. The Southwest Literary Center encourages you to obtain travel insurance to cover your nonrefundable air and land costs and to protect your deposits or full payments. Back to Top
Transportation and Trip Preparation Transportation Air Service into Moab: Great Lakes Airlines Affiliated with United Air: (800) 554-5111 **use code CNY** Air Service into Grand Junction: United Express: (800) 435-9742 Sky West/Delta: (800) 221-1212 America West: (800) 292-2274 Ground Service into Grand Junction: Amtrak: (800) 872-7245 Greyhound: (800) 231-2222 ** Note: If you are traveling into Grand Junction, you will have to rent a car and drive to Moab. Air Service into Salt Lake City: All major airlines fly into Salt Lake International Airport. If you choose to fly into Salt Lake, you can either rent a car or arrange a seat on the Bighorn Express to get from the SLC airport to Moab, UT for the program start. The Bighorn costs approximately $59 each way and the drive from Salt Lake to Moab take around 4 ½ hours. Bighorn Express: (888) 655-7433. Where Do We Meet? We will meet on Day One in the lobby of the Bighorn Lodge in Moab, Utah at 8am. during orientation we will have introductions, hand out name nametags and discuss details for packing your dry-bag, and other important logistics. Bighorn Lodge 550 S. Main Moab, UT 84532 (800) 325-6161 Contact Information Please feel free to contact the Southwest Literary Center with any questions or concerns. We can be reached by calling (505) 577-1125 or (505) 982-7992. We can also be reached by email at litcenter@recursos.org. Please return all forms to our mailing address at: Southwest Literary Center 826 Camino de Monte Rey/A3 Santa Fe, NM 87505 For the duration of the program our guides will have cell phones but because of the steep canyon walls they often do not work. Assume you will be out of contact during the program. However, emergency messages can be left at the MokiTrek offices ((406) 721-1440 or (866) 352-6654) and we will do our best to get the message to the group. Camping For four nights and five days we will camp on beaches in primitive camp settings. We bring a portable toilet with privacy tent, kitchen and tents. The only camping equipment you will need is your sleeping bag a sleeping pad. Our tents are Sierra Designs medium sized two-person, waterproofed tents. You are welcome to bring your own, please just inform us in advance by noting it on the appropriate form so that we may allocate room for packing. There will be no shower for the time we are on the river, but you will have the opportunity to rinse in the river. Make sure to bring non-toxic, biodegradable soap and/or shampoo. Guides Our guides have many years experience on the Green River and are well acquainted with the section we will be paddling. They are familiar with all the side canyons and the treasures they hold. Guides are Guide 1 and Guide 2 licensed Utah river guides. The Moki Treks guides are knowledgeable about the John Wesley Powell exploration in addition to the rock art, and both the cultural and geological history of the area. They are certified professionals who will take excellent care of you. Climate The weather in spring and fall is fantastic; comfortable 70-80 degree temperatures during the day, dropping to 50-60 degrees at night. Be prepared for the cool breeze along the river with enough warm clothing for the evenings and mornings. You will need a good fleece and at least one sweater, long underwear and pants. Food Throughout the journey, we will enjoy delicious meals prepared in Dutch ovens. If you have any dietary concerns please let us know ahead of time on the medical release form. Note on adult beverages: We do not provide alcoholic beverages. If you wish to bring your own you may, but we ask that you please avoid bringing glass bottles on the river. Also be advised that the trip starts on a Sunday in Utah, and we therefore recommend for those wishing to bring alcohol that you purchase it prior to trip start. Transport You will travel in a 15-passenger van with air conditioning from Moab to the put in and return to Moab after we take out. On day one of the program you will be transported to our put in at Crystal Geyser and then we are on the river for five days paddling in two-person canoes. All of our gear travels with us so pack conservatively. When we take out at Mineral Bottom you will be shuttled back to Moab. Luggage All of our clothing and equipment will be transported in dry-bags on our canoes. Each person will receive a dry-bag for storing clothing and other personal supplies during orientation. Bring whatever luggage you want for your travel to Moab, but once we are on the river you will have only your dry-bag with your clothes and miscellaneous items, as well as your daypack (that you provide) for our short hikes into the Labyrinth section of the Green River. You should carry items that you would want during the day in your daypack, such as sunscreen, water (a one liter water bottle as well as a camel-back type hydration system is ideal), raingear, etc. Preparation To prepare for this program you may want to read one or more of the following books. Any of these should provide you with good background information about John Wesley Powell and his travels and expeditions. The Diary of John Wesley Powell (In My Own Words) by John Wesley Powell A River Running West: The Life of John Wesley Powell by Donald Worster The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons by John Wesley Powell Seeing Things Whole: The Essential John Wesley Powell by John Wesley Powell Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West by Wallace Stegner First Through Grand Canyon: The Secret Journals & Letters of the 1869 Crew Who Explored the Green & Colorado Rivers by Michael P. Ghiglieri Living the Sky: The Cosmos of the American Indian by Ray A. Williamson Physical Preparation For this program you need to be able to doggy paddle as canoes can and sometimes do tip. You will be fitted with a life-vest, however, it is necessary that you be able to get yourself to shore. Back to Top
What to Bring Equipment + sleeping bag + mattress/sleeping pad + 1 day pack large enough to hold water, camera, lunch, raingear, snacks, sunscreen, journal, etc. + Crazy creek or other camp chair without legs but with back to give you support while you canoe + Small Tupperware container for items you want to access regularly as everything else will be in dry-bags Footwear +pair of lightweight hiking boots or shoes +pair of water-sport sandals, Chacos or Tevas are fine +4 pair of socks +blister kit Clothing +1-2 pair lightweight, quick dry, comfortable pants +warmer pants (fleece or sweat pants are OK too) for nights +2-3 pair quick dry shorts +1-2 long-sleeved lightweight cotton shirts (protection from sun and insects) +1 pair long underwear top and bottoms +Fleece or sweaters for cool mornings and evenings in camp +t-shirts +rain pants and rain jacket +brimmed sun hat +swimsuit +towel and washcloth +hat and gloves for any cold weather Essentials +sun glasses +head lamp or torch and extra batteries +pocket knife +freshen up tissues (to be used instead of water) +bandana +1 one liter water bottle +insect repellent +sun screen and lip balm +camera and film +journal and pen +personal patch kit (including cream against poison ivy) band aids, moleskin, etc. +toiletries Back to Top
The Southwest Literary Center is a division of Recursos de Santa Fe, a private not-for-profit organization which presents nationally-recognized seminars & conferences in the arts, sciences, letters, & humanities. Funders include the City of Santa Fe Arts Commission and the 1% Lodgers Tax. Back to Top
Recursos de Santa Fe (505) 982-3701 email: litcenter@recursos.org © 1998-2006 Recursos de Santa Fe