October 8 through 14 - Tanner Trail Geology and Natural History backpack with Grand Canyon Field Institute. This backpack takes us down the Tanner Trail, built by hopeful miners in the late 19th century. we will go both upstream and down to explore this fascinating part of the canyon, including a side trip to the mouth of the Little Colorado River, to explore the history, archeology, ecology and geopolitics of this special place.

March 9 through 24 - Sea of Cortez Sea Kayaking trip with Baja Expeditions. Explore the gorgeous islands (known as "Mexico's Galapagos") in Baja California's Sea of Cortez. This journey starts with a 4 day trip to San Ignacio Lagoon to see the California Grey Whales, and then moves over to the Sea of Cortez. we will move from Loreto down to La Paz, using a combination of sea kayaks and our wonderful support boat, the Pez Sapo, when the crossings are too far. We will have ample time to snorkel, hike, explore and simply sit and enjoy the land and sea. There are very few places on Earth that have such a lovely combination of desert and ocean; this is one of the most spectacular marine ecosystems in the world, complemented only by the extraordinary diversity found on land on these desert islands. This is the perfect way to explore! Please contact This Earth for information.

April 13 through 30 - Colorado River trip (with Dan Hall, Bill deBuys, Mike Anderson, Gary Bolton and Greg Woodall). Natural and human history class offered through Grand Canyon Field Institute.

June 12 through 24 - Hula Hula River in the Alaskan Arctic. Offered through Mountain Travel Sobek/Alaska Discovery. This 13 day journey takes us down the Hula Hula River from the Brooks Range to the Arctic Ocean. The leisurely pace will allow for plenty of time for hiking and exploration, and to watch for wildlife, such as caribou, musk oxen, grizzly and wolves. This is a challenging trip on paddle boats through the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an extraordinary place. Wildlife, amazing flowers, scenery, and a place so wild that most of it has never seen human footprints. It's not for everyone, but if you think you would like to be a part of such an adventure, please contact This Earth for information.

Throughout the summer - Alsek and Tatshenshini Rivers. Offered through Mountain Travel Sobek/Alaska Discovery. These trips range in length from 9 days for the Tatshenshini to 12 days for the Alsek. These are some of the most gorgeous rivers in the world. They begin in the Yukon, join forces in British Columbia, and head to the Pacific Ocean in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. You will definitely be traveling through a true wilderness and an intact ecosystem, complete with wolves, bears, moose, calving glaciers, icebergs and astonishing mountains. We have plenty of time on these trips for hiking and exploration, and to watch for wildlife. We use 18 foot self-bailling rubber rafts on both trips. The Tatshenshini is slightly less challenging than the Upper Alsek, although both have their challenges. Here, you are on the land's terms, and we learn to travel quietly and carefully through this extraordinary place. Wildlife, amazing flowers, scenery, and a place so wild that most of it has never seen human footprints. It's not for everyone, but if you think you would like to be a part of such an adventure, please contact This Earth for information and dates.

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October 8 through 24 - Colorado River trip with Mountain Travel Sobek. This 17 day river adventure will be outfitted by Canyon Explorations and Expeditions, a veteran outfitter in the Grand Canyon. For more information, contact Mountain Travel Sobek or This Earth.