February 26 through March 8 - Palau Sea Kayaking and snorkeling trip with Paddling Palau. Explore the gorgeous islands and even more gorgeous sea in Micronesia's Palau. This journey starts in Koror, Palau, and spends 12 days exploring the ocean and beaches by sea kayak and snorkel. The diversity of coral and fish in this part of the world is extraordinary, and the water is incredibly warm! This is one of the most spectacular marine ecosystems in the world. We will be lucky to have my friend Ron Leidich, founder of Paddling Palau, along as one of our guides. Ron is hands down one of the best naturalists I've ever met, and his knowledge of the place he's called home for 15 years is encyclopedic. This is the perfect way to explore! Please contact This Earth for information.

March 31 through April 6 - Hermit Trail to Bright Angel Trail Ecology/Geology backpack class with Lisa Kearsley. Natural history class offered through Grand Canyon Field Institute. This is a wonderful loop route that allows us the chance to explore the various geologic and ecologic features within Grand Canyon. There's a lot of variety on this trip, including layovers to explore seeps and springs, side canyons and the river.

April 12 through 29 - Colorado River trip (with Dan Hall, Bill deBuys, Gary Bolton and Greg Woodall). Natural and human history class offered through Grand Canyon Field Institute.

May 26 to June 2 - Paria River and Lees Ferry geology, history and natural history exploration. Natural and human history class offered through Grand Canyon Field Institute.The Paria River flows into the Colorado River at Lees Ferry. The entire region is rich in geological, biological, historical and archeological stories. This trip will spend a couple days hiking around the Lees Ferry area before heading to the trailhead the explore the Paria River's gorgeous sandstone slot canyons and flowing springs.

June 7 through 19, and June 23- July 5 - Alsek River. Offered through Mountain Travel Sobek/Alaska Discovery. These are 12 day trips through some of the wildest and most gorgeous scenery imaginable. The river begins in the Yukon, flows through British Columbia, and heads 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. This is a challenging river, but well worth it. Here, you live 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.

August 4 through 10 - Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion National Parks Family Adventure. Offered through National Geographic Expeditions. This 7-day family van tour includes hiking, exploring, a mule trip along the rim of Grand Canyon, and even taking a half-day smooth water river trip from Glen Canyon Dam to the beginning of the Grand Canyon at Lees Ferry. This is a great way to get to know this amazing part of the world! Please contact This Earth for information.

September 19 through October 3 - Green and Colorado River trip. Offered through Tour West. This is a special trip I have designed, not part of the normal Tour West offerings. We will spend two weeks exploring the calm, extraordinary beauty of Labyrinth and Stillwater Canyons on the Green River, before joining the Colorado and running the energetic rapids of Cataract Canyon. The trip will include ample opportunities for hiking, relaxing, exploring wonderful archeological sites and simply enjoying the iconic landscapes at the heart of Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah. Please contact This Earth for information.