Raft Trips

Get Ready to go on your river adventure!

GET READY TO GO ON YOUR RIVER ADVENTURE

Check here for some answers to common questions and answers for parents about your trip.

We have also included a set of helpful links for you to give you additional local information about weather, lodging, water levels and other local gear and equipment suppliers.

And even if you have been rafting, kayaking or fishing before, it never hurts to be reminded about those essential items which will maximize your comfort while on your river trip. Here are some suggestions about what to bring with you.

What To Wear on the River:
Hat for sun protection
Polypro or synthetic layers (top & bottoms)
Nylon/synthetic shorts or swimsuit - quick drying
Nylon or synthetic shirt (avoid cotton!)
Tennis shoes or sport sandals with straps
Wool or polypro socks
Rain parka and pants (provided by us)
Long john wetsuit and booties (cold months or Class IV trips only) – call for rental rates
Sunglasses with retainer strap
Sunscreen

What To Wear in Camp at night:
Short sleeved shirt
Long sleeved shirts (one light, one warm)
Warm jacket or windproof or Fleece (water resistant)
Shorts
Long pants (one light weight to block sun, one fleece or wool/warm for night)
Camp shoes or lightweight hiking boots
Wool or fleece hat
For Sleeping under the stars (call us for rental rates):

Tent - lightweight with fly or ground sheet
Sleeping pad – thermarest or equivalent
Sleeping bag - lightweight, compact, not down)
Other Recommended Camping Items:

Personal toiletries
Lip balm with sunscreen
Insect repellant
Flashlight or headlamp
Prescription medications
Retainer strap for prescription glasses
Biodegradable soap and small towel

Optional Camping Items:
Camp chair (compact only)
Waterproof Camera and film
Binoculars
Reading materials
Fishing gear and license
Plastic containers with liquor, extra sodas, beer in cans.
NOTE: Extra beverages can include plastic containers of liquor or canned beer or wine coolers. Glass is not portable. Wine and soft drinks will be provided although if you prefer diet soft drinks, please let us know in advance of your trip.

Items you can rent for your trip
The following are rental items available for 1 or more days. Prices are either per day or per trip for multi-day trips.

Arrival and Departure Information:
Detailed trip notes will be mailed to you once you have booked your spot on one of our trips which describe pickup and departure points, local lodging facilities, other necessary logistical information and details about food, alcohol and the equipment we provide for you as part of your trip package.

Responsibility Waiver
Dvorak Expeditions will assume no responsibility for injury to trip members, damage or loss of belongings or for time or expense incurred as the result of a Dvorak Expeditions trip. We require you to read and sign a liability release form prior to your trip as well as a health questionnaire.

Because of the risk associated with river trips, including possible personal injury, property loss and financial loss in the event of cancellation, we strongly urge all trip participants to obtain vacation insurance.

Forms We Need:
Please return the following forms to us via mail as soon as you have booked your trip:
Trip Questionnaire - Passenger List - Rental Request
Vacation Insurance Form - use the below information for online viewing.
o Travelex Insurance Services: *800 228-9792
o www.travelex-insurance.com
o Product No. TR01 05/00
o Location No. 06-0520
Medical Risk Form

Recommended Reading:

CANYONLANDS RIVER GUIDE, Bill and Buss Belknap
COLORADO OUTWARD BOUND RAFTING MANUAL, Al Brown
DESERT SOLITAIRE, Edward Abbey / Mcgraw Hill
DESOLATION RIVER GUIDE, Laura Evans and Buss Belknap
DINOSAUR RIVER GUIDE, Laura Evans and Buss Belknap
EXPLORATION OF THE COLORADO RIVER AND ITS CANYONS, J.W. Powell Dover Publications
PETERSON FIELD GUIDE SERIES, Houghton Mifflin Co
FIELD GUIDE TO ANIMAL TRACKS, Olas J. Murie
FIELD GUIDE TO ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILDFLOWERS, Johna Frank
Craighead with Ray Davis
FIELD GUIDE TO WESTERN BIRDS, Roger Tory Pererson
FIELD GUIDE TO WESTERN REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS, Robert C.
Stebbins
THE MAN WHO WALKED THRU TIME, Colin Fletcher / Alfred A. Knopf
THE MONKEY WRENCH GANG, Edward Abbey / McGraw Hill
RIVER RUNNING, Verne Huser / Henry Regnery & Co
RIVERS OF COLORADO, Earl Perry / American Canoe Assoc.
RUN RIVER RUN Ann Zwinger / Harper and Row
A SAND COUNTY ALMANAC, Aldo Leopold / Oxford Univ. Press
WHITE WATER RAFTING, William McGinnis / Quadrangle

Your Health:
Our river trips are not strenuous but they are a dramatic change in routine for most people. Many of our trips occur at an altitude of 8,000 feet and may be situated within remote canyon areas where access to services is limited. Please let us know when you fill out your release form if you have an special health needs or restrictions. If you have special dietary needs, we can usually accommodate you with advance notice.

COMMON QUESTIONS FROM OUR GUESTS

We are happy to answer any of the questions you might need help with when planning your trip with Dvorak Expeditions. Just email us at info@dvorakexpeditions.com or call us anytime at 1-800-824-3795.

Here are some quick answers to some of the questions we often receive from our guests:

How can I be comfortable and what do I wear?
Check out our “What to Pack” set of recommendations. We can also send you a complete list of what to bring and if you don’t have selected items, often these can be rented from us or a local outlet.

What if I cannot swim?
Many of our guests cannot swim. We supply the best Type 5 U.S. Coast guard PFDs (personal flotation devices) which keep you bouncing above the waves if you should for some reason fall out of your boat.

Is the river trip all whitewater?
No, whitewater rapids are encountered as the river descends or twists between stretches of calm water. On many rivers, the extent of flatwater versus rapids depends on the gradient of the river. Also, depending on the time of year and snowpack run-off each season, water flow and the size of a river’s rapids will be lower or higher.

Do I have to paddle?
You have a choice. We offer paddle boat crews where four to seven people join a guide and paddle down the river. Alternately, you may enjoy the ride as a passenger!

What’s on the menu and what if I don’t like it?
Food is key and is a wonderful way to make your day on the river extra special. We at Dvorak Expeditions enjoy making your meals from scratch and baking the most tantalizing desserts. We use fresh fruits, vegetables, fresh meats, whole grain breads and specialize in those big country breakfasts served up with freshly “brewed” coffee and tea. If you are vegetarian or have special dietary requirements, we can accommodate these with minimal effort. We provide a glass of wine with dinner, but you will need to provide your own spirits or beer in unbreakable containers. We love to plan special surprises for birthdays and anniversaries, so let us know before your trip who is having a special day and the occasion and we will help plan a terrific celebration.

Do we have to fill a raft?
Whether you come alone or bring 25 friends, we can accommodate you on a trip. We are limited to maximum group sizes on some rivers, but on many others there is no issue with a larger party.

What if this is my first raft trip?
We take first time rafters down our rivers all the time! Most of our trips are suitable for first time rafters, kayakers or oar boat passengers.

Our guides are experienced men and women skilled at handling their craft. They all have current first aid, CPR and Swiftwater Rescue training and have fulfilled guide qualification requirements in the states of Colorado, Utah, Texas and New Mexico. Trip Leaders have thousands of river miles on all classes of rivers including all those Dvorak Expeditions run.

Food
All on-river meals are provided, beginning with lunch the first day and ending with lunch the last day. The food is fresh and hearty and the guides will prepare it for you while you enjoy the homey atmosphere generated around each river camp. You can set up your tent or go for an evening walk, relax, read, or join the guides in the kitchen if you so desire.
A typical five day menu may include as a main course BBQ Steak, Baked Fish, Pork chops and dumplings, chicken enchiladas, seafood spaghetti, cashew chicken Chinese, Teri-yaki Chicken, Mexican chili, combination entrees, fresh vege-tables and salads, Dutch-oven desserts or breads, hors d'oeuvres, fresh fruits, fruit juices, coffee, tea and complimen-tary glass of wine with dinner.
Lunches are buffet style with a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, fruit, cheeses, sliced meats, nuts and juices or sodas.
Breakfast includes fruit juice, eggs in all styles, special pancakes, French toast, melons, fruit, cereals with milk, sausage, bacon, coffee, tea or hot chocolate. We can accommodate special diets with advance notice and almost always the menu suits the vegetarian.
Though we carry ample supplies of juices, coffee, tea and hot chocolate we encourage you to bring extra soda, beer wine or other beverages you may prefer. You can arrange for us to pick up specific beverages for you prior to the trip or you can stock up before we head to the river. Any liquids you bring must be in unbreakable containers and limited to one case per person.

ALCOHOL
You're welcome to bring alcohol as long as it is in unbreakable containers. Discretion in alcohol consumption during whitewater days is strongly advised. If you would like us to pick up a particular beer and bring it to the river, please advise and payment can be made for your purchase at the river put-in with your Trip Leader.

Money
Additional cash requirements:
You will need to arrange all pre and post lodging and meals before and after your trip. Gratuities are not included in the trip cost. You will not require any monies during your trip. Valuables should be stored in the safe at your lodging or you can keep valuables in the waterproof bag provided by Dvoraks. A small amount of money maybe needed during shuttle for snacks at the end of trip.

DVORAK'S WILL PROVIDE THIS EQUIPMENT:
We furnish rugged inflatable self-bailing rafts 12 to 16 feet in length. We provide all necessary river equipment, pfd's (Type V), water-proof dry bags for personal gear, first-aid and safety supplies. There is a guide on every raft and ratio of 1 to 4 on any instructional clinic. In addition we have rental equipment that consists of tents, sleeping bags, pads, and ground sheets. We also have wetsuit and boot rentals available per day or trip.

You can choose to be either in a paddle raft (participatory) or an oared raft, (passenger). Paddle rafts have 4 to 6 persons and 1 guide