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Summer E-Newsletter, 2008
A Message from Cheryl
 2007 was our busiest year since Canyon Calling's launch in 1996 and I'd like to say a very personal thank you to all our clients who traveled with us last year. Nothing makes me happier than returning customers - always great to travel with friends! Many of you have bought family and friends along to share in the fun - thank you! Canyon Calling continues to be a labor of love for me and I look forward to leading trips, meeting wonderful new clients and adding multi-activity destinations in the years ahead.
On every trip I am reminded of the old saying "Life is about the journey, not the destination" You pay us to travel to beautiful places that offer great outdoor adventures, to select the gems and develop a sequence where all flows together - and this we do. BUT, the wonderful thing referred to over and over at final dinners, is how enriched we all are by the experience of sharing the journey with women of such generous hearts. We provide the cup - but it is you who fill it with your wonder, exuberance, humor and wisdom.
It's been a busy time since our Spring newsletter went out. Julie escorted the Moroccan trip in April, I led Arizona Spectacular in May and spent the rest of the month in Peru developing a new trip. June and July have been busy with Best of the West, Fire + Iceland! and two trips in the Canadian Rockies. I'm heading out on the Tetons-Yellowstone tour tomorrow - Wyoming is a treat in August.
I have been deliberately restrained in growing this business to ensure a quality product, my sanity! and to be sure that we remain true to our mission - to create fun, multi-activity vacations for moderately-fit women to the most beautiful places in the world. Our 2009 schedule (below) offers twenty trips to sixteen different destinations.
Guide Vacancies
In order to add more great trips and departure dates, we are advertising, for the first time, for part-time guides and escorts to join the Canyon Calling family. Ideally, in order of importance, they should be high-energy "people people" aged 40 - 60, comfortable in the outdoors, have at least a bachelor's degree and be fun, inclusive personalities. Ideally we're looking for teachers with time to spare in the summer, living in or near Calgary, AB, Jackson, WY, Portland, ME and Anchorage, AK. Guides living in other locations are also encouraged to apply. In addition, we're seeking guides fluent in Spanish to lead or escort some overseas trips and to accompany Cheryl on a site inspection in Patagonia in December. If you, or someone you know of, may be interested, please send an email attaching a resume and current photo to Cheryl@canyoncalling.com.
Join Us This Fall!
Best of the West
September 10 - 19
There's still time to join our fabulous exploration of national parks and secret places in Utah and Arizona. We'll hike, boat, jeep, horse-ride, helicopter, raft, and kayak. There'll be plenty of swimming at all our favorite places including in the turquoise waterfalls at Havasu, in the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
From a full-moon night in Canyon de Chelly to sleeping under the stairs on Lake Powell this trip allowed me to touch the land and feel the earth. Throughout this life-changing experience, we trusted one another with our challenges and our hearts.
Marybeth S, KS - June 08
Sedona Sojourn
October 27 - 31
Fall is a wonderful time to be hiking the trails in red-rock country and our five-day trip includes a jeep ride, a well-earned massage and some relaxing meals at Cheryl's vintage red rock home. On last year's fall trip three clients even swam at Slide Rock!
How powerful it is for us, with such different personalities and experiences, to come together and share a week of adventures. You have created an unforgettable week that has moved me beyond measure. Kathy K, MO - April 08
I've been to Sedona many times but hands down, this was the best trip ever. The hikes were breathtaking and our group was awesome - I feel so privileged to have been part of it all.
Jane R, AZ - Oct 07
News of Scheduled Trips
Internal Flights
For your convenience and by popular demand, we've included internal flights into all our trip prices where flights fall within the itinerary. This includes Australia (4 flights), Hawaii (1), Costa Rica (1), Alaska (1), Morocco (1) and Peru (1)
Alps Trip
European Union licensing requirements have forced us to change Amazing Alps to a Swiss Alps trip. We've replaced our night in Austria with a night in Zermat, replaced our castle day with a train trip to the Matterhorn and moved our rafting from Landeck to the Engadine Valley - still on the exciting Inn River.
Dog Sledding
Even though it's zero degrees (C) on the glacier in July in Iceland, our experience has been that its really too hot for the Greenland Huskies. They struggle to pull our sleds and it's no fun to watch dogs and guides work that hard. So we're replacing that activity with a guided glacier walk fitted up with crampons. We still offer a dog-sled ride on our Aurora Alaska trip in January.
Zip-Lining
This newly popular activity is too fun for us to miss out on so we're adding zip-lining to our Hawaiian and Costa Rican trips.
New Trip - Peru
We explored all of Peru while developing this new trip and while the jungle and desert offered unique travel experiences, it was the Andes that stole our hearts. The people, the land and the culture here have remained intricately entwined despite 500 years of plundering by the Spanish. Our trip is especially designed to help us acclimate gradually to the high elevations. The highlight will be our one-day hike on the Inca Trail bringing us in through the Sun Gate for the first breathtaking view of Machupicchu. Andean Peru is the quintessential travel experience - exotic and unusual yet safe and responsive to traveler's needs.
Notes from the Trail
Judy (CA) andMary (WA) were our alums on this trip and traveled with Becky, Lana, Jo, Erika, Kristi and Sarah. Hamid, our in-country guide, was joined by Julie Kirch, escorting her first trip for Canyon Calling.
I'll never forget the smiling faces in the Berber Village or our trek through the Sahara. What amazing memories to add to our travel experiences. Sarah L, (NY)
I still cannot believe that I slept on the orange dunes under the milky way. I will hold this trip in my heart and mind forever. Lana T, (FL)
Arizona Spectacular, May
I've led maybe 25 of these, the original Canyon Calling trip, and I never tire of the wonder. The weather was perfect and the turquoise water at Havasu was the best. Linda bought her sister Harriet, and Maggie and Maryetta, our first Nebraska customer, traveled solo.
The knowledge you carry and the feelings in your soul made this trip truly special. I only hope that I can remember all that you taught me about these special people and places.
Maryetta T, (NB)
Best of the West, June
This magical ten days together saw eight strangers become a caring family amongst the splendor of the falls and canyons. Our friendships have continued beyond the trip as we all support one of our own struggling with recently diagnosed health complications.
Instead of just "seeing" we were 'doing" which enriched my life immensely." These 10 days were all I hoped for and more, thank you. Carol B, VA - June 08
Fire and Iceland, July
This trip was a reminder of the melting pot of America - three born here, three immigrants and a Canadian! As Monica said "So many "WOW" moments. Pam, please don't eat the wildlife!
I thank you for the surprises - the geography, geology and ad hoc history lessons. You bring to your industry a place for women to be girlfriends. I've loved the fire AND the ice; the ride and the music. Joellen R, (CT)
Canadian Rockies, July
Alums, moms and daughters, aunts and cousins, and solo travelers were wowed by the plethora of wildlife this week. We saw a black bear most every day and even a grizzly! Should we mention Cheryl's blisters - even guides mess up now and then!
They say the third time is a charm and this trip, after Arizona and New Zealand, was a hard act to follow - but follow it did with majestic mountains, awesome glaciers and gorgeous lakes. Trish + Caroline, (AR)
Canadian Rockies, July
Becky returned with her two nursing buddies, Margie bought her sister-in-law and Joy, Bobbie and Laura all came solo. I can honestly say that I have NEVER laughed so much on any tour. Jay and Margie got their butts kicked by the Kicking Horse River but this trip was zactly what we all needed!
This was SUCH a beautiful trip and another great experience with Canyon Calling. To say we had fun is such an UNDERSTATEMENT! Becky Craig, (FL)
2009 Trips
Happy Trails,
Cheryl
funtrips@canyoncalling.com
928.282.0916
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