Fall Newsletter, 2005

• 10th Anniversary Special
• Signature Trip: Fiji – New Zealand
• Welcome Guide Julie Paterson
• Notes from the Trail
• Are Airfares Included?

10th Anniversary Special

2006 marks the 10th year that Canyon Calling has led women on worldwide adventure trips! We’d like to celebrate this occasion by acknowledging the contribution made by our repeat customers. If you’ve travel ed on two or more Canyon Calling trips then we’d like to offer you a 10% discount on ANY trip in 2006. CLICK HERE to see our 2006 schedule

Signature Trip: Fiji – New Zealand (Feb 14 – March 4, 2006) Seats Available!

Our trip to New Zealand each February touches the hearts of travelers more than any of our other popular destinations. I suspect this is because of a wide combination of experiences - the dolphins who often surprise us while sailing, the unexpected blue of the glacier ice, the thrill of completing the challenging volcano hike, the spiritual feeling of Cathedral Cove and the stunning beauty of kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park. The people we meet along the way also contribute enormously. Kiwis are renown for their warmth and hospitality – from Cushla who greets us at Auckland airport, my friends with whom we lunch in Wellington, the beauty of our Maori hosts at the marae, Bill the piano player, to my cousins who open their home and hearts for our final night in Christchurch.

I’ve often said that Canyon Calling provides the structure but it is YOU who make the trips so memorable by opening your hearts – to the vistas, to the experiences, to the people whose lives we touch – and most importantly to each other. Your generosity of spirit, hearty humor and lust for adventure ensure rewarding friendships and lifetime memories. These features seem especially amplified in New Zealand – a land of unsurpassed natural beauty and welcoming, environmentally conscious citizens. It is the joy of my life to lead groups through New Zealand, to share stories of growing up Down Under and to see my homeland through your eyes.

Welcome to Experienced Guide – Julie Paterson

Alumni of our Fiji – New Zealand trips will remember Julie Paterson as our kayaking guide at Abel Tasman National Park. Those of you who traveled on our Amazing Alps trips will be familiar with Julie from her hikes up to the alpine hut with us. Julie is fluent in German and Swiss German and passionate about travel. She believes travel not only promotes understanding in the world but is also a liberating experience that allows you insights into yourself. Since she was 18, Julie has worked in and explored exotic places and been an adventure guide in New Zealand. She’ll be teaming with Cheryl to guide some of the current trips and to design new trips for Canyon Calling for 2007 and beyond.

Notes from the Trail

Finding a bull moose grazing in the creek was the highlight of our hike into Cascade Canyon on the Tetons - Yellowstone trip in August. Suzy C (MA) returned for another trip, this time bringing her law school buddy Sherryann (PA) with her. By the way, congratulations to Sherryann for making partner at Vanguard – the youngest ever! The others were all first-timers who loved the adventures and hope to join us again next year.

Mother and daughter pair, Jennie and Katherine from Biloxi (MS) had to cancel their trip into Utah Canyonlands to clean up after Katrina dumped five feet of water into their home. They considered themselves lucky to still have a home. The pair will be traveling to Iceland with us next year instead. Our Utah travelers this year were all new to Canyon Calling. Three were a family group from Florida - Mom Anne Marie, daughter Kelly and Aunt Helen who loved horse riding in Bryce and hiking to Butch Cassidy Arch in Capitol Reef National Park. Fay (NY) is a walking testament to Curves which she credits with the fitness gained in coming back after illness. Fay’s highlight was wading in Zion’s Narrows.

Long time customers Lois G (NY) and Jackie C (PA) were aboard for our inaugural Awesome Aussie trip in October. Lois even celebrated her birthday in Alice Springs. All agreed that hiking around Uluru (Ayers Rock) was the most spiritual experience of the trip and the fly nets we wore were definitely necessary! Rafting the Tully River in Queensland was a terrific day of constant rapids and drop pools in pristine rainforest. We threw boomerangs, hand fed kangaroos and toured the Opera House but the special memory was being up close to the koalas and their wonderful eucalyptus scent.

Of the eight fun seekers on the Costa Rican Explorer in November, seven were brand new to women’s group travel. What good friends they all became singing “Don’t rain on me Costa Rica!” We choose the end of the rainy season for this trip to make the most of the white water rafting opportunities and we were not disappointed. Both the Sarapiqui and Pacuare rivers were high and wild! There was a little too much rain however so there were no banks left on the Tortuguero for crocodiles nor sun for them to bask in BUT we did get to cheer on newly hatched turtles racing for the sea – quite a thrill. Soaking in the hot waters of Arenal volcano was the highlight for Susan O (CA) who was encouraged to join the trip by fellow Californian Katie who traveled to NZ with us last February. Meg W (PA) was team clown and kept us all laughing with her one-liners. Here’s Meg holding Buttercup at the sloth sanctuary.

Are Airfares Included?

The only airfares that we include in trip prices are an internal flight on each of the Hawaiian and Costa Rican trips. We stay out of the airfare business for many reasons – the most obvious being that we have no expertise. Jane Maaz, however, at Choice Travel in Phoenix most certainly does. She has handled bookings for Canyon Calling customers since 1996. Call her at 480 755-1388. Jane works through consolidators and can often get discounts for us on fares to Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.

There are others reason for keeping airfares separate. We’ve found that many people want to use hard-won air miles for their vacation flights so including airfares in trip prices would penalize them. Also, some folks sign-up for trips close to the departure date and getting flights at such late dates often involves paying a premium – not something a tour operator can be expected to absorb. In addition, some customers want to arrive early or travel on after a scheduled trip and such plans can change the cost of flights. It’s easier for all if Canyon Calling leaves the booking of flights to others.

In general our trips begin and end at the same starting point. There are two exceptions: Hawaiian Islands and Fiji – New Zealand. On the Hawaiian Islands trip we fly into Lihue on Kauai and fly home from Kona on the Big Island. Fiji – New Zealand begins in Nadi, Fiji and ends in Christchurch, New Zealand. You are responsible for all three flights – US to Fiji, Fiji to Auckland, and Christchurch back to the US.

Hope to see you in 2006!

Happy Trails,
Cheryl