The V Wave 
stay connected to the river 
 December 2015 - Volume 9 Issue 2
Photo By Dave Edwards
Season's Greetings!

The V Wave (named after the legendary wave in Lava Falls rapid) keeps you connected with AzRA Grand Canyon, the river community, and the Canyon. If you have trouble viewing this email, please follow the link at the top of this message to view a web version.  

This winter edition features an article about AzRA's 2015 trips for veterans and active duty military, information about making a reservation for our 2017 season, the winners of our fifth annual Images Contest, and a summary of the proposed Grand Canyon National Monument.

Also, don't forget the links at the bottom of the newsletter. These Grand Canyon related sites were chosen just for you!
Grand Canyon Warriors at Redwall Cavern
Photo by USMC Sgt David Gill
"Warriors" Trips Share the Experience of a Lifetime

This rafting season AzRA had the privilege of hosting two rafting trips honoring veterans and active duty military; the Grand Canyon Warriors trip sponsored by Grand Canyon River Runners Association (GCRRA), and the Veteran Wilderness Expedition sponsored by No Barriers USA and Raytheon.

The Grand Canyon Warriors, a group of twenty-four active duty Marines wounded in combat, chose our Full Canyon Motor trip for their adventure. They spent ten days rafting 225 river miles through Grand Canyon and nine nights camping. Each day the Marines encouraged and supported each other through obstacles and new discoveries from loading and unloading the rafts, to paddling in the specially requested paddle raft, to hiking the Canyon's many scenic trails. Click here to read more about the 2015 Grand Canyon Warriors trip and how to support their 2016 adventure!   

No Barriers Warriors trip participant Cory Remsburg hiking Bright Angel Trail with fellow veterans 
Photo by No Barriers Warriors
No Barriers Warriors, a team of ten wounded Army and Air Force veterans, arrived in Flagstaff, Arizona a few days before their trip to volunteer at a local food bank, and bonds of friendship readily began to form. Then the group embarked on the Upper Canyon Classic adventure. They rafted 89 river miles in six days, and on the seventh day hiked out of the canyon on Bright Angel Trail. For many, the hike out was the biggest challenge, but everyone conquered it with determination and enthusiasm. Click here to read more about the No Barriers Warriors!

We hope these experiences helped to give all of the wounded warriors rewards that are priceless; camaraderie, memories that will last a lifetime, and confidence to overcome any challenge that crosses their path. AzRA would like to thank every0ne who helped make these trips a reality for these deserving men and women of the Armed Forces, and we are grateful to GCRRA and No Barriers Warriors for choosing AzRA to be a part of these extraordinary trips with such exceptional groups of people.
Now Booking 2017

We are accepting reservations for the 2017 season! Click here to view a schedule of our dates and prices. To secure a reservation, give us a call and our experienced and friendly reservationists will be happy to give you a list of available trips in your timeframe.
There is still space available on select trips in 2016, but they are filling quickly, so don't delay! If the trip you want is currently booked, you can join the waitlist and we will contact you if space opens up.  
 

Photo by Tim Best

Want to go Grand Canyon rafting again but would like a trip with a more specific focus? Consider one of these specialty trips:
All Paddle
Kayaking Trip with Current Adventures

(Please note: The Dories and Stories trip is only offered for the 2016 rafting season. It will not be available in 2017. Contact Current Adventures directly for further details about the kayaking trips and to make a reservation.)

Don't forget, Granite Adventure Club members and guests repeating a trip within three years receive a 10% discount! 

Grand Canyon Images
Contest Winners

Congratulations to our  

Grand Prize Winner
Phillip Timper  

and our three
Runner-Up Winners 

Michael Lippman,
Tammy Oesting,
and Bruce Terzes! 
Photo by Bob LaFlam
Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument Act

In October, Arizona Representative Raul Grijalva submitted a bill to Congress that, if passed, would protect 1.7 million acres around the North and South Rims of Grand Canyon. The bill would also preserve the Grand Canyon Watershed, sacred tribal lands, and most significant, permanently prevent new uranium mining claims. You can keep up to date on the latest about this proposal on the Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument Facebook page and show your support here.
 
We would like to thank you for taking time to read our newsletter and for giving us river seasons full of wonderful memories. We hope you will choose to continue receiving this publication so we may stay connected. In fact, we appreciate input; if you have suggestions for future newsletters such as article topics, river stories, photos, poetry, or artwork to share, please email us.
 
See you downstream!   


(Arizona Raft Adventures, Grand Canyon Discovery and Grand Canyon Raft Adventures are concessionaires
under contract with the U.S. Government and administered by the National Park Service.)