Lee Krystinik

<h2>Highlights</h2>
<ul>
<li>Explore the stunning landscapes associated with the development of the Rio Grande Rift, including remarkable structural, depositional and volcanic features</li>
<li>Raft on the Rio Grande River</li>
<li>Visit Georgia O’Keeffe’s home in the desert, an inspiration for her art</li>
<li>Taste the variety of southwestern cuisine: a fusion of Aztec, Native American, Spanish and American foods… all about big flavors in big landscapes</li>
<li>Mount a horse and ride through the sagebrush – the way everyone out here used to travel</li>
<li>Soar in a balloon over the faulted surface of the Rift (this is an optional activity)</li>
<li>The activity level is rated as MODERATE (see definition <a href="https://www.geoculturaworld.com/about/health-and-safety" target="_blank">here</a>)</li>
<li>The tour begins in Alamosa, Colorado, and ends in Albuquerque, New Mexico&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h2>Overview</h2>
<p>Get ready for a memorable southwestern adventure along the old Santa Fe Trail as this tour travels through the incredibly diverse and beautiful landscapes of the Rio Grande Rift in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. The group will observe the distinctive environments of modern rift systems (areas where the crust is being pulled apart or extended) and contrast them with preserved sediments deposited in similar settings up to 30 million years ago. Participants will be immersed in the rich blend of cultures and cuisines – of the Puebloan indigenous peoples, the Spaniards who came shortly after Columbus, the Vaqueros and Cowboys who helped tame the land, and the artists drawn to the Rift for its diversity, beauty and sense of spiritual peace.</p>
<p>Starting in Alamosa, Colorado, the tour explores the wonders of one of America’s newest national parks, the aptly named Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in the San Luis Valley, home to the tallest dunes in North America and sitting at the foot of Crestone Needle, one of several 14,000+ ft (4200+m) peaks along the fault-bounded margin of the rift.</p>
<p>Participants will explore the dunes and examine the interaction between alluvial fans, intermittent streams, dunes, springs and evaporitic salt ponds. These geological settings represent ecological niches that controlled early Paleo-Indian habitation at least 13,000 years ago, and continue to define niches for wildlife communities, including birds (the area offers world-class bird watching), elk, mule deer, antelope, mountain goats, big horn sheep, and a diverse array of other mammals and reptiles.</p>
<p>Leaving the San Luis Valley and traveling south along the Rift axis provides an opportunity for the group to visit the spectacular Rio Grande Gorge and indulge in a half day of rafting on the Rio Grande River before arriving in historic Santa Fe.</p>
<p>Santa Fe is filled with great food and impressive galleries and is surrounded by beautiful scenery and amazing geology, including the giant Valles Caldera super volcano. Cultural and recreational activity will include an optional early morning hot air balloon ride along the Rift, exploring the incredible pre-Puebloan cliff dwellings at Bandelier National Monument, horse-back riding in the hills above Santa Fe and a Gallery crawl, with perhaps a few pubs in between.</p>
<p>Moving further south, the group will explore a remote canyon that records the dunes, rivers, lakes and volcanic events which sit around and beneath Albuquerque. The group will stand on an active fault plane which threatens a 7.5 magnitude earthquake and which would flatten a lot of the city. The day will end at a resort sitting at the foot of a volcano where the group will share a traditional New Mexican dinner and enjoy an evening by the fire pit before our departure from Albuquerque.</p>
<p>Always in the shadow of volcanoes and snow-capped peaks along the bounding margins of the rift, participants will appreciate the nature and wildlife of the region from the vantage points of a hiker, a rafter and a balloonist, as well as from the back of a horse. The tour provides a truly immersive journey into the Rio Grande Rift.</p>

<div><img style="font-size: 9pt" title="The Sangre de Cristo Range" alt="The Sangre de Cristo Range" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/B01-T009%20NM%20Sangre%20de%20Cristo.jpg">
<p>The Sangre de Cristo Range is along the east side of the Rio Grande Rift and rise above Colorado's Great Sand Dunes National Park (Source: R. Davies).</p>
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<div><img title="The 741 tall Star Dune and elk at Great Sand Dunes National Park" alt="The 741 tall Star Dune and elk at Great Sand Dunes National Park" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T009%20NM%20Star%20Dune.png">
<p>The 741 tall Star Dune and elk at Great Sand Dunes National Park (Source: NPS/P. Myers).</p>
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<div><img title="Santa Fe" alt="Santa Fe" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T009%20NM%20Santa%20Fe%20KB.jpg">
<p>Santa Fe at twilight.</p>
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<div><img title="Santa Fe’s La Fonda Hotel on the Plaza" alt="Santa Fe’s La Fonda Hotel on the Plaza" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T009%20NM%20La%20Fonda.png">
<p>Experience the warmth and style of New Mexico at Santa Fe’s La Fonda Hotel on the Plaza (Source: La Fonda).</p>
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<div><img title="The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi" alt="The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/B10-T009%20NM%20Santa%20Fe%20Cathedral.jpg">
<p>The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, commonly known as Saint Francis Cathedral, in downtown Santa Fe (Source: Pedro Szekely, Flickr).</p>
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<div><img title="Gentle rafting down the Rio Grande" alt="Gentle rafting down the Rio Grande" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T009%20NM%20Rafting%20KB.jpg">
<p>The Rio Grande follows the course of the Rio Grande Rift from southern Colorado to El Paso, where it turns southeast and flows toward the Gulf of Mexico.</p>
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<div><img title="View from the top of Kitchen Mesa and Chimney Rock in Ghost Ranch" alt="View from the top of Kitchen Mesa and Chimney Rock in Ghost Ranch" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/B12-T009%20NM%20Kitchen%20Mesa.jpg">
<p>View from the top of Kitchen Mesa and Chimney Rock in Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, New Mexico (Source: Ryan McKee).</p>
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<div><img title="Bandelier National Monument" alt="Bandelier National Monument" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T009%20NM%20Bandelier%20NM%20Hike%20KB.jpg">
<p>Hiking in the Bandelier National Monument.</p>
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<div><img title="Access to a cliff dwelling in Bandelier National Monument" alt="Access to a cliff dwelling in Bandelier National Monument" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/B15-T009%20NM%20Bandelier%20NM%20Ladder-55426.jpg">
<p>Access to a cliff dwelling in Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico.</p>
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<div><img title="The Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort &amp; Spa" alt="The Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort &amp; Spa" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T009%20NM%20Hyatt.png">
<p>The Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort &amp; Spa is nestled on the Native American Santa Ana Pueblo between the Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande River (Source: Hyatt Tamaya).</p>
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<div><img title="Roadside geology along Route 84" alt="Roadside geology along Route 84" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/B16-T009%20NM%20Roadside%20Geology.jpg">
<p>Roadside geology along Route 84, northern New Mexico (Source: Ron Reiring, Flickr).</p>
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<h3>Tour Map</h3>
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<p><img title="Tour Map" alt="Tour Map" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T009%20RGR%20Location%20Map%20KB.jpg"></p>
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<h3>Day 1 – Arrival</h3>
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<p>The tour begins in Alamosa, Colorado. After arrival in Alamosa, the group will assemble for a reception and introduction to the tour and a dinner.</p>
<p>Overnight in Alamosa. Group dinner.</p>
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<h3>Day 2 – Great Sand Dunes National Park</h3>
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<p><img title="Great Sand Dunes" alt="Great Sand Dunes" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T009%20NM%20Sand%20Dunes%20Slide%20KB.jpg"></p>
<p>After breakfast, the tour will head northeast past the 14,335 ft (4369m) Blanca Peak to Great Sand Dunes National Park to study the ecology and geological features associated with a large dune complex trapped against the mountains and focused along a wind gap between two large peaks. Playing in the sand and sliding down the dunes will be part of the fun. If sand conditions are right, the dunes may “sing” (a low frequency moan).</p>
<p>The latter part of the day will be spent examining the wet and salty side of the system with its marshes (look for sandhill cranes), evaporitic lakes and paleosprings containing Ice Age mammal bones.</p>
<p>Overnight in Alamosa. Free evening.</p>
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<h3>Day 3 – Transfer from Alamosa to Santa Fe, with geology and river rafting en route</h3>
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<p><img title="Rafting" alt="Rafting" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T009%20Rafting.png"></p>
<p>The tour will travel from Alamosa to the Rio Grande Gorge, passing through a major volcanic field with more than 800 ft (244m) of basalt flows, to the fault-controlled course of the Rio Grande River for a dose of wilderness and adrenalin on a raft trip down a stretch of the Rio Grande. The rafting traverses fairly gentle rapids (class II–III) and is suitable for first-timers. The tour then heads along the eastern basin bounding fault of the Rift to Santa Fe.</p>
<p>Overnight in Santa Fe. Group dinner.</p>
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<h3>Day 4 – Georgia O’Keeffe and her favorite locales</h3>
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<p><img title="Plaza Blanca" alt="Plaza Blanca" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T009%20Plaza%20Blanca.png" height="491" width="771"></p>
<p>The morning provides two options: a relaxing interlude for participants to savor the character of Santa Fe and explore museums and art galleries, or an optional early start for a hot-air balloon ride along the Rift (at an extra cost). Geological features will be discussed during the ride, but soaking up the experience of silently floating with the wind in the balloon is the primary objective.</p>
<p>The group will then meet in Santa Fe for lunch and then head off for a hike into Plaza Blanca canyon, followed by a short stop at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. This was one of Georgia O’Keeffe’s favorite locales for painting (she often painted hoodoos in lake-margin fluvial and deltaic deposits of the 27 to 18-million-year-old Abiquiu Formation).</p>
<p>The evening will be free for wandering the streets around the square in Santa Fe and sampling some of the excellent restaurants in the area.</p>
<p>Overnight in Santa Fe. Free evening.</p>
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<h3>Day 5 – A super-volcano and Native American life in Bandelier National Monument</h3>
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<p><img title="(Source: Bandelier National Monument)" alt="(Source: Bandelier National Monument)" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T009%20CR%20Bandelier%20National%20Monument.jpg" height="457" width="683"></p>
<p>After breakfast, the tour heads west to the flanks of a super-volcano, the Valles Caldera. One of the massive eruptions from the Caldera laid down the Bandelier Tuff (a rock made of volcanic ash), for which the Bandelier National Monument was named. There is an opportunity to walk through a valley that has seen the footsteps of humans for at least 11,500 years. Bandelier National Monument preserves the homes of these ancient civilizations in its sheer canyon walls. Climb the ladders and sit in the ancestral dwellings as the Puebloan people did nearly a thousand years ago.</p>
<p>From the Monument the tour will drive to the summit of Valles Caldera and into the crater for an overview of a small part of the caldera. The elk herd that lives in the caldera may be spotted. The morning ends with a fireside lunch and s’mores!</p>
<p>After lunch, the group will enjoy a remarkable overlook across the Rio Grande Rift Valley as they stand on basalt which flowed from a small volcano they will be able to see in the distance. A mid-afternoon return allows everyone time to enjoy Santa Fe before dinner.</p>
<p>Overnight in Santa Fe. Group dinner.</p>
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<h3>Day 6 – A trail ride, a cowboy lunch and geology on the margin of the Rift</h3>
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<p><img title="Trail Riding" alt="Trail Riding" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/B07-T009%20NM%20Trail%20Ride.png" height="349" width="573"></p>
<p>After breakfast, the group will travel a few miles north of Santa Fe to Bishop’s Lodge for a morning horse-back ride into the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Range.</p>
<p>After lunch, the group will head north to examine the sharp ridge formed by cementation along a fault damage zone within the Rift. The return will be early evening, in time for dinner and to further explore historic Santa Fe. A gallery “crawl” can be arranged, perhaps with a pub or two in between, for those interested.</p>
<p>Overnight in Santa Fe. Free evening.</p>
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<h3>Day 7 – On to Tamaya with faults, alluvial fans, Tiwa ruins and murals along the way</h3>
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<p><img title="Roadside geology" alt="Roadside geology" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/B16-T009%20NM%20Roadside%20Geology.jpg" height="368" width="578"></p>
<p>The tour leaves Santa Fe and heads south to view the accommodation of offset between two major basin-bounding faults, circumnavigate a large alluvial fan that provides a fantastic view across the width of the Rift, and stand on an active fault that threatens Albuquerque.</p>
<p>Participants will explore the Coronado Historic Site where Coronado crossed the Rio Grande into Kuaua Pueblo in 1540, seeking the fabled seven cities of gold. Kuaua means “evergreen” in the Tiwa language and it was a rich farming area for the Tiwa people. The adobe brick ruins are mostly about knee high, but archeologists have found what are considered to be some of the oldest – if not actually the oldest – plaster murals in North America. These images, preserved in the museum, represent the major deities of the Tiwa.</p>
<p>From the Coronado Historic Site, the group will head to Tamaya for a final hike in a valley where virtually all systems we have seen are stacked upon one another. Everyone will gather for drinks before the final dinner of the tour… a sampling of northern New Mexican cuisine.</p>
<p>Overnight in Tamaya. Final group dinner.</p>
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<h3>Day 8 - Departures</h3>
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<p>Tour ends; participants are free to return home or to continue exploring New Mexico.</p>
<p>Note: this provisional itinerary is subject to change as specific locations and accommodations release more information regarding access and scheduling for the coming year.</p>
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<h3>Activity Level and Terrain</h3>
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<p>The activity level is rated as MODERATE, requiring an average level of fitness (see our definitions <a href="https://www.geoculturaworld.com/about/health-and-safety" target="_blank">here</a>). Although the topography of the area can be quite rough, access to the outcrops and overlooks will be relatively easy. The tour will include hikes of not exceeding 3 miles (5km) with elevation gains of up to 330 ft (100m). Some surfaces will be irregular, so ankle-high hiking boots are recommended. Elevations of tour stops will range from 5200–8200 ft (1600–2500m). Autumn weather is typically mild during the day (65–75°F/18–24°C) and cool at night (35–45°F/2–7°C).</p>
<p>There is a half day of river rafting, so a pair of water shoes or waterproof sandals is required. The tour includes the option of horse-back riding, at a level suitable for beginner through to experienced riders. Transport will be by mini-bus.</p>
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<h3>The Tour Includes/Excludes</h3>
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<h4>The Tour Includes:</h4>
<ul>
<li>A Tour Leader, who will be present for questions, comments, discussion and anecdotes throughout the tour.</li>
<li>A Tour Manager, who will attend to logistical matters, oversee the group’s health and safety and assist participants with their queries.</li>
<li>All transportation costs from the start to the end of the tour.</li>
<li>All accommodation costs for the nights stated, assuming double occupancy rooms. Single occupancy rooms are generally available for a modest surcharge. Please contact GeoCultura for details.</li>
<li>All breakfasts, lunches and dinners, (except for the three dinners marked “free evening”).</li>
<li>Entry fees, local guide fees and activity fees, where arranged as part of the tour.</li>
<li>A fully illustrated tour guide. This will include a summary of health and safety advice.</li>
</ul>
<h4>The Tour Excludes:</h4>
<ul>
<li>Extra or optional activities not described in the tour.</li>
<li>The cost of the hot air balloon ride ($250).</li>
<li>Personal expenditures, including bar bills, laundry bills, souvenirs and the cost of meals on free evenings.</li>
<li>Transportation to the start venue or from the end venue of the tour.</li>
</ul>
<p>Participants are required to carry their own health and travel insurance in case of accident or unforeseen circumstances.</p>
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<h3>Alternate Activities</h3>
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<p>Individuals who prefer not to participate in certain activities might consider these options:</p>
<p><strong>Day 3:</strong> Non-rafting participants can visit the Rio Grande Gorge Visitor Center.</p>
<p><strong>Day 4:</strong> A morning hot-air balloon ride over the Rio Grande Rift, a classic New Mexico experience.</p>
<p><strong>Days 4, 5 and 6:</strong> Options in or near Santa Fe include a spa visit, a round of golf, perusing the art galleries on Canyon Road, taking a walking or biking tour, visiting the Museum of International Folk Art or the New Mexico History Museum, or just absorbing the flavor of the city.</p>
<p><strong>Day 7:</strong> An afternoon at the spa or time on the golf course can be arranged for those who prefer not to join the afternoon hike.</p>
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<h3>Suggested Reading</h3>
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<p><em><a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Valles_Caldera/S2K0CAAAQBAJ?hl=en&amp;gbpv=0" target="_blank">Valles Caldera: A Geologic History</a></em> (2009), Fraser Goff</p>
<p><em><a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Spell_of_New_Mexico/YxmAmXA-SPQC?hl=en&amp;gbpv=0" target="_blank">The Spell of New Mexico</a></em> (1976), Tony Hillerman</p>
<p><em><a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Enchantment_and_Exploitation/zgjHCgAAQBAJ?hl=en&amp;gbpv=0" target="_blank">Enchantment and Exploitation</a></em> (1985), William duBuys</p>
<p><em><a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Art_of_New_Mexico/uExQAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&amp;gbpv=0" target="_blank">The Art of New Mexico</a></em> (2007), Joseph Traugott</p>
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<h3>Accommodation</h3>
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<p>Nights 1 and 2 <a href="https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/alamosa/alses/hoteldetail" target="_blank">Holiday Inn Express &amp; Suites Alamosa,</a> Alamosa</p>
<p>Nights 3, 4, 5 and 6 <a href="https://www.lafondasantafe.com/" target="_blank">La Fonda on the Plaza</a><a href="https://www.lafondasantafe.com/" target="_blank">,</a> Santa Fe</p>
<p>Night 7 <a href="https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/new-mexico/hyatt-regency-tamaya-resort-and-spa/tamay?src=corp_lclb_gmb_seo_nam_tamay" target="_blank">Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa</a>, Tamaya</p>
<p>Note: If required for reasons beyond our control, GeoCultura reserves the right to substitute alternate accommodations of equal or higher quality.</p>
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<h3>Special Information</h3>
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<p>Participants are asked to bring appropriate clothing and footwear for the rafting and trail riding activities. Additional details will be provided upon signing up for the tour.</p>
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<h3>Deposit and Payment Terms</h3>
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<p><strong>Deposit:</strong> A deposit of 10% of the tour price is due upon registration for a tour.</p>
<p><strong>Final payment:</strong> Full payment is due 60 days before a tour begins, or upon registration if within the 60-day window.</p>
<p><strong>Cancellation by participant:</strong> A participant may cancel a registration after securing a confirmed place on a tour for any reason. The following refund terms will apply:</p>
<ul>
<li>Greater than 60 days before tour begins: Any monies paid plus half of the deposit will be refunded</li>
<li>30 to 59 days before tour begins: 35% of tour price will be refunded</li>
<li>15 to 29 days before tour begins: 25% of tour price will be refunded</li>
<li>Within 14 days of tour or during the tour: No monies will be refunded</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Cancellation by GeoCultura:</strong> GeoCultura reserves the right to cancel any tour due to low enrolment, inability to run the tour or concerns about the safety, health or welfare of participants. If a tour is cancelled before it begins, all monies paid will be refunded (including any deposit).</p>
<p>Please refer to our <a href="https://www.geoculturaworld.com/terms-and-conditions" target="_blank">Terms and Conditions</a> page for additional details.</p>
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<h2>Lee Krystinik</h2>
<p><img title="Lee Krystinik" alt="Lee Krystinik" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/Lee%20Krystinik%20New.jpg"></p>
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<p><span>Lee Krystinik lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he delights in being part of a</span><span> "passing it forward" group to communicate knowledge of the geological past to all. </span><span>Lee is the principal and founder of Equus Energy Partners, LLC, and uses integrated geoscience to assess earth resources.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p>
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<p><span>Lee has won a number of awards for technical and presentation excellence, and has had the honor to serve as president of both the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Society for Sedimentary Geology. He is actively involved in addressing public misconceptions of climate change and pragmatic approaches for appropriate policy.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p>
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<p><span>In addition to spending time hiking and exploring the mountains of the western US, he enjoys competing in (and winning!) equestrian events with his “monster” horse Kilo, who is a bit taller than 6 ft at the shoulder.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p>
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NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT FOR BOOKINGS MADE BY 16 APRIL. Discover the geology of diverse and beautiful landscapes while hiking, rafting and riding through the lands cut by the Rio Grande River

Rambling, Rafting, Riding and Rifting: Exploring the Rio Grande Rift of Colorado and New Mexico