Russell K. Davies

<h2>Highlights</h2>
<ul>
<li>New Scientist Discovery Tour in partnership with GeoCultura</li>
<li>Immerse yourself in the geological history of amazing national parks and monuments and let expert guides explain the processes producing their dramatic landforms. Destinations include Colorado and Bear Ears national monuments and Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands national parks. Learn about their history and the controversies of preservation and commercialization as their boundaries have grown and shrunk.</li>
<li>Discover the region’s many impressive geological features, including the Colorado National Monument, San Rafael Swell, the Waterpocket Fold, Boulder Mountain, canyons formed in tributaries to the Colorado and San Juan rivers, the Henry, La Sal and Abajo mountains and Comb’s Ridge, and learn to read the rock layers: What was sea, or river, or desert? Why are the rock layers bent? Why are some layers tall and strong and others weak and eroded?</li>
<li>Visit two outstanding museums that preserve the artifacts and the history of the prehistoric Native Americans who lived in these canyons: the Anasazi Museum in Boulder and Edge of the Cedars Museum in Blanding.</li>
<li>Visit the cliff dwellings of Fremont and Ancient Puebloan peoples and imagine the day-to-day lives of small communities of families living in the now-abandoned rock shelters.</li>
<li>Explore the enigmatic petroglyphs and pictographs of Fremont, Ancient Puebloan and recent Native American peoples that adorn canyon walls and develop a discerning eye to differentiate the different styes.</li>
<li>Follow the route of Mormon settlement along the Fremont River to what is now Capitol Reef National Park at the northern end of the Waterpocket Fold. Consider their hardships and ingenuity as they spread across southeastern Utah in their attempts to tame the wild landscape.</li>
<li>Cross the San Juan River into Monument Valley, a foreign landscape with a long history of western movies but more importantly the home of the Navajo.</li>
<li>Explore the desert towns of Torrey and Bluff as well as the popular adventure town of Moab. Towns that have tried to survive on prospecting for gold, silver, oil and gas and uranium but also agriculture and ranching and are now struggling with the growth in tourism that has added stress to the fragile desert environment. Explore these towns and enjoy the comforts offered as a result of the tourist boom in top quality hotels and restaurants.</li>
<li>Local experts provide more insights with evening presentations on history, archaeology, plants and animals</li>
<li>The activity level is rated as MODERATE (see our definitions <a href="https://www.geoculturaworld.com/about/health-and-safety" target="_blank">here</a>)</li>
<li>The tour begins and ends in Grand Junction, Colorado</li>
</ul>
<h2>Overview</h2>
<p>Southeastern Utah holds a wealth of fascinating geological and cultural stories. Join two experienced geologists, Russell Davies and Janok Bhattacharya, to learn about the rocks and their influence on the history of the area. Starting in Grand Junction we will drive west across the flat desert landscape of eastern Utah to Torrey, the frontier town to Capitol Reef National Park. Over two days we will take in extensive vistas of the Colorado Plateau from spectacular clifftops, hike slot canyons of Capitol Reef’s dramatic Waterpocket Fold, visit early Mormon settlements along shady tree-lined streams and drive across Boulder Mountain to learn about Anasazi pueblos. We will then head southeast to Bluff, Utah, stopping to visit cliff dwellings overlooking the Colorado River and learning the history of towns and canyons buried when Lake Powell formed behind the Glen Canyon Dam (and now being slowly re-exposed as the lake level drops). Two nights in Bluff, a quiet but historical town that has escaped being over-run by overzealous tourists, give us the opportunity for a Navajo-guide led tour of Monument Valley and a visit to narrow canyons with cliff dwellings and paintings and etchings of long-vanished families and communities. Our route continues north along the eastern edge of Utah to Moab, a bustling town that contrasts with sleepy Torrey and Bluff. The dramatic but accessible landscapes of nearby Arches and Canyonlands national parks explain why. We will spend a day walking among arches, spires and dinosaur tracks and have the opportunity for a trail ride across settings featured in countless Westerns or a boat trip down the Colorado River. We end our journey back in Grand Junction with a visit to a local winery and a good restaurant to reflect on a dramatic trip through time.</p>

<div><img title="Grand Junction" alt="Grand Junction" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Grand%20Mesa%20Grand%20Junction%20KB.jpg">
<p>Grand Mesa, the largest flat-topped mountain in the world, towers over Grand Junction, nicknamed 'River City'.</p>
</div>
<div><img title="A room with a view, Capitol Reef Resort" alt="A room with a view, Capitol Reef Resort" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Room%20with%20a%20View.png">
<p>A room with a view, Capitol Reef Resort (Source: Capitol Reef Resort).</p>
</div>
<div><img title="Newspaper Rock" alt="Newspaper Rock" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Newspaper%20Rock%20RD.jpg">
<p>Newspaper Rock (Source: Russell Davies).</p>
</div>
<div><img title="Some of Utah’s rocks and the environments in which they formed" alt="Some of Utah’s rocks and the environments in which they formed" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Strat%20Column%20NPS.png">
<p>Some of Utah’s rocks and the environments in which they formed (Source: NPS).</p>
</div>
<div><img title="The Castle, Capitol Reef National Park" alt="The Castle, Capitol Reef National Park" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20The%20Castle%20NPS.png">
<p>The Castle, Capitol Reef National Park (Source: NPS).</p>
</div>
<div><img title="Hiking under Hickman Bridge" alt="Hiking under Hickman Bridge" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Hickman%20Bridge%20NPS.png">
<p>Hiking under Hickman Bridge, Capitol Reef National Park (Source: NPS).</p>
</div>
<div><img title="House of Fire cliff dwelling" alt="House of Fire cliff dwelling" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20House%20of%20Fire%20RD.jpg">
<p>House of Fire cliff dwelling (Source: Russell Davies).</p>
</div>
<div><img title="Hite Crossing Bridge over the Colorado River" alt="Hite Crossing Bridge over the Colorado River" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Hite%20Crossing%20Bridge%20RD.jpg">
<p>Hite Crossing Bridge over the Colorado River (Source: Russell Davies).</p>
</div>
<div><img title="Saddling up at Red Cliffs Lodge" alt="Saddling up at Red Cliffs Lodge" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Saddle%20Up.png">
<p>Saddling up at Red Cliffs Lodge (Source: Red Cliffs Lodge).</p>
</div>
<div><img title="Arches National Park" alt="Arches National Park" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Arches%20SS.png">
<p>Arches National Park (Source: anthony heflin / shutterstock).</p>
</div>

<p><span style="font-size: 9pt">---</span></p>
<h3>Tour Map</h3>
<p>---</p>
<p>&nbsp;<img title="T019 Itinerary Map" alt="T019 Itinerary Map" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Location%20Map.png"></p>
<p>---</p>
<h3>Day 1 -&nbsp;Arrival and Meeting in Grand Junction, Colorado</h3>
<p>---</p>
<p><img title="Dinner options at the Hotel Maverick" alt="Dinner options at the Hotel Maverick" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Dinner%20Ideas.png" height="345" width="551"></p>
<p>Participants will gather in the evening at a hotel in Grand Junction for introductions, drinks, dinner and a review of the trip itinerary.</p>
<p>Overnight in Grand Junction. Group dinner.</p>
<p>---</p>
<h3>Day 2: Grand Junction to Torrey, Utah</h3>
<p>---</p>
<p><img title="Outskirts of Torrey" alt="Outskirts of Torrey" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Outskirts%20of%20Torrey%20Crop%20KB.jpg"></p>
<p>Leave Grand Junction hotel after breakfast and drive across the Colorado National Monument, discussing the geology and the history of the Grand Valley with a few short walks and stops for dramatic overviews into the Grand Valley. Drive west on I-70 with a brief stop at Thompson Springs to view petroglyphs and pictographs on cliff walls.</p>
<p>Continue west on I-70 across the San Rafael Swell, a major dome rising from the desert floor, making several stops for panoramic views to ‘read’ the landscapes and illustrate the links between the rock formations, the history of Native Americans, ranchers, outlaws and mining. Picnic lunch at one of the stops.</p>
<p>Continue southward into Torrey along the Fremont River. If time permits, drive to the northern end of Capitol Reef National Park as the striking sun sets for a sensational view into Sulphur Creek Canyon from the Gooseneck Overlook.</p>
<p>Overnight in Torrey. Group dinner.</p>
<p>---</p>
<h3>Day 3: In and around Capitol Reef National Park</h3>
<p>---</p>
<p><img title="Night sky over Temple of the Moon, Capitol Reef State Park" alt="Night sky over Temple of the Moon, Capitol Reef State Park" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Starry%20Night.png" height="235" width="190"></p>
<p>Visit Capitol Reef National Park with brief stops at the visitor center and the old town of Fruita. Continue into the park along Slickrock Drive to Capitol Gorge absorbing the landscapes, geology and history of the park. Depending on the road conditions and time we may drive down to Capitol Gorge Trailhead and for a short hike into the gorge (1 mile roundtrip) to view petroglyphs and see Register Rock with names of early explorers. A brief stop to view Fremont petroglyphs in the cliff faces along the Fremont River will be followed by a picnic lunch</p>
<p>Drive back towards Torrey and over Boulder Mountain making several stops for panoramic views across Capitol Reef National Park to the Henry Mountains and southward into northern Arizona. Continue to the small town of Boulder and visit the Anasazi State Park Museum. If time permits, drive into Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument for views of Long Canyon. Return to Torrey for a group dinner.</p>
<p>If the night is clear after dinner, return to the park for star gazing. The park is designated as an International Dark Sky Park.</p>
<p>Overnight in Torrey. Group dinner.</p>
<p>---</p>
<h3>Day 4: Torrey to Bluff, Utah</h3>
<p>---</p>
<p><img title="Hite Crossing Bridge over the Colorado River" alt="Hite Crossing Bridge over the Colorado River" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Hite%20Crossing%20Bridge%20RD.jpg" height="377" width="565"></p>
<p>Leave Torrey hotel following breakfast and drive east to Hanksville along the Fremont River and then southward past the Henry Mountains to the Colorado River, nestled within steep canyon walls. Stops will include key geological and archeological sites, such as petroglyphs exposed near springs, and panoramic views across the Colorado River and Lake Powell.</p>
<p>Continue to Blanding making several stops to view prehistoric ruins along the roadside and along a short trail. Turning south on UT 191 at Blanding leads across the flat plains into Bluff where we will check into Bluff Dwelling Resort and Spa for two nights.</p>
<p>Overnight in Bluff. Group dinner.</p>
<p>---</p>
<h3>Day 5: Around Bluff</h3>
<p>---</p>
<p><img title="Bluff Dwellings Resort" alt="Bluff Dwellings Resort" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Bluff%20Dwellings.png" height="351" width="348"></p>
<p>Morning free to enjoy the hotel spa, explore the town of Bluff and Bluff Fort, or participate in an optional morning tour with choices of the Wolfman Panel, Monarch Cave (with 3 miles of moderate hiking) or a drive across the Valley of the Gods and up the Moki Dugway to the Muley Point Overlook. Many of these areas are now protected in the boundaries of the Bears Ears National Monument. We can arrange a tour with a local guide.</p>
<p>After lunch, we will all visit a renowned site of petroglyphs along the San Juan River, drive to Gooseneck State Park for spectacular views of the meanders in the San Juan River, and then to the Navajo Tribal Park across the San Juan River in Monument Valley, known for its rock spires as backdrops to westerns.</p>
<p>Dinner in the View Hotel in Monument Valley.</p>
<p>---</p>
<h3>Day 6: Bluff to Moab</h3>
<p>---</p>
<p><img title="Moab" alt="Moab" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Moab%20Town%20KB.jpg"></p>
<p>Leave in the morning for drive to Moab, with a stop in Blanding to visit the Edge of the Cedars Museum, adjacent to rebuilt ruins and kivas. Continue northward towards Canyonlands National Park to a spring in the valley adjacent to Newspaper Rock, a cliff panel with pictographs that represent different Native tribes over a thousand years. This is one of the most dramatic assemblages of petroglyphs discovered and is now protected as part of the Bears Ears National Monument. Picnic lunch.</p>
<p>Free afternoon in Moab to visit the visitor center shops and have dinner in town on your own.</p>
<p>Meet in early evening to drive to and overnight at Red Cliffs Lodge, 15 miles east of Moab on the Colorado River.</p>
<p>---</p>
<h3>Day 7: Around Moab</h3>
<p>---</p>
<p><img title="Arches National Park" alt="Arches National Park" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Arches%20SS.png" height="343" width="512"></p>
<p>Breakfast in the hotel and early departure for Arches National Park.</p>
<p>Morning in the park, where we will hear the fascinating 65-million-year geological history of the rocks – a story of ancient seas, burial of the rocks to depths of kilometres and uplift back to the surface. Our experts will also reveal how the geology and origin of the different rock layers helps create the spectacular arches. We will view some of the Park’s many arches up close. Participants may opt for a 3-mile (5 km) roundtrip hike up to Delicate Arch with an elevation gain of approximately 630 feet (190 meters) or the shorter hike to the Delicate Arch viewing point. The park has become increasing crowded and some adjustments may need to be made for scheduling based on park service admittance.</p>
<p>Picnic lunch.</p>
<p>Drive north to Dead Horse Point State Park, with dramatic views of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park. Depending on time stops to see classic Fremont Petroglyphs along the river.</p>
<p>Overnight at Red Cliffs Lodge. Group dinner.</p>
<p>Possibility for evening river tour for those interested.</p>
<p>---</p>
<h3>Day 8: Moab to Grand Junction</h3>
<p>---</p>
<p><img title="Saddling up at Red Cliffs Lodge" alt="Saddling up at Red Cliffs Lodge" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/T019%20UT%20Saddle%20Up.png" height="368" width="556"></p>
<p>Leisurely morning at the hotel enjoying the sunrise along the cliff faces and the peaceful views of the river. For early risers and more adventurous, horseback rides or a walk into red-rock country can be arranged before the 11 AM checkout.</p>
<p>Return to Grand Junction along the river road through Cisco, a ghost town, onto I-70. In Fruita, Colorado, take a short hike along a trail to an active dinosaur quarry.</p>
<p>Check into hotel and then join group to a winery and restaurant for final dinner.</p>
<p>---</p>
<h3>Day 9 – Tour ends</h3>
<p>---</p>
<p>The tour will end with breakfast at the hotel. Participants may continue their exploration of the American West or return home.</p>
<p>Note: this provisional itinerary is subject to change as specific locations and accommodations release more information regarding access for 2023.</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>---</p>
<h3><span><span>Activity Level and Transport</span></span></h3>
<p><span>---</span></p>
<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>).&nbsp;Our stops will include roadside outcrops and hikes of up to 3 miles (5km), with a few short steep gradients. The terrain can be uneven and loose underfoot so sturdy footwear with ankle support is recommended. The activity level will be described at each stop and participants can decide whether to participate.</p>
<p>Spring and Fall days are generally mild to warm (18–28°C/65–82°F) with cool nights (10–18°C/50–65°F). However, changeable conditions should be anticipated, with rain or snow possible, and a wind- and waterproof jacket is recommended. Tour elevations are between 4000–6000 ft (1200–1800 m).</p>
<p>Transport will be in a comfortable vehicle suited to the number of attendees.</p>
<p>---</p>
<h3>The Tour Includes/Excludes</h3>
<p>---</p>
<h4>The Tour Includes:</h4>
<ul>
<li>The services of your tour expert(s), who will be with the group throughout the tour, providing pre-visit briefings, walking seminars and available to answer questions.</li>
<li>A tour leader, 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, including the services of a professional coach driver.</li>
<li>All accommodation costs for the nights stated, all rooms double with no single supplement.&nbsp;</li>
<li>All breakfasts, lunches and dinners, except for the dinner in Moab on Day 6.</li>
<li>Entry fees, local guide fees and activity fees, where arranged as part of the tour.</li>
<li>Most gratuities and all service charges</li>
</ul>
<h4>The Tour Excludes:</h4>
<ul>
<li>Alcoholic and soft drinks with meals are not included.</li>
<li>Optional activities as described in the tour itinerary or extra activities that are not described in the itinerary.</li>
<li>Personal expenditures, including bar bills, laundry bills, and the cost of meals on one free evening.</li>
<li>Transportation to the start venue or from the end venue of the tour (air fares are not included).</li>
<li>Passport and visa fees.</li>
</ul>
<p>Participants are required to carry their own health and travel insurance in case of accident or unforeseen circumstances.</p>
<p>---</p>
<h3>Accommodation</h3>
<p>---</p>
<p>Nights 1 and 8: <a title="The Hotel Maverick" href="https://www.thehotelmaverick.com/" target="_blank">The Maverick Hotel, Grand Junction</a>, Colorado<br><em>"Built against sprawling red rock canyons, this unique Colorado hotel offers guests access to mountains, rivers and hiking trails as well as proximity to downtown Grand Junction."</em></p>
<p>Nights 2 and 3: <a title="Capitol Reef Resort" href="https://capitolreefresort.com/" target="_blank">Capitol Reef Resort, Torrey</a>, Utah<br><em>"Located at the doorstep of Capitol Reef National Park, with stunning sightseeing and gorgeous mountain views."</em></p>
<p>Night 4 and 5:&nbsp;<a title="Bluff Dwellings Resort &amp; Spa" href="https://bluffdwellings.com/" target="_blank">Bluff Dwelling Resort and Spa, Bluff</a>, Utah<br><em>"Bluff’s newest hotel is nestled among the majesty and solitude of hundred-million-year-old sandstone cliffs, where history whispers ancient legends from ancestral Puebloan-inspired dwellings."</em></p>
<p>Nights 6 and 7:&nbsp;<a title="Red Cliffs Lodge" href="https://www.redcliffslodge.com/" target="_blank">Red Cliffs Lodge, near Moab</a>, Utah<br><em>"Perched on the Colorado River and framed by majestic, 2,000-foot red cliffs, Red Cliffs Lodge places the unmatched natural beauty of southeastern Utah at your doorstep."</em></p>
<p>Note: If required for reasons beyond our control, GeoCultura reserves the right to substitute alternate accommodations. All attempts will be made to substitute hotels of equal quality.</p>
<p>---</p>
<h3>Deposit and Payment Terms</h3>
<p>---</p>
<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>
<p>---</p>

<h2>Russell Davies</h2>
<p><img title="Russell Davies" alt="Russell Davies" src="https://geocultura.arlo.co/content/img/Russell%20Davies.png">&nbsp;</p>
<p>Russell Davies splits his time between homes in Dallas, Texas, and Grand Junction, Colorado. He developed an interest in the rocks around Moab, Utah, over 30 years ago and has been leading geological field trips to the area ever since.</p>
<p>Russell is employed as a global geological advisor to the oil and gas as well as alternative energy sectors. He works on consulting projects for a range clients, teaches and has published papers on the structural geology of areas around the globe, including on the deformation of rocks across the Colorado Plateau.</p>
<p>He finds time each year to explore the high desert plateau and deep canyons of SE Utah, searching for ruins, rock art and new hiking trails and unraveling geological mysteries, making geology more of an avocation than a vocation. In his spare time he reads, hikes, bakes bread, rock crawls in a jeep and spends time with family.</p>

NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS. South-eastern Utah is a breath-taking wonderland of un-tamed landscapes cut by canyons deeper in places than mountains are tall: learn the secrets of this Canyon Country from the ‘deep time’ of earth history through to prehistoric Native Americans, early explorers, miners and outlaws, Mormons and later settlers

A Desert Adventure: Landscapes and Cultures of Utah, USA