**Oxford University Alumni and students only**
Discover the GRAND CANYON
see the Annular Solar Eclipse
May 18-25, 2012
We invite you to join us as
we explore the spectacular
Canyonlands in America,
and see the Annular Solar
Eclipse over the Grand
Canyon, May 20, 2012!
With superb leader ship by
Oxford’s Professor Roger
Davies, we will explore the
drama of the Grand Canyon,
Bryce Canyon National Park,
and Zion National Park,
including a half-day float trip
on the Colorado River and
optional night in Las Vegas.
Our adventure begins in
Las Vegas. The excitement
will build today as we drive
southeast of Las Vegas to
see famous Hoover Dam
and arrive at the South Rim of the Grand
Canyon. We will explore the ecological and
geologic significance of the Grand Canyon as
we take walks along the South Rim and enjoy
the fantastic views.
The next day we will enjoy a special lecture by
Professor Davies in anticipation of the eclipse.
We will then continue exploring the South Rim,
for a stunning view of one of the most
picturesque landscapes in all of the world. The
day will culminate in seeing the Annular
Solar Eclipse in the late afternoon. There
will be a ring of sunlight or annulus around the
Moon during the eclipse which is approximately
two minutes long.
From the Grand Canyon, we’ll explore Antelope
Canyon, one of the narrowest slot canyons in
the West. We will also enjoy a half‑day float trip
from Glen Canyon Dam along the upper part
of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. (This
is on gentle water!). We’ll travel on 22-passenger
motorized river rafts for 15 miles down the
Colorado River. This river-level view of the canyon
will be a delightful experience and will include a
short hike to see ancient petroglyphs of Native
American rock art.
From Page, we will head toward the North Rim
of the Grand Canyon and to Bryce Canyon
National Park, an erosional fantasy of crumbling
cliffs, spires, and pinnacles in rich colors, named
after the original Mormon pioneer settler. Bryce
includes a series of erosional amphitheaters
on the edge of a plateau which are intricately
sculpted by wind, running water, and frost.
The rim at Bryce is from 8,000-9,000 feet.
At night the skies are a feast of stars because
of the exceptionally clear skies.
We will next explore Zion National Park,
with stunning rock cliffs and exceptional scenic
grandeur. Zion includes an exciting desert plant
community and pinyon-juniper woodland. It is the
lowest in elevation of the three parks we will visit
(at approximately 4,000 feet). We will then depart
for the St. George Dinosaur Discovery site where
hundreds of tracks were found in 2,000.
Our adventure will conclude in Las Vegas,
with an optional extension at the Monte Carlo
Las Vegas Casino Resort.
We invite you to join us!
Best regards,
Margaret M. Betchart
President
Betchart Expeditions Inc.
£2340 plus air
Brochure (Requires an Adobe pdf reader to view)
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