Take in Grand Canyon vistas and donate your kindness to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the country’s largest no-kill refuge for abused and abandoned pets. This unique getaway offers a chance to escape your hectic schedule and engage your heart while you help homeless animals and revel in beauty of the Southwest. This is truly a trip to warm your heart and thrill your senses!
Donna Zeigfinger of Green Earth Travel specializes in environmentally friendly travel with a focus on vegetarianism. She wanted to organize a one of a kind excursion where people could share their passion for animal rescue and explore one of the Earth’s most beautiful natural wonders.
The five day/four night trip she created starts and ends in Las Vegas. A van will shuttle clients from McCarran International Airport to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, located near Kanab, Utah. After an orientation and tour of the facilities, clients will assist Best Friends staff with the daily chores and routines that keep the shelter running and the critters happy. After two days of compassionate volunteering, participants will join Canyon Rim Adventures, leaders in north rim exploration since 1984, to begin a three day, two night guided backcountry adventure.
During the Best Friends portion of the trip participants will be staying on site in Angel Canyon, surrounded by stunning scenery similar to that found at nearby Zion National Park. Watch the morning sun wash against the orange and red cliffs, thrill to clear blue-bird skies, and breathe in the beauty of this inspiring locale.
Volunteer duties at Best Friends can include (but is not limited to) assisting with feeding, grooming, cleaning living areas, and walking or training those animals looking for adoptive homes. The facilities at the sanctuary are impressive—there's none of the sadness that you might expect from an animal refuge. These dogs, cats, horses, bunnies, and birds all have great homes and loving companions working with them every day—and they can stay as long as they want. There’s no time limit at Best Friends. Of course, the goal is to find every pet a forever home—some just take a little longer to find that perfect match. Working with the animals has recharged many a soul. Expect to feel the love and renew your sense of health and happiness.
The second half of this vacation starts with a two hour drive from Kanab, Utah to the incomparable Toroweap Overlook of the Grand Canyon. After lunch on the edge of the world, your guides will lead a warm up hike along the slickrock sandstone tableland that marks this section of the canyon’s rim country. The length of the hike depends on a number of factors, but most groups run around for at least three hours (roughly four to six miles).
Later in the afternoon, after setting up camp away from the rim, the CRA crew will cook up a four-star dinner, and if you’re lucky, they might even spin a few yarns by the campfire. Beside their high level of professionalism, their interpretive skills, and their camp cooking skills, Canyon Rim Adventures prides itself on making life in the backcountry easy. And they’ve got a real shower.
The next day of the adventure includes the longest hike of the trip—an all day escape into a beautiful side canyon for a trail lunch and lots of exploring. Like John Wesley Powell himself, the folks at Canyon Rim Adventures believe a real connection with this beautiful landscape can only be forged through physical effort. But don’t worry, there will be plenty of time for breathers. The day is filled with explanations of the Grand Canyon’s geology, history, pre-history, and ecosystems.
The last day starts with camp breakdown, then a drive and short hike to a spectacular panoramic overlook of the junction of the canyon’s longest side canyon with the main Colorado River corridor. After lunch on the rim you’ll head back out to civilization and a shuttle ride to Las Vegas.
Trip dates-
May 28-June 1 2008
October 8-12 2008
Trip cost includes: Transfers from the airport to Best Friends, transfers from Best Friends to Canyon Rim, transfers from Canyon Rim back to the airport.
2 nights, 3 days at Best Friends Sanctuary
2 nights, 3 days with Canyon Rim Adventures
Meals (all vegetarian): 4 breakfasts ( 2 at Best Friends, 2 with Canyon Rim), 5 lunches ( 2 at Best Friends, 3 with Canyon Rim), 4 dinners ( 2 at Best Friends, 2 with Canyon Rim)
Donation to Best Friends
All camping gear: including tents, cots, pads, sleeping bags, guides and tours with Canyon Rim
Not included: Gratuities for guides, personal items (phone calls, laundry, alcoholic beverages, or any snacks while at Best Friends (Canyon Rim Adventures will provide snacks and meals).
Cottage Cabin
Single $1,044.00 $954.00
Double $909.00 $864.00
Triple $864.00
About Best Friends Animal Society
“Best Friends Animal Society operates the country’s largest sanctuary for homeless pets and is home, on any given day, to about 1,500 dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds and other animals. Best Friends works globally with animal shelters and rescue groups to bring about a time when there will be no more homeless pets. Best Friends advances initiatives nationwide that promote community approaches to make the world a better place through kindness to animals, including adoption, spay/neuter, and humane education programs.”-taken from www.bestfriends.org/
About Canyon Rim Adventures, Inc.
Based out of Kanab, Utah, Canyon Rim Adventures has been providing guided outdoor vacations on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for 10 years. Their founders have been exploring the area since 1984 and have an intimate knowledge of trails, history, geology, archaeology, flora and fauna. Focusing on service, and providing all camping equipment and prepared gourmet meals, they specialize in sharing the backcountry of the Grand Canyon with their clients.
www.canyonrimadventures.com
If you would like more information about this trip, please call Donna Zeigfinger, toll free at 1-888-246-8343, or email Donna at donna@greenearthtravel.com
www.vegetariantravel.com