In the Footsteps of St. Francis

The Southwest Desert

The Arizona Indian Culture of the Navajo and Hopi Indians

Led by:

Ann Meyer

St. Martin's Episcopal Church
Williamsburg, VA

July 17 – 25, 2011

DAY 1, Sunday, July 17, 2011 - Depart the Richmond Airport on Delta Airlines to Atlanta, GA where we connect to our Delta Airlines flight into Las Vegas, NV.  Upon arrival we meet our guide and bus driver.  We travel south to the Hoover Dam, a National Historic Landmark.  Hoover Dam is the highest concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere, standing more than 725 feet above the Colorado River and producing 4 billion kilowatts of electricity a year making it one of the country’s largest hydroelectric power facilities.  We explore the Visitor Center, Powerplant and Passageways within the dam.  Overnight Boulder City, NV. M

DAY 2: Monday, July 18, 2011 - This morning we transfer to the base of the Hoover Dam for an extremely rare view of the Dam that very few people have the opportunity to see.  We board a motor-assisted raft as we leisurely enjoy and share in the history, desert wildlife and beauty of canyon walls will leave you breathless.  Be prepared to see desert big horn sheep, osprey, and great blue heron in their natural the Black Canyon of the Colorado River.  Our guides will share with us the history of this magnificent geological area as the high setting.  The rafts will stop along the shore as we have a chance to swim and play in the cool clear waters below the Hoover Dam.  Our exploration ends on the Arizona side of the river at Willow Beach before continuing on to Page for overnight. L

DAY 3: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - After breakfast we enjoy the Antelope Canyon Slot Hiking Tour with a native guide.  Antelope Canyon, also known as “Corkscrew Canyon”, is one of the most breathtaking and tranquil places on earth.  It is really two separate canyons the Upper and Lower Antelope.  Each contains the hidden “slots” carved from the swirling sandstone and both drain from the south into Lake Powell.  A special highlight will be the authentic beauty of Native American flute music resonating throughout the canyon.  We hear the wonderful Native American stories associated with the canyon.  We continue on to the Hopi Cultural Center, a sandstone colored pueblo style complex that has collections of modern and ancient pottery, murals portraying traditional villages, a hand-woven bridal robe and other Hopi items.  The Hopi are tightly knit together by clan relationship and considered the “oldest of the native people.  The Hopi reside in 12 traditional villages, home to a total population of about 10,000.  Each village is self-governing and members of the tribe identify themselves with their village and clan.  This afternoon we continue on to the Monument Valley where we enjoy a jeep tour in a Navajo guided all terrain vehicle.  The jeep tour includes stops to hike and view the beauty of the Monument Valley.  The guide will point out native plants and talk about their medicinal and food uses.  This evening we enjoy dinner of Navajo tacos, participate in Navajo singing and dancing, a presentation of Navajo history and enjoy a campfire with folk tale stories prior to our overnight in a Navajo Hogan. BD

DAY 4: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 -We say “goodbye” to our wonderful Navajo host’s and depart the beautiful Monument Valley.  We travel to the Four Corners National Monument, the only place in the United States where four states Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado intersect at one point.  The original marker was erected in 1912 of a simple cement pad and has since been redone in granite and brass.  The Visitor Center features a Demonstration Center with Navajo artisans.  This afternoon we enjoy a jeep tour to the Canyon de’ Chelly, home to several periods of Indian culture dating from 350 A.D to 1300 AD.  We see the 26 mile canyon’s sheer cliffs which range from 30 to more than 1,000 feet tall, providing a spectacular backdrop for hundreds of Anasazi ruins.  Overnight Chinle. B

DAY 5: Thursday, July 21, 2011 - Morning visit of Fort DefianceGood Shepherd Mission, located at Fort Defiance has existed as the Episcopal Mission to the Navajo since 1894, serving the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of the community.  The Episcopal Church in Navajoland has long prided itself on efforts to integrate the Navajo Language and spirituality within its expression of Christian faith and life.  We continue on to Window Rock Tribal Park and Veterans Memorial, near the Navajo Nation Administration Center features the graceful redstone arch for which the capital is named.  The Veterans Memorial at the base of Window Rock was built to honor the many Navajos who served in the U.S. Military.  Many Navajo soldiers are recognized in the annals of history for their role as Code Talkers, whereby they used the Navajo language to create a code that was never broken by the enemy. Historians credit the Navajo Code Talkers for helping to win World War II.  The park is significant because it was designed and built by the Navajo, it is their “living” Veteran’s Memorial.  The park has many symbolic structures: a circular path outlining the four cardinal directions, 16 angled steel pillars with the names of war veterans, and a healing sanctuary that is used for reflection and solitude that features a fountain made of sandstone.  We visit the Navajo Tribal Chambers, where the 88 council delegates discuss critical issues and enact legislation to determine the future paths of the Navajo.  The circular Council Chambers features walls adorned with colorful murals depicting the history of the Navajo Nation and the Navajo way of life.  The building is based on the design of a Hogan and has earned recognition as both a National Historic Landmark and an Arizona Treasure.  Overnight Window Rock. M

DAY 6: Friday, July 22, 2011 - This morning we find ourselves in the beautiful Painted Desert, we see the stunning formations of red, violet, green and gray carved by the wind.  Continuing south, we visit the Petrified Forest National Park, where thousands of petrified logs are scattered like broken columns of fallen temples.  The creation of these stone logs began about 225 million years ago during the Triassic period when downed trees were washed onto a flood plain where mud, silt and volcanic ash covered them, cutting off oxygen and slowing their decay.  Overnight Flagstaff. B

DAY 7: Saturday, July 23, 2011 - After breakfast we travel to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, a powerful and inspiring landscape that overwhelms our senses through its immense size.  The canyon is 277 river miles (446km) long, up to 18 miles (29km) wide, and a mile (1.6km) deep.  The South Rim averages about 7000 feet/2134 m above sea level.  We continue on to Mesa for overnight. B

DAY 8: Sunday, July 24, 2011 -An early morning sunrise horseback ride at the Stables, Fort McDowell.  Our once in a lifetime western adventure unfolds as we board our single horsepower companions and ride through the shimmering waters of the Verde River for an authentic and exhilarating experience.  Upon our return to the Stables we enjoy an authentic Cowboy Breakfast complete with pancakes, scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, whole fresh fruit, orange juice and coffee prepared by real cowboys.  We continue on to Phoenix to the Heard Museum, one of the world’s finest destinations for learning about American Indian arts and cultures.  The museum has a comprehensive collection of intriguing exhibitions, distinctive festivals and interactive learning opportunities.  We visit the Pueblo Grande Archaeological Park, site of a 1,500 year old Hohokam village.  A National Historic Landmark and an Arizona Point of Pride, the site includes an 800 year old, classic period Hohokam Platform Mound ruin, an excavated prehistoric ballcourt, two full-scale reproductions of prehistoric Hohokam dwellings, outdoor walking trail featuring native plants, and indoor exhibits.  Overnight Mesa. B

DAY 9: Monday, July 25, 2011 - This morning we depart for the Phoenix Airport where we board our Delta Airlines flight connecting in Cincinnati, OH where we connect to Delta Airlines arriving back into Richmond, VA returning home with, many new memories and a new knowledge of the American Indian cultures of Arizona. B

Price: $2,269.00* based on double occupancy; $2,189.00* for triple occupancy; $2,129.00* for quad occupancy and excludes airline taxes and fuel surcharges.  Roundtrip air from Richmond, VA Airport.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single supplement is $890.00.

* Excludes airline taxes and surcharges that will be added to your final payment invoice. Estimated taxes as of February 15, 2011 $66.34 per person.

Final Payment due April 15,2011

Cancellation Penalties
◊ March 2, 2011 – April 14, 2011: $100.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ April 15, 2011 – May 31, 2011: $200.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ After June 1, 2011: NO REFUND

$200.00 per person deposit due with registration and copy Government Issued ID that you will carry while traveling.

Meals: B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner, M Meals on your own

The itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions or at the discretion and direction of the leader or guide.