Grand Canyon Rafting with Something Extra

Alison Jones is a third generation geologist who loves introducing adventurous travelers to the wonders of the Grand Canyon. As a child, her family’s vacations were centered around finding interesting rocks, fossils, and landforms. These family adventures eventually led her to earning Bachelor’s degree in Geology from Louisiana State University and a Masters degree in Geology from the Colorado School of Mines. Most of her career was spent as a hydrogeologist, doing water supply, permitting, and environmental projects. She managed the Tucson office of Clear Creek Associates, a hydrogeologic consulting firm, until she retired at the end of 2023.  She is a past President of the Arizona Geological Society, and a current member of the Arizona Geological Society and the New Mexico Geological Society.

The Grand Canyon is the geologic phenomenon that most fascinates Alison. She has done 14 trips with Hatch through the Canyon and learned from some of the most renowned geologists in the field about the structural, stratigraphic, and more modern features (landslides, debris flows, volcanic activity) of the Canyon. The high point of one of her trips that she led was when one participant said, “I’m never traveling without a geologist again!”  

In 1857-1858, prior to John Wesley Powell’s expeditions, Lt Joseph Christmas Ives led a trip to explore the lower Colorado river for the US War Department.  Ives was unimpressed with the Canyon, as he saw no commercial value to the land. But John Strong Newberry, a trained physician and a geologist on the trip, said “The Colorado River is to the geologist a paradise. It has the most splendid exposure of stratified rocks that there is in the world.” Alison would add that the River is a paradise not only to geologists, but to anyone who is fascinated by the enormity of earth history and the lessons it has to teach us. 

Hi I’m Dan! My family was part of the State Department so I was born in Tunis, Tunisia in Northern Africa. I lived in Damascus, Syria for a year and a half and then Cairo, Egypt for 4 years before moving to the Washington, DC area. I lived in Calgary, Alberta part time as well. I went to College in Baltimore before moving to Pagosa Springs in Southern Colorado and have been there ever since! I started river guiding on the San Juan, a tributary of the Colorado, in 2007.I started ski patrolling at Wolf Creek Ski Area in the winter of 2009/2010.I am very passionate about the outdoors and spend my time boating, camping, hiking, and skiing. My first Grand Canyon trip was in 2009 and i was instantly hooked! I was lucky enough to work my first Hatch trip in 2015.I feel so fortunate to get to work in such an amazing place with such wonderful people. Boating through Grand Canyon is something everyone should do at least once in their life.

I started at Hatch River Expeditions for a summer job in 1987 and after more than 30 years of guiding Grand Canyon rafting trips, the Grand Canyon has become a part of me!After graduating with a B. A. in Environmental Studies from Brown University in 1993, I followed my passion for the outdoor life by guiding adventure trips around the globe.With my career as an international adventure travel and whitewater guide, I have had the opportunity to run rivers in 17 countries on 5 continents.During my career in Grand Canyon, I have operated all kinds of crafts from motor boats, paddle boats, oar boats, kayaks, and even the Emma Dean, an exact replica of John Wesley Powell’s flagship boat on his historic 1869 journey. As a benefit of working for Hatch River Expeditions, I have kayaked the Grand Canyon more times than anyone ever has or likely ever will!Currently, I supplement my river work as a field biologist, working specifically with desert tortoises in the Mojave Desert and as a ski patroller in Aspen, CO where I was born.Of course, none of this would be possible without certifications in CPR, Wilderness First Responder, and a professional food manager.Most of all, guiding Grand Canyon river trips gives me an opportunity to spend time and share my extensive knowledge of a place that I have come to love.

Let’s Go Rafting!