Fascinating and educational tours to Southwest destinations - MNA Venture destination

Land of the Condor

Leaders: Maggie Sacher, Chris Parrish, Gary Ladd
Dates: March 7–9 (3 days / 2 nights)
Cost: $625 Members / $685 Nonmembers
Difficulty: Easy

Cost includes transportation, meals, and hotel (double-occupancy; add $125 for single lodging).

The broad valleys and immense cliffs of far northern Arizona form the spectacular landscape in which the once nearly extinct California condor now soars. Join us for an in-depth look into one of the greatest stories of endangered species recovery ever. We will learn about condor biology, conservation, and recovery from the wildlife biologists who spend their days caring for the birds, and explore the striking geology and fascinating history of House Rock Valley, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Lee’s Ferry, and Marble Canyon.

Each day we will strike out on excursions into this fascinating landscape, including up-close and personal visits with the condors as they are managed and handled by their caretakers. We will visit the historic Lonely Dell Homestead, take a short guided hike to the Colorado River, and enjoy a geology tour. Our evenings will be filled with fine food, good company, and educational presentations at the Historic Vermillion Cliffs Lodge where we will rest in comfort each night.

Banner photo by Bruce Hucko.

Pre-Trip Information Packet (PDF Downloads)

» Medical/Waiver [31 KB]

Maggie Sacher, Chris Parrish and Gary Ladd - trip leaders for Land of the Condor After leaving a corporate career in Phoenix, Maggie Sacher moved north to the remote beauty of the Arizona Strip to reopen the historic Vermilion Cliffs Lodge. For more than twenty years, she has hosted travelers, fishermen, hikers, students, and dignitaries at her quaint hotel and restaurant tucked up against the looming and provocative escarpment of the Vermillion Cliffs. Read more…

Since fall 2000, Chris Parish has been directing the California condor reintroduction program’s field effort for The Peregrine Fund. Parish was raised in Buttonwillow, California near the historical range of the remnant California condor population in the southern San Joaquin Valley. Read more…

Best known for his accomplishments in photography, Gary Ladd is also an astronomer, a geologist, and an outdoor educator whose preferred subjects are the landscapes of the Colorado Plateau, especially Grand Canyon, Glen Canyon/Lake Powell, Vermilion Cliffs, Bryce Canyon, and other strong geologic themes. Read more…

“I’ve already chosen two more trips to attend in the fall and have handed out copies of your Ventures schedule to three friends…your trips are much more intellectually stimulating because the leaders have a lot of information about the area to impart.” —M.R.

“Everything exceeded my expectations…ran like a well-oiled machine.” —P.R.