Client Endorsements

Hi Calvin!

I wanted to write to say thank you for an awesome day of canyoneering on Tuesday. It was really cool backpacking with my dad the next day, talking about our adventures in canyoneering and the things we learned from you, as well as processing, the things you provoked in each of us. I'm not sure you realize what an asset you are to ZAC, but more than that, what you have to offer each person you contact. Your humility is uncanny. I'm not sure what I was expecting in a guide, but it was refreshing to spend the day with someone whose passion and gifts aligned such that I began the day excited and anxious and left with a more intimate understanding of the canyon, of my Creator, and of my potential. It reawakened in me my childlike spirit to explore, laugh, learn, disregard fears and play. And it feels good! So thank you for living out your passion and doing it well. If you're "fixin' to" come to the Black Hills to climb/explore (which I think you should) please get ahold of me.

Jess Foster
Torrington, WY

July 3, 2011

We wanted to know more about the local area and we love to bike so we did the Kolob terrace ride with our guide Calvin from the Zion Adventure Company. This was a wonderful and informative experience made all the better with Calvin's knowledge. The ride was very manageable and it was hard to know which scenic direction to look at. We have been to Zion a few times before and it was great to use a local company that such great service. Thanks Guys!

Georgina and David Staley, via TripAdvisor
Narooma, Australia

June 7, 2011

Thank you Z.A.C. for an incredible experience canyoneering. And a huge thanks to Calvin, our guide, for his incredible ability to make our day fun, inspiring, and exceedingly memorable! Moreover we felt like we were just on an adventure with a good friend instead of a guide. We hope to be back soon donning bracelets inscribed with "WWCD". Have a fantastic summer and hope to see you in the great state of Texas sometime soon!

Brianne Moreau
Menlo Park, CA

May 5, 2011

My boyfriend took me on a surprise road trip to Utah for my 23rd birthday. He booked online through Zion Adventure Company's website, which was very convenient. Although we had no canyoneering experience, he signed us up for the High Adventure Day.

The night before we were set to go canyoneering, I came down with food poisoning from the nicest restaurant in town. (Stick to the local casual grub and keep away from Parallel 88!!) I was up all night sick as a dog and knew I wasn't going to be well enough for our trip. Although we cancelled the morning of, they were extremely kind and understanding. They had already been there for an hour setting up equipment for us and said it was no problem. We rescheduled for the next day and if I still wasn't feeling well they would give us a gift certificate for the FULL AMOUNT. Very generous.

We had two guides (Bill W. and Calvin L.) and five people total in our group the next day. I enjoyed having this size group -- conversation was flowing and we were all sharing this experience together. The guides were AWESOME!! They were extremely interesting and interested in you - your life, your philosophy, and above all your adventure that day. (They took pictures of the entire day and burned a CD for us when we returned to the lodge!) They were great teachers. They left the day a mystery allowing us to problem solve and discover the terrain on the spot. I hated this at first, but I realized it was to avoid paralyzing apprehension and psyching ourselves out. These guides instilled confidence and excitement in us. Truly wonderful people.

They provide everything including extra layers incase your wardrobe is lacking. The shoes you wear come with socks made out of wet suit material. Despite the smelly ride back, the footwear was surprisingly comfortable. I usually wear arch support inserts in my shoes, but my feet felt great through the whole day. Do bring sunscreen and convenient trail food like protein bars, beef jerky, and bagel sandwiches for lunch. You never get a chance to break for lunch so having something you can whip out of your pack for a quick bite is key.

It wasn't all peachy keen - the high adventure day expands your limits and if you are not utterly exhausted by nightfall then you should go back for the expert course. I can't wait to return and take the courses they offer on how to set up repels yourself!

Definitely a breathtaking experience that my boyfriend and I will never forget.

Christina, via Trip Advisor

April 2011

Calvin,

It is a rare treat to meet someone so humbly confident with such a strong, yet calm, ability to lead. Our half-day climb with you will long be remembered for the challenges the climbs provided but even more so for the personal growth we each achieved. The family photo you took for us as we left the afternoon of climbing turned out beautifully. It has been enlarged and titled: "Best Day Ever".

You are amazingly skilled at what you do and it was a joy to spend an afternoon with you. We'll be back for more climbing - and other Zion area advenutres. Seeking new challenges and fun. Although we have great confidence in all of the staff at Zion Adventure Company we'll be certain to use your name, hoping our paths will cross again.

Thanks for an incredible introduction to the joys of climbing.

Karin, Jim & Kate Monnett

March 30, 2011

Calvin,

We didn't quite know how to tip, so here's more. Todd said our canyoneering was the best money we spent during our vacation. We're still "riding the llama"... Thanks for the experience!

Eve, Todd, Scott, and Rebecca

November 29, 2010

Dear Calvin,

First of all, thank you for your patience in receiving this letter. Upon my return to Detroit from our Zion trip I have been consumed by my “real world” and setting the time aside to write this letter had escaped me until now.

I am writing to say thank you for the truly fantastic trip on which you guided me and my friend Laurence in October. From the moment we began our training the evening before our canyoneering adventure, it became clear that we had the right guide for our journey. You have an excellent ability to teach while also maintaining your patience and always keeping the overall goal of a safe and rewarding journey at the forefront.

Your technical knowledge with regard to equipment, technique, trails, Zion and other areas, etc. allowed for every minute of our experience to be spent on enjoying the outdoors and having the confidence that we were doing so in a safe environment with expert guidance.

I was perhaps most impressed, however, with your remarkable ability to provide us with the feeling that there was nothing routine or mundane about the trip we were on, despite your frequent outings of this type. You were able to serve as a professional guide but also maintain the feeling amongst our small group that we were simply a few guys having a fantastic outdoor experience. This is a credit not only to your extensive technical expertise but also to your teaching skills and deep love of the outdoors and outdoor adventure.

I cannot thank you enough. You have helped to provide me with an outdoor experience that I will cherish every day and draw upon frequently. I wish you continued success in all of your endeavors and look forward to crossing paths again.

Truly,
Danny Samson

July 16, 2010

We booked a "Family Rock" rock climbing adventure with Zion Adventure Company and I can't say enough about it! Our guide, Calvin, was wonderful! He was patient, and thorough, and he made our boys, ages 9 and 13, each feel extra-special. They were both taught the proper knots and belay techniques, and now feel they are true rock climbers! In addition, he went above and beyond by allowing us to move forward our climbing time to 9 a.m. so that we could avoid driving the very long way around to the park, due to the road construction closures. The Kolob Terrace area where we climbed is beautiful in and of itself, and has the added bonus of being shady and cool when the rest of Zion is in the 100's. Calvin allowed us all to move at our own pace, while still encouraging us to move on to more challenging climbs. I would recommend this company to anyone with an adventurous spirit!

Peter

See Peter's review here

June 24, 2010

Charlotte,

I just wanted to write you a quick note to thank you, as well as Danielle and Calvin, for our unforgettable experience at Zion. Every interaction with Zion Adventure Company, from the reservation until the completion of the trips, was handled in the most professional and courteous manner. Your help previous to the trip was key in ensuring we were adequately prepared for the adventures we planned.

As for the guides, there are not enough words to express our gratitude to Danielle and Calvin. Not only did they demonstrate a level of expertise that gave the group supreme confidence, but they both have a special, and impressive, way of dealing with kids that was a great example to us as parents. Both trips were challenging for all in the group, which was something we did not expect. It's not easy to make adventures like these challenging to both a 9 year-old and and 48 year-old but somehow you guys do it.

The tubing was also a lot of fun, and the staff that coordinated it was just as helpful as everybody else in the company. Our only regret is that we didn't spend more time in Zion, which would have given us the chance to participate in some of your other trips. I will happily recommend ZAC to any friends or acquaintances that may be headed to Zion in the future. We spent a lot of time planning this family vacation and you guys made it truly unforgettable by exceeding our expectations in every way.

Thanks again on behalf of our family,

Mario Somoza
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

June 8, 2010

Dear ZAC,

Just wanted to let you know what a great time our family had canyoneering last week. Calvin was a great guide. His expertise, patience, and knowledge were really appreciated. I was very impressed with how he instilled confidence with our kids and allowed them to conquer their fear. We really enjoyed getting to know him and will have fond memories of our first (and hopefully not our last) canyoneering adventure. The two guides with the other group were great as well and even recognized us when we saw them in Zion the next day. We will definitely recommend ZAC.

Just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know how impressed we were with the staff there.

Lynn Ondrovic
Technical Support Metallurgist
Nucor Steel Indiana

October 30, 2009

Dear Jonathan, Nick, and Calvin,

I want to thank you again for our adventure last week through Cave Creek. It was an extraordinary experience, and to a large extent that was because of your participation. It was really an honor to get to know you a little bit; I know the whole group was deeply impressed by each one of you. Not only for your technical proficiency, but the entire manner in which you handled the group and all of the challenges of the day.

Fondly,
Max Shenker

October 29, 2009

Dear Jonathan, Nick, and Calvin,

Hi. It’s Lawrence Kelemen writing, just to thank all of you for an extremely special day. You helped me accomplish all my goals with the group. It was a total success. I’ve got a few hundred more guys in my groups, and I would like to slowly bring them all to you for a similar program. I’ll be in touch to plan another trip.

Again, I can’t thank you enough for your professionalism, patience, and support for the guys who had more difficulty, and for being the wonderful guides you are.

Warmly,
Lawrence

Client Endorsements

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