Global Descents offers expeditions to suit every adventure traveler. We cater trips to six rivers on three continents. The Futaleufu River, the Colca, the Cotahuasi, the Zanskar, the Omo, and the Zambezi River rank among the most sought-after descents in the world of whitewater rafting. The logistical complexities involved in running these rivers cannot be understated, but we have designed proven successful itineraries that produce high-quality, exciting, safe, and exceptionally fun trips every time. Whether you choose the aqua blue wave trains of Patagonia, the exotic wildlife and warm waters of Africa, the ten-thousand foot deep Himalayan canyon of northern India, or the jungle runs of South America, your adventure with Global Descents will be an unforgettable physical and cultural experience of lifetime!
Mission statement - "To explore the worlds many amazing rivers with great groups of people."
Guides - On your expedition with Global Descents, you will get to know your guides, all of whom you will find to be some of the most enthusiastic and dedicated people in the world. All are have more than a decade of experience running rivers across the globe. Simply put, we cut no corners in choosing our staff; Duke, Harvey, Ryan and Jeremy are among the best guides in the world. As the backbone of our company, every one of our guides are knowledgeable about the rivers we run, and are fun, talented, people with exceptional river skills and uncompromising safety practices. Most of all, they are incredibly enthusiastic about sharing their favorite rivers with you.
| Steve Jones - Legendary, what else can we say? Steve is a native of California where his love for rivers began. Honing his skills as a young river guide on the famous Kern River, Steve was an integral part in pioneering one of the greatest sections of river in the U.S., the Forks of the Kern. Steve's calm demeanor and meticulous eye for safety has led him to become on of the world's greatest expedition leaders. Leading trips down some of the world's greatest and most difficult rivers including the Zambezi, Futaleufu, Yangtze, Colca, Katun and the Apurimac. While not leading Global Descents trips, Steve works as a boatman supporting the many scientific research projects on the Colorado River and throughout Grand Canyon. |  |
| David Kashinski - When it comes to finding someone to explore a new river or jump on board for anything adventurous, Dave is the first in line and the best partner you could choose. He started running rivers as a kid growing up in Aspen, Colorado. At the age of 17 he started his career as a leading river guide on the Colorado River through Grand Canyon. Working during the summers as he earned his degree from Brown University, Dave's passion for the river never subsided. After school he continued to follow his passion for running rivers and has become a world-class river guide having worked in many destinations including Chiapas, Belize, Chile, India, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. |  |
| Matthew Gontram - Matt started rafting and kayaking in Colorado at the age of eighteen. Since that first summer on the rivers of the southwest, Matt has pursued his passion for running rivers around the globe. He has worked as a guide and led expeditions in numerous locations and can never seem to get enough. When not working on the river, you can find Matt looking for a ride to the put-in or tirelessly looking for new destinations for Global Descents. Matt calls New Mexico home and enjoys the rivers of the Southwest as much as possible. |  |
| Harvey King - Harvey King’s infectious smile and superlative swiftwater skills make him one of the most oft-requested guides on the globe. He enrolled in a guide training school on the Gallatin River, Montana in the spring of 1991 and has never looked back. In sixteen years of river-running, Harvey has traveled and paddled extensively throughout the world, including Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, China, Canada, India, and the United States. He regularly takes trips down the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, and enjoys revealing the wonders of the world to his seven year old boy, Canyon. Harvey lives with Canyon and his wife, Tara, in Taos, New Mexico, where he leads swiftwater rescue seminars and runs an after school program for kids. |  |
| Kenny Kiley - Kenny grew up on the banks of the Sandy River in northern Oregon. River running is in his blood and he has made it his life pursuit in every aspect. Kenny is an accomplished class V rafting and kayaking guide and other than his home rivers in Oregon you're likely to see him on the mighty Zambezi safety kayaking or guiding a raft. When Kenny is not guiding he is hard at work in his shop making custom wooden paddles and oars under his brand, Blunt Family Paddles. Kenny smile is infectious and is regularly requested as a guide for our returning guests. |  |
| Duke Bradford - Duke Bradford has worked in the adventure/tourism industry for more than a decade. From the back of the raft to the forefront of his two adventure-based businesses, Duke excels at finding innovative ways to show wild places to people around the world. He continues to travel and to network extensively in order to maintain the highest levels of creativity and originality in his vision of adventure travel; and somehow he still manages to paddle and ski a couple hundred days a year! Duke lives in Keystone, Colorado with his wife, Anne, and their son, Cassius. |  |
A guided river expedition with Global Descents will offer you the comfort, security and service of a U.S company abroad. We pride ourselves as true professionals, and have systems in place to ensure a safe and fun filled adventure.
Global Descents focus is personal service to each individual. Understanding your needs, passions, and interests help us use create the travel experience of a lifetime.
We pride ourselves on using the best equipment in the industry: self-bailing rafts; US Coast Guard approved life jackets; fully adjustable helmets; thick, inflatable sleeping pads; and quality expedition tents. By staying up to date with the latest in gear technology, we are able to provide a higher level of comfort and safety. Let’s face it: it’s just more fun with good gear.
Cuisine
We have mastered the art of creating great cuisine in remote locations. We prepare regional cuisine highlighting specialties of each area. We invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy the warm campfire as we prepare your meal to remember.
There are constant threats to rivers all over the globe. From potential dams to other environmental threats to the watershed, it is the river community’s duty to inform both its guests and local communities about the benefits of protecting the resource. Global Descents strives to do its part in demonstrating the benefits of tourism to rivers by supporting the local economy as much as possible. We do this through buying locally and employing a large local support team.
Each expedition's destination is full of Incredible mountains, valleys, communitites, and cultures. There are many ways to minimize your impact while you travel and while you are at home, these are some easy and effective ways that you can help in creating sustainable travel. Please review these traveller's codes prior to your adventure.• Stay on hiking trails. Clean up your own mess and dispose of waste properly. Keep a distance from wildlife.
• Support local economies by seeking out locally owned lodging and dining establishments, locally grown food and locally manufactured products and crafts.
• Patronize green hotels whose managers have programs that save water and energy.
• Travel by mass transit as much as possible.
• Avoid vehicles with two-stroke engines such as jet skis, scooters and certain boats, which are enormously polluting.
• Be culturally sensitive to local customs, greetings, dress codes and food habits.
• Treat others with the same respect that you would ask for in your own community.
• Designate one glass for your drinking water each day. This will cut down on the number of times you run your dishwasher.
• Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
• Encourage your school system and local government to help develop and promote a water conservation ethic among children and adults.
• Make suggestions to your employer to save water (and dollars) at work.
• Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and other uses.
• Encourage your friends and neighbors to be part of a water-conscious community.
• Cook food in as little water as possible. This will also retain more of the nutrients.
• Turn the water off while you shampoo and condition your hair.
• While staying in a hotel or at home, reuse your towels.
• When you are washing your hands, don't let the water run while you lather.
Home Specific Water Usage
• Have your plumber re-route your gray water to trees and gardens rather than letting it run into the sewer line. Check with your city codes, and if it isn't allowed in your area, start a movement to get that changed.
• Listen for dripping faucets and toilets that flush themselves. Fixing a leak can save 500 gallons each month.
• Leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on top of the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.
• When you clean your fish tank, use the water you've drained on your plants. The water is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, providing you with a free and effective fertilizer.
• Direct downspouts and other runoff towards shrubs and trees, or collect and use for your garden.
• Don’t use a garbage disposal. Compost instead and save gallons every time.
www.futafriends.org , www.africa-rainforest.org , www.nature.org
