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Explore the secret world of Nuclear research throughout the American Intermountain West: From the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos to Cold War sites in Colorado, Utah and Idaho...
Visions of the vast and seemingly empty landscape of the Intermountain West conjure up images of dinosaurs, canyon lands, historic journeys across uninhabited reaches, rafting down unknown desert rivers... and key activities of the Manhattan Project and the ensuing Cold War. During this 11-day tour, you will explore the spectaular terrain that became an integral part of both the top-secret Manhattan Project and the Cold War. The Intermountain West stretches from New Mexico to Idaho; where Marie Curie obtained radium, and what later became the heart of the uranium boom. The most advanced nuclear weapons delivery systems were tested in its vast uninhabited reaches, and now you can visit these fascinating sites on The Nuclear West Tour. Join us as we experience the "Secret City" of Los Alamos, and visit "the Hill", where top Allied Scientists developed and built the world's first atomic bomb. Enjoy a guided tour of Wendover Airfield in Utah, where B-29 crews during World War II worked on top secret aerodynamic shapes and fusing systems, and then trained for delivery of the first atomic bombs on Japan. You will enjoy a private visit to the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), where seminal nuclear reactor research is conducted and see "Project Plowshare" sites, where the peacetime use of nuclear devices were detonated underground at the Rio Blanco, Rulison, and Gasbuggy events. You'll also enjoy Grand Junction, Colorado - the former Manhattan Engineer District and Atomic Energy Commission headquarters for regional uranium mining and milling.
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Photo: Los Alamos National Laboratory
   
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| Top Secret Tour Highlights
• Experience Los Alamos, the "Atomic City" where top Scientists developed and built the world's first atomic bomb
• Tour of Historic Wendover Airfield in Utah, where World War II B-29 crews worked on top secret aerodynamic shapes and fusing systems, and then trained for delivery of the first atomic bombs
• Visit Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), where seminal nuclear reactor research is conducted
• See Project Plowshare sites, where the peacetime use of nuclear devices were detonated underground at the Rio Blanco, Rulison, and Gasbuggy events
• Prospecting, Mining and Milling: visit sites of the Uranium Boom
• Visit Grand Junction, the former Manhattan Engineer District and Atomic Energy Commission headquarters for regional uranium mining and milling
• Experience the spectacular scenery and fascinating history of America's Intermountain West
• Overnight in beautiful Idaho Falls on the famous Snake River
• Follow part of the original Oregon Trail, and much more!
• In cooperation with Georgia Strickfaden of Buffalo Tours
Tour Prices
Tour price is per person, based on double occupancy (two persons sharing a room). A limited number of Single Rooms are available upon request. The Tour price does not include roundtrip airfare.
Flight Information
Round trip airfare is not included in the Tour price. Incoming flights to Albuquerque (ABQ) airport should arrive no later than 9:00 AM on August 21, 2010. The Tour ends at Albuquerque on August 31, 2010. Returning flights should depart Albuquerque no earlier than 11:30 AM on August 31, 2010.
| | What's Included
• 11 Days / 10 Nights in Hotels
• Breakfast included daily
• Tour of Los Alamos, NM
• Los Alamos Historical Museum
• See Oppenheimer's House
• Uranium Mills in Utah
• Blanding Dinosaur Museum
• J.W. Powell History Museum
• Valley of the Great Salt Lake
• Cross the Bonneville Salt Flats
• Tour of Wendover Airfield
• See the "Enola Gay" Hangar
• Overnight at Stateline Hotel
• Follow part of the Oregon Trail
• Craters of the Moon Nat. Mon.
• Idaho Nat. Engineering Lab.
• Visit working nuclear reactor
• Experiment. Breeder Reactor
• Idaho Falls on the Snake River
• Follow the Outlaw Trail
• Utah Field House Museum
• Visit Project Plowshare sites
• Uranium Boom sites in CO
• Grand Junction and Durango
• Pre-Tour Travel Packets
• and much, much more!
Tour Dates
August 21 - 31, 2010
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IN FLIGHT - to Albuquerque, New Mexico (ABQ)
AUGUST 21: LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO
Morning arrival at Albuquerque Airport this morning and transfer to Los Alamos. This afternoon, we take a Walking Tour of the Atomic City, including stops at the historic Fuller Lodge, Bathtub Row, Ashley Pond and the Ice House Memorial. Travel back to the days of World War II and hear the story of the top-secret Manhattan Project, as you see J. Robert Oppenheimer's former home and discover where he and other top atomic scientists worked and played. The Manhattan Project began as a small research program in 1939, which eventually employed more than 130,000 people and cost nearly $2 billion at the time. Formally designated as the Manhattan Engineering District (MED), it referred specifically to the period of the project from 1942 - 1946 under the control of the US Army Corps of Engineers and General Leslie R. Groves. Overnight Los Alamos.
AUGUST 22: BLANDING, UTAH
Breakfast. Mid-morning Los Alamos departure, traveling through Shiprock (site of a mitigated uranium mill) to our overnight stop in Blanding, UT (home of a current uranium mill). Overnight Blanding.
AUGUST 23: GREEN RIVER / TOOELE, UTAH
Breakfast. The Dinosaur Museum at Blanding specializes in feathered dinosaurs, and is opening early for our group so we can be on our way. Stopping at Green River, UT, visit the John Wesley Powell River History Museum, a converted uranium mill, and part of White Sands Missile Range. Then traversing the uranium-rich San Rafael Swell and entering the Valley of the Great Salt Lake we'll arrive at Tooele, UT, near Dugway Proving Ground. Overnight Tooele.
AUGUST 24: WENDOVER AIRFIELD, UTAH
Breakfast. After crossing the Bonneville Salt Flats, today's focus is Historic Wendover Airfield. This is the largest and best preserved World War II Army Air Forces base in the country, with many original buildings intact. Our hosts will provide our lunch (included) in an historic building as we're briefed on the history of the base and its role during the Manhattan Project. There will be a special opportunity of seeing the B-29 "Enola Gay" hangar, South Base Tech Area and the loading bays for the simulated atomic bombs. The Flight Operations Building (OPS) is now a museum and part of the Tooele County Airport. The Nugget Hotel and Casino was the famous Stateline Hotel during the Manhattan Project, so of course we'll be staying there adjacent to the old base. Participants will have as much time as needed to explore the base on foot after the bus portion of the tour, or may opt to relax in the hotel.
AUGUST 25: ARCO, IDAHO
Breakfast. Traveling north into Idaho and entering the Snake River Plain, the Oregon Trail is our route as we skirt the volcanic fields of Craters of the Moon National Monument. Arriving at the western edge of the vast Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEL) nuclear reactor research becomes the focus with an overnight stay in Arco, ID, the First Nuclear Powered Town. Overnight Arco.
AUGUST 26: ARCO / IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO
Breakfast. Today includes a tour of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, including the historic Experimental Breeder Reactor-1 (EBR-1), and escorted tours of current reactor research facilities. Continue this afternoon to Idaho Falls, where the location of our accommodations along the falls of the Snake River will allow time for discretionary exploration of this very pleasant city. Overnight Idaho Falls.
AUGUST 27: VERNAL, UTAH
Breakfast. Leaving Idaho and tracking south and east along the Oregon Trail, the tour route passes through a corner of Wyoming before hitting the Outlaw Trail through the spectacular Flaming Gorge recreation area, and back into uranium-rich Utah. The Utah Field House is another must-see dinosaur museum opportunity. Overnight Vernal.
AUGUST 28: GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO
Breakfast. This morning we drive into Colorado, as we focus on Project Plowshare underground nuclear test sites of Rio Blanco (a Livermore shot) and Rulison (a Los Alamos shot). Some local folks who worked on Rulison will meet with us. Continue to Grand Junction, the former Manhattan Engineer District and Atomic Energy Commission headquarters for regional uranium mining and milling. Overnight Grand Junction.
AUGUST 29: URAVAN / NATURITA / DURANGO, COLORADO
Breakfast. A leisurely drive along the scenic Dolores River Canyon takes us deep into the heart of
Colorado's Uranium Boom. A surprising new resort at remote Gateway with an optional collector car museum provides a wayside stop before continuing to Uravan, Naturita, and Slick Rock - places unknown to the world until uranium and vanadium. Even our final night in bustling Durango bears witness to western Colorado's importance to the 20th century Atomic Age with a mitigated Uranium mill site across the river from downtown. Overnight Durango.
AUGUST 30: LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO
Breakfast. Returning to New Mexico via Gobernador Canyon, we will see one more Plowshare shot site, Gasbuggy, near Dulce before we arrive back in the Atomic City this afternoon. Overnight Los Alamos.
AUGUST 31: IN FLIGHT - from Albuquerque, New Mexico (ABQ)
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