 The novelty of the women's involvement generated significant press coverage at the time, but articles tended to focus on the botanists' gender, appearance, and age rather than their scientific goals.The expedition departed Green River, Utah on June 20 with a plan to travel the Colorado River through the Cataract and Grand Canyons all the way to Lake Mead, Arizona - 666 miles.The group set out in three boats built by the trip organizer Norman Nevills - the "Wen", the "Botany", and the "Mexican Hat" - June 20, 1938.