There are tons of things you can do to spend the time you have that's not committed to school, work, relationships, food, sleep and all the "things" that manage to consume those meager twenty-four hours we get each day. Periodically we simply need to find a way to re-evaluate the ways we spend our time and the benefits we're deriving from our activities. Activities such as meditation, therapy, yoga, workouts, solo and recreation are again many options to help us do an evaluation. For me recreation is the key. The word is defined as; creating anew; restoration of health; refreshment of strength and spirits after toil. Nuff said!
I once went to an association of experiential educators conference in Estes Park, Colorado and the keynote speaker, I forgot his name but not his words, said "if you're not doing something for a living that you wouldn't pay someone to show you how to do for enjoyment or education, change jobs, otherwise you'll never be happy". I took him at his word and for the past thirty years I have been making my living providing outdoor recreational experiences and skills training to anyone who is willing to pay me to do these things. It has definitely been stimulating, exciting, challenging, varied and mostly "fun". I've had the opportunity to set up an outdoor education center in Australia, work for Outward Bound Schools world wide, teach mountaineering, rock climbing and kayaking in both Colorado and New Zealand, operate a scuba diving charter boat on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, had a NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) contract teaching the whitewater rafting and kayaking components of their semesters in the Rockies. I have guided Elk hunts, managed a ski rental shop, lead cross-country ski tours and continue to teach High School and Junior College classes and ultimately have owned and operated a river outfitting business since 1979.
The interesting thing is that owning the river business has kept my attention span from wandering more than any other outdoor activity. Rivers have their special place in our world and through their energy and ever-changing natures they have the ability to impart incredible meanings to our body and soul. I call it "River Magic!" Over the years of leading various types of educationally oriented trips I found nothing that could come close to a river trip for affecting some ones outlook on themselves, others, the environment they were in and their global perspective of these resources.
This is not saying that rivers are the end all and be all for everyone, simply that I've seen them consistently have a more dynamic effect on people than any other medium I've led trips in. The great thing about rivers is that they offer something for just about everyone. From mellow, meandering calm (class I) to gut wrenching, adrenaline pumping (class V) and all the stops in between. They are also "fluid", pardon the pun, they change with the seasons and often times do so on a daily or even hourly basis. A trip on a stretch of river this July or August will provide you a totally different experience next May or June. This June will be different from next year's June and so on.
This is particularly evident on natural "free flowing" rivers that follow nature's seasons. Low in flow and fairly dormant through the winter months they come alive in the spring with the season's new growth and the influx of water volume from melting snow fields and spring rains. Most of our southwestern rivers reach their peak in late May to mid June. This spring run off is the time rivers are the most unruly and many-experienced boaters consider this the best levels to run. As the spring snow melts into summer flows their temperature warms up and the flows remain fairly steady for a period of time before the snow dissipates, receding to late summer and fall's slow and lazy levels. The recession can vary from mid to late June or July into August depending on the river, the snow pack, summer rains, irrigation demands and a number of other factors. Unfortunately on less than normal snow pack years some of our world-class rivers like the Dolores, Salt, San Miguel, Animas, North Platte and others may have a short or even "no" season. You need to take advantage of these rivers on those years with sure run able runoff.
We also have dam-controlled rivers that no longer flow free but release water down stream on a more or less consistent basis throughout the boating season. These rivers often try and mimic the natural hydrograph for environmental reasons but on a limited scope as they are used primarily for hydropower and irrigation. They can also provide excellent fishing opportunities by creating "tail race" fisheries. These tail races below dams release clear, cold, oxygenated water complete with nutrients that make exceptional trout habitat. Most of our Gold Medal fishing stretches such as the Gunnison Gorge (Gunnison River) occurs below dams. They also give us good reliable rivers to run even in low snow pack years.
There are a variety of ways to enjoy a river experience as well. You can go on a participatory paddle boat trip where every one gets a paddle and after familiarization and instruction from your professional guide you will work as a team to get your raft through the rapids. An oared raft requires no participation and allows you to enjoy the scenery, take photos, chat, relax or "really" get to know your guide. A hard shell kayak is perhaps the most athletic and challenging way to participate in the river experience and should definitely be started under the tutelage of an experienced instructor. A bad habit or experience that starts with well-intended friends can take years to overcome. Some rivers such as the Green through Desolation and Gray Canyons in Utah or the Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande on the Texas and Mexico border (season running over Spring Breaks) offer exceptional resources to learn these hard shell skills. Warm water, a nice progression of mild to more challenging water over an extended (6-8) day time frame lets someone who has never kayaked before come away with solid skills at the end of their course. An inflatable kayak often called "Duckies" offers either an individual or dual experience still requiring river-reading skills. Duckies not only allow us to access rivers as water levels drop but continue to provide a significant challenge to boaters at those lower water levels as they negotiate the tight technical runs.
Most adventurers do not realize that we have the most popular whitewater river in the world, the Arkansas, right in our back yard here in Colorado "The Headwaters State". With over a hundred and forty-five miles to choose from it can accommodate almost any river runner's desire. The Arkansas's Browns Canyon section is Class III+ and is that most popular 1/2 day and 1 day run. It also lends itself to a great wilderness camping experience in the Browns Canyon Wilderness Study Area. This is a perfect first time experience for those unsure of what wilderness camping along the banks of a river is all about. Big Horn Sheep Canyon runs from Salida to Texas Creek and offers milder II-III water, just right for families with younger children and instruction in rafts, kayaks or duckies. Take the scenic run of the lower Arkansas through Salida for seniors, grandparents, young youth groups and individuals not wanting the rigorous Class IV-V's of the Royal Gorge, the upper Arkansas's Numbers (#'s) or Pine Creek's V+. There's also a good Class I-II stretch downstream of the Royal Gorge for canoes between Canon City and Pueblo Reservoir.
The Arkansas Valley also has the advantage of being nestled in a surrounding of 14,000-foot Rocky Mountain Peaks that allow us to engage in a number of other recreational activities as well as play on the river. These include terrific mountain bike trails (Colorado Trail System), rock climbing areas (Granite), overnight hikes and day walks with of course over twenty 14,000 foot peaks to climb. There are great Continental Divide four wheel drive trips to abandoned historical mining towns and tremendous vistas from the "Divide," horseback riding by trail or cattle drives and the best of all "natural" hot springs heated from the earth's core heat. You can combine one, two, three or more of these recreational pleasures with a river trip and come away with an experience that brings back many folks again and again from all over the world to our little slice of heaven on earth. The "Great Southwest" and Colorado has just the right mix of ingredients it takes to put your "Down" time into your best ever "Up" time. "River Magic!"
We are often asked,"How does one become a river guide"? Most outfitters either have their own or will send their prospective guides to an established guide training program. These typically have a fee attached to them and last from 5-14+ days. The length and cost depends on the depth and intensity of the training, the reputation of the program and factor in such things as:
• Are you going to be trained to primarily run one river or section of river on short quarter, half or one day trips?
• Are you being trained to run a variety of rivers and develop river reading skills that will make you capable of running rivers anywhere in the world?
• Are you being trained to do multi-day trips that emphasize minimum impact camping techniques, dutch oven cooking skills, and the art of guest interaction as well as shorter trips?
• Are you getting interpretive instruction regarding the flora, fauna and natural history of the areas you will be guiding in?
• Are you being informed on how to interact with a variety of managing agencies who administer river regulations such as the BLM, Nat. Forest Service, Nat. Park Service, State Parks, or just one?
• Are you being taught in only one style of craft such as a paddle boat or does the training also include oar rafts, inflatable and hard shell kayaks?
• Will you be based at one site and be responsible for your own room and board or is this provided in the training fee?
• Will any portion of the training fee be reimbursed to you when hired?
• At the end of the training will you be provided with certifications you need for guide qualifications in different states such as Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico?
• Does the course include Swift Water Rescue Training and is that an internationally recognized certification or simply the outfitters own program?
• A final consideration is how many guides does the training intend to hire compared to the number being trained. Do you have a 50% chance of being hired, a 75% chance, i.e. what are your odds?
We have been running these programs for over 25 years and the other question we hear a lot is "what does it take to be a river guide". For us the answer is quite simple, you need good people skills, good common sense and a strong work ethic. We can teach you all the other requisite skills needed in our 14 day training if you have these basics.
Another question we are often asked is how do you choose between one outfitter and another after you've decided to take a trip? When you start looking around you'll see it's a highly competitive industry. Our response has always been to first look at the longevity of the outfitter. How long has the particular owner/operator been running the company? There are a lot of wonderful guides who have decided to start an outfitting business and discovered they were not also wonderful businessmen. If the company or present management has been at it 5 years or less it's totally on how you feel about the individual and the service they have given you. If the company has been around 5-10 years they're definitely O.K. If they have been in business 10-20 years then they some of the better ones around and I they have been doing it over 20 years they would have to be excellent to have kept their outfit going that long. Another area you should also check out is if they belong to their Professional Outfitter Associations such as America Outdoors, Colorado River Outfitters Association, Utah Guides and Outfitters, New Mexico River Outfitters Association, etc. If you really want to do you homework you can also contact the managing agency that regulates the river you want to go on. Any time they have an accident the outfitter must report it to these agencies such as Colorado State Parks, Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, Utah State Parks, BLM, Nat. Forest etc. This information is public record and all you need to do is ask for it. In 2001 in Colorado on the Arkansas River the 10-year injury per person ratio for all commercial boating outfitters combined is one injury for every 4,531 people put on the river. If you check your outfitter out and they are significantly better than that ratio then they would be a significantly better than average outfitter. If they were below obviously the opposite would be true.
As the Headwater State Colorado has the most recreational river use of any state in the country. In 2001 over 523,587 took commercial river trips and there were perhaps half that number again that boated privately. It's a tremendous recreational opportunity and for many it has provided life-changing experiences. Why not check it out and see if "River Magic" works for you.
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