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River Guiding In My Hometown

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Guiding in my Hometown

*Who am I?
I am a river lover! My name is Kassie Robbins, I am 38 years old. I am married and
have three young children. My two boys are ages 9 and 7, and my daughter is 4. I have
been a whitewater raft guide since I was about 20 years old. I started guiding in
southern Utah on the Colorado River and the Green River. My first experience with
seeing river guides was on the Green River Gates of Lodore at a very young age, maybe 11. We
were taking a private family river trip down that section of the Green River through the heart of Dinosaur National Monument. The Hatch
River Expeditions crew was camping at Jones Hole. I saw those boats and knew then
that I wanted to become a river guide. Coming from a family of river runners I had no
idea I would land here. I had intentions of making it into the Grand Canyon. However, I
find this place to be as serene and unique as any river I have traversed and that is why I
keep coming back.
*Why I choose to guide here?
I choose Dinosaur National Monument as a place to guide for several reasons. Not only is it one of the best places for white water rafting in Colorado or river rafting in Utah but it is my backyard. One of the biggest reasons of those being that I get to be home regularly with my kiddos. They get to see mom in
action which is really cool. I get to embrace the beauty that surrounds me year-round.
Being able to take advantage of the monument and the rivers flowing through it is such
a huge bonus to my work. Sharing my love for the area is something that is within me. I
grew up rafting these canyons from an early age. We would run through Split Mountain
(the last day of a multi-day for both the Yampa River and Gates of Lodore) camping at the takeout,
sitting around a campfire, laughing and roasting marshmallows and sleeping in a tent I
have fond memories of this place and I seriously love that I get to share it with so many
people, but especially MY little people.
*Why I love working for a locally owned company in my Hometown?
Can we all say the word connection? Relationships are built on connections. I build
relationships on my trips and some of them go on forever. I still connect with some
ladies I took down the river in my first few years of guiding. So, to say that building a
lasting relationship with the owners of Dinosaur River Expeditions is of value to me, is
an understatement. They are like family. They truly care about me, my family, the team
of guides that work for them. I have had many jobs and opportunities to work for
various employers and can honestly say that Jen and Tyler Callantine are literally some
of the best out there. They bring a level of professionalism and empathy to the
workplace. People work hard for people they respect. They have given me a gift of
being able to work part-time in between being a Mom. They understand the importance
of family! I also love the feeling of being able to give back to a small family owned and
operated company.
*What are some of the hidden gems of the area?
Being able to work in and around Vernal, UT, I have learned about many of the neat
places that exist. Some of the cool places to see are actually outside of the monument.
Being able to explore the area throughout the last 15 years and to find out I still have
more to see. It seems that if you are looking you can find a Gem just about anywhere if
you are willing to explore. Whether you like fishing, camping, hiking, sightseeing or
anything else that requires you to get outside, this place has a lot to offer an avid outdoors person. When you take the opportunity to come run a river trip with me and
the crew, we would love to share some of these places with you.

Water Is Life

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WATER IS LIFE

By: Kassie Robbins

My Water Story

My name is Kassie Robbins, I am 37 years old. My life has been filled with water adventures from a young age, particularly river adventures. My mother and father met in Salt Lake City at the University of Utah in some round about way this meeting and their eventual marriage has led to my love of rivers and river rafting.  

Water Is Life

 Parents

My mother was born in the heart of the river loving community of Vernal, Utah.  She grew up in the Vernal with the Hatch Family.  Her family rafted through the canyons close by. Her older brother Lory guided for Western River Expeditions for a couple summers. My father was thrown on a 28-foot pontoon boat and learned to row by fire on the Gates of Lodore with his new family.

My dad grew up in Ogden, Utah and is a rock guy. He studied geophysics in school. This landed him a job working with some cool folks, one of those being Robert Tubbs.  Robert and my father both decided to buy brand new orange Rogue bucket boats in the early 80’s.  It was an easy sell for both my parents.   Afterwards, my dad took his first trip down the Grand Canyon.  He was enamored by the gorgeous geology and became highly fascinated by the corridors of rivers throughout the world.  

Childhood

Fast forward to my parent’s union with the new raft and young family we were towed along for the ride.  My first river trip was at the age of 3 still wearing diapers. My parents were troopers with 4 kids ranging from 9 to infant.    My life has been nothing short of an adventure full of rivers and excitement.  My soul was called to the rivers.  

I feel so blessed to have had the experience of riding the waves of the Colorado River System.  I have had an opportunity to love nature in a very personal way.  My soul was drawn in and at 16 years old my dream of becoming a river guide was created after seeing a guided river trip on the Green River in Whirlpool Canyon.  The boats were lined up at Jones Hole river camp 1.  It was Don Hatch River Expeditions.  I thought to myself I want to do that for a job.  It has since been one of my greatest legacies I get to carry on to my children.  

River Guide

At 19 years old, I drove my little orange CJ7 Jeep to Moab, Utah in the summer of 2003 with hopes of figuring out housing or not and beginning my life as a guide.  I had no plan other than working at Adrift Adventures and hoping to see as much river time as possible. 

For two summers I ran through Westwater Canyon, Desolation-Gray Canyon, and Cataract Canyon, as well as the Moab Daily Section.  This is where I wanted to be!  This was the life!  I was boating, listening to good music, eating good food, and meeting some cool people. 

This opportunity helped me to understand the water issue and the drought of the desert and water scarcity and limitations.  I remember more seasoned guides talking about the low water we were experiencing and wondering what that meant to me and what I could do.  I figured that I needed to learn more.  

At one point I was running through Cataract Canyon and the walls of sediment we were traversing through were once under Lake Powell.  These embankments were being cut through with real time erosion as the river was making its way down the canyon.  The embankments were sediment deposits from the drying up low lake levels.  This was the first time I had seen this problem in real life.  The river was not putting in as much as we were using out of the Glen Canyon Dam.  It has only gotten worse since 2004. 


Water and Utah

Water shapes Utah and the geologic uplift creates the perfect opportunity for mountains and plateaus to be eroded.  I have spent the last 14 years guiding and personally rafting in Dinosaur National Monument.  I have worked with various companies and have found my home with Dinosaur River Expeditions. 

During this time, I have learned about the dams and the good and bad those bring.  Dams generate power and supply cities with drinking water, grow our food and factories make goods all while overuse and pollution of water by the same ones receiving it.  20% of the world’s electric power is generated by dams.  

I also wouldn’t have a job that gives me the most amazing office-space for the whole summer season without a dam.  It also breaks my heart to know we have covered so many amazing things, from ancient Indian dwellings and burials to beautiful canyons never to be explored in its natural state again, to collect water in these reservoirs.   

We can learn from our past and try to move forward being aware of the future Water needs.  Water conservation is a topic that many want to skirt around because of the political ramifications that come with it.  Water shortages are real and happening right before our eyes.  Utah is in the desert.  Less than half of Utah’s small amount 13 inches of annual precipitation falls as rain.  

“There are two ways to die in the desert – thirst and drowning.”

-Craig Childs – Author

 

In Utah, 82% of water goes to crops for agriculture and livestock, 8% to commercial use, 6% to residential outdoor use, and 4% to indoor residential use.  This means most of the water in Utah is for farming.  The first step in gaining understanding is finding a way to become aware of the water issues.  Then you can make good decisions on what you can do in your corner.  Utah is not the only place dealing with water issues and what to do.  

What Can We do?

If you are in Vernal, Utah before July 31, 2021, take a trip to the Uintah County Heritage Museum and go check out the FREE H20 Today Exhibit on loan from the Smithsonian.  There is a lot of great information where you can learn how water is tied into almost everything we do.  Did you know it takes 600 gallons of water to make 1 pound of cheese?

Water Is Life

I love highwater as a river runner for a couple reasons, one of those being big fun splashy rapids, and another because I know we have more water coming into the reservoirs because we are running on low low low levels for the needs of our growing populations and communities.  Let’s do our part and become educated and do our part to help conserve.  

 

My soul is at peace when I am on the river.  What kind of water story are you living and how has it influenced your life?

Conquering Your White Water Fears

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White Water River Rafting 

Brush Those Fears Away With a Few Great Tips

 

Preparing to go down the river for the very first time brings forth a range of emotions. Fear of the rapids, confusion of what to bring or wear, anxiety of a new experience, or just terrifying in general. Almost every person feels this way at the beginning, but their feelings quickly alter after being out on the water for just a day. What once was a fear becomes a craving for more of that thrill and excitement. Don’t let the fears behind white water rafting stop you from an amazing experience. Here are some tips and tricks to help wash those fears away.

  • Schedule that river trip!

Taking the chance to go out on that white water river trip is the first step. If you are hesitant about how you are going to go, don’t worry, no extra skills are needed for rafting. All you need to do is enjoy the ride. Day trips are a great start as well to get your feet a little wet. We have a spectacular one day Utah rafting trip on the Green River perfect for a first timer. Not so hesitant, check out our our phenomenal 4 and 5 day trips through Dinosaur National Monument. 

  • Just Breathe

Seeing a rapid coming your way could be quite the frightening view. Taking deep breaths and going to a “happy place” gets the nerves out quickly. Inhale the calming river vibes and exhaling the anxiety. After that first rapid gets you wet you will be ready and anticipating more.

  • Trust your guide.

Your river guide will do their best to navigate the swift river currents as safely as possible. These women and men are trained in both guiding, first aid and different swift water rescue procedures. The river can be unpredictable, your guides are ready for whatever the white water has to throw at them. You are in good hands.

  • Have some fun!

Have a water fight, make a joke, or sing a song. Getting into a good mood and having some fun will get your mind off of the negative thoughts. If you are planning on not getting wet, well that is inevitable, so get ready for some waves coming your way. Getting a little splashed only makes for a better ride and a lot more fun!

Conquering Your White Water Fears

  • Do some research.

The internet is full of great advice on all aspects of white water rafting. There are a lot of great blogs and websites that will help guide you in the right direction. Calling a rafting company and asking questions is also a great way to get good information. Try the locally owned outfitters first for the area you are thinking about trying out a river trip. They will have the best up to date first hand knowledge of the regions river and conditions. Dinosaur River Expeditions is Vernal, Utah’s only locally owned and operated rafting outfitter. Looking for a trip in this region we are the ones to call.

Getting several different perspectives helps ease some of the worries that are brought to new rafters. Feeling more prepared physically and mentally is a great way to make the fears go away. Before each trip a safety talk is also provided for the customers and crew. Listening and paying attention to that talk as well as any other instructions will keep you ready at all times. 

Conquer your white water rafting fears and go on that river rafting trip! The experience is beyond words and addicting. Once you get past those fears and negative thoughts, the beautiful canyon and river will become a sanctuary. It provides an outlet from the busy world and daily life stresses. Being disconnected from phones and electronics creates time to self reflect and grow closer to nature. Don’t let fear stop you from the experiences that white water rafting gives. It brings peace and happiness to all that come into contact go rafting and splash those fears away!

Visit Utah Film Trip

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Each raft trip we guide along the Green and Yampa Rivers are unique and special in their own way. Whether this be the great people that you meet, the animals you see, scenery, rapids or any number of things along the way each trip is truly special. One trip that stood out for me during the 2019 summer season was a film trip with Visit Utah. Visit Utah is the state of Utah’s travel and tourism marketing department. Visit Utah reached out to us to help guide and host a film trip with the sole purpose of getting high quality video and photography to market Dinosaur National Monument and river rafting along the Green River Gates of Lodore. Visit Utah is promoting lesser known areas of Utah to tourists looking to see the spectacular sights we have here. They are also looking to promote local guide and outfitters in these lesser known areas. As Vernal, Utah’s only locally owned and operated outfitter we were the chosen company. The end results of this co op after six months of editing and refining the video and photos is nothing less than stunning and world class. Visit Utah and there team did a fantastic job of capturing the essence of Dinosaur Monument and what it maybe like to take a river rafting trip along the route of the Green River. This section of the Green River through the Gates of Lodore canyon begins its journey in Colorado’s Brown Park region. With that said most commercial rafting trips begin and end their adventures in Vernal, Utah.

The trip started out as usual with a pre trip meeting at our Vernal, Utah office meeting the guests and film crew, getting them oriented as to what to expect the next four days and providing them with dry bags for day gear and camp time gear. This meeting also provided us an opportunity to learn about what the KNHO film crew would need from us to successfully accomplish their vision while traversing the river canyon. We learned a lot at this meeting and were able to prepare with adequate dry boxes and storage systems for the multitude of cameras, laptops, chargers, solar panels and assorted gear that was required to obtain the high quality footage they took.

The guests were an incredible family that were full of life and excitement wanting to experience as much of the river trip as possible. Nushin (mom) and her three children Layla, Noah and Eesa were chosen from an online audition process to be the focus family in the final film. This family was a great choice, their sense of adventure lent itself perfectly to all the possibilities found on a multi day rafting trip. Each person was excited to hike, swim, try their hand at inflatable kayaks or stand up paddle boarding. Which all lined up perfectly with the story that the producer had envisioned for the films story line. Nushin followed up after the four day trip with a great write up of her and her families experience visiting Dinosaur National Monument and going on their first big river rafting excursion.

Check out her write up here. https://www.visitutah.com/articles/utah-family-rafting-dinosaur-national-monument/

Visit Utah Film Trip
4 day family guided rafting trip through the Gates of Lodore in Dinosaur National Monument near Vernal, Utah. https://www.jeremiahwattphotography.com/

The film crew was a fun group of characters (in a good way, they all had awesome personalities) with some neat backgrounds in the film arts. Sandra Salvas was the trips producer and organized the components for the film crew. Mike Eldredge of KNHO was the films director and a camera man, Austin Balls was the second camera man and Tony Hagerdorn was the photographer. This crew like I mentioned before knew their stuff. The equipment they brought along was Hollywood quality filming gear, single lenses that cost upwards of $10,000.00, super powerful laptops to download each days footage, really cool solar powered generator from Utah’s own Goal Zero. We knew they were good, because we had the opportunity to view previous works on Utah adventures where they captured the essence of mountain biking the Bears Ear National Monument area, horse back riding in Monument Valley, snow skiing the Wasatch Mountain range. All of the film we viewed in advance was beautifully done.

As always, we the crew departed Vernal in the early dark am hours for Brown’s Park Colorado where we would start our four day journey. After a 2 hour drive we arrived at the Gates of Lodore put in where we unloaded the rig truck and trailer load of gear and began preparing the rafts for the guests and film crew to arrive. This process is not quick and can be quite laborious. It takes a lot of gear and the gear can be heavy, cumbersome to move around on a sandy beach and awkward. This part of the trip has to occur to make all the magic happen, without fully rigged rafts it is tough to take a rafting trip. When all the heavy lifting is done there is always a little downtime between having the rafts ready and when the guests arrive. This is guide time where they get to take care of themselves. Brushing teeth, putting on sunscreen, finishing coffee and breakfast the basics that keep them healthy and functioning well. Guide time becomes very valuable as the summer progresses and the wear and tear of sun, sand and water take their toll on a body.

Once the guests arrive everything goes fairly quick from loading the last bits of gear to securing life jackets and safety speech. You are off the van and on to a river adventure in a small whirlwind of time. This is where for me as a guide of 25 years, the trip took a turn and became really interesting. The interesting turn was the artistic aspect that was brought along by the film crew. As an artist and art teacher it was fascinating to work with the crew in setting up the perfect shots, finding the vantage point that really highlighted the scenery and wilderness found in Dinosaur National Monument. These guys are pro’s, their work is all over Hollywood, the internet, You Tube channels with millions of views. They knew what type of imagery they wanted and were meticulous in obtaining it. The film crew had their own boat that was able to leap frog the rafts and set up in advance to take video and photos. At times the film boat would be an hour or so ahead of us while the film crew would take hikes up above the canyon floor. Sometimes hiking 500 vertical feet or so above us to get some of the most incredible aerial views I have ever seen of Lodore Canyon. This process became rather quick and seamless as we all became a tight crew working on this film project together.

Throughout the filming process, Sandra and her crew amazed us constantly with high tech and low tech camera gear. All the while they were excellent at answering our layman questions as to what this equipment was and why they chose different cameras, lenses or apparatus for particular shots. The tools that really amazed me were all of the Go Pro sports camera accessories. I have several Go Pro cameras and dabble with taking video and photos with some success. The accessories they brought along were game changers in taking action footage. A camera mount you hold in your teeth, this one gets perfect point of view video. A camera housing that takes perfect video at the water level. This half round contraption allowed the camera to have clear focus under and above the water at the same time. All cool items that showed their use when the video was edited out and the awesome shots that they got using these cool tools.

Overall the filming trip had great weather, water levels were perfect, group dynamics were spot on and it was wonderful experience for all of us. The end results are beautiful photographs and extremely high quality video that is fun to watch. After six months of waiting patiently to see the end product we could not be more proud of the whole teams collaboration to create a wonderful artistic work. Thank you must go out to the entire Visit Utah team and Nushin and her family from the Dinosaur River Expeditions crew.

Nature Inspires Creativity

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Rhythm of the Wild

There’s a debate among linguists and musicians as to which came first: language or music. Without a time machine, it’s a hard problem to solve. But I side with the musicians. Any given day has a rhythm. To hear the music all you need to do is step outside. It is no wonder then that some of our best creative thinking comes from being outside. Often times this creativity blossoms on rafting trip, backpacking adventure, car camping in the southern Utah desert or a neighborhood evening walk.

The day has multiple rhythms, and the year has its own as well, they’re called seasons. But the rhythm I’m talking about has a decidedly musical quality. Birds call it out in the cool morning of day. Insect cries fill the heady heat of the afternoon. Crickets serenade the evening, and owls add their cry. In some places, the calls of animals are so consistent you can set your watch to them. See what I mean by rhythm?

It makes perfect sense then that before we could communicate a complex thought we could recognize the music of our world and riff on it. Of course this is all conjecture. But what’s more than conjecture is how beneficial getting outside is to creative thinking. Our cognitive ability is boosted in manifold ways when we get outside. In the most general sense, we get away from the noise of cities – the traffic, construction, and technological trappings. Once away from these distractions our minds can relax. As we relax we can notice the patterns around us; the fractal nature of leaves, the murmur of running water, how colors change in the Fall. To take it a step further (literally) taking a hike gets our blood circulating, stimulating our minds as well as our muscles. Indeed, studies have shown the benefits of cognizance that exercise has. It’s no wonder then that skiing, riding, or walking in the backcountry clear the mind. Not only that, but having an activity allows us to focus, on the thing we’re doing specifically, which is an important distinction than the many tasks that vie for our attention at home or in the office. Shedding distractions and focusing on one thing is good brain training, and can carry over to the problem solving practices we use in our everyday lives.

Our friends at the Freeflow Institute organize incredible multi-day rafting trips where like minded writers converge and build off of each other in a magnificent outdoor setting. Freeflow Institute is just one of many organized opportunities to get outside and build upon your artistic processes. It is fun to  seek out friends or a group that shares similar interests for your outdoor creative ventures. 

Looking for a great way to journal your outdoor creative experiences the great folks at REI have shared an excellent video on making your own journal. https://www.rei.com/blog/social/diy-how-to-make-an-adventure-journal

So I encourage you to get outside. And if you can get out for a long day. Are there some trees turning colors earlier than others? Take note of what you see: what kind of plant is growing by the creek? How do you imagine it’s different than others that grow further up the bank? Get out there. See if you can hear the rhythm. 

High Water River Rafting

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If you live anywhere around the mountain west, or you have been following the news then you’ve probably had your eye on the weather forecast this winter. Jackson Hole broke records this year for snowfall in February, Utah is breaking snowfall records in April. Ski enthusiast or not, the snowfall this year has been exciting. It’s some much needed drought relief for one and for those who aren’t the biggest fans of winter, it means a green spring and summer. Lots of snow becomes lots of water flow. Creeks will be swollen to bank full, rare stretches of river – like the Dolores – will have enough water to float down.

A big snow pack means a great rafting season. High water, depending on the stretch of river means big hits in big waves. Current will be strong as long as cfs (cubic feet per second) remain high. So how do you define “high” water? That’s entirely dependent on the stretch of river you’re looking at. Let’s take a look at the Yampa. The Yampa River is a good gauge of what high water looks like for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it is un-dammed. It’s not something we think of often, as most of the major dam building projects in this country happened in the 1950’s. However, there are some rivers that still flow wild and free. No dam means no one has their hand on the faucet, so to speak. This means spring runoff and snow melt run down the head waters and through the river unchecked by reservoirs. Typical high-water season on the Yampa River occurs mid-May to early June and is anywhere from 12,000 – 16,000 cfs through Dinosaur National Monument. After the spring peak, the flows steadily decrease until they hover anywhere from 600 to 12 cfs – too low to raft. This year the river basin that feeds the Yampa is reporting 119% of a thirty-year median. So, what does this mean? Typically, depending on how quickly things warm up as we move into spring and summer, the spring peak will come later and will be more sustained. A more sustained peak means a longer running season generally.

So why all the buzz? Other than the big hits in big white water, the additional water for irrigation and storage in the reservoirs downstream, it’s a huge boon for the environment at large. The native species of the Yampa and by extension the Green and Colorado rivers are dependent on high seasonal floods for spawning purposes. More water brings more nutrient and more sediment downstream, restoring the beaches we love to camp along and feeding the animals we love observing. And while the Yampa may be emblematic of what high water looks like, it is by no means the only river where the water will rage this summer. All across the west snow pack’s are well above their average. Even with dams, side creeks will swell and fill their mother rivers. And reservoirs can only get so full and that water must go somewhere and that somewhere is downstream.

Excited? Good, you should be. I would be remiss in my duties as a whitewater enthusiast if I didn’t urge a touch of caution. When looking to get on the water this year prepare yourself appropriately. This means selecting river runs that are suitable for your ability. Like checking the avalanche forecast, check flows before you go and what they are forecast to do. Make sure you and your team have the necessary equipment to enjoy the whitewater safely. And for any stretches you feel you can’t do on your own, there are experienced and reliable outfitters who are there to ferry you safe and sound down the river. Stay safe and stay excited! It’s our collective passion for these places that keeps them pristine for generations to come.

John Wesley Powell’s 150th Anniversary

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Explorer John Wesley Powell’s 150th Anniversary

When one thinks of Lake Powell, what images come to mind? Smooth sandstone in myriad shades of red and beige? Maybe a houseboat floating on still water, or a jet ski with a water skier in tow? But, do you realize what’s underneath all that water? Or, do you know who the lake was named for? The damn that formed Lake Powell was completed in 1963, and with that Glen Canyon began to recede beneath the mounting water of the Colorado river. However, almost a hundred years before that last bit of concrete was poured into the damn, John Wesley Powell floated through the now drowned canyon as part of a historical expedition.

In 1869 Powell set out from Green River Wyoming on what would be a 3 month journey through the canyons of Flaming Gorge, Lodore, Desolation, Cataract and of course the Grand Canyon. It was the first cartographic and geologic survey of these largely unexplored (to white settlers at least) areas of the desert Southwest. Powell’s party was ill-equipped for the water they encountered. They lost their first boat in Lodore canyon in a rapid that thereafter was named Disaster Falls. One of the party, Frank Goodman, left the expedition on July 6th. He eventually settled in Vernal, Utah, and their raised a family. Three more of Powell’s men left on August 30th, two days before the expedition’s end. Unfortunately these three were never heard from again. Of the ten men and four boats that began the journey, six men and three boats finished it.

Powell wasn’t just an intrepid explorer. He served in the Civil war, where he would eventually gain the rank of major and lose most of his right arm. He was also an accomplished geologist and a professor at Illinois Wesleyan University. On his expedition he was awestruck by the features he saw. How could a river cut straight through a mountain? he wondered. It went against everything we knew about geology at the time. But Powell’s interests weren’t purely geologic, but anthropologic as well. The evidence of the human history, the pottery shards, granaries, and habitations of the Native Americans did not escape his notice. So enamored was Powell by what he saw on that first expedition that in the winter of 1871 he retraced part of that expedition from Green River Wyoming to Kanab creek in the Grand Canyon. Powell saw in the rock the age of our world, how old it was, and how truly dynamic it was. He also saw, with a surprising amount of prescience for his time, that Westward expansion would be limited by access to water.

After his expeditions, Powell went on to educate the public about the things he had seen. In the time of Manifest Destiny, he had a surprising amount of prescience to see that Westward expansion would be limited by access to water. Unfortunately, his ideas and proposed policies on irrigation of the West were ignored due to corporate interests. Famously, Powell stated “you are piling up a heritage of conflict and litigation over water rights, for there is not sufficient water to supply the land.” These words would become manifest forty years later during the Dust Bowl. He would also eventually go on to become the director of the Bureau of Ethnology, a position he held until his death in 1902.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of Powell’s expedition. While Flaming Gorge and Glen Canyon are now underwater, one can still experience many of the canyons of that 1869 expedition in the same way Powell did. Beginning on May 24th the John Wesley Powell River Festival will launch. Towns all along his route will be holding events and festivities to celebrate the man and the impact of his expedition.

Call us today 1-800-345-7238 for details about our 4 day Green River Gates of Lodore trip focused on celebrating the 150th anniversary of John Wesley Powell’s incredible journey along the course of the Green River and Colorado River.

Thank You

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Thank you seems to small.

Only eight letters to express the rivers of gratitude to each of you. It’s laughable that eight would be enough, for without you our lives as river guides would be undeniably different.  Let me explain.

Each of you that travels down the river, allows us to live and breathe in this amazing national monument. To feel the tug of flowing water on oars every day, to smell like sunscreen and sweat for months on end, and gasp at desert vistas in every moment. By coming on a river trip you allow us to live the way we wish to live.  But more importantly you allow us to feel that we are bigger than ourselves, a part of a history in Dinosaur National Monument while guiding on the Green River and Yampa River.

Each of us become a river guide for a shallow reason, something like: we went on fun vacations with our family as kids, whitewater is a thrill, or even just the novelty of being a river guide.  Every guide will admit it, but the reason we stay river guides is because of you.  As guides grow more sun crusted we learn more about the river and its surroundings; where different petroglyphs are, who the first person to raft the river solo was, where a dam was almost built and how it was stopped, and the story of the Powell expeditions first trip.

Without knowing it, each time we repeat these stories and facts to you, they become part of our personal history.  None of us were on the Powell expedition boating down the Green River Gates of Lodore, but somehow that expedition is as much a part of my history as riding bikes with my brother as a child. Each time we share the river rafting experience of Dinosaur National Monument with you, it becomes our home and its characters our family.

As time goes on, we make our own history:  a upside down boat used as a slip ’n slide at Wild Mountain campsite, a guest that cried because they were so grateful to have their family together, a kid dance party on the boat on the windiest day of the summer. And as John Wesley Powell did, you become part of who we are, a character of the river and part of our family. For you, this river trip may be once in a lifetime, but for us, this trip is life, and you are the reason for it.

Thank you for allowing us to create a home and a family here.  Thank you for allowing us to love our fellow guides and bosses like we do our own parents and families.  Thanks to our families for supporting our unconventional career choices and understanding that the reason we are here, is to connect with a deeper part of ourselves, to become droplets in a massive river system.  Thank you for allowing us to feel simultaneously insignificant and vitality important to the universe.

Thank you for letting us share our home and family with you.

In return for completely changing our lives and the way we view ourselves, we give you eight letters.  Not nearly enough, but perhaps you will feel that the eight letters we give you, are bigger and so much more important than just letters.

 

Thank you.

The Dinosaur River Expedition Guides

 

When you do

Things from

Your soul.

You feel a

River moving

In you, a joy.

 

-Rumi

7 Must Do Outdoor Activities in Utah

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 Whitewater Rafting the Gates of Lodore on the Green River

The Green River meanders through the Utah/Colorado border but is so spectacular we had to keep it number 1 on our list. Entering through the Gates of Lodore sends you on a 44-mile expedition through technical whitewater rapids like Hell’s Half Miles, lets you sleep on peaceful beaches, watch the stars swirl around the canyon at night, explore vista hikes that will drop your jaw hundreds of feet back to the river, and let you live among the mule deer and bighorn sheep for a few days. Luckily the river is permitted, so although over 9,000 people apply to go down the river every year, it will never be overcrowded and you’ll sure to have an unforgettable wilderness experience. Once you have experienced a Green River Gates of Lodore trip you will have to come back and see the Yampa River another western river gem located in the heart of Dinosaur National Monument.

 Hiking in the Uinta Mountains

This is one of the more underrated mountain ranges in Utah.  Just a few hours outside of Park City, the Uinta’s are home to Utah’s tallest peak, Kings peak at 13,534 feet.  The wooded area is home to beautiful mountain lakes, wild flowers, and crisp mountain air and due to its high elevation, it stays cooler in the heat of the Utah summers.  With plenty of trails for day hikes or backpacking, it’s on the list for a Utah must-see.

Canyoneering in Canyonlands

 The slot canyons in Southern Utah are worth getting yourself into.  Spend a day hiking through one of the wider canyons, like the Narrows, or hire a guide to take you and your friends repelling down a longer more technical canyon.  Be sure not to attempt to do this on your own unless you know what you are doing. The canyons and change quickly with weather and you don’t want to be a search and rescue story. You will more than likely spend some time in Moab while you are there stop in to the local owned outdoor recreation and gear experts Moab Gear Traders.

 Backpack the Grand Gulch in Bears Ears

This stunning 52-mile backpacking trip will take you into the heart of Bears Ears. The steep canyon takes you out of this world as you walk past ancient pueblo ruins: everything from granaries and kivas to petroglyphs and pottery shards. It’s believed that Bears Ears was a hub for pre-colonized North America, like and ancient city. Ruins from many tribes can be found throughout the hike, but don’t forget to visit Newspaper Rock on your way out, with hundreds of petroglyphs from centuries of Native Americans.

Fly Fishing on the Green River

The A-Section of the Green River attracts Anglers from around the world. With over 1000 trout per-mile and cold crystal-clear waters, just below Flaming Gorge Dam, you’d be hard pressed to find a better fly-fishing zone in Utah.  Float the 7 miles section in a drift boat or walk along the banks of the river along a trail that runs the length of the first section.  While the A-section is the most popular, the B and C sections also offer amazing fishing with a few less people.  Make a weekend of it and float the A, B, and C sections, reserving a campsite on the riverbanks. Want to learn more about fishing or just need some help with your casting? Not to worry, there is a whole city of fishing guides in Dutch John, Utah happy to take you. Fishing is not your thing but you would still love to see the river, we offer a fantastic scenic river rafting day trip give us a call or book online for Utah one day on the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam.

 Mountain Biking in Vernal, Utah

 Vernal is giving Moab a ride for its money.  It has something for everyone; easy beginner trails to learn or ride with kids, self-inflicted suffer fest, flowy downhills with a few drops if you are daring, and everything in between. The city sits on the edge of the North-Eastern Utah desert and the Uinta Mountains giving it a uniquely diverse landscape. Within 20- minutes of Vernal in either direction you can ride on Moab Style slick rock or Montana-esque packed dirt in the woods. There are dozens of well-made trails and not as crowded as Fruita or Moab.  Head into the local bike shop, Altitude Cycle, for tips on which trails to ride.

Delicate Arch in Arches National Park

This Utah view is iconic for a reason. The three-mile hike takes you along sandstone slick rock, winding through desert half pipes and bowls. It’s a moderately-difficult hike and worth the trek to see the arch in person.

White water river rafting in Utah and Colorado 5 amazing canyons

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5 Best Canyons to White Water River Raft in Utah and Colorado:

  • The Yampa

The Yampa River Canyon, sometimes referred to by as a “little Grand Canyon” is potentially the most beautiful place in the state of Colorado. Located just a short distance outside of Vernal, Utah, the Yampa River is an amazing combination of peaceful flat water and big rapids. The bigger rapids are sure be a thrill at any level sending water over your head throughout the trip.  The biggest rapid, Warm Springs is one boaters talk about all over the country. The flat water gives you time to explore the waters on paddling your a paddle board or inflatable kayak. Paddling solo truly gives you a feeling of the wilderness and  isolation of the canyon. At night, the campsites are typically big beaches perfect for a game of beach volleyball, kids to play, or just enjoying the firelight with the company of your family and friends.

The 700 foot tall white sandstone walls act as a time machine, sending you back a 1,000 years when the Fremont native Americans called the canyon home. Unlike most western rivers the Yampa is free flowing, meaning it looks almost exactly as it did 1,400 years ago. The trip has many stops where you will be able to see 800 year old petroglyphs, ancient storage granaries and maybe a little wildlife like mule deer or bighorn sheep. Beyond the native history, the canyon is a cornerstone for environmental history, at the center of the first ever grassroots environmental movement. This also makes it one of the most competitive private river permits to get in the US.

This canyon truly has it all, epic whitewater, peaceful flatwater, stunning geological landscapes, and history dating back thousands of years.  It’s hard to travel through this canyon and not be simply overwhelmed by it beauty.

Confluence in Echo Park
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The Yampa River may be tops on this list but the Green River Gates of Lodore takes a tight number two spot. Both trips are unbelievable and either one is spectacular depending on the time of year you can go rafting. The Powell expedition was one of the first to stare awestruck at the Gates of Lodore on the Green River with a mix of fear and enthusiasm. Today, the reaction to the dark red sandstone at the beginning of the canyon is the same no matter who rafts through the gates of lodore. The aw only escalates upon learning that it is the oldest rock in Utah and Colorado, dating back almost a billion years, predating life itself. The stunning views are matched with amazing white water. At high water (5-9,000 CFS), you are signing up for a “hold on tight” sure to find a thrill adventure and at lower water a family friendly continuous splashy 42 miles.

  • Cataract Canyon

This is the place to go if you are looking for massive rapids. Just outside of Moab, Cataract Canyon is home to the biggest whitewater in Utah and at high water, the biggest rapids on the Colorado river.  At anything above 20,000 CFS (Cubic Feet per Second) three biggest rapids turn into one long whitewater ride, so don’t worry about the desert heat, you are sure to get wet.

  • Split Mountain

A beautiful stretch of canyon if you are just looking for a day of rafting. This section of river is the last 9 miles of a Green River Gates of Lodore or Yampa River trip through Dinosaur National Monument. The mouth of the canyon gives it the name, as it appears the river is cutting the mountain it half. Multiple layers of rock bend and twist here giving it an other worldly look. The rock formations drip and twist the whole way down the canyon allowing for a common game of “what shapes can you see in the rocks,” in between the fun class 2 and 3 rapids. Remember to ask your guide about the Pirate watching over you in the second half of the river!

Split Mountain on the Green River

 

  • Desolation and Gray Canyon

Knock out two canyons in one river trip with this 84 mile float. The Gray/Deso combination is a beautiful river trip in eastern Utah with great views and fun class 2-3 rapids and an abundance of native American history, wildlife and spectacular Utah River Rafting scenery.

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