Desolation Canyon

Here at Western River Expeditions, the month of May is set apart for training new guides. There are 15 of us. It is amazing how close you can get to these great people in this outdoor setting (ok, we are together 7 days a week, basically 24 hours a day, so that helps too), but it has been fun to get to know such great people. Along with the 15 new "trainees" and 2 Moab Adventure Staff, there were six trainers, each of which are inspiring and amazing people.
The trainers were Dina Merrill (left) and Brian Merrill (middle) have been running rivers since their youth. This trip marks Dina's 104th trip down Desolation Canyon and she is full of insight and likes to playfully hit the crashing whitewater just right. Brian is the all-around package. He is witty and easy going, skilled and thoughtful. These two make everyone be better people out here in the river.
Kelly Mcgettigan (spinning poi fire) is someone that I felt an automatic connections with from the beginning. She is real. She is really happy and nice all the time, yet super skilled and a great conversationalist. I'm happy to get to know her better! Below is a video of the last night when she is spinning fire poi balls. As you can tell by my commentary, I thought it was pretty neat.

Scottt Marshall, Carly Castle, and Carrie Lineback are all returning guides who have been in our shoes the last 2-3 years, so their insight was based on more recent personal experience.
Each of them had great insight into rowing and life on the river. They are all such talented and interesting people. I'm glad to be surrounded by such good company! Hurrah!

The Canyon is located about 40 miles south of the thriving metropolis of Duchane, Utah. The section of the Green that we rowed begins at Sandwash and goes 86 miles south through Desolation and Gray canyon ending near Green River, Utah. It is aptly named as it looks untouched by the civilized world. Powell's first expedition was in 1869 when he took 9 men and 4 wooden boats down the canyon.

We unloaded our gear the first night and set off rowing thirty miles of flat water the next day. We got to ride with different trainers who showed us their patented moves and power strokes. I really like rowing. It is neat because it is a full body exercise, rhythmic and can be almost a spiritual exercise. I feel like I have a long way to go yet, but it is amazing how quickly you can go from very awkward chicken elbows to improved long fluid strokes. Days 2, 3, and 4 were all full of great rapids, hurrah!


We took side tours of natural arches and petroglyph's done by the Fremont Indians. They were great. We got to stop and see many of the abandoned homes/habitats from the people who made their lives on the river and people who sold the fruit to Butch Cassidy when he made his "moonshine" elixir. It was fun to learn a little bit more about the geology, hydrology, and the human history of the area.


The nights in camp are especially fun. They are spent cooking meals, building campfires, singing, talking, playing games, and if you're lucky sleeping.
So, I've decided that a good river guide has to be pretty versatile. Good river guides have people skills, master chef skills, understanding of hydrology, first aid, geology, human history, and entertainers. I feel like I have a lot to improve about myself and hope that in time I can make a good one.