Western River Stories
The Legend of Buckskin Bill on the Main Salmon River
Sylvan Ambrose Hart, better known as "Buckskin Bill", was the stuff of legends. An eccentric recluse, a skilled hunter, a storyteller with a flair...
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Digital Detox in a Place Where Only Canyons Call
Hey adventurers,
We need your help to spread the word about a new problem (with an age-old solution). We are talking about endlessly scrolling on...
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Southern Oregon Road Trip
The Rogue River is the centerpiece of many Southern Oregon adventures, but this diverse region has a lot to offer. It would be a shame to miss your...
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Buzz Holmstrom - A Rogue Boatman with a Grand Story
Rowing More Than a Thousand Miles... Solo
In the annals of whitewater rafting history, Buzz Holmstrom stands tall. A gas station attendant turned...
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Celebrate 60 Years of Canyonlands National Park
As we step into 2024, we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Canyonlands National Park, an awe-inspiring testament to the power and beauty of nature....
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Canyonlands: The Soul of the American Southwest
Desert landscapes are forbidding and alluring all at once. You may get a sense of it on Route 66 somewhere between Winslow Arizona and that left...
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Building Stronger Bonds on a Family Whitewater Rafting Trip
The roar of the rapids fills the air, adrenaline pumping through your veins as you navigate the churning water. Whitewater rafting trips can bring...
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Unwrap the Adventure: Expedition Worthy Christmas Shopping Ideas
The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than by giving the gift of adventure? We've curated a list of Christmas shopping...
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2023 High Water in Cataract Canyon
Most likely, you have heard or seen the news reports that have shifted from dire predictions about a drought in the Western United States to...
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Half a Century of Dreams and the Willie Holdman Grand Canyon Workshop
I told Claire, when I called to thank her for her words, that her review had struck all of us Western River computer-bound office staff like a...
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2023 Update on Colorado River Water Shortage
Water and drought in the Southwest, especially the Colorado River have gotten a lot of attention lately, and deservedly so. Millions of people live...
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Q&A with Western River Guides about Cataract Canyon
We did a little Q&A with our guides about Cataract Canyon. Here is a compilation of what they said:
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Ten Books to Read Before and After You Visit the Grand Canyon
As I started my guiding career in the Grand Canyon, I was given a piece of great advice from a longtime boatman (thanks Joe) to pick up a book...
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Is the Colorado River Drying Up and is Drought Affecting Grand Canyon River Tours?
"There is still a river flowing despite the drought. There are still fish swimming in the river. There are still river guides hooping and hollering...
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Highlights of Desolation Canyon
Desolation Canyon holds a special place in my heart. As a river guide, I’ve been extremely lucky to spend the past few summers floating the languid...
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5 things I wish I knew before my first river trip
One of the greatest ironies of my life is this: my parents met while working as river guides, and I had NEVER rafted before training to be a river...
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Feel the Connection on the River
Desolation Canyon, Utah 5 Day Expedition:
"It's a rare thing, in modern life, to reconnect with nature... to spend time with a group of people...
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Come to Your Senses in the Canyons and Rivers of the West
Like a wave on the river, life can hit us all with some stronger-than-expected impacts, and sometimes the hits just keep on comin'. But some wise...
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Planning for the Unexpected: A Guide to Travel Insurance
Guest blog provided By Susan Doktor
Since its onset, the coronavirus has shaken the very bedrock of our lives: who we see, where we go, how we...
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Day 2 Grand Canyon: exploring the “ancients,” a dubious crowd estimate and birthday cake!
By Eileen Ogintz
DID YOU KNOW: The Colorado River may reach speeds of 10-15 mph at steeper rapids, though average smooth water speed is 3-4 mph....
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Weather can’t spoil a trip to remember down the Grand Canyon
By Eileen Ogintz
DID YOU KNOW: Desert Big Horn Sheep are seen more frequently in the Grand Canyon now that their major food source...
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