boatman's quarterly review - Grand Canyon River Guides

Prez Blurb
Who cares about it more than we do It’s
been twenty years since Kenton Grua and a
motivated rabble of river guides decided to
pull together and form an organization. They aimed to
have some fun, make their collective voice heard, and
take a stand for the place they loved. That place, of
course, is the Grand Canyon.
Sadly, Kenton is gone now. But Grand Canyon
River Guides lives on, and many of those founding
members are still telling the old stories and getting
into the kind of trouble that makes new ones. We’re
celebrating our twentieth anniversary this year, and
doubling that by focusing on what all the old-timers
talk about the most: the ’83 flood.
It’s been 25 years since the river flowed 93,000 cfs,
Glen Canyon Dam shook and groaned, and Crystal
Rapids ate motor-rigs like candy. Sure, Crystal still gets
hungry every now and then, but you should have
seen…
Well, that’s the thing. This year, along with the
usual good stuff, the bqr is going to be full of reminiscing.
Stories about high water, interviews from and
about the old days, cool photos.
And even more good stuff is out there for you to
come to. The Spring gts is upon us, and it’s going to
be a great one. You’ll be amused and educated from
head to tolio. Some highlights:
• An ’83 extravaganza: stories, pictures, film.
• A hands-on ropes clinic tailored for canyon work.
• The Native Voices of the Colorado River Program has
started, and we’re the lucky recipients of the first
multi-tribal panel discussion. Very cool.
• River emergencies, dam issues, mrsa and tolio talks.
• Archeology, geology, biology, and dancing-ology to
the band on Saturday night.
• The best raffle yet.
• All new: Gcrg 20th anniversary mugs. Beer
included!
• The Whale Foundation Health Fair.
• Great food.
• More. Yes, even more.
Come on out and party, March 29–30!
And while we celebrate this crazy great place
where we work, we can enjoy another great thing:
somehow this bunch of river guides, opinionated individuals
who can’t even agree on how to properly cook
a pot of rice, has been able to do more than have fun
over the years. We’ve made a difference. We’ve
touched people’s lives, affected the way Glen Canyon
Dam is operated, and influenced the way people think
about the Grand Canyon.
2008 is an important year for the future of the
Canyon. The Grand Canyon Working Group, a
committee made up of Park personnel, representatives
of scenic overflight companies, tribal members, and
other stakeholders, has been debating the plan to
restore natural quiet to the canyon. The heart of the
matter is airplane and helicopter noise. We expect the
park to make a final decision on the matter around the
end of this year.
The board is working on representing gcrg’s point
of view. But this is something we all should be
involved in, as individuals and as guides. Quiet places,
free from the roar and drone of motors and civilization,
are increasingly rare in this world. City people
can forget the entire idea of quiet. They don’t look for
it when they come on river trips, they’re shocked
when they suddenly notice it—the openness, the
feeling of space that’s not just visual but expands all
their senses. Often it becomes a favorite part of their
river experience. It’s one of the reasons the place
touches them so deeply.
We know this as guides, even if we don’t think
about it all that much. This summer it might be worth
paying a little extra attention. Notice where you feel
the quiet and where it gets broken by the sound of
airplanes and helicopters. Consider how it affects you
and your group. Talk it out, help others notice.
Consider how things are, how they should be, where
compromises can be made and where lines should be
drawn.
This year we can each make a difference. A simple
letter you write will carry weight when the big decisions
are made. Letters your passengers send might
matter even more. We’ll keep you informed about
what’s going on, who to contact and when. Like
making the cut at Crystal, we’ll want to have our
timing, angle and momentum just right to get in
where we want to be. I hope you’ll spend some time
talking it out and planning your run.
But back to the gts. After twenty years, with all
the great programs, the river trip, even a raffle and
20th anniversary mugs, the heart still beats to the
same rhythm: swapping stories, telling lies and
dancing into the night. As Kenton said back then, it’s
“a good excuse to get together once or twice a year.
Talk about shit and party.”
I’m looking forward to seeing you there.
Sam Jansen
boatman’s quarterly review page 3