boatman's quarterly review - Grand Canyon River Guides

Guide Profiles
Kimo
Nelson,
Age 27
Where were
you born and
where did you
grow up I was
born in
Honolulu,
Hawaii. My
father worked
for the foreign service, so from the time I was born
until I was twelve my family moved every year or two.
I grew up in Malaysia, Egypt, Oman, Indonesia, and
the Philippines. When I was twelve I moved to Salt
Lake to go to junior high and high school.
Who do you work for currently (and in the
past) I’ve always worked for crate.
How long have you been guiding I started working
as a swamper for my brother Abel in 1994. I’ve been
on the river every year since.
What kind of boats do you run I run s-rigs, snouts,
18-foot Avons, and 18-foot Havasus.
What other rivers have you worked on I’ve also
worked for crate in Desolation, Westwater, and
Cataract Canyons, and on the Tatshenshini and Alsek
Rivers in Alaska.
What are your hobbies, passions, dreams When
not on the river my time is dedicated to school, making
art, private trips, cooking, hiking, and snowboarding.
Married, family, pets I currently live with my girlfriend
Mikenna Clokey who is also a crate guide.
School/area of study/degrees I have a ba in Environmental
Studies and am currently studying painting
at the Oregon College of Art and Craft.
Is this your primary way of earning a living or do
you combine it with something else Aside from
selling the occasional painting, guiding is my primary
source of income.
What’s the most memorable moment in your
guiding career I did my last trip with my brother
when I was seventeen years old. He retired from guiding
in 1997 to pursue a career in computer programing. On
our last trip together he had me run his motor-rig through
Lava. It was my first run and I was scared shitless, but I
couldn’t say no. I had a great run and I think I made my
bro feel better about passing the torch on to me.
What keeps you here I think the opportunity to live
and work in one of the most beautiful and inspiring
places on the planet keeps me coming back.
Walker
David
Mackay,
Age 31
Where were you
born and where
did you grow up
I was born and
raised in Murray,
Utah (a suburb of
Salt Lake City). I grew up around boats and rivers from
the time I was born.
Who do you work for currently (and in the past)
I’ve always worked for Colorado River & Trail Expeditions
(crate). I started getting paid for it in 1995.
Before then, I ran baggage boats and helped out.
How long have you been guiding I’ve been a
licensed guide since 1995, so for about thirteen years by
the time the 2008 season rolls around.
What kind of boats do you run Row, paddle, motor,
and kayak. I’ve also run a lot of the canyon’s rapids on a
river board. In the winter, I drive a Safe Boat on the
Great Salt Lake.
What other rivers have you worked on Tatshenshini
and Kongakut in Alaska; Green in Utah; the
Colorado in Utah (Westwater Canyon and Cataract
Canyon).
What are your hobbies, passions, dreams Traveling
and exploring, hiking, and mountain biking. I also like
basketball and surfing. I’d like to bike across the country
with my wife, Mindy. This year we pedaled from Salt
Lake City to Kanab and saw a lot of things that you miss
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