Time to Recycle Good Will

A few weeks ago a member of our community fell on hard times. Al White, co-owner of R&W Recycling in Flagstaff, was seriously injured in a work accident. It looks as if he may be permanently paralyzed and the medical bills are skyrocketing. A fund has been set to help Al with the medical expenses.
R&W has been a good friend of the river community for several years. Had it not been for their help, the guides and outfitters' successful recycling program would never have gotten off the water. But recent times have been rough. The hometown company lost its bid for the curbside recycling contract for the City of Flagstaff to a larger firm from Ohio. In the epitome of bad timing, loss of the contract had forced R&W to drop Workman's Compensation coverage on the company owners.
A benefit concert and raffle is being planned for February at Monsoon's in Flagstaff. You can call the GCRG office to get the dates as they are firmed up. Here's how to help now. Send donations to:

Al White Fund
Acct. # 234839839
Bank of America
4550 N. Hwy. 89
Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Thanks.

Guides Training Seminar

The 1997 GTS is shaping up magnificently. We will meet new NPS people, reveal results of the 1996 beach-building spike flow, discuss the hard realities of substance use and abuse, learn natural history, and hear some new spins on old stories. As usual, we will have the GCRG Spring Meeting with election of officers, great food and live music. It will take place at the Hatch warehouse, Cliff Dwellers Lodge, 10 miles west of Marble Canyon. If you're lucky, you might even see the California Condors glide magnificently overhead and eat dead meat. Mark your calendar and be there!

Friday, April 4: GCRG Spring Meeting
Sat.-Sun., April 5,6: 1997 Guides Training Seminar
Tues., April 8-22: GTS River Trip

Story Time

Boatfolks are working on collecting river stories, and they need your help.

Steve Bledsoe is collecting stories about the early years of full-blown commercial boating—from about ‘65 to ‘75 in Grand Canyon. Wild tales about trying to or failing to figure it out. strange boats and clueless moves. You know you've got a few once you get to thinking about it. He's looking for written stories, but if you can't write but can talk, that'll work too. Write, call or e-mail him tonight.
Steve Bledsoe
702 E Cherokee
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
520/525-1250
e-mail sbled0521@aol.com

Mary Ellen Arndorfer is working on a collection of tales of the big water in ‘83. Those were some pretty exciting times, so try to remember what really happened. Her plan is to try and have a few beer and barbeque parties with a big circle of folks and a microphone. The first one will be at Jeri and Brad's house, 1000 Grand Canyon Avenue in Flagstaff, starting around 6PM February 7. Give her a call at 520/525-2585 if you'd like to be a part of it.

Standing Wave, a new paddling magazine with a literary bent is about to print it's first issue. They'll be looking for good non-fiction, fiction, poetry, and stuff that defies those categories, as many whitewater tales do.
Black and white photography, too, that “addresses the relationships of whitewater paddlers to the contemporary, fluid world of rivers. Write:
Standing Wave
c/o Eliot Treichel
Box 12287
Prescott, AZ 86304-2287

Joy Foundation

Last year I received the Joy Ungrich Carber Memorial Scholarship for the Whitewater Academy for Teens. This scholarship is awarded to help support the development of women boatmen. The academy trip was six days of learning, new friends, and fun. It was a week I will never forget—especially the time I got caught on an oarlock during a flip drill.
I learned everything from tying knots to righting boats and safety skills. Three days of the course were spent on the water. We were able to get a feel for the boating experience, and I was given the chance to row. The instructors were great, and I met some very interesting people and made a lot of friends.
The 1997 scholarship is still open for applications—to apply you must be female—for the Whitewater Academy for Teens you ought to be a teen as well. For other courses you should be planning to work as a commercial guide. Write Canyonlands Field Institute for more information at Box 68, Moab, Utah, 84532.
It was an honor to get a scholarship named after such a great and adventurous woman. In her 40 years she truly made a difference in people's lives, and continues to do so even now through her scholarship.

Darah Sandlian

Downstream of Dams

Michael Collier, Bob Webb and Jack Schmidt put out a really nice USGS Circular last year called Dams and Rivers: Primer on the Downstream Effects of Dams. It's ninety-some pages long and chock full of interesting information and Michael's stunning aerial photographs. You'll be amazed at they wide variety of different changes and processes that take place below a cork.
And what's really cool is they're free. Contact Bob Webb, USGS, 1675 Anklam Road, Tucson, AZ 85745

Happy 80th!

Both Kent Frost and Martin Litton are turning eighty in a weeek or two. The river experience has benefitted greatly from these guys, and still does. Thanks, you guys.We'd like to wish you all the best on your next eighty, and we hope to go boating with again real soon.

Mad River Runners Museum

Breck O'Neill (remember R&O River Expeditions?) is starting up a river runners museum at his Mad River Boat Trips operation up in Jackson, Wyoming. He's looking for old boats, oars, motors, life jackets, pictures and whatnot. He's up for donations but is also buying some stuff. Get in touch with him if you've got anything you think might be appropriate.
Box 2222
Jackson, Wyoming
800/458-7238
e-mail madriver@wyoming.com

Inscriptions, Plaques and Stevens Guides

C.V. Abyssus and Early C. Corax are willing to purchase several copies of Larry Stevens' The Colorado River in Grand Canyon, specifically: Second Edition (1984/85?); Revised Second Edition (1986); Third Edition, 2nd Printing (1988/89?); Third Edition, 5th Printing (1994); and any early copies of the non-waterproof or non-water resistant editions.
We are also photographing and compiling a list of inscriptions, plaques, memorials, and other memorabilia that seek to commemorate people and/or events along the Colorado River corridor of Glen and Grand canyons. While we neither condemn nor condone the placement of these physical reminders, we feel it is important to document them: we are interested in their existence, their historical significance, and their story. If anyone wishes to inform us of the existence of these items, your cooperation would be greatly appreciated. If you consider them too confidential, let us know and we will not mention them to others. This list, items on the list, or locations will not be shared with anyone without your consent, unless otherwise commonly known.
Please contact us if you have the Stevens' Guides for sale or wish to contribute to the list. Thanks.
PO Box G, Flagstaff AZ 86002-0958, 520-779-2687.