or the first time in recent memory, the weather for the March 26­29 land-based portion of the 1999 gcrg Guides Training Seminar (gts) was wonderful. Although neither hail, nor sleet, nor snarling dogs keeps the gts from happening, it sure was nice to be able to sit outside and enjoy the sun without fear of hypothermia. (Notice: beer consumption almost kept pace with the thirst.) The river-based portion experienced all the bad weather we didn¹t get at the Old Marble Canyon Lodge.

And ³happening² is what the gts event was all about this year. Crowds neared 200 at the peak, approaching levels not seen since the 1995 old-timers gathering. It was still going strong on Sunday afternoon with over 100 people around for the last few talks, thirty-five participants on the dam tour and Glen Canyon float with Larry Sanderson, Rich Valdez, and Barbara Ralston, and about a dozen people still around for the Lonely Dell walk late Monday afternoon with Allen Malmquist.

The weekend began on Friday afternoon with the gcrg spring meeting, and rolled right on into the weekend seminar.

Gts quality was just as impressive as the quantity: from Awatubi to Zoroaster, and all the riffles and rapids around and in between. Many attendees commented on the great variety of topics and speakers which included (our apologies if we missed anyone):

• Nps representatives Patrick Hattaway on regulations, Kim Crumbo on Wilderness, and Linda Jalbert and Laurie Domler on crmp.
• Aquatic issues concerning hanging gardens by John Spence, temperature and aquatic ecology by Joe Shannon, age of Grand Canyon spring water by Dave Kreamer, and early explo ration of Kaibab stream caves by Peter Huntoon.
• History with Brad Dimock on Buzz Holmstrom, Betty Leavengood on women of the Grand Canyon who didn¹t get their feet wet, Michael Anderson on Grand Canyon trail builders, John Weisheit on the Powell land survey, and Larry Sanderson¹s films and narration of early 1960s powerboating.
• Research, adaptive management, and dam stuff by: Barry Gold (gcmrc), Randy Peterson on flows, Ted Melis on bhbf flood condi tions, Catherine Roberts on Grand Canyon river trip modeling, and Matt Kaplinski on dirt.
• More dam(n) politics featuring Joannie Nevills Staveley and Steve Ward of Friends of Lake Powell, Katie Lee speaking, reading, singing, laughing, crying, and new Glen Canyon Institute director Pam Hyde.
• Cultural resources‹Angie Bullets reminded us that Paiutes were Powell¹s original Grand Canyon guides, Waylon Honga gave us Hualapai perspective, Lisa Leap on traditional river corridor cultural properties, Lynn Neal with data synthesis, Andre Potochnik on cultural site erosion.
• Nicole Corbo¹s update on the Youthkateers, Bob Grusy¹s latest on the Whale Foundation, Adopt-A-Beach by Gary O¹Brien, Francis Hill¹s colorful take explaining who-and-why we are, and Ed DeFrancia teaching indoors about teaching in the outdoors.
• Critters with Jeff Sorenson¹s weird snails, Nikolle Brown telling us to take only pictures/leave all the snakes (is it a pink or a speckled?), and Larry Stevens going big-diverse.
• And, most importantly, (drum roll please) the entertainment: Bill Gloeckler and group jamming-out-the-kicks; the Gruse on kegs; Katie Lee singing and playing; John Blaustein¹s ³Glory, Gory, Dory Days² slide-show (a bunch of the old dory boatmen crawled out of the woodwork for this one), and the Snow Cap¹s Juan Delgadillo and family (Robert, Cecelia, and John), in a gcrg tribute to Juan, goofing around and grilling cheeseburgers with cheese for about 200 hungry river runners.

By the way, the Delgadillo kids are itching to work a river trip, so anybody in need of a hardworking helper or three to cook and squirt mustard contact the Delgadillo¹s other-Brother Jon Hirsh. The gcrg board, officers, and the gts Committee would like to extend gracious thanks to all who donated, assisted, and contributed: Jane Foster, Patrick Sloan and the rest of the gang at Marble Canyon Lodge; Grand Canyon Conservation Fund and Teva Sport Sandals for funding and support; Laurie Lee Staveley as our tireless gts outfitter representative; Grand Canyon National Park; gcroa members; Wilderness River Adventures and crew for the float trip; Lynn Hamilton for keeping us as much together as possible; Jennifer and Emily for the great food; the kitchen help; all the very informative speakers; Allen Malmquist; Canyoneers; Juan Delgadillo and his family; Gloeckler¹s group; Katie Lee; and Brother Jon and the Gruse for running the show on time (let¹s hope we got everyone; any omissions are unintended). And, as the Gruse stated at the closing, thanks to everyone for showing up, because it can only be as good as the folks who attend. See ya at the next one!

Your GTS Committee