Ballot Comments

If you’ve been on a GTS river trip, what is the best thing you got out of it?
Education.
The networking and communication with guides from other companies.
Met a plethora of wonderful humans. Including my wife.
Interpretation – Peter Huntoon, geologist – he’s amazingly good at layman’s (but technical) explanations. Incredibly knowledgeable regarding Grand Canyon.
Community sharing of river culture and knowledge.
Meeting fellow guides.
Sex.
All the information and connection to other guides.
Various speakers and topics; good company; chance to interact with folks from other outfitters, science and privates.
We could drink during the day (just kidding). But seriously, meeting people from other companies.
Meeting NPS, interpreters, other guides – some of whom I still know today.
I enjoyed spending a longer amount of time with guides who I wouldn’t or couldn’t or hadn’t spent much time with. I also appreciated learning the techniques used by naturalists, guides, researchers, scientists, musicians for sharing/teaching/explaining all the cool natural and human history facts/information they had learned about Grand Canyon, the river, the weather, the plants.
Interacting with other boatmen, networking, and archaeology info.
A lot of knowledge, experience. What a trip. Too much to learn in one 14 day run.
The right to be denied participation.
The interpretive classes and camaraderie.
Communication with guides from other companies.
Other river company connections with other guides.
Education.
Camaraderie.
Interacting with folks from other companies and park service. Great interpretive knowledge too!
Vast knowledge. Inter-company camaraderie.
Money.
Mingling with NPS folks.
Meeting guides from other companies.
Getting to know other guides, other ways of doing things, other perspectives.
Interaction with scientists to help my interpretation.
Getting to know other guides. It’s the best trip on the river.
Info to give to my passengers.
Meeting new people, the learning (lectures) and interaction.
Education.
Meeting other guides. Paddle boating.
Being with fellow guides and hearing what is important and significant about the river and the canyon for them.
Education, meeting other guides.
Interpretation, hikes, socializing.
Geology info, plant info.
More of a variety of information/education.
Meeting more of the guiding community.
Meeting the other guides.
Camaraderie with other guides from other companies and more ways to describe, teach, interpret information to guests.
Peter Huntoon is terrific.
The opportunity to meet and get to know guides from other outfits.
Good education and bonding.
Canyon history and science. Making friends.
Met and got to know guides from other companies, NPS personnel, etc…
Ongoing education and great networking.
Getting to know guides from other companies. Great plant talks/walks. WFR refresher, Swift water rescue.
Best trip ever!
What improvements to the GTS river trip would entice you (or other guides) to come?
It should be for employed guides only.
Having the time. It is difficult to get away just before the season starts.
If our outfitters would pay for the time (i.e. missed work)
I would love to lead one for you some day. I think it would be a fit.
I’d come if I worked on the river regularly.
The trip was great. I’d go again.
I am planning on going this spring! It has been a matter of timing!
More sex.
None needed – can’t wait to sign up again.
Personally I thought the one I did was great.
This space is too small for a good discussion, but outfitters should pay guides to attend.
I don’t know that it needs improvement; I assume participation has fallen off (editor’s note: it hasn’t). In the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s the GTS was about learning from enthusiastic teachers about the place and it’s people and learning how to take care of the place and ourselves, making the work smarter, easier and safer.
Open the trip to guides who are part-time or freelance guiding. Offer an additional trip (fall?)
Joe Pollock (TL) did a good job, but a little better planning was lacking. We did hit some bad weather and winds. (Editor’s note: Joe may be a great TL, but he can’t control the weather, sorry. Dealing with inclement weather and less than perfect conditions are part of guiding).
Allow more private boaters to participate.
Just more publicity.
It should have a tangible product that could then be disseminated to a wider group.
Unusual activities (hikes).
A quicker trip – using motors. Perhaps two trips could be run then.
Better experts, famous boatmen/women on trip (Brad Dimock, Theresa Yates).
Have everyone exchange or everyone go all the way.
Make sure interpretation and exploration are equal, as both are equally important.
Need more interest from motor guides.
Get enough funding to pay some top-notch resource people.
Take care of passengers.
Smaller group size.
Swiftwater rescue training.
Nude disco night, roll more rocks off cliffs.
Make sure participants are serious, not just out for a $100 river trip.
More time options.
Getting the newsletter announcing the GTS before the GTS trip has already launched.
It’s just fine.
Have two different trips or have it later in the spring – I work at a ski area until April 10th each year.

Have it in April – conflicts with the ski season.
All share equally in work.
More participation.
Run it in March.
Timing – not much you can do about that.
Being able to go without a steady job with an outfitter.
I’m freelance and never know if I’ll have work in the Canyon. This disqualifies me from participating on the GTS river trip, even though I’d really like to. Why not open it to all licensed guides? Would this create too much demand?
Less drinking in the evenings.
More learning.
Dories, kayaks, music.
How about some insight into reading the river.
Can’t recall any changes I’d make.
Do it one or two weeks later. I can’t take that much time off my ski job.
I love the canyon, but also love a lot of other places that I don’t have enough time in already.
It’s a difficult time of year for me to commit to that much time unpaid. WFR refresher and swiftwater rescue.
They’re great as-is, and feel just right for the guide community. Good time of year too.
What improvements would you suggest for the GTS land session?
Schedule it so it coincides with my spring break.
None.
Schedule was too full after dinner. Up-run (movie) was really important but people were ready to dance and be social.
None.
None, they’re great as is!
I usually don’t go. I’d love to, but it’s always during the ski season.
Free t-shirts for speakers (1 each) and possible speaker stipend.
I was at the 2003 spring Land Session GTS. The kitchen scene was too close to the talks. The cook prep was a constant distraction for presenters and attendees. The food was great, Martha was fun, but she should have staged her gig on the south side of the building, not outside the main doors. This is my gripe. Otherwise, it was an interesting line up of talks. NPS guide testing should be scheduled (editor’s note: guide testing is available throughout the GTS weekend without an appointment at Lees Ferry). I think the Coconino County Health Department class (food handler’s) is a waste of $30. Well, at least a waste of $15.
More people with interesting stories about Grand Canyon.
Keep it up. Good job and speakers.
I like it just fine.
The ones I’ve been to have been terrific. Have the Fall Meeting in Bluff again. It’s closer for me.
I think its great.
Make it more thematic. This would help guides gain a more comprehensive understanding of a given subject.
Haven’t been to one for a while, but dynamic speakers are most crucial.
More big name speakers.
Great as it is!
Bring back the tent! (just kidding).
Have it near Flagstaff to avoid consuming large quantities of gasoline.
None. Keep up the good work.
Themes are nice: history, biology, etc…
Try to schedule a WFR course either before or after the GTS land session at a convenient location (Editor’s note: we always do – our first aid courses are usually just prior to the GTS land session).
Don’t try to put too much in 1.5 days.
It’s great.
Keep up the good work!
Mud wrestling between north side outfitters and south side outfitters/owners?
Get more funding, hire someone to do the job and pay them well.
None.
Have it farther north.
Sometimes better weather.
Keep up the good work!
More participation.
I would like to see the land session occur at a time when I could attend. I work for the school system in California. This coming year that would be anytime March 20-28 or April 8-12. Thanks.
None, it’s great.
None, just keep bringing/inviting the “old timers”.
Heated indoor area for talks.
None, other than trying to hold better to the schedule. I missed parts because speakers ran long and I had to leave.
None (yet). Positive note – I think the Hatch warehouse is a much better place than Marble Canyon… more room.
Have a union organizer speak. We have the right to know things – that’s all.
“Workshops” on how to mobilize guides for improved employee benefits. Profit sharing/retirement etc.., and group health insurance plans.
Land sessions are informative and well organized.
Dark beer as well as light!
Unionize.
Bob Webb talk on outwash floods from lava dams.
Less self-glorification of boat people.
Both sessions are great and informative – thanks!