Utah Boaters: What About Us?

   A couple kinds of input keep trickling in from the some of the Northern boatmen: A) that Grand Canyon boatmen living in Utah feel excluded from the “Flagstaff Boatmen’s Club", and B) that the tributaries of the Colorado and those that boat them need the same attention that we are focusing on the Grand Canyon.

   Let’s start with the first one. The reason that GCRG was formed and remains in Flagstaff is simple: Shear numbers of boatmen. It takes a critical mass of human energy to get things moving and keep them moving. Of the more than one hundred boatmen in Flagstaff, roughly 10% form the active working core of GCRG. Even with such a large pool of people, we’re terribly understaffed. The next largest batch of Grand Canyon boatmen are in Salt Lake– about 35. So, since we’ve got to be somewhere, Flagstaff is the logical place.

   This leaves us with the problem of how to keep in touch with, and best represent, our northern brethren. We do have board members from Utah, and we occasionally have general meetings up there. We do try. But it’s got to be a two-way street. We have some Utah members who never miss a meeting. Their input is consistently presented to us. To be involved, you’ve got to make an effort. Just like the Flagstaff locals who still haven’t joined, you won’t be involved unless you try to be. Call. Write. Grab a board member on the river and let him/her know what’s up. Come to Moab this Fall. We need your input.

   Regarding the San Juan, Cataract, Desolation, the Yampa, Westwater, Lodore, the Dolores and those who boat them: Yes, we want to help. But no, we can’t do it ourselves. We are over extended as it is and feel we’d lose what focus we have by diluting ourselves further. We’ve learned a lot of lessons, though, and know a lot of tricks we can share. We’ve been talking to several instigators up in Moab, and we are planning a Fall Meeting there to fire up a sister organization. We feel if we can get a critical mass together using GCRG as sourdough starter, we can get something pretty incredible rolling. It will also be a good time to get more northern Grand Canyon boatmen more deeply involved with GCRG. So spread the word– November 13 at Pack Creek Ranch. BE THERE. And ask not what your guides organization can do for you. Ask what you can do for your guides organization. If you’re intereseted in helping organize the event, or have input, write: Utah, c/o GCRG