If you’ve felt the surge of adrenaline that comes with outdoor adventure, and then rehashed those memories with the friends you shared it with around a campfire later that evening, there were likely some epiphanies articulated.

Sometimes, those joyful expressions find their form in verse.

One of our repeat guests, Lee Marc Stein, was so moved. After a trip on Oregon’s Rogue River, Lee shared this one with us.

Streaming

Now, that is good stuff.

Nice work, Lee.

The post How Adventure Makes Poets Of Us All appeared first on River Currents.

Every family has them: “That one time” when dad said … that time your brother fell and … that day mom found …

Fill in the blanks with your family’s unique history that will come up at all the get-togethers down the line and get passed on to the next generation.

A multi-day river trip has so many opportunities for that sort of bonding, and it really is so easy to do, it’s hard to think of a better way to spend a vacation.

I’m biased, of course, but consider all these reasons a family rafting trip is just plain perfect:

No connectivity.

Sometimes you have to disconnect to reconnect. On a river trip cell phone’s don’t work. Checking email or playing video games is not an option. All of a sudden you find yourself talking, laughing and enjoying the simple pleasures of uninterrupted time together.

Worry-free camping.

We know the ideal spots. We bring the gear, and we know it all works. You just have to show up.

Guides do the cooking.

And we’re not talking beans and weenies, here. This is gourmet stuff. You just have to eat, and wash off your plate.

Dutch oven desserts.

If you’ve never had this guilty pleasure, well, you’ll just have to. Let’s just say you’ll be amazed at what’s possible.

Sunrise and sunset over canyon walls.

Cameras struggle to capture these rose, crimson, amber and gold hues. You need to see them yourself, and then see that loved one basking in the view, too.

Star-filled skies.

We forget what light pollution is doing to our night-time view until we get a few hundred miles off into the wild. When’s the last time your kids saw the purple wisps of the Milky Way?

Beach games, nature walks, fishing and catching salamanders.

You get plenty of free time at camp, and we have yet to hear anyone say, “I’m bored.” It’s way more than raft-eat-sleep if you do a multi-day river trip right.

Campfire stories.

You’ll have plenty to tell, and we can guarantee our guides spin an interesting yarn or three. We’ll bring the marshmallows, too.

Falling asleep beside rushing waters.

There’s white noise, and then there’s whitewater noise. These nights on the banks of the river will be filled with the kind of slumber you’ve been craving — the whole family has.

But what about you? What makes the perfect vacation for your family? Give us some ideas in the comments below.

The post Multi-Day River Trips: The Ideal Family Vacation appeared first on River Currents.

The not-for-profit conservation organization American Rivers has just announced its 2012 list of the country’s most endangered rivers. Unfortunately, the historic and spectacular Green River, which flows through parts of Wyoming, Utah and Colorado, made the list.

What’s the threat?

There is a proposal under consideration to divert 250,000 acre-feet of water from the Green River across the state of Wyoming to fuel ever-expanding growth in Colorado’s Front Range communities. The plan, in effect, would be to build a 500-mile pipeline to funnel water to Denver and its suburbs.

And as if that weren’t enough of a threat, there’s also talk of a nuclear power plant being built near the town of Green River, which would suck up an estimated 53,000 acre-feet of Green River water each year to prevent a catastrophic meltdown.

Naturally, we’re biased in our opinion that the water should stay in the river. There’s no doubt we have a vested interest! After all, we’ve been guiding whitewater rafting trips on rivers of the American West for over 40 years and, along with our subsidiary Don Hatch River Expeditions, we’re the largest commercial outfitter on the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument. And at over 700 miles in length, the Green is the largest tributary of the Colorado River, which is the cornerstone of our organization. But these threats, of course, have more far reaching consequences than just our business interests.

Water shortages caused by these proposals could have a devastating effect on the robust recreation and tourism economies of the Colorado Plateau, as well as a potentially enormous negative impact on rural agriculture, native species and downstream water needs.

According to Trout Unlimited, which also opposes the pipeline project, the Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Green River above it contribute $118 million annually to the local economy. (That’s in addition to the estimated $4.3 million Green River whitewater rafting contributes to the economy.)

Why Is This River So Important To Paddlers?

The 4-day river trip that O.A.R.S. operates on the Green through the Gates of Lodore in Dinosaur National Monument is one of the world’s great introductory river trips.

The camping is on sandy beaches among scattered boulders, rustling willows, junipers and giant cottonwoods. Clear creeks–perfect for swimming–tumble out of shady side canyons and the wildlife abounds.

The whitewater is moderate and fun, even for kids as young as seven. The side hikes are rich with history, ancient and not-so-ancient.

The geology is some of the most fascinating on the planet. A billion years are captured in these canyon walls, along with the remnants of various life forms that existed long before humans.

The scenery features vertical yellow and red sandstone walls that tower as high as 1000 feet and tiger-striped walls alternate in blonde rock and black manganese oxide. It’s not uncommon to hear from people that they consider the Green River through Lodore Canyon to be every bit as spectacular as the Grand Canyon.

And on the final day of a Green River trip in Dinosaur National Monument, Split Mountain Canyon awaits. The Class III rapids are so much fun, we run that part as a single-day trip as well. And, if you ask me, it’s the most scenically spectacular one-day river trip in North America.

What Will Happen To The River?

The very water in the river is what’s at stake here.

A pump and a 500-mile pipeline threatens to divert water from the river to slake the thirst of an ever-growing population.

And when the water is drained from the Green, a classic American river could be forever altered. Critical fish habitat, home to endangered species and countless others, will be jeopardized. A sustainable economy built on recreation and tourism in this magnificent place could take a big hit. Rural agriculture and urban water use downstream could be severely impacted. One of the best rivers for first-timers–one we love to share with people again and again–could dry up.

What Can You Do?

O.A.R.S. has joined with American Rivers in opposition of the proposed pipeline.

We recognize the importance of preserving the Green River’s recreational opportunities and natural ecosystems and think you should too.

If you want to pitch in, if you love rivers and wild places like we do, then here are a few things you can do to help:

• First, visit the American Rivers website and complete the pre-formatted message to Utah’s Gov. Herbert.
• Then, share a photo or message on Facebook and Twitter. American Rivers has prepared some for you on that same page, so it just takes a couple clicks.
• If you’ve got a blog or website, there are banners and graphics that you can embed to help spread the word.

It only takes about 3 minutes. Less, even. Thanks for joining us in support of protection for one of America’s great natural treasures.

The post The Green River Makes The Most Endangered Rivers List appeared first on River Currents.

Until recently, that meant reaching into the cooler or drag bag for a can of Bud, Coors, or Miller. Today, cans are becoming the preferred vessel for a range of tasty American craft beers. We asked Mutineer Magazine’s online editor, Brian Kropf, to share his thoughts on the virtues of canned beer.

In your opinion, what are the best canned beers on the market today and why?

That’s a loaded question as there are so many incredible craft breweries canning beers these days. One of my favorites and one of the original craft breweries that turned to canning was Oskar Blues in Lyons, Colorado. They do about every style you could think of, but their Dale’s Pale Ale and their Ten FIDY Imperial Stout are phenomenal.

I’m also a big fan of canned beer from 21st Amendment Brewery in San Francisco, New Belgium Brewing out of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Avery Brewing from Boulder, Colorado. I’m most excited about Sierra Nevada who has just ordered a canning line and they should be fully operational around the first of the year offering both their game-changing Pale Ale and their incredible Torpedo.

Where can you find good canned beers these days?

Everywhere. Depending on where you are located, there are plenty of local options from breweries like Surly Brewing (MN), Ska Brewing (CO), Maui Brewing (HI), Brooklyn Brewing (NY), etc. There are plenty of options, many of which receive national distribution and plenty that distribute only regionally and locally.

What are the advantages of canned beer?

There are plenty of advantages ranging from sustainability to convenience to overall quality. One important advantage is that aluminum is infinitely recyclable, so long as it is actually recycled! Also, it is “greener” as it has a lower carbon footprint being that one standard shipping pallet can hold one hundred cases of canned beer versus sixty glass bottle cases. Second is convenience. Glass isn’t allowed everywhere, such as beaches for example, or backpacking or river rafting. Would you want to haul in and out glass bottles? No! Grab your favorite canned beer, drink it, smash it, throw it in your bag and recycle it. Lastly, cans keep beer fresher! The can will keep out harmful UV rays and oxygen, keeping your beer fresher, longer.

Brian Kropf is a former paratrooper of the United States Army’s 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and has spent over a year and a half fighting on the front lines of Iraq and providing humanitarian assistance to earthquake victims in Haiti. Brian now resides in Napa, CA, where he works full time as the online editor for Mutineer Magazine and is in a scout sniper platoon in the California Army National Guard. When Brian isn’t busy saving the world, he enjoys craft beer, tasty bourbon and a good meal.

The post Good Beer In A Can. Finally. appeared first on River Currents.