Jackson Hole Summer Travel & River Trip Blog

First trip of the year for me was June 5^th and with the water a refreshing 39 degrees, I had no qualms about wiggling my way into that wetsuit.  Even when I tried to zip it up and gracefully caught the zipper on my belly, I didn’t even curse.  Just sucked it in and gave a thumbs up to my husband Bud.  Seeing as how it was the first trip of the year, I could not stop smiling.   Yep, onto the bus, into my life-jacket, hop in the boat, listen to our head guide Arne’s safety speech, chat with some German folks and a couple of stalwart 10 year-old rafters, and I am still grinning.  Half way through the trip we float into Gauging Straits, a calm section where people like to swim when the water is warmer (note: much warmer).  One adventurous customer (some might say ‘crazy’) decides to jump in the water by doing a back flip off the bow of the boat.  So I clap and whoop and holler just like the other rafters until somebody yells out, “Your turn, Kelly!”  Haha.  But I have a sure-thing ready that will save me from the freshly melted snow that is the Snake River: Everyone knows guides hate to get wet (I know—it’s weird), so I yell out, “If Arne jumps in, I’ll jump in!” Now see this is where I am reminded that Dave Hansen guides are not just any guides.  It took about .5 seconds after I smugly pronounced my dare for Arne to hop up on the tube, give a little bounce and back he flips right into that 40 degree water.  Say what?!   Nothing left to do but slip off the sunglasses, take a deep breath, and flip myself into the river for the first swim of the year.  Even though I might have screamed once or twice to get back in, it was so awesome I am still smiling just thinking about it two weeks later.  Love the river, no matter how cold it is.

Leo Bridges

First game of the season! Leo Bridges, 1st overall in the ‘43 draft, threw smoke to lead Dave Hansen Whitewater to a 15-1 victory over 4th-Base. Jonathan King chipped in with a home run and a smile and wave to the fans. Good work team! Dave Hansen plays again Friday, June 19th at 7:30 pm. at Mateosky Field versus … of in the shower.  - Will

Working at Dave Hansen Whitewater I’m constantly surprised by my river buds.  Not only can they navigate a boat like nobody’s business, but they’ve got all sorts of hidden tricks up their sleeve.  Arne can speak Mandarin.  Jon is fluent in Spanish.  Jason can cook the best meat you’ll ever eat.  Deuce is a tri-athalon competitor who also speaks Portuguese.  (As I’m writing this I didn’t realize we had such a language savy crew.)  Anyway, add to this the guitar and harmonica playing and there is never a dull moment around these parts.

Last night was exceptionally fun.  I went to a random night of poetry here in Jackson, Wyoming and two of our guides… T-Bone and YT (also known as Bryson to our guests) recited some poems from memory about rivers.  Personal favorite was a quote from A River Runs Through It.

“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.

I am haunted by waters.”

I got to thinking about my own experience on the river.  Call it an additiction, a need, a way to feel connected to something more than myself, but I am haunted by waters.  There is nothing like a current, or a big wave, or seeing the pelicans skim the water on a scenic trip that calms my mind of all its anxious little thoughts.

So here’s to another summer of being haunted by waters.  I’m excited to meet all of you people out there who feel the same way.   Raft On

-Em

Sassy Wetsuit, Wonder Woman

However, our two o’clock crew had a different approach.  They came out of our dressing rooms like a bunch of dancers taking the stage at a Beyonce concert shakin’ their tushes and posing in their saucy booties.

And let me tell you something- I have never seen wetsuits look so good. 

They worked those tight spandex-ed unforgiving pieces of rubber like Tyra (Banks) had just placed them in Jackson for an ANTM* photo shoot. (*For those of you who aren’t as obsessed with the CW as I am, I’m speaking of America’s Next Top Model- a show that tugs at my heartstrings and makes me want to practice my runway walk.)

After crushing it in an impromptu photo shoot in front of the Dave Hansen Bus, the crew loaded up and took off on an excellent whitewater adventure.

2pm trip- I like yo style.

It’s hard not to feel incredibly lucky living alongside the Snake River.  I love Jackson and will always consider it a second home.  But meeting our guests from all over the world, has got me up and wanting to travel again.  Call it the Burnworth wanderlust, but I’m always jazzed about hearing new places to travel to.  Today was no exception.  An awesome group from Washington state came in to talk about their Jackson Hole Whitewater Trip (Yowzers Lunch Counter is huge right now! :)  ) and they thought I was a girl they served on the Peace Corps with.

Turns out they worked in education and wrote proposals to help build the technology and general maintenance of the schools in South Africa.  Pretty cool.  Coincidentally the girl they knew was named Emmy.  (Mine name is Emily.)  No such luck, I was not Emmy.  And, I have not been in the Peace Corps or lived in South Africa.  Though check in a few years and maybe I will be.

So some of our blog followers might be from the Idaho area and have already watched the KIDK evening news.  For those of you who aren’t from the area or don’t have cable (maybe because you live in a tent down by the river) here’s what’s up.  Jason Laughlin, one of our guides here at DHWW, used his awesome guide skills and rescued a drowning man on the North Fork of the Snake River in Idaho.  Check out the news special on this link.  http://www.kidk.com/news/local/46760777.html

Rock on Jason.  Way to keep that life jacket on hand!

We had quite the morning here at Dave Hansen…eleven brave souls dove into our giant blue Caddies for a scenic tour down the snake under cover of cloud and threat of rain.  And rain it did.  
 
True to Jackson Pioneer fashion, everyone braved the elements with admirably high spirits- and loads of ponchos and blankets.  I myself felt a little like a pioneer- because a.)  I’m a dork and b.)  I am still obsessed with Oregon Trail.  “Caulk the Wagons and Float” we did as we took on the Snake and everything she had to offer us.
 
And, let me tell you- she had quite a bit to offer.  From rushing water to misty clouds to giant floating trees there was quite a bit of excellent action this morning.  Aside from the action, we also found the trip to be quite educational.  For example, we learned that Bald Eagles dig the rain- there were three checking us out as we floated under them.  Pelicans, on the other hand prefer to just chill in bunches, bow their heads, and look miserable. 
 
They could take some lessons in enjoying the moment from our guests! 
 
After sliding out of the boats, peeling off life jackets, and getting a cup of steaming hot chocolate, everyone was still smiling. 
 
Sticking it out in the elements and enjoying the surrounding beauty? 
Now that is some Jackson Spirit!
 
Well done Becker, Fox, Cook and Wolff families!  We’d put you in our covered wagon any day.

Frankie realizing that he needs his Ninja Wetsuit when taking on Lunch Counter!

Frankie in his Ninja Wetsuit Taking on Lunch Counter

After convincing him that even though he was born in a cold state and probably has excellent frigid waters tolerance, we got Frankie into a mini man wetsuit.  In which he looked like a superhero.  Or a ninja.  As I suited other customers up, I hear Frankie from behind the dressing room door say, “I’m like a ninja.  Ninja’s are deadly and silent.” [pause] And then ominously, “And also unspeakably violent”. 

I have one word for comments like that coming out of a kid wearing full wetsuit gear:  Awesome.

Turns out that they were lyrics from a kids song (did you know Bare Naked Ladies has a whole children’s album???  Look out Rafi!)…whatever.  I’m still impressed with his vocab and the way he easily spliced song lyrics into everyday conversation.  We might have a pop culture genius on our hands.  Interestingly, “The Ninja Song” is not Frankie’s favorite.  It’s actually Track 23, which I encourage you all to check out. 

The point of all of this?  It’s awesome how a customer can make your day.  Rock on and Raft on.