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Show rapid, the more he liked it. Kent worked with me on my rowing technique and then I followed him on my first rowing lesson which was more than to me. exhausting It seemed easy to him. He read the river well, was great in camp. And if you were pooped, he was doing your job, too. Kent was running West-wate- r the week I left and his brother Kelly had taken over on the San Juan. Kelly, I didnt really get to know, but he was a heavy weight, could lift a horse and was also trained by his father Green. A master at mocking someone else, he always arrived at the end of a trip with an English brogue. Everyone was soon in laughter. Vcrl under-breat- r pjimif fffr became lost. So everyone at the Bible camp felt sorry for him and even brought him home in the morning. What could we say? good morning, Martin," with a few well placed oaths given to watch the next joke on Martin. Joining us for two weeks when a swamper lost his life was Kent Bigler, Cove Fort. Always a smile and lots with the lingo, a willing worker, his brawn made the much easier to load. - His past experience workjnp on a ocean fishing boat helped and he helped yours truly with the rowing. Great in a water fight, but not too swift on his feet, he was always drenched, but always managed in drenching someone also. NXa! h l A zS jr-'-i- u-. ,- .. -y 444444444444444444444444444444444 Our trips were all perative, in addition fo learn-inhow to run the rivers, we also learned of the wealth of information which the San Juan river contains. It is rich in geological data. It is rich in but person get deep earth sciences. The hisanew lease on life. tory of the Ancients truly unMy summer was spent folded down the banks of the working at Wild Rivers ex- - San Juan, in rock writings, peditions, Bluff, holding the cliff dwellings and modern distinction of being the old- - Indian people living along the est river hippie" to recieve river, an apprentice license in a It is rich in the rare, quiet long time. of Mother Nature, beauty The term river hippie" is undisturbed. seemingly my own and neither reflects Here a could float person or describes what I was doing down a turn back the river, I with. whom was or working of time, stop the modword pages I the despise ern machinery of today and I is of one think it hippie. relax without the hectic the most misused and mis- just outside even close. In world understood words to come out fact, in a few days it was alof the past generation. most forgotten by many. Many people who were called We didn't take flashhippies were just somewe didn't take gas lanlights. what more daring, somewhat terns, we didnt take cots. more different. They were We didn't take tents, and we working to achieve a identy didn't have or make elabrate all their own. and camp sites. We took the San Juan for I would prefer to refer to them as nomads. Since the be- what she was, beautiful, rugginning of time we have had ged and priminative. We such people who were in camped along sandbars. The search of many things. roof was the stars. We ate from dutch ovens and cooked Gypsies of Europe and this over the coals of driftwood. country were much the same. Our groups included some of What were the crusades? the finest University personWho restless nel in the country, the dithe were people who pushed west? rector of doctors, Who chased the rainbow lawyers, teacher, student, called gold? Who sailed the youngsters, families, singles seven seas? and swingers. Once in the sun There were some who and with a life jacket on and in drugs, comwet feet, we were all just runmitted crimes, were immoral, ning the river and chasing that put this class of people have rainbow. been with us since time. Many were looking to make tomorrow better than today The boatmen, were each in in their way. Many felt strong- his own way, just as colorful ly that life was meant to be as each nights sunset. If shared. anything set him aside from To prove that I could work, anyone else, it was his skill Whos could function and gain friends, I and his be the most ragged and still took the name river hippie. After a summer of water cling on. Whos sunburn fights, foot races, streaking would turn the most golden .through Bluff in the near buff brown and not black? Who and urging a crew to near would be the first boatman that day to hit a rock. mutiny (in jest only), the sumThey talked a language all mer of 76 will be most memocenter on the rable. The memories will their own, probably keep me chasing v s." "cut the cs," ride rainbows for another few the tongue," "feather the years. oar," shorten and watch the THE SUMMER OF To chase a rainbow is more than worthwhile. Most of this summer has been spent with a wonderful group of fellows who helped a g g, young-in-hea- rt life-sty- le SKY-LA- over-indulge- Kelly Green Warm hearts Vft- - and shinning faces, a time to put la jhterandjoy into the hearts of others. . . 'rrMmmmtmi Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see bearty Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old and may the blossoms of friendship and love per fume your days and happiness walk with you now and f'xcd dinner. We wjth his jong dark hair and watched the San Juan at sun- - flashi it brwn not my Iasj wont be I down- lhPe long until he is view. Afterwards, we saved known not only5at river carnp the life of a sidewinder rat- - but in Bluff itself. tier. Someone up there, always Bob spent his days off deeps us in line. With the picking up trash in remote sweet, we sometimes have the canyons, left by careless bitter. With happiness, we r - -- always. days first rapid, a look so serious and as cold as steel that you couldnt believe it came from a young man just that turned 18. Its serious business. The safety of a lot of people depend on that riverman, that boatman. When its running serious time. time, its Water fights are forgotten, play games no more, last nights frolic is all over. Then out of the rapid and on the tongue, "beautiful, T.J." Its all smiles and a few more miles of beautiful river to enjoy, passengers to talk to and tell of the wonders of the San Juan. I would encourage any young person and if they have such an opportunity for such an adventure, take it. Many girls are now starting out as Whether its swampers. running a river, working in a park, helping to build a trail. Seek some adventure. Its rewards will be greater than the big money one might earn elsewhere. Only 21, he has run a cafe, managed a service station, been one of only two ambulance drivers for near a 100 miles, served as postmaster. Hes Mr. Friday at the Trading Post and has run rivers for over three years. How does he crowd it all in, he wont tell us. What does T.J. stand for? When asked I would say Thad-iu- s Jerrimiah. It is really Thomas Joseph Knight II. If you want to get along, call him T.J. A psychic of sorts, he pretty well has the whole deck figured out before the deal is finished. So play your hand tight to the gut and above all honest be straight-forwarand truthful. A master at the water-fighrarely getting soaked himself, but soaking everyone else. Just when you have the acme of a practical joke, he tops it. n The jokes, sometimes reached the point, truce had where a three-da- y to be called. Time to recover, and dry out. t, Knight-Wilso- wwwwwwwwwwwwhw s. '4444444444444444444444444tt444444t44444 - ' A. Je Bill Wilson d cut-off- ' - t". h f. r-- - i- h A p; r.- & - U X ' f V IV Nil A' V. r 444444444444444444444444444444444444 He was fast however and his weight fooled you. He took little Bill, one of the 250 pound boats and held it up with one hand. Then when crewman Martin, smarted off, he found himself soon air- borne on Kellys arm heading for rain barrel or upside down in the sand. Martin Zimitis, Davis, Calif. 17, ran the San Juan for the first time at 12. Now working toward his boatsman license, hes an oldtimer at Wild Rivers. Not a book has been written on River running that amounts to anything that Martin hadnt read. He would ask a question and then start arguing over what your answer might be, before you had given it. Hard working and fun. Girls at the Recapture kept him busy in the evenings, when he wasn't writing letters to girls in Calif. He knew A good swimmer, but he cheated at water-balhe was supposed to be in the deep end when we found out he was standing on a ledge. Check vour bed at night, he wasnt afraid of lizzards. While fixing lunch one day, I make Kent Green and his assistant Lizard sandwiches, which brought about quiet a down river, SUI?!irte and 29 miles from the nearest Arctic. Kent B was to be dn that trip but went off on a shuttle to Lake Powell. And then theres me, 29 years old, slightly grey, rafher out of condition and not knowing a thing about river running. It didnt take long after weekly and daily hikes, keeping up with this crew, to get in shape or ship out. The first time was spent painting, washing, cleaning equipment and working as K.P. l, As though reluctant to retire, and yield her reign to eventide, the setting sun turns into fire and tints the countryside and slowly sinks from sight, the earth calmly called to rest and it is the coverlet of night. J 1 i'-X- Like the star, shining afar, slowly now and without rest, let each man turn, with steady sway, Round the task that rules the day And do his best. Ken Ross 5 ' M Kent Green . r"': u ,5-- ' n Kent Bigler A little time completely free, for quiet thoughts and memories, a robust time of merriment, a time to dream e and dreams not yet dreamed on a of distant summer horizon and friends yet not found. 4444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 people. A true lover of the out- must also be reminded of the doors with a deep feeling of darker side, sadness. This kinship for this beautiful and happened too, on the San fragile land, always wanting to Juan. The young man I started keep and preserve it for working with as camp tender and swamper and maybe others to enjoy. drowned boatman Others included another future Bob at the Merc: Jim and while on his Senior trip at Johnny and the gang at the Silver Dollar; those at the Lake Powell. Paul was a quiet Enco; at the Painted Horn lad, not many friends, keenly in the top of his class. Trading Post, the sweet gals bright, At his memorial service, his at the Dairy; Mary, Gene and wonderful tributes Gcno at Recapture; and the many hundreds that I helped on and were brought out. He was a off boats who were such won- special person and together we got through those first derful people. Hannie Rodriquez joined weeks. dreams-come-tru- .... q0$4444444444444444444444f4444444fyt44f4f444444444444 s 44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 We hiked all over the cliffs of Bluff, both night and day. THECREW Owner of the company is We swam in the river and the Kenneth Ross, veteran river pool at Recapture Lodge. runner. He is holder of many Thats where I became the college degrees. Former Park Bluff streaker, after T.J. and Ranger, master story teller. Kent B. got my suit. Have you His scrapbook is full of the ever worn a large rubber band greats, the near greats and for a bikini and tried to just plain people. He has pas- hide behind or streak as cars sion for the "Ross way" came along between small and near rage for anyone who growths of willows and ? might not become part of a not easy, but it Its crew but may well come be- sure got the old man in tween him and the crew. shape." Ask him about any river, On one trip T.J.'s eyes he will tell you about it. He really flashed. He made perwalks with a swinging gait. fect runs tn all the rapids. His His back took it hard on the of learning the riser years Middle Fork of Salmon w hen, were really paying off. to insure safety of boat and Second boatman, but new to passengers he went over the the Wild Rivers Camp was back rail on a Kent Green, a character of His smile, enough like that and brawn that had the muscle of John Beal, that he played the girls young Beals double in Ten Who rest of us twitching and struggling to keep Dared. up. A recent graduate of San His the great Juan High School and State outdoors where he's probWrestling Champion. ably spent more time in a His father, a notable sleeping bag than any ten had taught Kent in the men. ways of river running the hard A conservationist, just way. He was joining Wild throw some litter and sec his Rivers for some polish which wrath. he rapidly gained during the T.J. Knight, a young man. summer. whose keen intense eyes, Always a smile, and then al- never miss a move, has rom- - wavs time to sit and chat with manded the respect of a gen.--. a fricnd and toss rocks tnc oral when it comes to the other river, boatman. Part owner of the He had a bad knee from company, born in the heart of football and was not too swift, the San Juan Country. His But in other ways he made up parents now operate the Mcx- - for it. He could run a good dip lean Hat trading post. When with five gallons of water and not running rivers, he is you were tor sure going to get working toward an engine- wet. at Phoenix He had a style that was fun ering degree Community College. and relaxed. The tougher the Pi n 1 i bitter-brush- i T.J. Knight, II. to this day! For it is life, the very life of life. . . for yesterday is already a dream, tomorrow only a vision; But today, well lived, makes every yesterday, a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a new day. Look The crew of the good ship lolypop, were constantly in pursuit of the most in life. They filled everyday with some new adventure, some new living, enjoying this great and good land, especially the The people who went down the river this vear were as broad and varied as the river itself. Each day the river had to be read to run it properly. Each day, a new boat load of passengers climbed on board. They too were as different as the river the day before. : i Look downstream stroke. out for the hold on eight foot. the big rock on John's must still be run on the right and you must ride the curl of Did you see that idiot wave. that crashed the side at Government? you river hippie (generally aimed at me) youre never going to be able to tell a rock from a sand wave. One other distinct characteristic was the mirror sunglasses, the sun-oi- l and a half dozen red bandana's. And just as the boat came around for I life-styl- riser-runne- r, ( Martin Zemitis Quickly, Summer, safely gather every cherished bit of beauty from each shortened day; safety, summer, store them till, you gently shake them out next sum mer. 44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 But then I started running boats, and what they would do. A serious person, a practi down the river and finally got cal joke really threw him. He my apprentice for that river. would try a serious approach If we hadnt run out of water, I and we would all be in riotous would have recicvcd my license. still have the right laughter. number of trips, just need to would the turn he Often, the w ritten test. take tables, as one night on a five I other wonderful met him. We from hid mile hike. He didn't show up and he people, both on the river and didnt show up. We spent part off, around Bluff. One of my good friends was of the night looking for him, of Robert Call, kicking ourselves that we had of Fillmore. left poor Martin out in the the founder He was the River Ranger, afwilds to contend with the Indians, the goats and sheep all fectionately called the "river ' alone. pig." Each morning we oink a with him When the sun came up the greeted next morning, the crew minus oink." A professional river from runner before he came ranger, Martin were lack of sleep and worry. he knew the rivers and knew Then the headmaster of the how to run them. On off times, he would have Bible school showed up with exMartin in tow. It seems the you laughing at his Bible school was all girls and periences. Then when you Martin had borrowed a sleep- were really down and needed was Bob. ing bag for the night when he a friend, there Mv last night in Bluff, he 1 great-grandso- rcd-cyc- d n I )Vg& r - Hannie Rodriquez Above the slowly moving stream, youth not yet lost, life itself youth not yet found, stirring, unfolding new tadventures each and every day. half-wakef- ul 444444444444444444444444444444444444444 the crew late this summer and in Phoenix, is active in a host of sports. Little brother under the Big Brother" program. Hannie catches on quick, Hannie is always quick, alert and ready to help. About the third night in camp we played musicial chairs with the ants and other bugs. First one of us would try the civil war bed outside, then move in. This went on to the wee hours ol the morning and yours truly ended half in and half out of his trailer. T.J. was on the floor. Somehow Hannie ' had the best and coolest bed all himself. The girls in town were just finding out he had arrived. Yes, it was all there in th summer of '76. as my gooi Nnvaio friend muc said.. There is beauty in the cast the west, the north and th south, and may your cori always grow tall, and you days filled with the goo things of the great spirit." Thanks, crewman good ship lollypop. Th my family for taking o me. Thanks to nty friends, readers and su ers of the Progress for the river hippie" find lease on life. Bill |