Timberline Tours is excited to be involved in the 2011 Adventure Team Challenge taking place in Colorado June 25-27.

This unique annual event will take place along the Colorado River valley near Rancho Del Rio, just upriver from State Bridge.

The 2011 Adventure TEAM Challenge brings together disabled and non-disabled athletes for 3 days of mountain biking, rafting, orienteering, ziplines and rappelling.

For more details on this inspiring event, please visit the World T.E.A.M Sports website at http://worldteamsports.org/events/adventure-team-challenge/

Colorado River – Gore Canyon Race 2010

From the Race organizers, thank you to everyone who helped out with this year’s race, especially the many volunteers in safety, timing, railroad and just helping out in general. We wouldn’t be able to do this race with out you and it is very much appreciated.

You can view the full race results here:

Download: Gore Canyon 2010 Race Results

A special thank you to Lisa Reeder for putting together all aspects of the race, Terri and the BLM for their participation and cooperation, Jim Yust for use of his land, US Railroad Authorities for their cooperation and assistance, Doug Schofield and Matt Sargeant for heading up safety, Timberline Tours and Lakota for providing the shuttles, Alpine Quest for the awesome SUP Board demos and of course to all of the racers.

We hope that you all enjoyed the weekend and that we can continue to put on a great race in future years.

Scott Willoughby of the Denver Post writes an interesting article about the future of the popular recreational river stretch the Upper Colorado. Willoughby gives an interesting perspective on the issue highlighting the immenent changes to the family friendly boating section and how diverting water is having serious effects on its survival.

Willoughby: Heathly upper Colorado isn’t sure thing anymore; Denver Post, Tuesday August 10, 2010

RANCHO DEL RIO — It could, I suppose, be considered the end of an era, although such lofty portrayal is typically reserved for matters of broader significance.

But as I drove off after signing over the title of the river boat I’d owned for the past decade, I couldn’t help feeling just a little melancholy. Memories, too many to count, of quiet days on the water came flooding back like snowmelt gushing down a mountain stream in springtime.

The miles I’d logged in the McKenzie-style drift boat with friends on the major rivers of the Rocky Mountain West were equally unquantifiable. From the Gunnison, Roaring Fork, Green, North Platte, Salmon, Snake, San Juan and many more throughout Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and up into Canada, the boat had served as travel companion to some of the finest trout fisheries and most scenic spots in the nation.

Without question, though, the vast majority of our time was spent right here, where the transition came to pass on the upper reaches of the Colorado River.

I learned to love the upper Colorado River early in my boating career, training as a guide on its serene stretches in the early 1990s and uncovering several of its infinite secrets as I explored the nooks and nuances of the state’s namesake waterway for the better part of 20 years.

Although it might appear that all that can be discovered on a river as renowned as the Colorado already has been discovered thoroughly since the pioneering age of Maj. John Wesley Powell and his 1869 expeditionary rival Samuel Adams (credited as the first man to attempt boating the Blue River and upper Colorado through Gore Canyon), nothing could be further from the truth. Like all moving water, the Colorado River is change incarnate, different every day.

Most days, in most places, there is an aura of humility surrounding the tranquil river and pastoral valleys that border it. Its mere presence provides comfort with nothing more to prove.

Yet the threats to the upper Colorado somehow manage to multiply.

My relationship with the aforementioned river boat ended primarily due to neglect. It seems I could no longer find enough float time to justify keeping the craft, although the few weekend visits I’ve made to the upper Colorado downstream from Kremmling this summer have demonstrated that’s not necessarily the case for others.

The weekend crowds at popular put-ins like Pumphouse Recreation Area, Radium and Rancho del Rio have swollen to levels never witnessed by me before as recognition of the pleasures offered by this treasure increases. For the most part, I believe that’s a good thing, as long as we are all willing to look after ourselves and manage our impact while we’re on the river corridor.

These days, it’s what happens off the river that concerns me more. New water diversion project proposals, overallocation of the resource and lack of mitigation prompted the Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group American Rivers to designate the upper Colorado River the nation’s sixth-most endangered river in 2010.

Perhaps it’s the end of an era after all.

“We can’t continue to take and take water from the upper Colorado without accounting for the serious impacts to fish and wildlife habitat,” said Ken Neubecker of Colorado Trout Unlimited. “This is a river on the brink. A vibrant, healthy river system in the upper Colorado is every bit as important to the future of Colorado as the water it supplies to our farms and cities.”

Estimates place as much as 60 percent of the upper Colorado already being diverted from the drainage and the proposed Windy Gap Firming Project could take another 20 percent of a river struggling to survive. The proposed Moffat Firming Project, seeking federal approval at the same time, will further reduce flows in the upper Colorado.

It’s easy to point fingers at the water districts behind these proposals and label them as bullies or bad guys. But the reality is that the folks at Denver Water and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District are only doing what their customers want. And I can’t escape the notion that a good chunk of those customers are spending their Saturdays on the very water they both treasure and covet.

Whether that’s the case or not, those floaters still stand to lose as much as anyone should current trends continue, arguably more. So it behooves them to become engaged in the entire process, beginning with conservation at home and continuing through encouragement of local governments and state agencies to ensure adequate protection is provided for maintaining a healthy river.

There’s plenty left to learn from this place, including an unlimited supply of lessons on change. Maybe there’s another one in there somewhere about neglect. Certainly the end of the upper Colorado would mark the conclusion of an era none of us needs to see.

However one thing people may not know about that should definitely be added to the list is rafting Gore Canyon on the Colorado River. What’s Gore Canyon you ask? Gore is one of the top 3 toughest stretches of commercially runnable whitewater in the US, meaning it is more then just a leisurely float down the river. It was our head boatmen Billy Mattison and Chris “Mongo” Reeder who pioneered this stretch commercially back in 1990 and have taken hundreds of adventure seeking, adrenaline pumped customers since. Prior to that it was only brave (some say slightly insane!) kayakers and private boaters that took on the Class IV/V rapids that make up this remote yet breath taking canyon nestled near the headwaters of the famous Colorado River.

A typical raft trip on Gore Canyon starts out with the isolated drive up Highway 131 to the confluence of the Colorado and Blue Rivers in Kremmling. As you drive into the put in you’re greeted by a sign stating “expert boaters only, extreme whitewater ahead” and it’s then that you notice the Timberline Tours sticker placed next to it!. After unloading the boats you are faced with a 45 minute flat water paddle to the entrance of the canyon.

Why wouldn't you go rafting with these guys?!

On all of our commerical Gore Canyon river trips participants are required to complete a swim test. This consists of swimming a class II rapid, catching a throw bag as well as swimming under the boat and pulling yourself back in. This is purely to prepare you for the river section ahead and doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to swim. But it is Gore, anything can happen.

This is also the point of no return. Now is the time to decide if you are going down the river through Gore Canyon or not. Some say its easier to raft the river rather then hike out of the remote canyon. We think you’ve come all this way why not just do it.

The next five miles of the Colorado River are made up of some of the most intense rapids you can raft. At a steep gradient drop of 120ft per mile you will face rapids such as Apple Sauce, Pyrite and Scissors. After this rather dynamic warm up you then come to Gore Rapid, a mandatory get out and scout rapid. Most people portage this rapid. It’s rocky, messy and at most water levels pushy, and requires strategic powerful moves; but when you get through it, you will feel on top of the world!

Scouting Gore Rapid

Following Gore Rapid is several more class III, IV and IV+ rapids and then you reach your second mandatory scout rapid; Tunnel Falls. Although not as technical as Gore Rapid, Tunnel Falls is often the more heart pumping as you are basically throwing yourself off a 12ft waterfall drop. Your guide will explain the line and the move to you above the rapid. Once you’re in the last call you will hear is “Hold on!” before you plummet over the rapid. Inertia then kicks in and you open your eyes to usually find yourself in the lap of the person in front of you! We have some great videos of this rapid that you can play over and over again and never get tired of looking at!

Hold on! Rafting Gore on the Colorado River

Once you regroup after Tunnel the fun isn’t over. The last big rapid and regarded as the most difficult on Gore Canyon is Kirshbaums. A long, aggressive rapid that takes your last ounce of energy. After this though you are home free. You can enjoy the remainder of the trip bouncing through class II and III rapids living of the adreneline of what you have just accomplished. The final stretch is about enjoying the beauty of the area, releasing your grip from the paddle that has been your closest companion for the past 3 hours and anticipating the Moe’s Barbecue meal waiting for you at the take out.

Gore Canyon is an experience of a lifetime and something that will be ingrained in your memory for your whole life. We feel it’s our guides that help make this experience a positive one as they are the ones who know this stretch of the Colorado River like the back of their hands. We have often heard that it was Mongo, Billy, Mike, Olli, Todd, Antony, Matt, Jon, Brandon or one of our many other guides that ultimately made the trip for our guests. These guys raft Gore for fun – if that tells you anything about their abilities.

This is what life is all about though. Take advantage of the amazing river stretch that Mother Nature has provided. Conquering Gore Canyon, one of the best sections of the Colorado River is a story for the ages and something you will never regret crossing off your bucket list.

It’s the anniversary of Colorado’s statehood today. Check out this article in the Denver Post stating different points that make you a true Coloradan:

Are You A True Coloradan? Denver Post

We thought living up in Vail and the mountains and rivers we deserve our own special Colorado list. So here is our thoughts on “You know you live in the Mountains when”…

• You’re skis, snowboard, mountain bike or kayak on top of your cost more then your your actual car.
• Your ski pass still has your photo from 10 years ago
• Your weekend is Monday and Tuesday so you can avoid the crowds on the mountain
• Your windshield is cracked
• Your trips to Denver depend on if the Pass is closed or not
• Applying sunscreen with SPF 80 is part of your morning routine – even in the winter
• You don’t have AC in your home but you’ll use it in your car all winter
• You can drive over a 12,000ft pass in 4 feet of snow but you can’t get to work if there is 4 inches
• You never pack away your coats or sweaters
• You know the meaning of first chair and will go to bed early to make sure you get it
• You have a Masters degree but end up earning more money working as a server in Vail or Beaver Creek.
• You work as a server so you can ski or ride all day
• Your vacation time is 4 months and its called off season
• You think tubing down a class III river stretch is OK – as long as you have your life jacket and a beer
• You consider a shower is getting into the river every couple of days
• You understand the dress code “mountain casual”
• You constantly quote the phrase “I may not have a lot of money, but look where I live”

Got any points to add? Let us know…

Our USA Men and Women Raft Teams, hailing from Vail, Colorado recently returned from the World Rafting Championships in Zoetermeer, Netherlands and they definitely did our country proud.

Competing against up to 30 other nations, the USA were strong contenders in each of the 4 race categories; Sprint, Head to Head, Slalom and Down River. The Women’s team prevailed in both the Sprint and Down River race taking 3rd place and the bronze medals. The Men’s Team were highly competitive in all their events against teams like Japan and Brazil who are actually paid professional raft racers, missing out on a final overall podium place by only 1 point.

Women on the podium with their bronze medals from the Down River

This championships, hosted for the first time on a man made whitewater course called Dutch Water Dreams, was a huge success for both teams who have been training hard since last October in conditions that aren’t exactly “rafting” friendly. Even in the cold and snow you would have often seen the teams training at the Avon Recreation Center or on Nottingham Lake once the ice had melted!

Men battling it out in slalom

Although everyone is now enjoying a nice, relaxing break, the teams will soon be back in training for their next competition. This one will be a little closer to home being held in Costa Rica in October.

To see the full results and some great photos from the competition visit the team website www.usraftteamco.com Send the team a congratulatory email or find out how to support them in their quest for Gold at future World Championship competitions.

Last Friday, our office staff embarked on a non-water related adventure taking on the heights of the Zip Adventures zipline in Wolcott, Colorado.

At first this was just an excuse to get out and have a bit of fun all together after working pretty hard for the first half of the summer. However, after looking back on it this adventure transformed into a team building, moral boosting event as we helped eachother overcome fears of heights, speed and stringing yourself from a cable 200 ft above the ground. It was a fun activity that momentarily made us all forget about the stress of phones ringing or daily problems and instead we appreciated the time together.

This got me thinking about the great team building opportunities here in the Vail Valley. Companies are looking for ways to bring their staff together after an arduous couple of years as a result of the economic crisis and with the mountains and river at our back door there is a plethora of adventure activities that will bring out the best in any group or team, not to mention the amount of interesting stories for around the water cooler!

Here are our top 5 Team Building Activities in the Vail Valley:

5. Bike riding� up (or maybe just down) Vail Pass. If your group has the ability and the energy, biking up Vail Pass to 10, 662ft is an achievement for any individual and definitely a boost for a group. Push eachother on as the climb gets tougher and your legs continue to strain. The reward is at the peak when you literally feel on top of the world and you then get to turn around and cruise on down the pass taking in the spectacular mountain views as you go. If you don’t want the crushing ride to the top, Venture Sports rents out cruiser bikes and then drives you to the top of the pass so you only have to ride down. An added bonus – they even come and pick you up from Vail Village if you are enjoying a beverage or two. Nothing brings a team together then a pitcher of beer!

4. Zip line tours above a majestic Colorado canyon. As I mentioned earlier in this blog, zip lining confronts one’s fears of heights, speed and just letting yourself go. You must trust in the cable, carabiner and safety harness that is the only thing between you and the canyon floor 200ft below. Although you don’t “zip” as a team, you do have eachother there to cheer you on as you come flying into the landing pad. There’s also the fact that its your colleagues who are pushing you off a cliff to make sure you take that leap of faith! This sort of motivation can easily transfer into the work place or if nothing else gives people a chance to scream out their work related frustrations whilst soaring through the air! Zip Adventures out of 4-Eagle Ranch in Wolcott, Colorado runs the activity which consists of 6 zips. They provide snacks and refreshments at various zip points and their guides are highly trained in zip lining as well as making you feel better about what you are about to do.

3. Jeep Scavenger Hunt out in the backcountry mountains. This is one of the coolest team building activities in the country let alone just in Colorado. Here at Timberline Tours we have custom 4×4 open air jeeps that can fit 5-6 people. The scavenger hunt requires you to work as a team to solve clues, answer questions and find items all whilst competing against your colleagues for the number one position. The hunt is against the spectacular backdrop of the Rocky Mountains which will inspire any pencil pusher stuck in a beige cubicle each day to see the brighter side of life. As each vehicle has an assigned guide doing the off road driving, this type of activity is suitable for all ages and abilities, as long as don’t mind the wind in their hair.

2. Yee haa round up some cattle on a Cattle Drive! Everyone has seen the movie City Slickers where Billy Crystal and his buddies head out into the Wild West on a cattle drive adventure. It’s funny for us to watch a couple of city guys take on a herd of cattle and try to force them into moving in one direction, but really its not as easy as it looks. In a way this activity simulates the work place as teams need to follow directions from the rancher (the boss), develop strategies in which to succesfully drive the cattle (the clients or employees), communicate with eachother if a cow goes astray as well as maintain composure throughout the trip. In addition, by the end of it all the crew feel like real life cowboys, something many people might not actually admit to but we know they always dream about! Triple G Outfitters also out of 4 Eagle Ranch run offers this trip of a lifetime and can cater towards groups.

1. River raft fun with Capture the Flag on the Colorado River. White water rafting is our specialty at Timberline Tours and adding a points-driven capture the flag element to the trip instigates strategy, team work and competitive drive. Different colored flags are placed along the side of the river all the way down to the take out where the team with the most flags and ultimately points takes the title. Over the years we have seen some pretty competitive teams make leaps and bounds to “capture flags” and edge ahead of their opposing boats. Teams are treated to a meal and drinks at the end where they reminice about their success and argue about which team had the strongest, more coodinated paddlers. Perfect way to select your team for the next big campaign proposal.

In the end, whatever activity you decide on staff will no doubt  feel a sense of achievement, gratitude and enjoyment. In times like we are facing today, employees have been giving their all including sacrafising pay rises and benefits, putting in extra hours and keeping a positive moral despite the down turn. Now is the time to repay that loyalty and help keep your team motivated. So take advantage of the amazing area that is Colorado, which will not only bring out the best in your team but more importantly will provide them with a reminder as to why they want to work for you.

Here at Timberline Tours we are lucky to have a large staff of amazing raft guides from all over the United States and the World. So its no surprise that many of the raft guides are members of the USA Whitewater Rafting Teams who are currently on their way to the Netherlands to compete in the TEVA World Rafting Championships.

Our raft guides that are competing are Lisa Reeder (Women’s captain), Ronni Malson, Jaimie Passchier, Mike Reid (Men’s captain), Chris Reeder and Todd Toledo. Over the next 10 days both teams will compete against other countries in Down River, Slalom and Sprint races. The teams have been training hard even over the cold winter to be at their best for this competition. They are in a great strong position to be up there with the best of the best and hopefully all their hard work will convert to gold medals!

USA Raft Teams 2010

You can follow their progress at the competition through their website and blog www.usraftteamco.com. Send them an email good luck wish!

Once in a while we like to take out the concierge and hotel staff to reward them for their hard work and loyalty as well as get them accustomed to our trips and services. We like to do these trips in style and this time around was no exception, doing it Duckie Style!

Duckies are inflatable kayaks that can hold one or two people at a time. They act as mini rafts that you can paddle around yourself quite easily and get you closer to the water. This means you get splashed more and feel like you’re a pretty hard core white water adventurist!

All of our concierges and hotel staff were pretty talented when it came to paddling their duckies! We took them down the Upper Colorado river stretch and although its only Class II some of them took an involuntary dip in the water.

All made it down the stretch in one piece and before the rain came in. Snacks and refreshments were enjoyed at the take out before heading back home, tired from a fun evening out on the river.

Thanks to all the concierges and hotel staff that came out to play with us. Now it’s time to plan the next trip… maybe duckying down the rapids on Shoshone, now that would be interesting.

Arrabelle crew jumping for joy at the thought of going on the river!

Ready to roll

Office girls getting their game on for their duckie trip

You always look cool wearing Oakleys but you’re even cooler if you go rafting on Dowd Chute wearing Oakley’s. We feel its a little like Samson with his hair, but instead it was the sunglasses all the crew on the Sun Logic/Oakley were wearing on their raft trip last week that gave them the extra strength to get through the Class IV rapids on Dowd Chute (although we think they could have done it without them!).

The Eagle River season was a little shorter then previous years, but from the looks of this group it didn’t disappoint;

They certainly look the part too:

Getting ready to raft

Rafting Yeah!

Thanks to all the Sun Logic and Oakely crew for a great trip and getting Tim Kennedy back on the river! Maybe he’ll get the rafting bug again and want to start working for us full time