By Natali Zollinger

The most anticipated animal to see on the Green and Yampa Rivers through Dinosaur National Monument is the Desert Bighorn Sheep. Believed to have gone extinct in the region, for unknown reasons we find them flourishing back to reclaim their once dominated territory.

Bighorn Sheep are a vital resource because they provided food, clothing and tools to the natives of Utah both past and present. Due to the growth of the domestic sheep, bighorns began to die off resulting from a serious disease epidemic. Scientists were forced to believe that the Bighorn had completely been lost from Utah due to no sightings of them for several years. But in the 60’s, river rats began to see bighorns along the Colorado River system and its corridors. The current population in Utah is estimated at around 5,000 sheep, representing two genetic species—the desert bighorn and the Rocky Mountain bighorn. Mountain sheep are nearly twice the size of desert bighorn, and rams can weigh up to 300 pounds. Ewes of both species are about 40 percent smaller in size and weight.
 
Bighorns are amazing creatures. Floating downstream on the Green River, one may see a whole herd lightly prancing down the Cliffside without a worry in the world. One may ask, why are they so good on their feet? Their balance aiding split hooves with rough bottoms are the perfect natural Vibram sole. Imagine going to your local tire shop and checking out the most rugged off-road tire they sell. The reasons tires can handle so much wear and tear is because of the way they are designed to act when wrapped around sharp objects like rocks and trees. Some trail running and outdoor apparel companies are starting to use this design for their tread of the sole. It’s an amazing concept when you see it you understand why the bighorn can float across rugged obstacles with such grace and ease.

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Written by Natali Zollinger

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As I travel down the rivers of Idaho each week, I sometimes feel there are hidden eyes watching us.  I like to believe they are the spirits of the ancient people who lived in these canyons before modern society.  At least, we certainly see evidence of these people on our river trips.

There have been Native Americans in the Snake and Salmon River watersheds for over 10,000 years.  Known as the Nez Perce (who call themselves, “Nimíipuu,” meaning, “The People”) and Shoshone-Bannock (descendents of the Mountain Sheepeaters) tribes, these people lived off the land and took advantage of the fish, game and native, edible plants found in the river corridors.

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Written by Debbie Hausler

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By Ali McNabb

Our paddle across Jackson Lake on the first day of an early season trip this year was one to remember, an epic tale of man verses the forces of nature. The morning kicked off with classic blue skies, sunshine and a calm lake.  However, while we were beached on a little island for a picnic, the clouds grew and billowed over the peak of Mt. Moran.  Zac and I gave each other a look as if to indicate, “Look at that weather, we’d better start rolling,” so we did.  The sky above continued to shine, but the clouds were darkening as they grew closer.  We had half a mile before reaching camp on Grassy Island at the southern tip of Jackson Lake.  I thought we could make it, but the weather had other plans.  The wind picked up and within seconds it started to hail; it took all the energy we had to remain accurately pointed in our kayaks.  We were all flailing about, and now the storm was nearly on top of us.  We still had to get to camp, which I then noticed was conveniently located in the eye of the storm.  Zac came rushing over and started helping each guest as we hauled the boats out of the water and on to our JRig (also known as, “Fatty,” the support boat for our operational equipment here in Wyoming).  I remember struggling to communicate with folks in the water, paddling and talking while keeping an eye out behind me.  All I saw was the silhouette of Zac lifting gear out of someone’s kayak and onto the rig.  It was bright and shiny a half mile behind us, yet furious ahead and the lighting was remarkable.  Once we were all safe on the JRig, we were able to motor to camp. 

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Written by Ali McNabb

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By Natali Zollinger & Bruce Lavoie

The Yampa River was first explored by the Yampa Ute Indians several thousand years ago. They were nomadic, following several herds of mammoth and bison around the southwest while sheltering in caves and picking berries, seeds and nuts for protein. Their favorite plant for consumption was the root of the Yampa plant. It had several different purposes and uses. Its healing properties were to help detoxify the body and cleanse the organs. It works as a laxative as well as a diuretic. Scientists also figured out that it is high in carbohydrates and quickly converts food into energy. Additionally, it was used to waterproof a skin bag and to shine up arrowheads.

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Written by Natali Zollinger

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There is no mistaking or denying Idaho’s rugged beauty.  It is a place of vast and magnificent wilderness.  It would be a rare thing for someone not to feel the strong call of nature here.  However, Idaho’s wilderness has a history and on-going record of the call of man and his influence on nature’s order.  There are several examples of this issue we continue to follow as we travel down Idaho’s vast waterways, asking ourselves when is it beneficial for man to manipulate the natural world, and when would it be better to let Mother Earth tend to her own? I don’t propose to have the answers, or even venture forth my opinions, but suffice it to say there is no lack of strong, relevant material to motivate our campfire talks here on the rivers of Idaho.

Reintroduction of the Gray Wolf

Wolf reintroduction occurs by repopulating a previously extirpated area with a group of wolves, with the hope that they will reestablish themselves in the area and ecosystem.  Although wolves are the most environmentally adaptable mammals next to man, they had been hunted out of all of the lower 48 states, with the exception of a few small packs in remote northeastern Minnesota.  Wolves were highly prevalent in North America until westward expansion occurred in the 1800’s – settlers hunted the wild bison, deer, elk and moose, forcing the wolves to then hunt domestic livestock (sheep and cattle).  When this occurred, bounties were issued for wolf kills, and continued as late as the 1960’s. 

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Written by Debbie Hausler

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When I first received the email about Climbing for Kids from my boisterously optimistic friend and colleague at O.A.R.S., Tyra Swanson, a couple years ago, I was excited, but quickly filed it under the long list of things that would be great to do…someday. Even then, the prospect of training for a climb up one of North America’s tallest mountains seemed daunting in and of itself, and the challenge of fundraising more than $5000 for charity seemed virtually insurmountable.

But this year, in the face of a turbulent economy, an endless list of projects at the office, an increasingly flabby physique and limited resources for leisure travel, I decided to rethink the way my life was heading. I needed to put something on the calendar and undertake a personal challenge that would help get me back in shape physically and mentally, while restoring some balance to my life. I thought back to the email I had received from Tyra a couple years earlier and realized there was really no better way to reach my goals than by raising money for underprivileged children in the Bay Area who have never had the chance to experience the wilderness the way many of us routinely do in our own lives.

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Written by Steve Markle

O.A.R.S. Marketing & Partnerships Director

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As a supporting sponsor for the 2010 San Francisco Ocean Film Festival (SFOFF), O.A.R.S. donated a 4-day sea kayaking trip in Johnstone Strait, British Columbia as the grand prize for the on-site raffle (lucky winner being local Anne Trott of San Francisco). With tickets selling at $10 each, we helped raise over $3,000 for the festival and we’re delighted to support North America’s premier "cinemaquatic event." This year, SFOFF presented 40 highly commendable films that raised passionate feelings amongst it’s attendees. From Wednesday, February 3rd – Sunday, February 7th, each session brought new insight and understanding to the beauty, mystery and excitement of the seven seas and the obsessive connection that accompanies it. By popular demand, the seventh annual film festival was expanded to a five-day event in order to cater to their ever-growing, ever-adventurous audience.

Although there were many talented filmmakers present at Friday’s reception, below is a list of the awards given:

Coastal Culture Award
“In Altro Mare,” by Franco la Cecla

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Written by Lauren

O.A.R.S.' Marketing Communications Coordinator & Waterblogged Editor

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 Well Bula from Fiji!

Well we have had an exciting couple of weeks here in the Fiji Islands.  Mostly because we had our first tropical depression hit the islands.  I am not talking about a mass movement of sad people, but a cyclone. What is a cyclone?  Technically speaking they form when the energy released by the condensation of moisture in rising air causes a positive feedback loop over warm ocean waters!  What does that mean? Well big winds and lots of rain! But for a more technical explanation I am going to quote Wikipedia.  

“A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a low pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and flooding rain. A tropical cyclone feeds on heat released when moist air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapour contained in the moist air. They are fueled by a different heat mechanism than other cyclonic windstorms such as nor’easters, European windstorms, and polar lows, leading to their classification as "warm core" storm systems.”

So what does that mean on the ground? Well being my first storm I have to say it was awesome.  Jeff Hommel  (Rivers Fiji Operations Manager) and I spent the afternoon checking in on the families that help support us, i.e. guides and drivers.  Driving through blinding rain, downed trees and power lines we headed up the Coral Coast to make sure everyone was safe and not in danger.  While looking for our driver Nareesh (he was already gone to higher ground) we evacuated Fijian family from their house that was about to be blown apart. As we packed the nine of us into the Rivers Fiji Landcruiser and headed to safety we were dodging roof sheet metal flying through the air! We had to get them to a cousins cement home.  We did, they were grateful and invited us in for a bowl of grog. But better judgment said we should get home, the eye of the storm had not yet reached our part of the island.  

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Written by James

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Bula and greetings from Fiji, O yau o James, and over the next couple of months I am going to be reporting on Fiji and the O.A.R.S. experience.  My goal is simple; Provide an inside glimpse of the Rivers Fiji daily adventures and the people that support them. Now that is a daunting task, considering the fact that I am a newly arrived visitor to this island nation. But I am sure with help from my friends here and all of you out there that you can help me on my way. So what exactly will I be writing about?  Everything that I come across, from kayaking down the Luva, Rafting down the Upper Navua, Visiting our partners like the village of Nakavika, and hopefully any little adventures you want to send me on. That’s right! This is going to be an interactive record that you will help with. Do you want to know how fresh water eels are caught? How about the pounding of Kava, Perhaps how traditional tattoos are given (Please don’t ask me to get one, I hear they are very painful) I have a couple of tools with me to help capture these details of life here, a handy video camera, a still camera and my laptop.  So if you want to send me on an adventure, just make a suggestion and we will find out where it leads us. Along the way I will try and give you little tidbits of information, like the fact that Tongans used to visit the islands in order to get feathers from the endemic red-breasted musk parrot. Or the fact that pottery shards dating back to 1290 BC have been found in the Sigatoka valley, just up the coast from our office.  Fiji is an island that holds daily discoveries, and I hope you will enjoy the adventure along with me. Au sa liu mada (see you later) James

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Written by James

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