A special thanks to Collin, Eric & Daniel, for a great, fun filled last day on the Race Course. Yeah, that’s right, New Wave has concluded it’s 2012 season.
Thanks to all our guests for making this a season to remember & we hope to see you next year.
This pretty much sums it up for our 2012 season. We are continuing to have a “splash” of a good time till the end of this month (August), so come see us soon.
Britts 2012 Race Course video.
The hatches continue. These fish were caught on dry flies.
This is a short video, illustrating what we do on Northern New Mexico’s best white water river, the Rio Grande, and shows that “This Could Be You”.
Our rafting guests are framed by wild roses, in this nice shot by Britt Runyon.
New Wave rafting guests pose next to a display of wild roses
When you go rafting with New Wave, you may also go surfing. Huh?
Well … you can surf a raft like you can surf a kayak, which is to stay in place on the face of a wave.
To surf a raft you need to locate a pour-over, which is like a small waterfall, and then maneuver the bow of the raft under the fall of water.
The water then starts to fill the boat, which is the fun part. Eventually you struggle free, and the raft empties (it’s self-bailing).And that is raft surfing.
Guide Orlando Torres surfs his raft in the Toilet Bowl, at Big Rocks Rapid, on the Racecourse.Photo by Jim O'Brien
Springtime brings a renewed spirit to northern New Mexico, which includes fresh scents in the Spring air and fresh faces to New Wave Rafting. We have had a superb turnout for our May 2012 Guide Training Program (GTP) – 18 participants. It started with 4 days of running the Bosque and Racecourse sections of the Rio Grande River, and is now in Phase 2, where the trainees practice what they have been taught in the first four-day instructional phase. For a trainee to graduate to Apprentice Guide status will require that he/she pass a Final Exam, which will be administered on the Racecourse on May 25. Britt Runyon (once known as Britt Huggins) directs the Guide Training Program, and has been joined in the effort by Mike Boren, Jason Pfeifer and New Wave President Kathy Miller. About the GTP, Britt says: “This is my favorite Spring activity – showing apprentices the beauty and excitement of being a river guide”.
images by britt runyon
Karen House and guests surf their raft at Souse Hole rapid, May 1, 2012.
Karen House and guests surf at Souse Hole
A much beloved local institution is the Pilar Yacht Club, a gathering spot for rafters and hungry travelers. They serve scrumptious food and stock lots of river running accessories, books, handicrafts and such.The place is run by our friends Eva and Rico, the latter a former river guide. They are located at the junction of NM 68 and 570, where you would turn to travel upstream to the Orilla Verde Recreation Area, Taos Junction Bridge and points beyond, and less than a hundred yards from the Rio Grande Gorge Visitor Center. A stop at the Yacht Club is de riguer for rafting parties. Say hello for us!
Pilar Yacht Club
