Today, at 3:30 PM, the temperature was 63 degrees as I got into the car to drive a few miles upstream and see if the fish had started biting. And … sure enough, they were! They (both browns and rainbows) went for my combination of a purple Wooly Bugger and trailing red Copper John. The river is running at 500 cfs, and still quite clear. Upstream, I saw a kayaker playing at the Sleeping Beauty wave. Another system is moving in, but we know that winter is pretty much over. We’re now looking forward to Spring skiing and the Rio Grande caddis hatch. The only sad note is that our wintering bald eagle friends will soon be leaving. How we have enjoyed their regal presence.

New Wave Rafting Co will commence 2012 operations on April 28.The first of two Guide Training Program sessions will begin on May 5, followed by the second session on June 2. We are hoping for a very snowy February and March. Join us by “Thinking Snow”.

New Wave owners Kathy and Steve Miller are hard at work teaching skiing at Taos Ski Valley. While much of the country is (at this writing) devoid of snow, we have excellent conditions at Taos SV. We had a busy Holiday season, as skiers came from areas lacking in snow. Just prior to the onset of the busy season, Kathy and Steve vacationed in Hawaii with their children and grandchildren. Meanwhile, Operations Manager Britt Huggins, in the company of guide and girlfriend CJ Robison, rode on his BMW motorcycle all the way to Panama, where they will spend the rest of the winter. Britt will look for work there as a scuba instructor.Guide Ben Rainchild and his girl friend (and guide-hopeful) Heather Mc Reynolds are spending the winter at NWRCo. headquarters in their motor home. They are working as ski instructors at the nearby Sipapu Ski Area.Also spending the winter here, in his travel trailer, is guide Ron Whitney and his pooch Penny. Our friends, the wintering bald eagles, arrived with the first cold weather in Dec.We see them daily on our commute to work or on the property.As the winter continues, we hope that you will join us to “Think Snow”.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is now in the process of making substantial improvements to the River Access point (beach) that both serves as the take-out for the Taos Box run and the put-in for the Rio Grande Gorge run, on the Rio Grande river. The installation of a concrete ramp and increased room for maneuvering vehicles will make for much a much more efficient process, and will reduce conflict with other users. Permanent toilets, changing facilities and picnic tables will also be provided.

The last day of the river season. It has been an interesting season, with unpredictable flows.  It started out with low flows and not enough water for the Taos Box .  In early May the river was at 400 and then dipped down to 350.  We had a wet and cold May, with even some snow – which froze out the fruit for the season but gave us some additional water.  So there was a Box season after all, although short. The beginning of the Dog Days of summer marked the end of the Box season. The peak flow was 1200 and that occurred somewhere around the 12th of June.  Proving that our prophet (Britt) still has his touch.

Thanks to Kathy we had stellar Saturday night dinners – oh those ribs.  Always soothing the wounded egos from the week.  A little play at the horse shoe pit helped to encourage a friendliness in competition. Steve spent many evenings casting in the Rio Grande, catching smallmouth bass and trout  and releasing them back again to the river.  Not much different than his days in the office sitting over the keyboard waiting for the tug on his line.  Reeling them in and then releasing them to the river.  And boy did they enjoy the ride.

We have the photos to prove it.  In keeping up with the times, the counsel of elders surrendered to the “social network”  and we now have the means to woo the world through visual imagery.  They chose Britt for the task and he didn’t let them down.  The 2011 season has been visually and virtually documented and released to the world.  Reminds me of the velvet underground line “people take pictures of the summer to prove that it really existed.”  Which may be the case for those of us that know what we do.  But for those that don’t,  the vision was given to them and many said, I want to do that – once again affirming that our participation is required and when it comes to the Web, you must be present to win. Which brings me to Kathy – she stepped up to join the Dixon Volunteer Fire department.  We are grateful for our local fire department and now proud to say that one of our own is representing us. This incidentally coincided with the fact that collectively we gave up smoking cigarettes. Not a butt was sucked on, inhaled, or stomped on.  Now how many river companies can say that. Ultimately the deciding factor was the personal choice to honor the clean air act, inside and out.

The August Rio Chama trip was a personal achievement for Karen in that she and the crew Rhino and James pulled off a wilderness trip for members of a rehab center.  The hardest challenge was finding guides that could stay sober for 72 hours.   Orlando, who is known for his ability to think out of the box, became a Box guide this year.   Honorable mention goes out to James who not only built his own plane, but rowed the Box on several occasions.  We are especially thrilled that he made a safe landing in both instances. And how can we forget about Ben.  Yes, that quiet little warehouse mouse who works his magic and leaves all of us wondering how did this ever get done.  We are SO glad you are around.
What else you say?  You want more?  I can’t go on any longer. The clock is ticking and we are nearly done with the clean up.
In closing I’d like to say that on the surface it may appear that it was just another river season, same ole, same ole.  But I choose to look at New Wave as a place where we can discover talents and our dreams come true.  A Wilderness Therapist looking for a vehicle, a videographer/photographer, a massage therapist, artist, a father, student, a musician or courageous newbies that seek the happy-go-lucky river guide life.  It is the veteran guides that know that running rapids ain’t for sissys. After all, the river is here for everyone, but not everyone is meant for the river.

Thank God for New Wave (or Kathy and Steve).

Thanks to all of you who rafted with us this year. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to pursue this wonderful profession. We are, truly, very grateful for that. Our raison d’etre (reason for being) remains sharing the Great Outdoors with you. That will never change, but,

in the meantime, please do everything you can to help protect our natural places, which are under constant assault.
Throughout the off-season we’ll no doubt be posting things here from time to time. Probably news and photos from our Fall vacations and winter employment. If you haven’t already, take a look at the various videos produced this summer by our talented videographer (and Operations Manager) Britt Huggins (aka Britt Runyon). They’re found right here, on this Blog.
Think snow, and we look forward to seeing you in 2012.

We are so happy to have the “Service Master” group from Albuquerque with us for the 3rd year! Thanks, it’s always a “BLAST”!

Our river guide James Shinas and his dad, Jim, built their own plane.

James writes:

“In may of 2007 my dad (Jim Shinas) and I started building an experimental aircraft in our 2 car garage in White Rock. 4 years and 2400 hours later I flew it for the first time on July 22nd 2011. Here is a short video of the flight.”

I thought this would be a fun phenomenon to explain, since most of us have seen something like this before. Usually you need two things: sun and high, thin cirrus clouds. Cirrus clouds are basically full of ice crystals. These crystals are not all alike and come in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes when the sun’s rays pass through these clouds, we get to see some pretty neat optical effects, like sun dogs.

As water levels lower the fly fishing is improving on the Racecourse. We catch smallmouth bass and both rainbow and brown trout. We like to float fish this stretch in the evening. We get whitewater excitement and fishing action at the same time.