Nick Gottlieb checks in with a summer report from the Rockies!
The boating this summer has been pretty great. Graduated college, drove to the Rockies, and have paddled 15 of the last 20 days, and hiked creeks on the off days. I’ve gotten on some great rivers in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, and hopefully Montana in the next few days.
I started off with a couple days in Salida, CO at Fibark, running a bunch of the Ark Valley classics at high water. I even playboated a little bit on the Salida play wave. Here’s Justin Crannell on the wave:
After the Ark, I went back to Boulder to pick up my new Nomad 8.5 and paddled for a few days there before heading further West. Taking my new boat out for a spin on the Poudre, photo Anson Moxness:
From there, I went to Salt Lake, then up to Jackson for my first time. I timed it right and hit it just about on peak weekend, running the Black Canyon of the Bear (sweet dam release), the Greys, the Gros Ventre, and the Henrys Fork. Here’s Chris Zentner on the Black Canyon: 
And John Kennedy on Lower Mesa (what a fun drop!):
Unfortunately, just after getting to Bozeman, I heard word from Justin that Stephen Forster had died on the North Fork of the Payette. The paddling community in Banks, ID is second to none. Thanks so much for being there and coming together as a community after what happened. Justin and I definitely appreciated it, as did everyone else involved. Saturday ended up being one of my best days boating ever. Two laps on the South Fork, two laps on the Lower 5 on the North Fork, and a raft cruise down the Main. The memorial lap for Stephen was one of the best times I’ve ever had in a kayak. Really appreciate it, Banks. We’ll miss you, Stephen.
Be safe out there!
Nick
