Blue Heron Whitewater

A common question asked of river guides is "what do you do when you aren't rafting on the French Broad River"?. Many guides go back to their real jobs as teachers  in Asheville, NC, some return to school, and some move out West for a winter to work in the ski industry. Back in the day we called ourselves migrant sports workers and at the end of the rafting season we would pack up all of our worldly possessions (which would conveniently fit into a small car) and head west to Colorado, trading a life revolving around flowing water for one revolving around frozen water. Jobs, once again, dependent on precipitation.  
One of the destinations these days is Mammoth Lakes California. Located in the Eastern Sierras, Mammoth Mountain gets lots of snow but has moderate temperatures. White water rafting guides who used upper body muscles all summer now have a chance to get those legs in shape.
Two of our guides, Jon and Dana worked and lived in Mammoth this past winter. Jon drove buses and was a dispatcher for the town transit system and Dana was a cross-country ski instructor and yoga teacher. Unfortunately for us Jon has decided to stay in California and explore the Sierras this summer, and Dana has decided to go back to school and study physical therapy. An interest prompted by a couple of skiing accidents perhaps? In any case they will be sorely missed. We wish them the best of luck of course and thank them again for their positive energy and hard work. Their invaluable help and input made our first season fun and successful. Fortunately, the family of whitewater rafting guides forms a tight circle and we are confident that we will be paddling with Jon and Dana again soon. Hopefully we will not be in need of Dana's skills as a physical therapist.