JM: Today I’m interviewing Brad Hooker, one of our guides here at NMRA. Brad, What brought you into rafting?

BH: What brought me into rafting? I did a Wilderness First Responder course and a lot of the people in that course had some great stories; just about things they’ve responded to out on the river, and rafting in general… and I met Wendy Meyer and Jamie Viers. The two of them were just these awesome women who had a lot of fun stories about it, and they pulled me into the rafting world.

 

JM: So, how long have you been professionally guiding?

BH: About 5 years now. A good 4 seasons out on the Rio Grande, and 1 season out on the Gauley River in West Virginia.

JM: What’s the most epic trip you’ve done?

BH: I did a 16 day Cataract Canyon trip; that was pretty epic, in terms of being really long, and out in the wilderness, it was just wonderful. It makes me excited to get out there more… It’s between that and the first Class V paddling I ever did, it was up at the Burnt Ranch Gorge in California, on the Trinity River. That was pretty scary- I was swimming away from walls as fast as I could, with water charging underneath them, I was getting saved by safety kayakers

JM: Wow! What do you consider to be the hardest part about being a guide?

BH: Well, learning to be adaptable. You have to adapt to situations changing out on the river, logistics changing all the time- before the trip even starts- the amount of people on the trip changes… Yeah. There’s all these variables and you have to keep your head on a swivel to be able to make it all work.

JM: And the best part of guiding, for you?

BH: The best part of guiding is the little giggles I get when I hit a wave with a raft full of people, and it splashes over them, and we all start laughing together. Just enjoying those little moments.

JM: What are any trips or rivers you haven’t done that are on your “bucket list?”

BH: Definitely the Grand Canyon. I really want to do a Grand Canyon trip, it hasn’t come up for me yet. Yeah, I want to get out and see as many rivers as I can, so really any river that’s runnable, but definitely the Grand Canyon.

 

JM: Alright, last question… What’s your favorite kind of boat, and why?

BH: My favorite kind of boat is one that has air in it, and is coming into a giant wave- actually it’s just come through a giant wave; and is filled up with water like a bath tub, and a bunch of happy, laughing human beings.

JM: Wonderful. Thank you very much for your time, and I hope you have a great trip out on the Taos Box today!

BH: Thank you!

Here in our sleepy, mountain town of Rinconada, one would think it to be just a town to pass through (or to meet and go rafting!), but it’s so much more. Rich with eateries, galleries, and local watering holes that offer locally-made craft beer and wines, Rinconada and it’s surrounding neighborhoods hold a treasure trove of places to visit and explore after your day on the river.

Nearby tasting rooms and breweries are the first stop! Starting closest to NMRA’s headquarters (conveniently located across the street), The Blue Heron Brewery not only has their finest beers on draft- including their homemade root beer, they also serve fantastic local wine as well. They hold “Trivia Night” on Friday evenings for those who love a friendly competition of the minds, and live, local music on Saturday evenings. A little over a mile South on Highway 68 is Vivac Winery, who also host live music on Saturday nights in conjunction with their Happy Hour. Known for their award-winning wines, they also serve local beers on tap; for the chocolate connoisseur, a decadent array of fresh, handmade chocolates and truffles to pair wines with. La Chiripada Winery is Northern New Mexico’s oldest winery, and their tasting room and vineyard is located in the heart of Dixon, just off of State road 75, and open every day. The Black Mesa Winery is seated at the very bottom of the Rio Grande Gorge in Velarde, NM and is open for tasting every day except for Wednesday. Stop in at Black Mesa and ask to taste their Black Beauty!

Galleries and showrooms are scattered throughout the local neighborhoods, perfect to stop in and peruse the inspiration provoked by the beauty of the river, landscape, and unique culture of the area. Manifestation is right next door to our headquarters. Featuring studio art jewelry, custom furniture, salvage art, and antiques, they welcome visitors every day except Sunday and Monday. Just a half mile North on Highway 68, you will find The Rift Gallery, Southwest Stoneworks, and Sax Stone-Carving Workshops. Stephen Kilbourn Pottery is located in Pilar, just off of Hwy 68 on St Rd 570. At the corner of Hwy 68 and St Rd 75, right next to Vivac Winery, is an amazing little gallery called Joya Escondida, and every first Friday of the month, they hold a show that features local artists and live music. Heading up St. Rd. 75 into the center of Dixon, the beautiful Le Metier Gallery also offers local artists’ wares.

On your way back to Santa Fe, we love to recommend Sugar’s Burgers in Embudo on Hwy 68. They have the best burgers, hotdogs, and barbecue. If you’re headed up to Dixon, stop in at Zuly’s Cafe and enjoy some tacos or ice cream! They serve breakfast and lunch, and Saturdays they stay open later to serve dinner as well. The Dixon Market has a deli with scrumptious wraps, salads, and organic foods, and they serve pizza too! It’s a great place to stop for groceries if you’re camping up in Pilar, but don’t pass up the Pilar Yacht Club, located at the corner of Hwy 68 and St Rd 570- a perfect spot to get a breakfast burrito or cup of espresso.

Camping in Pilar is one of the most popular choices, with campsites ranging from very primitive, to ones with showers and shelters. Or, you can rent an 18′ Airbnb Tipi, nestled on the bank of the Rio Grande in Pilar. In Dixon, we have the historic Embudo Mission, which offers rooms and casitas. No matter your choice, it’s sure to be a night to remember… a perfect end to a perfect day!

Every year since it was founded in the 1950’s by a LANL employee and Los Alamos paddle boater Jim “Stretch” Fretwell, a spectacular whitewater festival draws private and professional boaters to the Rio Grande on Mother’s Day. Held on a 5 mile stretch of rapids that runs along Highway 68, known as The Racecourse, whitewater enthusiasts flock to the roadside to see the competitors in the various races, or compete themselves.  Early on in the event’s history, it was supported by organizations such as Los Alamos’ Explorer Post 20, the Los Alamos Fire Department, and The Atomic City Citizens Band Radio Club. Eventually, the festival was taken over by the Adobe Whitewater Club, who oversaw it for better than 30 years. The Adobe Whitewater Club passed it to NMROA in 2008.

The festival lasts through Mother’s Day weekend, finishing on Sunday with the main event- the races! Though, there are so many great events to participate in throughout the festival, with camping, Dutch Oven cook-offs, a River Guide Rendezvous, and, a geology float featuring New Mexico’s top geologist, Paul Bauer.

Here’s the event schedule for Sunday, May 14th:

-8:00 – 10:00 AM General Race Registration. $15 for the First Race,
$5 for each race after, $45 per team of four, Rafting Race. First 75
entrants get a Festival T-Shirt

-10:00 AM  – Downriver Race (meet at Quartzite)
Men’s and Women’s Division Kayak, SUP and Canoe

-12:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Geology Float with Paul Bauer, prize-winning author of the Guidebook to the Rio Grande published by NM Bureau of Geology, will lead a floating interpretive workshop on the Racecourse. Paul will be joined by several experts in archaeological and natural history topics. If geologists could be rock stars, Bauer would be the boss. His annual river trip is perennially popular with river guides and outfitters, who provide all the rafting equipment and navigational expertise. A limited number of spaces are available for members of the general public so register early.

-3:30PM – 4:00PM – Kid and Mom Tandem Race (meet at Souse Hole)
starts at Souse Hole and finishes at County Line. (Ik’s, Kayaks, SUP, Raft’s)

-5PM – 6PM Raft R-4 Downriver Race (four paddlers per boat) –
Quartzite to County Line

-6:30PM Après Race Awards & Party: Just down road from races on right
at Blue Heron Brewery.

The prices and fees are:

$15 per person for the first event (includes an event T-Shirt to first 75) $5 Each additional Event.
$45 Per Raft of 4 (R-4) for the Raft Downriver Race.

For More Information Email: info@newmexicoriveradventures.com.

You can also check out the Facebook page for updates, developments, to connect with the NMROA whitewater community, and to check out winners of previous years here: https://www.facebook.com/mdrgwf/

New Mexico River Adventures is a proud member of NMROA, a proud competitor in the races, and we hope to see you on the Rio Grande Racecourse on Sunday, May 14th for Mother’s Day!

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March 8-9 was our 2017 Season Kick Off with a great group from Grace Community Church.  The water levels were at a medium-low flow, 650 cfs, allowing for plenty of Whitewater Action and splashes throughout the Racecourse section of the Rio Grande.  We expect the water levels to hover here if not rise slightly for the rest of march and early April.  Today we launch our first Taos Box trip of the season with more following all week.  The daytime temps have been holding steady in the 60’s and the sun feels marvelous!  It is shaping up to be a great Spring Break here in Northern New Mexico and we are taking full advantage of it on the Rio Grande Gorge, Racecourse and Taos Box. One of the great things about rafting so far this week is that we are one of the only companies out on the river.

Now, the water levels ar up to around 2000cfs and the weather is just as nice.  The Taos Box is at a beautiful level and the the Racecourse is still just right for the entire family.  Take advantage of the wonderful water levels now!  The early season experience can be much more intimate as very few people are around and our chances for close encounters with amazing birds of prey, majestic big horn sheep or curious river otter increases significantly.  Spring Break is looking nice all week so don’t hesitate if you’re thinking of rafting while you’re visiting Santa Fe or Taos.  Also, don’t forget to take advantage of our Spring Break Special of 10% off Half and Full Day trips until April 15th.  Use the discount code, SPRINGBREAK2017 at checkout and See you on the River!

Aaaah, rafting in New Mexico. There’s so many amazing reasons to do it. Though much of New Mexico is high desert, we have an incredible community of rafting and river enthusiasts, as well as the beautiful treasures that our rivers are to us. It’s quite a magical experience to boat through the scenery here in the high desert. Here’s five excellent reasons to try out rafting here in The Land Of Enchantment.

Reason #1: Come check out the new national monument! The Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument was decreed as such on  March 25, 2013 by President Barack Obama.  It’s comprised of 242,500 acres of public lands in Taos County, and The Rio Grande carves an 800 foot deep gorge through layers of volcanic basalt flows and ash. There’s excellent camping, fishing, and hiking to scout out while you’re rafting class I-IV rapids through the Rio Grande Gorge.

Reason #2: Astounding geology. The Rio Grande flows through the Taos Plateau, which holds cinder cones and shield volcanoes; sheet flows of basalt and towering Quartzite cliffs are easily viewed from the river. This is all through the Rio Grande Continental Rift, where the crust of the Earth ripped apart some 29 to 35 million years ago, triggering the volcanic activity that shaped the Plateau. In some places on the Rio Grande, one side of the river has rocks and formations that are literally millions of years older than those just across the river on the opposite bank!

Reason #3: The Rio Chama. This river has an amazing landscape to behold. Huge walls of multi-colored sandstone that tower to 1,500 feet above the river. Boating is limited to set number of boaters per day, to protect the river environment from overuse. The beauty of this area inspired many paintings by famous artist Georgia O’Keefe; she fell in love with it so that she spent her last years there.

Reason #4: Rich and diverse wildlife. Out on a raft, you get to see and experience the river in a much different way than most who are passing through. The river is home to so many different species of raptors, birds, mammals, and reptiles. Our Rio Grande Gorge is home to Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Night Herons, as well as the great Blue Herons. We also get to see Beaver, otter, and muskrats in the water. There are beautiful little 5 striped skink lizards on the rocks all over by the river and in the campgrounds, too. Just a few examples of our fauna residents.

Reason #5: Après rafting!!! It is so much fun to relax at one of the award-winning wineries or microbreweries here in Northern New Mexico after a great day of fun and sun on the river. Another good choice is one of the fantastic hot springs along the river, or at one of the fine resorts of New Mexico, Ojo Caliente. There’s so many delicious and relaxing ways to top off your rafting adventure.

As we exit the doldrums of winter and start to see more and more sunshine throughout the day, many of us are starting to plan those wonderful summer adventures.  New Mexico has always been one of the diamonds in the rough of summer adventure destinations.  With every bit of the alpine beauty one can find in places like Colorado and the Sierras of California and less than half the people and crowds,  Northern New Mexico is the place to be!  Let’s not forget about the amazingly unique and culture comparable to visiting another country.  And, of course, the culinary destination of Santa Fe, this is the perfect place to plan your family get together or company retreat.
New Mexico River Adventures specializes in a wide variety of Group Trips including Church and Youth Groups, Wedding and Bachelor/Bachelorette Trips and School Outings before the end of classes. There are many reasons why beautiful Northern New Mexico is the perfect destination for your family, friends and colleges to vacation and meet. With many great all inclusive retreat locations and conference centers, its a breeze to accomplish everything you want along with some great adventure excursions like rafting on the Rio Grande.  Located just one hour from downtown Santa Fe and thirty minutes from downtown Taos,  we make adding that adventure element to your trip a breeze.  At New Mexico River Adventures we are the only company offering a full service facility right in the heart of the river canyon to provide you and your group with the best guest service in the state.  Just call one of our helpful reservation staff for more information about our packages which can include custom dates, times, transportation and meals.  Don’t forget to ask about GROUP DISCOUNTS and let us help plan the highlight of your visit to New Mexico!

Last year we added yet another fun and exciting Specialty Trip and twist to the normal Rio Chama 3 Day Adventure. It was a collaboration with one of New Mexico’s most acclaimed Brewery, Bosque. The folks at Bosque share the same passion for the outdoors, wilderness and great fun as we do and so it made for a perfect fit. It was also one of our most popular trips of the year. New Mexico River Adventures is proud to announce our second annual 3 day adventure on the Rio Chama with the great folks at Bosque Brewing Co.! The dates for this year’s annual Beers And Cheers trip are August 25-27. That’s 3 days and 2 nights out in some of the most exquisite scenery New Mexico has to offer. Our Outfitter provides all the camping gear and amenities to insure the most luxurious rafting and camping experience out there. Our guides prepare amazing meals to pair with the craft beers at the campsites, so you have the opportunity to explore on some side hikes, or read about and sample some of Bosque’s classic and new brews. To read further on our website, visit here!

Since opening their original taproom and brewery in October of 2012, They have also since opened two satellite taprooms, numerous expansions, and draft and retail accounts across the state. Bosque Brewing has achieved Gold and Bronze Medals at the Great American Beer Festival and won the Brewing News National IPA Challenge. To learn more about The Bosque Brewing Co. and all they have to offer; including year round offerings, specialty beers, and more, visit here: http://www.bosquebrewing.com/

The minimum age for this unforgettable trip is 21+, the price is $495.00/person. Price includes everything from the time we meet you at Bode’s general store at 9 a.m. until we return on the 3^rd day at around 4 p.m.  If guests require sleeping bags, pads, and tents for camping, we can provide those at no extra charge.  Each night will have a tasting presentation and pairing with appetizers and dinner. There’s still a few seats available in the boat for this unique wilderness experience. Give us a call at 1-800-983-7756 to reserve your spot on this amazing adventure, time is running out!

The North American River Otter, a social member of the weasel family, was a common resident on the Rio Grande for thousands of years, up until about 1953.  Because of unregulated trapping, pollution, and deforestation, these animals that once held the spot at the top of the food chain on the Rio Grande became all but non-existent for about 60 years.

Between 2008-2010, there were 33 otters that were released back into the Upper Rio Grande, relocated from Washington state. The organization Amigos Bravos has set up an “otter-cam” near John Dunn Bridge on January 28th, 2016. They have been monitoring the growth of the otter population since the re-introduction 8 years ago. A huge effort by Amigos Bravos, New Mexico Friends of River Otters, USDA Wildlife Services, Taos Pueblo, and the U.S Bureau of Land Management has largely been a success to reintroduce the otters and increase the population here on the Rio Grande.

Alternately, the efforts to do so in The Gila River have been brought to a stand-still through New Mexico wildlife officials. Though the otters main diet is generally larger and slower moving (non-native) species of fish like carp and bass, as well as crayfish, some officials are still worried about the waning populations of native fish in the Gila. The otters are most likely to eat the nonnative fish, though there is a chance that the otters could contribute to a bigger drop in the already dangerously low populations of the native fish species. Considered somewhat of a gamble here on the Gila, about 20 other states have had at least some success bringing their native fish species populations back up with otter reintroduction; the populations of the invasive, non-native fish species have dropped enough from the otters to have a positive impact. The effort to get the otters reintroduced to the Gila river will definitely continue.