I was introduced to river travel in 1995 during trips down the Kootenay river and the Kail Gandaki in Nepal. I have been enjoying exploring them, camera in hand ever since.
It goes a little something like this…
1995 – 2005
The first time I had heard of rafting was in Nepal during my first trip overseas. I signed up for a five day trip Kali Gandaki. Returning home, then moving to Banff, AB another rafting trip took place. This time on the Jarbridge and Bruneau rivers of Idaho, USA.
I was hooked and with that I started raft guiding in 1997 on the Bow River with Rocky Mountain Raft Tours. At the same time I learned how to Kayak, spending many a day on the Kananaskis river, in my yellow Dagger Crossfire.
March 2005 – A Blog Is Born
In 2005, while working in Honduras, I decided to start a Blog. I had my first digital camera and wanted to share some of the images and stories from my travels. Sitting in the computer shop in a mall in La Ceiba, the blog was born. It contiunes to evolve as, as we all do thoughout life.
Febuary 2008
Guiding full time throughout the calendar year changed at the end of January with a significant shoulder injury while working on the Futalefu. This lead to taking a large amount of time off. Also spent time wondering if I would get back to paddlign in the future. After a 1.5yr break whitewater, it was possible to get back to the river with help from friends and family. Ten years on from this injury the river continues to bring joy and happiness to me.
September 2010 -2018
Kayaking Instruction and teaching rafting opportunites have come up on Vancouver Island. Working at Strathcona Park Lodge teaching the WW Kayaking componet of the Canadian Outdoor Leadership Program, also teaching rafting at School District #69 as part of the Rivers, Oceans, and Mountains program and North Island College. All of these programs are fantastic and great to introduce adults and teenagers to the river and lifestyle/culture.
October 2022
Now paddling through the Fall/Winter/ Spring on Vancouver Island, adding in working for Raven Rescue teaching Swift-water Courses around Vancouver Island. Then guiding in the Yukon during the summer while maintaining a Health Care Career in the Comox Valley …. Life is never dull!!
Questions for Dave
There are many rivers on Vancouver Island, my favorite is the Puntledge due to its close proximity to where I live, it’s great play boating and amazing slides on the upper section. Others that are up on my favorite list are the Oyster, Cameron River, Adam River, Gordon and the Copper Canyon of the Chemainus.
Your Favorite bit of Equipment
My Jackson Zen 3.0. Comfy and great for paddling down rivers and creeks.
NRS Zen pfd, easy wearing and lots of easy to access pockets.
Werner Powerhouse paddle. Solid and feels good in the hands.
What was the most interesting place to raft around the world
One of my favorite places to raft had to be India. With a large variety of rivers from the Tons river, the Kali river, the Zanskar, the Subansari , the Ganges and the Mighty Brahmaputra . Makes for a pretty wild place to check out.
More Recently, Northern canada with the Alsek, the Tatshenshini, and the Firth rivers.