Gauley Lhama's  13-Year Plan

For 26 years I worked all over the southeast, guiding on 25 commercial rivers.  I have rafted all over the world, but have always wanted to guide rivers outside of the southeast.  Clif Bobinski got me the opportunity to do a baggage boat gig with Outdoors Unlimited on the Grand Canyon and I did a good enough job for them to be invited back to do baggage trips when I can fit it into my schedule.  Also with my training experience I have lots of opportunity for spring work training guides.

What I really want now to meet my life’s goals is to be able to work in different areas.  Summer time is when outfitters need the most help so I figured out a plan: In the spring I can run training programs, then before the busy summer months I can get in a baggage trip on the Canyon around mid-May.  Then I can rotate to different areas in the summers and guide in different places.  Most outfitters slow down around mid-August, so I might be able to slip another baggage trip in then before finishing with Gauley season.  I don't plan on missing any Gauley seasons, even my South America year.  I hope to be at ski areas, eventually out west, in the winters.  Also I am know looking at filling in my early spring with work on the Salt River, when there is a Salt season.  I've got it figured out, now lets see how it works!

I met my first goal in 2005 when I did my tenth Grand Canyon trip, but having met the goal I find I want more.  I heard of someone that wanted to get 365 days in the Grand Canyon (a year of his life) and that interests me as well.  I have 209 days in the Canyon, so I have added this to my list of goals.  A year in the Grand Canyon, not a bad new goal to strive for.