Spring Birds and Flowers Along the Rio Grande Posted On: May 6, 2019 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: Nature Tagged In: canada geese, cholla cactus, cottonwood, green hedgehog cactus, indian paintbrush, Rio Grande, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, robin, western wallflower Spring Birds and Flowers Along the Rio Grande. In the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, the Indian paintbrush and other spring flowers, brand-new leaves on the cottonwoods, blooming cliff fendler bushes and the green hedgehog cacti are giving the birds a run for their money, as far as beauty goes. Indian paintbrush Indian paintbrush Read More…
Wet winter gives rise to robust Rio Grande Posted On: May 6, 2019 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: River trips Tagged In: Britt Runyon, Dixon NM, Rio Grande, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument Excerpts from article in the Santa Fe New Mexican, May 5, 2019, by Robert Nott Wet winter gives rise to robust Rio Grande RIO GRANDE DEL NORTE NATIONAL MONUMENT — The Rio Grande was running fast, high and wide … as John and Michelle Hood stood near a 14-foot rubber raft, preparing their 4-year-old daughter for her first rafting trip. Was Elizabeth Hood excited about her watery sojourn? “Yeah,” said the girl, whose family was visiting from Denver. Minutes later, the Hoods were off, paddling a raft helmed by longtime river guide Britt Runyon of Dixon-based New Wave Rafting. The party trailed behind a small flotilla of at least a half-dozen rafts moving down the river. With the river benefiting from runoff generated by a strong snowmelt this year, Runyon predicted a good season for river tourism. “Everybody says it’s gonna be a huge year and I think they’re right,” he said. Below the surface, that runoff could serve an even greater benefit, Runyon said. The rushing water will clear away sediment that had collected on the river bottom during drier years. It will provide water to the flora and fauna along the banks, offering nourishment to insects and other land animals. The fish, in turn, will have more bugs to feast on and the wet conditions will help those fish spawn. That’s because the Rio Grande, long accustomed to dry spells, will, in essence, get to take a much-needed drink of water. Runyon, who has worked for New Wave Rafting since 1984 and has traveled the Rio Grande since 1968, keeps a daily journal of his observations about the river. He doesn’t think there is a “normal” anymore when it comes to the Rio Grande. “It’s like a lot of rivers,” he said. “It’s having trouble because of water, or a lack of it.” Wet winter! Britt Runyon
The Sleeping Beauty Wave! Posted On: May 4, 2019 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: River trips Tagged In: embudo fault, lava, Picuris mountains, quartzite, Racecourse rapids, Rio Grande The Sleeping Beauty Wave is found on the Racecourse section of the Rio Grande, and is guaranteed to get you wet, as you can see in this video. The Racecourse half-day trip is offered twice a day, at 9m AM and 1 PM. It is also the afternoon portion of the full-day Rio Grande Gorge trip. This is a very scenic section of the Rio Grande, with black volcanic mesas on the right side of the river, and steep quartzite cliffs on the left side of the river. Why the difference? It’s because the river is following the Embudo fault here, which broke off the end of the quartzite Picuris Mountains, making the cliffs. Then, lava flowed from the west up against the base of the cliffs, pushing the river ahead of it and into its present position, up against the base of the cliffs. The video is by Britt Runyon, New Wave’s Operations Manager and Videographer. And that is Britt also guiding the raft. Clever, isn’t he? https://www.facebook.com/NewWaveRafting/videos/645974902492357/
Spring Arrives On The Rio Posted On: April 28, 2019 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: Kathy and Steve Miller Tagged In: canada geese, chokecherry, cottonwood, evening grosbeak, high water, Racecourse run, Rio Grande Spring Arrives On The Rio. New leaves and flowers on the trees, brand-new families of Canada geese, songbirds and the river rising mark the beginning of Spring. And this is a special Spring, because, following last year’s drought, we have had an abundance of snow and rain this winter. The mountains are still full of snow, and will feed a runoff that will bring the river out of its banks. While some are concerned with flooding, we river runners rub our hands in anticipation. For us, the river cannot get too high. We know from past years how big the waves can get, and we have the rafts to handle them. Join us for an exciting time! Canada geese pair, with six goslings, in downtown Pilar Brand-new leaves on a cottonwood, in the Rio Grande Gorge Read More…
Guide Training Program 2019 Posted On: April 21, 2019 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: Guide Training Program Tagged In: Rio Chama, Rio Grande, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument The New Wave Guide Training Program 2019 (GTP) is under way, in anticipation of a very good water year for the Rio Grande and Rio Chama. The 2019 GTP kicked off on Apr. 19, with seven eager trainees. What a good-looking group of men and women! In the photo below, GTP instructor and New Wave Operations Manager Britt Runyon Huggins is seen on the right, and instructor Neil Oberheide is seen on the left. And, left to right, starting at Neil, are: Rick, Socia, Tristan, Calli, Mika, Mark, newly-hired guide Cat and Ethan. We know that our guests will love them, and that they will love being rafting guides. After all, being a raft guide is the most fun you can have, and still be working! This is the 37th year of our Guide Training Program, which we began two years after our founding, in 1980. It consists of four days of instruction on the river, followed by a month of practise. The group should be ready to go by Memorial Day weekend, when things start to get very busy on the river. Come join us! Guide Training Program 2019
Bighorn Sheep At Roadside Posted On: March 28, 2019 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: Nature Tagged In: Rio Grande, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument I came across these bighorn sheep as I was driving uphill from Taos Junction Bridge (Rt 567). They are very tame, and will often stay in place as you drive slowly up to them. The top photo is a downstream view into the Orilla Verde Recreation Area stretch of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. We float this stretch and call it the Monument Scenic Float. It is the most downstream stretch of the Rio Grande in the National Monument, which extends from here north to the state line, and incorporates all the river upstream, sagebrush plains and two newly-declared wilderness areas. Bighorn youngster, with the Rio Grande below Bighorn youngsters, on cliff above the road Thanks for visiting our blog. For all the details of our trips visit NewWaveRafting.com
New Wave Women Guides Recognized Posted On: March 21, 2019 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: Great guides Tagged In: guide, Rio Grande New Wave Women Guides Recognized. The Taos News recently published “Taos Women”, a special edition magazine. An article entitled “Rough Riders” discussed women Rio Grande rafting guides. The article included the above photos of Kathy Miller, co-owner of New Wave Rafting Co, and guides Cathy Jo Robison and Karen House, along with the following text. Read More…
Bighorn Sheep and Channel Fill Posted On: June 12, 2017 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: Nature Tagged In: Bighorn sheep, Britt Runyon, Rio Grande, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument Bighorn Sheep and a “channel fill” are seen in this arresting photo by Britt Runyon (below), taken in the Taos Box portion of the Rio Grande Gorge. “What’s a channel fill?”, you say? Bighorn sheep and channel fill OK, I’ll explain. But first, I need to discuss the geologic history of the Rio Grande Gorge. In this part of gorge, the Rio Grande is incised into a succession of lava flows, one sitting atop the other, like a layer cake – and I’ve counted as many as 7 different layers in that cake. Before these lava flows began, let’s suppose that the Rio Grande was running through a valley, as rivers do. The first lava flow into that valley dammed up the river, causing a lake to form behind the dam. When the lake rose to the height of the lava dam, its waters began to spill out and meander over the surface of the lava flow. Depending on the amount of time that elapsed between the over-topping of the lava dam and the arrival of the second flow, the Rio Grande would (with less time) have cut a channel into the flow, and (with more time) cut a gorge. This same process would have repeated with the arrival of each new lava flow. The Rio finally had the opportunity to cut down more fully through that stack of layers once the lava flows stopped coming. Read More…
Steve Miller Publishes “The Salt River”, an iBook Posted On: June 10, 2017 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged In: Rio Grande, Steve Miller “The Salt River, a Photo Journey and Visual Guide” , by Steve Miller, joins “The Grand, the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, a Photo Journey and Visual Guide, together showcasing Arizona’s two most sought-after river trips. Like the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, the Salt River is unique. Read More…
Racecourse High Water Posted On: May 18, 2017 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: River trips Tagged In: Rio Grande Racecourse High Water, May, 18 2017. Our friends from Baylor University, in Waco, Texas, returned for a Racecourse trip, and enjoyed high water … and cool temps! They, of course, survived. The river is running at 3300 cfs today, making the Racecourse a Class 4 run. Read More…