River Guide, Sam Cook on 30 Years of Adventure I had scant knowledge of Sam Cook before our interview. As an Adventure Consultant, my world revolves around calls and keystrokes, tethered to the indoors. Sam, on the other hand, is a river guide, navigating the outdoors, guiding people down the river. Despite us both working […]

A 30 Year Journey on Rocky Mountain Snowmelt – Mild to Wild’s Beginnings If you’ve ever wondered how Mild to Wild has grown into the outfitter it is today, grab the rewinder and stop when you hit 1994.  You’ll find two Durango river guides illegally parking a bus on the side of their basement apartment, […]

What is El Niño and its 2024 Forecast for Southwestern Rivers A freaky weather phenomenon occurs every few years, known as El Niño, and fishers were the first to notice it (vox.com).  Beginning around Christmas, the sea surface warms up like the vacation of your dreams. Do not open up a new tab and Google […]

How to Shop the Best Holiday Deals on Whitewater Adventures Click here if you’d like to skip to a section: Top Selling Trips How to Save the Most Gift Certificates How to Pick the Right Multi-Day Trip Are you ready for an impromptu inundation of Black Friday river puns, in anticipation of the best holiday […]

14 Outdoor Gift Ideas for Nature Lovers Choosing gifts can be challenging, especially for those who seem hard to please. Our common love for nature, however, unites us all. Arborists risk it all for their tree-climbing reverence, while even nature skeptics rely on trees for oxygen. Whether on the extremes or in between, a thoughtful […]

The Best Places to Stargaze in Fall in the Southwest Autumn is an eclectic time of year for stargazing in Utah and southwest Colorado. The best places to stargaze in fall get darker earlier and the night temperatures are still mild compared to winter. As Earth turns away from the center of our galaxy during […]

The Best Things to do in Moab this Fall for 2023 Fall is the best time to be in Moab, Utah. Locals change up their afternoon siesta and DIY ice-fan routine for more adventurous shenanigans. The air and water beckon with seventy to eighty degree temperatures. Rainfall averaging sixty-seven inches adds earthy-smells. Lightning strikes through […]

Everything You Wanted to Know about the Aspen Tree So, you’re looking for some cold hard facts about the aspen tree. Well, you’ve come to the right shady corner of the internet friend. That’s a pun on trees, in case you’ve got the wrong idea about that quality double entendre.  Aspens, the quaking aspens of […]

What to Expect on a Trails and Rails Trip – A Photo Story When you sign up for a Trails & Rails trip with us, you best get ready for the ride of your life, especially with fall colors arriving. A brief synopsis of how this trip works, is the first half of the trip […]

What to Wear Whitewater Rafting in Fall The title of this post, “What to Wear Whitewater Rafting in Fall,” presents a catch-22 scenario. Whenever we think of autumn, we associate it with cooler weather and changing leaves. Early Fall in some Southwest rivers, however, offers pleasant desert conditions and friendlier whitewater. Specifically, near Moab, Utah, […]