Deliverance, A River Reborn, The Same River Twice, A River Runs Trough It, The Milagro Beanfield War
Television
Nova, The Desert Speaks, Anything on The Discovery Channel
Books
Anything by Muir, L'lamour, Zane Grey, or Abbey. Mystical Canyons of Water Light and Stone by Richard Fisher, We Swam the Grand Canyon by Bill Beer, Paddling Arizona and Canyoneering Arizona by Tyler Williams, The Man Who Walked Through Time by Colin Fletcher, Verde River Recreation Guide by Jim Slingluff, Deep Survival by Lawrence Gonzalez, any of the amazing Michael R. Kelsey Guides, the Audubon Field Guides, National Geographic, Arizona Highways, Backpacker and Outside Magazine
My name is Ron. I'm 35, and I have been playing on or in the Verde River for most of my life.
The Verde River is characterized not only by the water that flows through it, but by the lack of water that surrounds it. The river begins in tributaries among aspen and pine in the high Bradshaw Mountains of central Arizona, and twists its way through scrub oak, juniper, grasslands, spring filled hollows and cactus filled canyons on its way to damnation in the reservoirs north of Phoenix. It collects water from some of the most dramatic landscapes anywhere in the world; Oak Creek Canyon, Fossil Creek, West Clear Creek, The East Verde, and Beaver Creek, and has done this for roughly 60 million years. The river hosts a belt of fluorescent green in a perfect desert, and is one of the last great free-flowing rivers in North America.
Sadly, the Verde now rates as one of the United States’ most endangered rivers, due to a fiendish plan to pump directly from the Verde's headwaters, in order to feed rampant subdivision development in Yavapai County. This pipeline is an ill-conceived and overpriced monstrosity that is currently the greatest threat to this beautiful place.
This is a page for everyone who loves the Verde River. It is a place for paddlers to come together. It is a place for people to connect, whether their interests are hiking, swimming, birding, fishing, hunting, paddling, conservation, or just watching the water flow by. If you are setting out on a paddle trip, post it here. Would you like to see a section of river preserved, cleaned up, or protected? This is the place for bulletins. Browse my Friends list to find others with an interest in river use and conservation. Send photos of your river experience. Soon, I will be posting maps, stories and videos about this incredible desert resource, as well as my blog. Blog, blog, blog. That's fun to say.
I would like this site to be a connection point for everyone with an interest in my favorite river; an intersection of ideas and motives, in order to better connect and protect this amazing place. This is a place to bring together every person and group that would like to see the river saved. Every one of us is a seperate finger. Let's pull together and make some working hands, or if needed, a fighting fist. This is a place for positive words, and positive action.
For further information on the Verde and how to protect this wonderful place from developers and greedy politicians, follow these links:
So many groups! So many like-minded citizens!
These groups are passionate, motivated, and organized. Please pitch in and volunteer! You will be glad you did!
For some outstanding info about the Verde itself, as well as cool paddling maps, check out The Friends of the Verde River Greenway, as well as the FREE Boater's Guide to the Verde River. Essentially a complete guidebook in pdf form.
For a teriffic story written by NKS check out this issue of The Noise, our favorite Northern Arizona arts/news/conservation publication. Scroll down to page 14 of the pdf to see it, or visit her blog for more!
Check out Verde River friend Gary Beverly's outstanding slideshow on the upper Verde. It's an outstanding testament as to why the Verde River needs protection NOW! If you haven't seen the upper Verde, and few ever have, this slideshow should really open your eyes.
Thanks for your support!
-Ron
Dad, Artist, Teacher, Conservationist, Paddler
Oh, and one more thing: if you find your comment has been deleted below, it's probably because it contained an image that was so wide it changed the dimensions of my page. If you would like to post a photo or something else, please make sure it is no more than 450 pixels wide. Thanks!
Who I'd like to meet: People who love the river, and those who paddle it.
You know the people that say utopia isn't possible have already given up. Living sustainably in balance with our environment and food sources will bring us the freedom to live in harmony, and provide the opportunity for all to excel in their efforts, dreams and life path. Utopia is not only possible but it is the very essence that should guide our dreams and vision for ourselves and with each other. It is the horizon we should all strive for everyone and every nation. Anything short of that will lead us astray.
That's great! I'm glad you like the song! Thanks for the publicity.....I have many fond memories of the River...Long live the Verde! Thanks for the feedback and for stopping by! Welcome to my top friends!
Hey, I love that picture. I want to come kayak all the more now:) I've been writing about the Wisconsin River in the Dells recently. Check out my blog about our fun in the Dells and other events AND MAKE COMMENTS: Mfairlady http://www. mfairladyblogspot. com/ Hope to make it out in the next few months if I can.
Thanks for the inspiration. The Verde is very special. It is great to meet others with the same enthusiasm for the Verde preservation. Hope to meet you on the water someday.
Hi Ron! I live near Chicago so I can't meet this Thurs... but I usually get out to the area in late spring. I'll be sure to look you guys up. I also like to write and you have me very inspired:)
I'm glad to see there are people out there that care about this vital ecosystem as much as I do. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I live in Tempe.
you're totally welcome Ron.. I have a secret swimming spot on the verde river..That's both secluded and gorgeous..If i can keep it secret, then it shall remain that way .. be well..- Avril..
Hey #1 Fan!!! Us being num 1 fan of the verde as well!!! (among many). So thanks for the support as usual...and i was stoked to finally get on the East Verde.....i have been looking at that dry now for the past year. I'm glad you liked the interaction with the camera!
it actually was pretty well broken up, i've taken harder hits on smaller falls. The trail has turned into sliding granite (like the kind in people's yards :)) and the boats put too much weight on us we could barely shimmy on that trail as it was (but i actually wanted to do the boats differently anyways actually) glad to see our plan of: anyone who knows the area will know the creek, but those who don't won't drive out there and get killed : worked. glad you enjoyed the write up :)
