Will the Circle Be Unbroken

Dick Barker at the oars with son Eric behind him.

My father, Dick Barker, died early in the morning on Monday, July 23rd.  He was truly one of the “Legends of the Snake”; he was the man who pioneered the 10 mile Deadman’s Bar to Moose float trip 50 years ago.  He started Barker-Ewing Float Trips with then partner Frank Ewing.  Even though he had long ago stopped guiding commercial floats down the river himself, he had still been able to take the oars in August of 2011 (at age 74) during the annual Snake River Funds “Legends” trip.  He was a true Master of the oars, and even pioneered a new channel during high water 2 years ago.  He had a talent for reading water like no-one else I have ever seen.  He will be greatly missed.

When he was away from the river, my father was also a folk singer, balladeer, and guitarist who co-founded the local Hootenanny with Bill Briggs in 1993.  As it happened, the evening that he passed was the annual Hootenenany at the Center for the Arts.  The Hootenanny Board was able to turn that evening’s performance into a fitting tribute for their “fallen” friend.  My brother, Eric Barker, took to the stage that evening… showing more courage and strength than I can imagine.  He sang one verse solo and then led the other performers into a group chorus of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”.

And that is the theme of this year for us at Barker-Ewing Float Trips.  It is true that we lost our beloved owner, leader and father.  But our family and crew are going to carry on the traditions that Dick started these many years ago.  We are unbroken.

The very first boatman hired by Barker-Ewing was Verne Huser.  He used to joke that he was the hyphen in the Barker-Ewing.  This year, our newest guide on the river here in the park is Verne’s son, Paul.  Paul has floated many different rivers over the years, and worked for the Ewing’s commercially on the whitewater section of the river.  It is so fitting that he was the last guide that Dad ever hired, and with this 50th year, the circle indeed is unbroken.    ~Leith Barker

Dick Barker
March 16, 1937 – July 23, 2012

Take time out for Life

I recently read a post on the O.A.R.S. blog–20 reasons why a Rafting Trip is the Perfect Family Getaway.  I love what river runner Ben Curnett wrote:

You don’t have much time. No one does. It’s why vacations are so important. You’ve got to make every second count. But you don’t want to be in “hurry up and relax”-mode the whole time.” 

This spring I made a road trip down to the Red Desert of Wyoming.  It was a pleasant trip and a beautiful area.  By the time I made it back home, however, I was pretty exhausted. Yet anytime I do a rafting trip—and they always require the longest drives and shuttling logistics—I never feel more at ease, content, and peaceful.  I come home elated and alive, and ready to tackle life!

Maybe it’s leaving the car behind and setting foot in a world without engines and traffic and electrical outlets?  Once you are on a raft, nature is in the driver’s seat.  No speed limits to obey, 4-way stops to navigate, just the flow of the river.  It’s as if nature is reminding us that time (as we are all obsessed with it on our devices) isn’t a specific arrangement of numbers.  And if we’re in too much of a hurry, and don’t take a moment to enjoy the moment, well, then we’ve really missed the boat!

Rafting the Main Salmon River, Idaho

Enjoy summer and all it has to offer; but be sure to make time to let time go…..for me, after 10 years of rafting adventures on the Snake River and beyond, I know exactly where I can find that.

~Laura, B&E office

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Established in 1963, Barker-Ewing Float Trips has been sharing the beauty and wonder of Grand Teton National Park with visitors from around the world for 50 years, floating beneath the Grand Tetons on the headwaters of the Snake River.

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