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Leta Grace Deveraux: Jackson Hole Local Turns 106

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Leta Grace Deveraux, a Jackson Hole local, turns 106 tomorrow! Leta is the mother of Patty Ewing whom, with her husband Frank and daughter Heather, own Barker-Ewing Whitewater. Patty shares this story of her mother.

Leta Deveraux was born March 29, 1908 in Watonga, Oklahoma, and eventually landed in Laramie, Wyoming in 1920 with her family. She was a teacher and a wife; she’s a mother and a grandmother. Growing up, she had a horse as a house pet, could cowboy up better than any chap around, and would out-charm, out-bet and out-wit anyone that would take on the challenge!  

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Leta Grace Deveraux

Now, as Mother reaches 106, her good health combined with sound mental acuity and an active sense of humor (which my husband Frank engages with his teasing every day) has allowed her to live another comfortable year in our home. While she requires much more physical aid, she still walks short distances with a walker and our support. Frank is earning the world’s best son-in-law award: his physical help and most importantly, his empathy, good-natured teasing and engaging stories keep Mother smiling and laughing, even though she may not hear or understand all his words. Without Frank and our daughter Heather’s support, we could not keep Mother at home. We are also grateful for the loving, caring ladies who come to provide much needed aid and respite time. Our daughter Shannon, my brother and Mother’s son Jay Deveraux & his wife Cynthia plus other family members make special efforts to come see her as often as possible, which we appreciate.

Mother loves cards and telephone calls. She never fails to remember family and old friends. Her face lights up when dogs stop at her chair for a pat or a sit in her lap. She enjoys short drives in the car for wildlife watching and visiting friends. A very gentle person, Leta has arrived at this time of her life with a great deal of grace and dignity, a lifetime of memories and friends. Each night she wants her bed raised so my Daddy’s photo, her late husband’s, is the last thing she sees and thinks about before going to sleep. Today, Mother smiled big when I told her that the neighborhood children will be visiting the house to sing “Happy Birthday” to her.  – Patty Deveraux Ewing

It’s Easy To Be Green

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We strive to be the color of a leprechaun on St. Patty’s Day leprechaunhere at Barker-Ewing Whitewater! Here are just a few ways we aim to be a “green” company: We keep our offices ship-shape and buses tidy with Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day and Simple Green earth-friendly cleaning supplies. Our Barker-Ewing team players ride their bikes to work to cut down and help reduce our carbon footprint. Every vehicle is maintained to run efficiently and with the least amount of emissions possible. We print our whitewater rafting brochures on recycled paper, and we try to save trees additionally by opting to use online reservations and bill pay. Anything we can recycle, we do! Instead of paper products, we serve our scenic float trip meals on plate and silverware. From participating in the Snake River Clean Up volunteer day each summer to awareness in Jackson Hole’s Reduce Reuse Recycle program, we strive to do our part in keeping Jackson, Wyoming, the Snake River, Teton County and the environment at large in our minds and in our hands. Here’s to being GREEN today, tonight and every day moving forward.

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Whitewater Rafting Is The Coolest Thing You’ll Do All Summer!

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Wildwater rapids!

Summer vacation planning? If you’re looking for an adventurous family vacation or a cool family reunion idea, Jackson, Wyoming is a great place to put at the top of your list! The perfect summer activity in Jackson Hole is whitewater rafting on the Snake River… a must! All of us at Barker-Ewing Whitewater invite you to celebrate 51 years on the Snake River with us this summer. We’d love to take you whitewater rafting in the Snake River Canyon or guide you on a relaxing scenic float with views of the Tetons. The great thing about a long winter in Jackson Hole is the amount of snow that accumulates and melts into big, fun whitewater rapids on the Snake River. While we enjoy seeing the snow fall for our favorite winter activities like downhill skiing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, skate skiing and snowboarding, we can’t help but daydream about the river season to come. Whitewater rafting on the Snake River is the coolest thing you’ll do all summer!

 

Barker-Ewing Whitewater WINS Silver Medal for Best Outfitter in Best of Jackson Hole 2013!

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Best of Jackson Hole 2013This is a huge honor, and we are so grateful for the recognition! From horseback to fishing to biking outfitters, we were voted by locals and beyond for 2013’s Best Outfitter Silver Medal. Thank you to everyone who participated! We are Celebrating 50 Years this summer, so this just adds icing to the cake. We appreciate your loyalty and your confidence in us as a river outfitter and hope you’ll jump on board a raft and celebrate with us this summer! Ready. Set. Go… Rafting! 1963 – 2013

Maria Wyllie’s “Staycation”

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Following graduation from the University of Virginia in May of 2012, I immediately packed up the car and headed west. What was initially intended as a four month summer break before entering the so called “real world” has now become a 14-month break– a little something I like to call “staycation.”

It’s safe to say my parents have been a little concerned about my line of work out West– cleaning toilets, folding t-shirts and handing out wetsuits does not require a college degree (so they like to remind me). I keep explaining to them that I am fully aware of this and that I am simply working to support my staycation before I commit myself to a full time career.

This summer I’ve gone on staycation with both locals and tourists, allowing me to experience a wide variety of summer activities. I kicked the summer season off with a moonlight rafting trip down the Snake River (ask our guides why it’s called that). I unsuccessfully went fly-fishing in Kelly, successfully jumped off the cliffs in Kelly, went for a not so refreshing dip in the Granite Hot Springs, tubed down Flat Creek, did some disco dancing at the Coach and some bluegrass dancing at the Wort, hiked to Goodwin Lake for a quick dip, got down at Targhee Fest, sailed on Jackson Lake, drove over the Pass for a huckleberry milkshake, kayaked on Lake Yellowstone, played disc golf in the Village, poached a hot tub or two, went up the Gondi for some margaritas and fried mushrooms, and enjoyed some tasty wild rice pancakes with my mom followed by a ride through the Big Kahuna on Barker-Ewing’s scenic/whitewater Breakfast Combination trip (my personal favorite). While my list might seem long, these excursions are just a sampling of the many activities Jackson has to offer.

Being endlessly enthused about the place you live and being able to go on so many adventures without having to travel far is a wonderful thing. This past winter, for instance, I went paragliding off the Tram during my lunch break. I don’t think most people can admit to having done something as cool as that in the middle of their work day. Every season continues to offer new challenges for even the most experienced athlete. However, regardless of expertise, the impressive Teton Range physically and mentally challenges hikers, climbers, and skiers ranging anywhere from novice to expert. So, even if this is your first time in Jackson, I hope you will not be fearful of exploring these beautiful, humbling mountains.

I won’t be here forever, but I’m not ready for my staycation to end yet– there are too many mountain trails and ski slopes that I have yet to conquer. I hope you enjoy your time here in Jackson amongst the river rats and ski bums, and I invite you to keep coming back, as there will always be new adventures waiting for you.  – Maria Wyllie

The Clintons and Barker-Ewing Whitewater… a float down memory lane!

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The last official Barker-Ewing River Trips sighting of the First Family was in August 1996 when I had the honor of taking the Clinton family down the Snake River on a float. In total, there were 11 boats in the floatilla. For a while, I was pretty sure they had the wrong guide in mind when I was pulled aside and counseled on what to do if we were shot at… yikes, I thought! Isn’t that what the two “counter assault” rafts are for?

All in all, it turned into a beautiful afternoon with wonderful conversation in my boat and a huge education for me looking at the bigger picture. Mostly, it was a great honor that I was chosen to share what I consider to be one of the most special places on earth with Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton!

I hope there will be another summer visit by the Clintons to Jackson Hole – and that they might consider joining me on another float trip along the now “Wild & Scenic” Snake River.

– Heather Ewing

FOOD&WINE | Travel+Leisure | TripAdvisor

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“Barker-Ewing’s four-hour whitewater rafting expedition down the Snake River is beginner-friendly and travels through some of the deepest gorges in the river.” – FOOD&WINE

“Take on the Snake River in a raft-on request, the guides will do all the work so you don’t even have to paddle. Barker-Ewing River Trips can organize an outing that’s as relaxing or exciting as you want.” – Travel+Leisure

For over 40 million trusted traveler reviews & opinions and unbiased client river experiences with Barker-Ewing Whitewater, check out www.tripadvisor.com.