Rob Elliott remembers early ARTA Stanislaus days and rafting in the 1950s and 1960s (PDF)

This is an edited excerpt from the original interview with Rob Elliott in the 2005 Boatman’s Quarterly Review, focusing on how Rob and his dad, Lou Elliott became engaged in the 1950s and 196os rafting world, mostly focused on California.  It includes Rob’s personal journey, his father’s history, the first run on the Stanislaus, how paddle rafting was established in the West, and how guiding was opened up to women. The full interview is worth anyone’s time to read, but these excerpts get to the heart of the spirit of guiding and rafting, particularly for those who worked for ARTA in California.