Yampa – Day 3

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Yampa River

So, if you’ve already read Day 1 and Day 2 of this blog about our trip down the Yampa, you may have noticed that Day 1 had a lot of detail, and Day 2 seemed to be off. The truth of the matter is that Day 1 was written years ago when the trip was still fresh in our minds. Today, it is May 11, 2018, and with four years between that river trip and now, much about what was occurring is lost somewhere in the back of my mind.

Yampa River

I could wax about the feelings that seeing these photos brings back, but as I write here on a one-hundred-degree-hot day at a Starbucks, I’m mostly at a loss to pen anything meaningful. This is tragic to me because, with other blog entries where I’ve captured an abundance of details pertaining to the day, I’ve always enjoyed reminiscing and having impressions come back to me that would have otherwise been lost forever.

Yampa River

And so it will be regarding Day 3 of our Yampa River adventure: many things I would have ended up sharing with you normally will not even be shared between myself and Caroline. I suppose this will have to end up being a photo album entry.

Yampa River

Now, where we could get lucky is if Caroline has memories tucked away where she could bring them out and add to my not-developing meander through this poor excuse. At this point, I might recommend to the reader to just skip the rest of the text that will follow, as it might just be more of the same. Then again, maybe the wife adds some interesting bits.

Yampa River

It’s beautiful, isn’t it?

Yampa River

Spectacular even.

Yampa River

This 180-degree curve in the river is “graced” by the Grand Overhang. These photos are not capable of conveying the scale of this landscape.

Yampa River

That’s Sarge upfront, and Willie (from Scotland) behind him; the other names are lost in time. While most of the rafts on our trip were rowed by guides, there was one paddle raft that could be rowed by guests, and every day, a few volunteers decided to experience the river under their own oar power. There is a guide sitting in the back, steering the craft and giving commands to the rowers as needed (usually when we hit white water).

Yampa River

I’m writing about an equal amount of description as one thinks about much of anything while out on the river, just taking in the incredible moments of being fortunate enough to even be in such an environment.

Yampa River

They say a picture speaks 1000 words.

Yampa River

You don’t have to go far before the landscape shifts again, and this corner looks a bit different than the previous one or the one ahead.

Yampa River

The road ahead is paved with perfection and elegance; you just have to put yourself on that path to find it everywhere.

Visiting Mantle Cave on the Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado

Mantle Cave

Sandstone along the Yampa River

Patterns were meant to be studied. They are how we find our way through ourselves and the universe.

Visiting Mantle Cave on the Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado

Granary

A change in scenery: we have left the river for a hike before lunch. River rafting is a bit like shampooing your hair: raft, hike, eat, repeat.

Yampa River

Try to find a better view for lunch. If you should be so lucky to have 100 incredible views for your midday meal during the course of your life, I’d think you were doing pretty good.

Lunch on the Yampa River

Knives and mayonnaise on a river trip to make sure we are having the complete experience.

Rafting the Yampa River

Stomachs full, it was not time for a nap, it was time to get back on the river so we could find another beautiful place for dinner.

Yampa River

This is the Tiger Wall, also known as “Kissing Rock,” and you can bet that all of us got the chance to step up while on our rafts and kiss the largest face we may ever kiss in all our lives.

Yampa River

Shortly thereafter, we encountered “the sporty rapid” here on the Yampa, Warm Springs Rapid. It was formed by a flash flood in the 1960s, and there are many stories about it because there were several trips in the area during that time. For us, the best part of this run for those in our raft was that just after I took this photo we got hung up on a shallow boulder that just kept us in place while raging white water rushed around us. Next, our boatman tried rowing us off our perch, and we tried to help by jumping around in an effort to shift the weight of the raft just enough so we could continue our trip downriver instead of having the water swamp our raft and push us into the churn. After a few tense moments, we successfully escaped our rock in the middle of white water, for which I was incredibly grateful.

Caroline Wise on the Yampa River

This is the second full can of beer Caroline has rescued from a river; what kind of luck is that? Yes, she drank it.

Camp next to the Yampa River

When you see boatmen gathered on rafts in this configuration, it means they are done for the day, almost. Between pulling into camp and making our dinner, they usually take about a half-hour to an hour to chill and evaluate the day, maybe talk about tomorrow’s plans.

Yampa – Day 2

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Caroline Wise on the Yampa River

Finished yesterday with a “minor” mishap. As we went off to sleep, we found out that my CPAP battery had given up its charge. Inexplicably, it simply appeared to be dead, and after the initial panic that I would be without my CPAP for the length of the river trip, we had to accept our new situation and hoped it would not interfere too much with the quality of our trip down the river. So far, so good, and here we are, all bright smiles and ready for whatever comes next.

Rafting down the Yampa

For something to happen, we must go forward in search of just what that will be. For those of us who have never been here, this is pure exploration.

On the Yampa River

Deeper into the canyons, our boatmen row while we indulge in the luxury of taking time to see our surroundings.

Cliff side details on the Yampa River

Close-up detail of the cliff in front of us.

Cliff side details on the Yampa River

The canyons and the rocks they are made from vary from corner to corner, and it is often the contrast between the types and colors that demand the greatest scrutiny.

Rafting the Yampa River

Those dark gray clouds portend something ominous in the distance. While it’s too early for a serious monsoon, it’s never too early for a good rain shower. Good thing that just a couple of hundred feet down the river can change your entire perspective; maybe blue skies are still going to arrive?

Kayaker on the Yampa River

We take an early camp so we can go on a hike; this is the view from where we are spending the night.

Plant life along the Yampa River

With our tents set up, Caroline and I wander around to investigate the area. The first plant to catch my attention was this juniper tree.

Plant life along the Yampa River

Sometimes, the beautiful depth of field and particular lighting are enough for me to post a photo to add visual memories to our journeys.

Plant life along the Yampa River

I could be mistaken, but I think this is a variety of sagebrush.

Trail for our hike along the Yampa River

As remote as this place feels and in spite of the fact that you can only get here by the river, there’s enough foot traffic to keep the trails clear and well-defined.

Plant life along the Yampa River

Just like I can never post enough photos of rivers, oceans, cliffs, animals, clouds, and Caroline, I can’t post enough of the plant life we find, either.

Panorama near our camp on the Yampa River

The sky grew dramatic and maybe even a little bit threatening.

Plying the Yampa River

It is warming the cockles to see a dory with its iconic form plying the waters in front of our camp.

On the Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado

Note: you can’t imagine my shock when here in the last 48 hours of 2023, methodically working through these blog posts and scanning for grammar inconsistencies and omissions, I discovered this, and the next two images had no text. There really is nothing to add as in the intervening years, we’ve not found any lost journals that could lend details to these days on the Yampa. 

On the Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado

Not the loveliest of weather for a hike.

On the Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado

Good thing there are lovely flowers along the trail; they’ll certainly appreciate whatever rain they can capture.

Caroline Wise on the Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado

Despite the looming clouds, our group decided to hike up to Wagon Wheel Point, which promised dramatic views over the Yampa. John decided to sit this one out because of his recently injured knee. Led by most of the guides, we hiked up the Bull Canyon Trail, which is relatively short but quite steep (about 500ft elevation gain in a bit over 1 mile). Once we had reached the canyon rim, we walked a bit further on what looked like an unpaved road to reach the overlook at Wagon Wheel Point. It was very humid but never actually rained, although there was lightning and thunder. Needless to say, we didn’t linger and turned around soon.

Plying the Yampa River

And then their travel companions brought up the rear as they went by effortlessly on the way to their camp.

NOTE: It’s now four years after we took this trip when I’m posting details for days 2, 3, 4, and 5. The brain is foggy, and while the pictures lend something back about the days, I’m left to a pure interpretation of them for the story. Caroline will have made a once-over on my writing by the time you are reading this and will have hopefully added some of her recollections, too. (May 9, 2018)

Yampa – Day 1

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Caroline Wise and John Wise at the put-in for the Yampa river

Here we are, set to go out on our third river trip, this time on the Yampa and Green Rivers. Yet again, we’ll be traveling with our favorite boatman, Bruce Keller, as well as river friends Steve “Sarge” Alt and “First Light” Frank Kozyn. We first met all three on our Colorado River adventure in 2010, and Bruce has since then also been our guide on the Alsek in Alaska. Our put-in today is at Deerlodge Park in Colorado on the eastern edge of Dinosaur National Monument. Unlike our previous multi-week trips, this “little” sojourn will only be five days long. At Deerlodge Park, we pack up our dry bags, find a personal flotation device that appeals to us, go through a safety talk, and before we know it, it’s time to get to the business at hand.

On the Yampa river in Dinosaur National Monument Colorado

The brochure promised us plenty of sunshine, flush toilets, and feather beds. So far, our guides have certainly delivered on the first promise; we could not have wished for better weather. Back at the put-in, the terrain was relatively flat and for a moment did not portend that within an hour we’d be entering canyons, but here they are, and with their arrival, a rush of intrigue comes with this change in landscape.

On the Yampa river in Dinosaur National Monument Colorado

The passage narrows, and it starts to feel as if civilization moves further away from us. While not as expansive as the Alsek and not as deep and broad as the Grand Canyon, the intimacy of the Yampa here in Dinosaur National Monument is already allowing me to feel like this place is of a size that I can take in and almost comprehend.

On the Yampa river in Dinosaur National Monument Colorado

With the water getting a little choppier, the sense of being somewhere wild grows within. The adventure of the trip starts to take hold.

On the Yampa river in Dinosaur National Monument Colorado

Geological details surround us. This is about the time I started to dream of a trip without a schedule where we could pull up to the cliffside and examine the sandstone, look for fossils, or just hang out and bask in the location we are so lucky to be experiencing.

On the Yampa river in Dinosaur National Monument Colorado

It’s just past midday, and we’ll pull into our first camp early to give us plenty of time to set up our tents, build out the kitchen, do some exploring, or just chill out and enjoy the moment.

Lichen in Dinosaur National Monument Colorado

Our tent is up in minutes, and soon, we are out examining what’s to be found in our new neighborhood. Turns out there’s this gang of lichen hanging out, and while it looks soft and fluffy, looks can be deceiving. We also found a good amount of cacti giving us the stink eye, but no dinosaurs yet…..hmmm, I wonder if any of the other guests could be considered one?

Steve Alt (Sarge) and Frank Kozyn (First Light Frank) washing dishes off the Yampa river in Dinosaur National Monument Colorado

That’s Sarge on the left and First Light Frank on the right; they are the official dishwashers on this trip down the Yampa. I just dare you to try to come between these two former Marines and their dishes. They even travel with their own gloves.

On the Yampa river in Dinosaur National Monument Colorado

With the rafts tucked away for the night and our bellies full, the only thing left to do was sit around a fire and talk. Like all first days out on a river, this one came with most everyone cutting out early and catching up on the sleep they’d been deprived of over the previous couple of travel days as we converged on Vernal, Utah, where the trip first organized before heading to our put-in this morning. It’s great to be out here on a river again, wondering what big adventure awaits us around the next corner.

Going Boating

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Caroline Wise in Page, Arizona

Last night, we drove up to Page, Arizona, on Lake Powell to position ourselves for the long drive to Vernal, Utah. Without distractions, the road is nearly 500 miles long and will require about 8 hours to cover. We don’t want to be late, as being well-rested tonight and able to rise early tomorrow is imperative. The boat Caroline is standing in front of is John Wesley Powell’s famous boat, “Emma Dean’, not the real one, but a recreation built by the Disney Company for a movie they made about Powell’s trek down the Colorado. A part of his journey was on the Green River, the same river that we’ll be joining during our big adventure that starts tomorrow.

John Wise with Maisy the Donkey in Glendale, Utah

We may not see Maisy the Donkey often here in Glendale, Utah, but we’d swear that she remembers us as every time we stop, she brays and comes right over for a snuggle.

Caroline Wise with Maisy the Donkey in Glendale, Utah

Maisy was just a youngster when we met; she’s a seriously affectionate donkey.

Somewhere in Utah

Not a great photo, I’ll grant but we rarely see Golden Eagles. My apologies for the dearth of images that accompany this 500-mile day, but my attention was elsewhere, as in getting my nerve together for the five days of whitewater rafting that awaits us.

Employee #1 – TimefireVR

JWise TimefireVR

Employee number 1 at TimefireVR

Meet redacted, unarguably the first employee of Timefire LLC. He’s been slogging away with me since last summer as we started learning just what might be required for us to make a compelling virtual reality environment that would not only entertain us but hopefully thousands of others, too.

He got his start in 3D and game engine authoring back in May 2011 upon replacing a computer he killed playing over 7000 hours of World of Warcraft. Little did he know that there was a free version of UDK (Unreal Developers Kit) and a student version of Autodesk’s 3DS Max. For the next two years, minus a serious pause to get deep into playing Star Wars – The Old Republic, he studied hard to teach himself the intricacies of some truly difficult software.

Midway through developing his 3D skills, I took him, Brinn, and Rainy (I knew them all through a local Starbucks where they all worked) with me to Anaheim, California, to attend Siggraph 2012. He wasn’t far into the convention center when he came upon Shapeways and discovered his first real “career” – 3D printed jewelry artist. With some coaxing, he opened his Etsy store, 3DPrintImagination. I say coaxing because, to some extent, this digital artist is a bit of a luddite; he’s horrible with social media, rarely checks email, and has to be pressured to participate in forums to ask questions that could help him.

Come May 2013, he asked if he could bring over a UDK level he’d been working on; he wanted to see it on my new Oculus Rift that I had just received. To say we were tripping hard would be an understatement. During the months waiting for the Rift, I was certain he was going to inherit this VR device, as “How for $300 was this thing going to be taken seriously?” After peering into the Rift, I had to let him know that there was no way I was parting with this piece of magic. We were both hooked now.

He would work on space stations, sky islands, and art installations so he could walk through them and into them in VR. This encounter with the Rift reignited his interest in UDK, which he’d been neglecting as he pursued his work in 3DS Max and 3D printed jewelry.

Today he has moved out of UDK into UE4, added deft Blender skills to his repertoire, leaving his beloved Max behind, and is ripping through Substance Designer. Through it all, he has been incredibly motivated to jump into authoring video games; it is that enthusiasm that sees him working sometimes up to 90 hours a week to realize his dreams. His dedication to seeing Timefire succeed is certainly an asset we couldn’t easily replace. He is our lead Unreal Engine developer.

Migrating – TimefireVR

JWise TimefireVR

Migrating

After months of writing and promoting my blog titled PSOIH – www.psoih.com, also known as the Phoenix School of Optimism, Intellect, and Hope, I have to abandon it. The name just wasn’t jelling with people. I tried telling them that the “P” was silent and that the name read as “SOY” – but it just didn’t click. As far as traffic goes, well, that’s been doing great.

At some point in the near future, I’ll try to migrate the content over here to Timefire if time allows. Maybe it’s appropriate it should fade away, it was a reflection of my initial work in learning UDK (Unreal Developers Kit) and Blender, along with working with textures as bitmaps using Photoshop. Today, we are fully immersed in Unreal Engine 4 (UE4), still using Blender, but we are now exploring procedural textures and the Physically Based Rendering (PBR) pipeline.

In the short amount of time building the first prototype VR environment for the Oculus DK1 (Developers Kit v.1), we have seen a world of change. To us, nothing will be the same as it was when we made our first exploratory lessons into virtual reality, as what is coming is beyond everyone’s imagination – except maybe those building this step into the future.