It is with heavy hearts that we are making the announcement that Canyon River Instruction will remain closed for the 2020 season. While this decision is extremely painful for us, we firmly believe that it is the most responsible course of action.
Things are really weird in the world right now, and we have been spending all of this spare time we have mulling over things like what we stand for as a company, how we can best be of service to the issues we are facing right now, and what the best course of action is in the coming months, with the minimal info we have on fluctuating regulations governing businesses like ours.
Here at CRI, safety has always been, and always will be, our number one priority. If you have ever taken a Swiftwater Rescue course from us, then you have heard us expounding upon concepts such as “Expedition Mentality,” “Can I, Should I,” “Risk Tolerance,” and “Risk Management.” We take these things very seriously, both on and off the river.
We have been weighing our risk tolerance as a company that teaches safety, as a family with a high risk member, as an employer who cares for our employees like they are family, and as a business who genuinely cares for the safety of our customers. (I mean, you all and your safety on the river are the entire reason we started this company in the first place!) We have been weighing our ability to safely manage risk to an acceptable level of risk tolerance. We have been taking into account the bigger picture, the long haul, and the safety of the whole group (our clients, our staff and our family,) in the way that one does with an “Expedition Mentality.” This isn’t a class III day trip you guys… The collective human species is in the depths of a first decent class V gorge, we don’t have a map, and we don’t know where the takeout is.
We have found ourselves asking those all important questions lately: “Can I?” And “Should I?” We have found that the answers have been pretty simple despite our agonizing over them… Can we operate? Yes, we can. According to CO state regulations we can legally be running clinics with groups of up to four non household/ family members, and groups of up to ten family/ household members, while social distancing and wearing masks whenever possible. Should we operate? Probably not. Not with the levels of risk tolerance and management we have to work with. Not without either watering down our lessons to the point of missing huge parts of our curriculum, or ignoring WHO & CDC recommendations. Not with Expedition Mentality in mind.
Can we stay closed? Yes, CRI can weather a year of non operation. We will likely take take a bit of a hit in terms of our growth, and might loose a few customers. We’ll have to tighten our belts and get creative. It will suck, but we can do it. Should we close? Probably. When we look closely at COVID trends in our state, in neighboring states, and in other countries, as well as commercial whitewater regulations in other states and countries, operating here and now in these conditions feels irresponsible. Especially considering that we operate our business out of our home, and have a very high risk family member who is directly involved with operations.
This is painful. I’m not exaggerating when I say we have been agonizing over this. Canyon River Instruction is not just our business, it is our passion. It is the culmination of years of passion. More tears than you could imagine have been shed over this decision. Every email and phone call canceling courses produces more tears. You, our customers, our students, are the reason that we love what we do, and it tears us apart to not be on the water with you all right now.
In the meantime, we are still committed to being a resource for the whitewater community and will be posting a series of videos on various river safety topics, as well as starting an “Ask an Instructor” portal on our website to help answer questions about boating, rigging, river safety, gear & equipment, maintenance, maneuvers, anything river related!
We look forward to getting on the river with each and every one of you in 2021. Until then, stay safe, stay sane and stay healthy.
With Care,
Elisha & Alan
- CRI owners/ operators/ instructors
