My description of pure joy was to turn around in the front of the boat so Greg and I could laugh together. He usually insisted that I sit in my special chair to protect my back and look downstream.
Greg and Holly's kids, 2008. Holly published a heart warming book for anyone that knew and loved Creede's "Mountain Man". It is called Paddle for a Cure and is for sale in our office. A tremendously fund-raising event was held on Greg's birthday, July 20, 2008...with a big floatathon and auction in the Elks Hall. Trust me. You will want this book if you ever met Greg.
We took six trips together on the Green River, which is a five-day float. Greg hit so many big waves that he even loaned me his treasured Gore-Tex jacket and pants. I swallowed a lot of river water that trip.
Greg had this hacienda built for me next door to the office. The doors are always open for friends and family to drop in and say hi. Steve Lewis Construction created the design. A lot of love was put into it.
July, 2008. Greg just wanted to touch his line-up of boats one more time with his medicine bag by his side. Two months later, he handed that bag and his knife, "Kalinga", to my grandson, Ryan. He said, "Ryan, You can do it. Don't mess up."
Getting into the raft for the 2008 parade without the Mountain Man was strange for our river guides. Ryan played loud music to help him smile at the crowd of people who cheered for our somewhat shy float. Only one boat was loaded. Ben drove the van. The sign says "Paddle for a Cure, July 20, 2008".
Showing off our new inflatable kayaks. Ben Vaughan is driving.
2007 Parade.
We moved all the original signage (from 1985) to the old barn.
Greg's parents, Ann and Bill Coln drove from Michie, Tennessee to meet their son's bride. The painting in the background was done by David Slade which hangs in our office.
2009 parade. Ryan shyly put on Greg's parade buckskins and played loud bango music to help him with his grief over losing Greg in January. I can see the sad slump in his shoulders as only a grandmother could see.
I look cocky after having a refreshing
Delen taking the new 12' Maravia for a float through the rock gardens to check it out. She guided boats for four years. Her daughter guided for six years.
Delen on our front porch thinking about how much fun Greg and our crew was having in the Grand Canyon.
The night of Ryan and Ceci's wedding in Austin, Texas. I had no idea that little family would decide to come help us very soon.
Delen on the front step of our rafting office.
This mottly crew was hot and wet. Greg took them for a six day trip on the Green River in Utah.(left to right) Paul Steward, Ryan Daugherty, Mountain Man and Jeremy McComas.
A typical campsite for Greg and his guides. The green tent belongs to Greg. He always placed his tent way off from everybody else.
Sheer happiness. I love this picture. You can see how strong Greg was. He always said that he had to be tougher and faster than any river guide he hired.
I like to think of this picture of Greg as what entering into heaven would be for him. After waiting a lifetime, he finally drew a permit for the Grand Canyon (shown here) which was three years before he passed.
Grand Canyon, 2006
Grand Canyon, 2006, Greg, Bill Philbern, Jr. and Deputy Scott Warrington.
Our first winter, 1985. Greg went after a tree for our Christmas.
Greg all cleaned up, fresh shirt and ready for another day on the Grand.
You can just hear Greg saying "Well, I finally got to run the Grand Canyon. Thank you, Lord."
Greg and Matthew Daugherty.
Fall, 2008. Greg invited our pastor, Jeff Scott to ride with him out to Freemon's Ranch after church. Jeff arrived in his shorts and white sneakers. Greg was decked out in full leather. They were only going 12 miles, but I whispered to Jeff that when Greg picked up speed, "Don't follow him." Jeff thanked me later, because the Mountain Man took off like a rocket. (more) When Greg knew he was very ill, he wanted to see what it felt like to spend money. He bought those leathers and never wore them again.
Thanksgiving dinner, 2006.
Heather Long from Georgia and Greg were each other's greatest hero. Heather had cerebral palsy, and she was trying to walk after her surgery on her legs. Greg was almost crushed by a huge tree but survived with a broken ankle/leg. This picture shows him encouraging her to walk. Her family would drive from near Atlanta each year just so she could wave to Greg in the parade.
Greg wanted these red ski pants, so he traded our son-in-law for his old LeCar.
I would like for everyone to see how many things Greg found to do in the winter.
First crew to check out the Green River.
Our first river guide from the Colorado river. Not used to using sunscreen, he refused and actually cooked his skin that summer and was hospitalized.
We hiked up to Phoenix Park so I could see the old trapper's cabin where Greg found shelter the winter he spent as a mountain man. We were just getting to know each other, but I found him to be very enjoyable to be with up on the mountain.
Our wedding day on September 6, 1985. This is my grandmother Kelly's wedding blouse. I made my own skirt. Greg had found an old captain's coat, with tails, at a garage sale. Since he only had a few dollars in his pocket, he bought some $4 black shoes that were 2 sizes too big. My daughter took the picture.
We had no office or shuttle help this summer, so we ran things ourselves.
Greg up on a beaver pond.
Camouflaged to go bow hunting in the elk season. He looked a six-pointer right in the eye and let him go.
Chopping wood.
Climbing down into the Grand Canyon.
Cross-country ski race (in the cream sweater)
Way out ahead in race.
Rearranging beaver pond.
This is Greg's picture for the Navy to serve as a corpsman. This was after he came out of the mountains, so I'm sure that being clean-shaven and hair cut short felt kinda strange. He enjoyed all the clean bedding and nice clothes.
If Greg wasn't in the boat, he was watching the boats.
During Creede parade.
Wild man, wild.
Beard frozen at end of race.
Totally frozen.
Pine marten that he trapped to put food on the table. These are ready for the fur dealer.
Caught a big fish in March.
April. Time to take the kayak out. Funny shot.
This is "Aspen". A blue-heeler mix that he traded a nice necklace with the owner of one of our authentic guest ranches, Freemon's Ranch. He just put her in his backpack. She took to me but didn't like sharing the bed with me.
While posing for my wedding picture, I was thinking what it would be like married to a 28 year old young man since I was 47 and had six grandchildren.
An original oil painting by David Slade from a photograph of the mountain man life. It hangs on Greg's sister's wall in Wichita Falls, Texas.
This tree on the Green River in Utah beautifully reveals the original "Mountain Man", Greg J Coln......arm in arm with the new "Mountain Man", Ryan Daugherty. They had been buddies since Ryan bounded on top of Greg's shoulders at the first meeting of Greg, my daughter, two sons and six grandchildren in Fort Worth, Texas.
In the meantime, Ryan and Matthew Daugherty, my grandsons were training to be river guides. Matthew is 2nd Lieutenant, USMC and is in training to fly jets. Ryan is our River Outfitter and Director of Operations for Mountain Man Tours, Inc.
Ryan was scowling back at Greg, who was teasing him about anything and everything. This was outside out cabin.
Summer, 2008 at the Floatathon. This young man, Ryan, stood up on a trailer showing a considerable amount of courage and composure, knowing that his beloved "Granpa Greg" was sinking fast; and he would have to take over the company.
These folks paid $1000 per person just to ride with Greg one more time. To me, he is reaching up to heaven, saying "I'll be there soon."
