Utah Guides & Outfitters - Design-based workshops, lectures and exhibits in Moab, Utah

In 1966 Herm began boating the rivers of the West and his life changed dramatically. By 1970 he

focused on the rivers of the Colorado Plateau and he became a naturalist, educator, writer, historian,

mentor, boat repair expert, river guide and most of all a passionate protectorate of the rivers and canyons of the Colorado Plateau. Hoops used his knowledge of law, regulations, river history, current river issues to inspire others to protect the rivers of the Colorado Plateau from threats. Herm's real passion was being out on the river, absorbing everything he saw, to drift on a river in early morning spellbound by the silence and colors as the river world awakened, and he longed to dance his boat on the quicksilver ballet in the big rapids in his signature toucan hat.

In 2018 the River Management Society presented Herm their award for Outstanding Contribution for

River Management. Besides being a member of the River Management Society, Hoops is a lifetime

member of the Colorado Plateau River Guides and Grand Canyon River Guides. He served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Plateau River Guides for thirteen years. Herm is an Honorary Member of the Utah Guides and Outfitters for his contributions, and he has served on several other boards of directors.

Bob Jones and his company Tag A Long, has been a cornerstone member of Western River Guides

Association and Utah Guides and Outfitters for over 34 years. Tag-A-Long was one of only two early

outfitters to offer trips of any kind in Canyonlands. Jones wisdom of marketing has been an example for

other outfitters. Under his management Tag-A-Long played a strong role in getting Moab known as an

international destination.

His creativity offered opera in a grotto on the Colorado River, that grew into the Classic Concert Series

featuring the Utah Symphony and the University of Utah Ballet. Jones was one of the first to offer inter-

cultural activities that featured eating traditional Navajo foods, and learning directly from the Navajo

People on the Navajo Reservation. In addition, he donated part of the proceeds from those trips back to

the Navajo people in the form of a scholarship or grant for reservation projects.

Jones was active in America Outdoors and lobbying congressmen and senators when the outfitting

business was threatened by agency or other actions.

In 2015 Dee LaMar Holladay, respected river runner and owner of Holiday River Expeditions, passed on

to find more rivers to run. The first time Dee Holladays friend took him down the river, a lifelong

passion began. After one-trip, Dee began running Utahs rivers on a regular basis, delving into magnificent landscapes, grand canyons, and lively waters. In 1966, Dee and

his wife, Sue, decided to become river outfitters. He taught his family a love for rivers of the West with

the entirety of their beauty. Their business expanded from Utah into Idaho. Dee was part of a group of

outfitters that brought about many important changes in the 60's and 70's by emphasizing the preservation

of the river environment while also revolutionizing equipment. He was politically influential as a

founding member of the Western River Guides Association and Utah Guides and Outfitters. Under Utah's

Governor Scott Matheson, U.S. Congressmen and Senators, Dee's influence rippled in the environmental

movement. After decades of tireless effort Dee received many awards for his preservation and

conservation work in Utahs rivers and riparian areas, including induction into the River Runners Hall of

Fame.

Ron Smith was a river innovator, adapting military surplus inflatables for river use, designing inflatables

specifically for whitewater, marketing commercial river trips, educating others, and distributing river

gear. He was a member of the Western River Guides Association and Utah Guides and Outfitters. But

Ron is mostly known for his love of rivers around the world and his dedication to preserving them.

At age 13 or 14 Ron took his first river trip from Green River, Wyoming down the Green River to the

confluence with the Colorado River and up river to Moab. That trip started his lifetime of river running.

In l963 Ron started his own river running businesses, Grand Canyon Expeditions and Canyonlands

Expeditions. Rons S-Rig design of pontoons became one of the primary boats used for expeditions

through the Grand Canyon. Smith was the first outfitter to carry porta potties, fire pans, tents and ice for

fresh food, setting many of the commercial boating standards that exist today.

Smith commercially outfitted trips in Dinosaur National Monument, Desolation Canyon, Canyonlands

National Park and the Grand Canyon. His commitment to protecting rivers went beyond the bottom line

of his company. In 1970 amid a swirling controversy over wilderness designation in the Grand Canyon

Ron sided with wilderness advocates even though it would have a negative effect on his Grand Canyon

operation. He worked with Sen. Barry Goldwater to stop proposed dams at Bridge Water rapids and

Marble Canyon. Ron continues his conservation efforts near his home in Kanab.

Don's love was his river running business which was founded in the late 20's by his father, "Bus". The company was one of the first whitewater rafting companies in North American. Don and his father made the first descent of the Indus River in Pakistan while assisting with the filming of Cinerama's "Search For Paradise". For this Don was inducted into the prestigious Explorers Club. Don had an early descent of Hells Canyon on the Snake River and the Chilco-Chilcotin and Frasier Rivers in Canada. He was a founder of the Western River Guides Assoc. and served as president. Don was inducted into Utah Tourism Hall of Fame and honored by American Outdoors and Idaho Outfitters and Guides Assoc. Don was a founding member of the Utah Guides and Outfitters and America Outdoors and was politically active for outfitters and protecting rivers. He fought for the preservation of Dinosaur National Monument and received so many threats he moved to Salt Lake City for several years. Don had a great sense of humor and treated his guides well. If someones vehicle broke down Don would lend him a company vehicle and forward his guide trip pay.

Meg married Don Hatch in 1967 and in 1970 moved to Vernal with Don and their children. They operated Don Hatch River Expeditions until his death, then Meg carried on the family tradition of Hatch River Expeditions with her children until she retired in 2007. She was active in the community and served on many boards including the Western Park and Dinosaurland Travel Board. She also served two terms as a commissioner on the Utah Travel Council.

Lifetime Members
Herm Hoops In 1966 Herm began boating the rivers of the West and his life changed dramatically. By 1970 he focused on the rivers of the Colorado Plateau and he became a naturalist, educator, writer, historian, mentor, boat repair expert, river guide and most of all a passionate protectorate of the rivers and canyons of the Colorado Plateau. Hoops used his knowledge of law, regulations, river history, current river issues to inspire others to protect the rivers of the Colorado Plateau from threats. Herm's real passion was being out on the river, absorbing everything he saw, to drift on a river in early morning spellbound by the silence and colors as the river world awakened, and he longed to dance his boat on the quicksilver ballet in the big rapids in his signature toucan hat. In 2018 the River Management Society presented Herm their award for Outstanding Contribution for River Management. Besides being a member of the River Management Society, Hoops is a lifetime member of the Colorado Plateau River Guides and Grand Canyon River Guides. He served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Plateau River Guides for thirteen years. Herm is an Honorary Member of the Utah Guides and Outfitters for his contributions, and he has served on several other boards of directors. Bob Jones Bob Jones and his company Tag A Long, has been a cornerstone member of Western River Guides Association and Utah Guides and Outfitters for over 34 years. Tag-A-Long was one of only two early outfitters to offer trips of any kind in Canyonlands. Jones wisdom of marketing has been an example for other outfitters. Under his management Tag-A-Long played a strong role in getting Moab known as an international destination. His creativity offered opera in a grotto on the Colorado River, that grew into the Classic Concert Series featuring the Utah Symphony and the University of Utah Ballet. Jones was one of the first to offer inter- cultural activities that featured eating traditional Navajo foods, and learning directly from the Navajo People on the Navajo Reservation. In addition, he donated part of the proceeds from those trips back to the Navajo people in the form of a scholarship or grant for reservation projects. Jones was active in America Outdoors and lobbying congressmen and senators when the outfitting business was threatened by agency or other actions. Dee Holliday In 2015 Dee LaMar Holladay, respected river runner and owner of Holiday River Expeditions, passed on to find more rivers to run. The first time Dee Holladays friend took him down the river, a lifelong passion began. After one-trip, Dee began running Utahs rivers on a regular basis, delving into magnificent landscapes, grand canyons, and lively waters. In 1966, Dee and his wife, Sue, decided to become river outfitters. He taught his family a love for rivers of the West with the entirety of their beauty. Their business expanded from Utah into Idaho. Dee was part of a group of outfitters that brought about many important changes in the 60's and 70's by emphasizing the preservation of the river environment while also revolutionizing equipment. He was politically influential as a founding member of the Western River Guides Association and Utah Guides and Outfitters. Under Utah's Governor Scott Matheson, U.S. Congressmen and Senators, Dee's influence rippled in the environmental movement. After decades of tireless effort Dee received many awards for his preservation and conservation work in Utahs rivers and riparian areas, including induction into the River Runners Hall of Fame. Ron Smith Ron Smith was a river innovator, adapting military surplus inflatables for river use, designing inflatables specifically for whitewater, marketing commercial river trips, educating others, and distributing river gear. He was a member of the Western River Guides Association and Utah Guides and Outfitters. But Ron is mostly known for his love of rivers around the world and his dedication to preserving them. At age 13 or 14 Ron took his first river trip from Green River, Wyoming down the Green River to the confluence with the Colorado River and up river to Moab. That trip started his lifetime of river running. In l963 Ron started his own river running businesses, Grand Canyon Expeditions and Canyonlands Expeditions. Rons S-Rig design of pontoons became one of the primary boats used for expeditions through the Grand Canyon. Smith was the first outfitter to carry porta potties, fire pans, tents and ice for fresh food, setting many of the commercial boating standards that exist today. Smith commercially outfitted trips in Dinosaur National Monument, Desolation Canyon, Canyonlands National Park and the Grand Canyon. His commitment to protecting rivers went beyond the bottom line of his company. In 1970 amid a swirling controversy over wilderness designation in the Grand Canyon Ron sided with wilderness advocates even though it would have a negative effect on his Grand Canyon operation. He worked with Sen. Barry Goldwater to stop proposed dams at Bridge Water rapids and Marble Canyon. Ron continues his conservation efforts near his home in Kanab. Don and Meg Hatch Don's love was his river running business which was founded in the late 20's by his father, "Bus". The company was one of the first whitewater rafting companies in North American. Don and his father made the first descent of the Indus River in Pakistan while assisting with the filming of Cinerama's "Search For Paradise". For this Don was inducted into the prestigious Explorers Club. Don had an early descent of Hells Canyon on the Snake River and the Chilco-Chilcotin and Frasier Rivers in Canada. He was a founder of the Western River Guides Assoc. and served as president. Don was inducted into Utah Tourism Hall of Fame and honored by American Outdoors and Idaho Outfitters and Guides Assoc. Don was a founding member of the Utah Guides and Outfitters and America Outdoors and was politically active for outfitters and protecting rivers. He fought for the preservation of Dinosaur National Monument and received so many threats he moved to Salt Lake City for several years. Don had a great sense of humor and treated his guides well. If someones vehicle broke down Don would lend him a company vehicle and forward his guide trip pay. Meg married Don Hatch in 1967 and in 1970 moved to Vernal with Don and their children. They operated Don Hatch River Expeditions until his death, then Meg carried on the family tradition of Hatch River Expeditions with her children until she retired in 2007. She was active in the community and served on many boards including the Western Park and Dinosaurland Travel Board. She also served two terms as a commissioner on the Utah Travel Council.		In This Section: About Request a Free Brochure Become A Member Lifetime Members