A note about veteran A.R.O. Hudson River Guide Chuck Butkus.

Chuck passed away in 2007 and is greatly missed. Those who knew Chuck can remember him as a gregarious individual with a lust for life. A memorial was held on the river on Father's Day June 17, 2007 and will be a day remembered by all who attended. Before he moved on, he had written a number of books, one of special interest was "Love In The Wild". It is a book for adventurous couples seeking love and romance in the great outdoors. The book can be viewed on line at www.loveinthewild.com and purchased from A.R.O at one of our river outposts or by calling the main office at 1-800-525-7238. Check it out, it is a fun book. All proceeds are going to his grandchildern.

Over the past few seaons nice things have happened to A.R.O. and to some of the A.R.O.family members. Veteran Hudson River Guide Mark Lacek has had the opportunity to become a highly trained and respected sking instructor at Gore Mt. He also has been selected to guide expeditions on the Magpie River in Canada for Earth River Expeditions which is an adventure travel company with trips world wide. Check them out at www.EarthRiver.com.

In the Spring of 2007 A.R.O.was selected by Working Dog Productions to supply the whitewater rafting segment for a PBS documentary about the Adirondacks. Owner Gary Staab had the pleasure of rafting the production company down the Hudson and was interviewed for the program which should air sometime in early Spring 2008.

In the Fall of 2006 and 2007 A.R.O.was selected to participate in an event held on the Hudson River in New York City. The event was the NYC Waterfest to celebrate the Hudson River and A.R.O. provided a rafting trip on the Hudson River on the west side of Manhattan from pier 96 to North Cove Marina. There were about 200 people for each trip which was called the Big Apple Splash. This trip was a benefit for the Riverkeeper, which is an enviromental watch dog group concerned with the lower Hudson River. There work can be viewed at www.riverkeeper.org.

2007 saw Chet Cohen one of A.R.O.'s up and comming young guides graduate for collge and become a member of the ski patrol for Gore Mt.

In 2006, John Eddy went to work for the New York State Democratic Committee and helped in the election campaign for govenor Elliot Spitzer. John has been an A.R.O.guide since graduating high school and lives in Albany with his wife Heather.

2007 saw veteran kayaker Chris Koll return form a hiatus from safety boating, to once again lead trips on the Moose and Black Rivers. 2008 will see a number of mile stones for A.R.O. guides. Veteran A.R.O. guide Alex Atchie will be celebrating his 25th year of guideing on the Hudson, Moose and Black rivers. Alex is also a veteran fishing guide with credits on the Salmon River as well as in Canada. He is also the hill manager for Dry Hill Ski Area in Watertown.

Veteran A.R.O. guide Steve Uzdavinus will be celebrating his 25th year of guideing on the Hudson, Moose and Black rivers. Steve has become the montain Manager for McCaully Mt. in Old Forge and his river time has trimed down a bit, but you can find him on the rivers in the Spring. 2007 saw the addition of his 4th child to him and wife Barbara, 3 boys and 1 girl. Veteran A.R.O. guide Steve Burns will be celebrating his 23rd year of guiding on The Hudson, Moose and Black rivers. Steve is the river manager for the Black River and is ski patrol for McCaully Mt as well as A.R.O.'s first aid and CPR instructor.

There are a number of folks that are involved with A.R.O that make us the company that we are. On the Hudson River, Kevin Dixon, Lynne Wendall, Scott Bush On the Black River, Erika Bondurant, Mike Cleveland, Hallie Schroader, Larry Lafaver, Mary Chiappone, Chris and Tony Gianfagna, Ed Mereand Toshia Hance On the Moose River, Mike and Giani Benevento On the Sacandaga River, Jessica Nevins, Jarrett Marsh, Jared Doyle, Gary Gazaille, Bill Curan, Richard Nevins and in the main office on the phones Patty Kalb.

Thank you all
Gary Staab Owner

2008 also brings together two companies that partnered to offer trips to their guests. A.R.O. and Professional River Runners of Maine. PRO has stopped running trips in New York and partnered with A.R.O. to provide their previous rafting guests with rafting opportuinities on the Hudson, Moose and Black Rivers. You can check out PRO by going to their website at www.proriverrunners.com.

Call 1-800-525-7238 today for information and reservations and let our friendly staff get you started on your A.R.O.Advenure!!!