The Yampa River
Water that raised me, and the heart of Hala Gear.
By Colleen King - Owner of Hala Gear
The water twirls me around, embracing me as my hair dances through the movement. The light trickles down from above the surface to join the waltz, resting on the rising bubbles. I am soothed in the rhythm of the Yampa, free, loved, cared for. My lungs give a gentle nudge, reminding me that, despite my 6-year-old heart's deepest wishes, I am, in fact, not a mermaid. I lean on the current of the water and push myself towards the sunlight, refreshed from the soiree with the river. It’s 1997, and I’m living my best life at our neighborhood swimming hole, the place that enchants and entertains my sisters and me all summer long. We jump off the nearby rocks, plunging into the swimming hole, trying desperately to touch the sandy bottom (a feat that felt mythical to me, the youngest, trailing them by three and four years). On the best occasions, our dad would join us, mesmerized into nostalgia of his own carefree days of childhood playing in waters. The magic of the Yampa has that effect, I’ve found. It pulls you in, holds you, and brings you to a time of tenderness, connection, and love.
Flash forward 20 years, it's 2017, and I’m leaving my first “big kid job” at a cool local company, Hala. I love the job and company, but as a 26-year-old who grew up in Steamboat, I’m ready for my next adventure out in the world. Before I leave, my co-workers urge me to SUP on the river - at least once. I’d been hired in the fall when the town stretch of the Yampa is too low to SUP. Now, the spring runoff is flowing, and I agree to see what this was all about. As we approach the river, I clutch a Hala Atcha board close, the smell of the river gives a tug at my memory and connection to the water. Despite my stubborn competitiveness and fighting like heck to keep my balance, as the rapids grow bigger and the eddyline zippers stronger, I quickly lose my balance and tumble into the water. Submerged, my body immediately relaxes into a moment of submission to the Yampa River. I’m immersed in a hug from my old friend, and we dance through the currents together, the years apart failing to interrupt our rhythm. I emerge cleansed of my fear, resistance, and combative energy towards the river. A smile ignites across my face as I climb back aboard, fully resourced by the water and immediately obsessed with this odd sport of river SUP.
It was three years later, in 2020, that I found myself drawn to the water of the Yampa on a daily, if not multiple times a day. The world was turbulent, ridden with fear, and paralyzed by uncertainty. For me, COVID was not the root of this instability. My Dad’s energy and resilience were fading after 8 years of illness. Drawn back to the Yampa Valley to be near my mom and dad, my youngest brother and I found incredible healing and connection in the waters. Paddling with our morning coffee, we’d meditate through mystical fogs departing as the sun rose, floating past moose feasting on the banks, beavers beginning their busy day, and osprey showcasing their fishing skills. In the evenings, we’d toast to the day and giggle with each fall, comforted by the river briskly moving us through its currents. The feeling of presence was safety. It was the water that wove us together. The summer of 2020 was one of the toughest times in my life, and yet, the river was a safe harbor. Willing and able to hold all our sadness, anger, troubles, and uncertainty It welcomed us as we were, playing gently with us as we moved through the grief of our dad’s final months — offering the familiar comfort of the waters he once loved, still carrying traces of his childlike joy and energy.
Now, as Hala embarks on a new chapter in 2025, it’s funny to look back on it all. Why I paddle here. There are so many reasons I love to paddle the Yampa. The water is my home. It raised me, just as it raised Hala. It is a safe harbor, an oasis for connection with oneself, nature, and others. It’s a consistent resourcing energy that has cared for so many of us through the years. The Yampa River will forever be my favorite place to paddle and care for.
