60 Months of Shoshone with Joe Elsen and Barry Chamberlain

Five years of paddling, frozen gear, high water, and a friendship that keeps bringing two longtime kayakers back to the river.

What started as a few practice laps for an upcoming kayaking trip has turned into a pretty incredible tradition for longtime paddling buddies Joe Elsen and Barry Chamberlain. On October 4th, the two celebrated 60 consecutive months of paddling Shoshone! That's five straight years of getting out on the Colorado River every single month, through freezing winter temperatures, spring runoff, injuries, and plenty of logistical challenges along the way.

Keep reading to hear more about how the streak started, some of their favorite memories, and what has kept them coming back month after month. Their stories were too good not to share!

How It All Started

The streak began on November 11, 2021, while Barry was preparing for an upcoming February kayaking trip to South America and wanted to get some practice in. He reached out to Joe, and the two made plans to meet at Grizzly Creek after one of Barry's shifts as a flight nurse for Careflight of the Rockies.

It was a chilly 25-degree morning, and Shoshone was running around 900 CFS. Neither had any intention of starting a five-year tradition, but with more practice laps needed in December and January, they figured they might as well stay the course.

As Barry put it, they decided to "keep it going" until they "couldn't."

Apparently, that day hasn't come yet!

Frozen Gear, High Water, and Everything in Between

Over five years of monthly Shoshone laps, Joe and Barry have experienced just about every condition the river has to offer. They paddled some of their most memorable laps while most of us were checking the snow report.

One particularly cold morning, the two had an early start to squeeze in a lap around their schedules. When they climbed into Joe's 2008 Tundra and started the engine, the dashboard thermometer read just 15 degrees. After staring at it for a moment, Joe gave the digital display a solid whack. The temperature immediately jumped to 16 degrees, and the two laughed as they declared that it was "really warming up!"

Barry remembers winter runs where ice covered their drysuits and PFDs, sometimes making it nearly impossible to get their gear off afterward. He describes the black ice covering their bodies "like armor," while Joe's helmet would develop an impressive icicle hanging from the visor. And if you've ever struggled to get a spray skirt on in freezing temperatures, you can probably imagine they experienced some level of type 2 fun.

The cold also made for some interesting situations on the river. On one winter lap, Joe took a shortcut through the Wall Section and ended up stranded on top of an ice floe between two boulders. Barry and Joe's son Jimmy had to get out of their boats to help pull him across the ice bridge.

And while the winter laps have provided plenty of memorable moments, the two have had their fair share of high-water adventures, too. Barry remembers their 20th consecutive month, when Shoshone was running close to 8,000 CFS.

"My kayak felt pretty small out there!" he recalled.

The Month That Almost Ended It All

Despite the freezing temperatures and highway closures, the closest the streak came to ending was November 2024, when Barry sustained a back injury at work.

At the beginning of the month, Barry was convinced there was no way he'd be able to paddle. Joe wasn't particularly optimistic either. In fact, he went so far as to print out a photo of Barry and mount it on a stick so Barry could still join the month's lap in spirit.

But as the end of November approached, Barry started feeling a little better. On the very last day of the month, he did a mellow workout at the gym and decided he might actually be able to pull it off.

At 10 a.m. on November 30, he called Joe, who was able to join him for a last-minute Shoshone lap.

"I drove up and we kept the streak going! It was fantastic! Joe loaded and unloaded my boat, helped me get my spray skirt on, and carried my boat to and from the river! I kinda miss those days - I could get used to that!" 

And just like that, the streak survived another month, with 14 hours to spare.

There were other challenges along the way, too, including highway and river access closures following the Glenwood Canyon fire and subsequent flooding. Let's just say they've gotten pretty resourceful when it comes to finding their way to the put in.

But somehow, they've managed to make it work every single month.

Five Years of Getting to Know the River

Both Joe and Barry have been paddling Shoshone since the late 1980s, so it's safe to say they were pretty familiar with the run long before this streak began. But returning every month for five years has given them a different appreciation for the river and the changes that come with each season.

Barry recalls how the flash floods of 2021 reshaped sections of Shoshone's riverbed after decades of relatively little change. For the next couple of years, they watched the river continue to shift and settle into its new normal, sometimes noticing subtle differences from one trip to the next.

Beyond those physical changes, the monthly laps have given Barry a deeper appreciation for the river itself.

"Paddling Shoshone every month for 5 years has allowed me to develop an intimacy with the river and its personality; the crystal clear glacial blue water of winter giving way to the silty water of the spring runoff - and the return to the emerald green water of the fall. Let’s all be sure to take care of this special place”.

While high water certainly brings its own excitement, Barry especially enjoys the lower flows, when there's more time to surf, explore different lines, and make a short run last a little longer. Joe shares that appreciation for the river in all its conditions, and he has a true respect for the bigger flows that can certainly "get one's attention."

No matter how many times they've paddled Shoshone, Joe says they still take every run seriously.

There's also a pretty cool connection between Joe and Glenwood Canyon itself. Joe spent many years of his career working as an engineer on the Glenwood Canyon Highway, back around the time the two first met. After decades of paddling together, Joe still has plenty of stories and historical knowledge about the canyon.

For these two, Shoshone is more than just a familiar stretch of whitewater. It's a place they've watched change over decades, and one they keep finding new reasons to appreciate.

More Than Just a Streak

As impressive as 60 consecutive months sounds, what really stood out to me in Joe and Barry's responses was how much this tradition has meant to their friendship.

"It's truly the camaraderie and sense of community with my great friend, Barry! Everyone has family situations where aging can greatly complicate our everyday lives; this outlet of camaraderie has helped me vastly when I would hit a family health challenge, and it’s been very healthy in that regard," Joe shared.

After decades of friendship, raising families, working, and juggling busy schedules, their monthly Shoshone laps have become a way to make sure they still find time for each other.

"It has been really special to re-unite with Joe after the busy years we both had of raising young children. I see Joe more now than I did before we had kids. It’s great to have a routine where you get to connect and catch up on each other’s lives and just have fun," Barry shared.

And while the streak started with just the two of them, they've always welcomed others along for the adventure. Their laps often include friends, family, and the occasional riverside picnic.

Through these monthly trips, Barry has also gotten to know more paddlers from across the Western Slope, particularly around Glenwood Springs. He's enjoyed watching those connections grow and the sense of community around Shoshone become even stronger.

"The river has a way of bringing people together… what a special thing!" Barry shared.

Keeping It in the Family

Some of Joe and Barry's favorite river memories involve their kids, too.

Joe remembers a day back in 2015 when he and his son Jimmy joined Barry and his son Ryan for three laps on Shoshone. Their goal for the day was simple: "hit every eddy and surf every wave!" Jimmy had his sights set on paddling Slaughterhouse the following season, so they spent the day making the most of everything Shoshone had to offer.

Years later, Joe and Jimmy were still finding new adventures on the same stretch of river. One Father's Day, when Shoshone was running around 12,000 CFS, Jimmy invited Joe out for a lap.

Joe's response? "Well, why not..?"  After putting on and experiencing “the New Baptism” drop, and the massive right bank wave that kept both paddlers off of their “right of center” planned line, things got a bit hectic. Joe recalls getting “munched” in a hole that was followed by another massive hole near Tuttle’s Tumble. Joe could see Jimmy parked in a river left eddy above Pinball and he managed to grab the same eddy with his son. “Well, dad, ya know, I never thought that I would call Shoshone a Class V, but today it really deserves it!” Joe recalls catching his breath (finally) and saying something to the effect of “If you say so!”  

Barry has had some pretty special family laps of his own. On New Year's Day of this year, he was joined by Joe, his son Ryan, and his daughter Sarah, while his wife Sue watched from shore.

It was an especially memorable day for Sarah, who had a great first lap running Shoshone on her own in a ducky!

One Month at a Time

After five years, 60 months, and countless Shoshone laps, I had to ask whether they planned to keep it going.

Joe's answer?

"Hell, Yeah!"

He joked about the possibility of becoming "the Paddling Centenarians," but also appreciates the simple satisfaction of taking it one month at a time.

Barry feels much the same way. While the streak has become a fun challenge, he doesn't want it to turn into an obligation or get in the way of other adventures.

For him, the appeal is still the same as it was five years ago: getting outside, spending time with a good friend, and enjoying the river.

"I'd like to think it keeps us young - but Joe and I are young at heart regardless."

A huge congratulations to Joe and Barry on 60 consecutive months of Shoshone! Here's to many more laps, good stories, and time on the river with friends!