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River Music with Pat Byrne and Colin Brooks

Q: What to Expect

Day 1: After meeting at 9am we will take a scenic 1 hr. shuttle to the put-in that features vistas of the craggy peaks of the San Juan Mountains, the massive Brazos Cliffs-over 3000 vertical feet high, and the village of Tierra Amarilla, the center of Reies Tijerina’s land grant revolt of the l960’s. Our launch point is at El Vado Ranch, a rustic, riverside fishing resort. The Chama River immediately whisks us away through a series of swift riffles and into the evergreen-lined canyon. We enter Chama Canyon Wilderness and negotiate Aragon Rapids (Class II). Our camp will be on an old high-water bench, under shelter of ponderosa pines and Douglas firs. After a delicious supper everyone will settle in around the campfire for laughter, music and good times! Day 2: Enjoy a very leisurely morning beginning with a hearty, hot breakfast. A song or two to get us going and we are of down the River. Hike up any of the numerous side canyons or to the top of Navaho Peak for a spectacular vista. We will arrive at camp early for more relaxing camp time, riverside music and great food. Day 3: We will encounter some longer, steeper rapids and multi-hued sandstone cliffs up to 1000′ high. Emerging from the canyon wilderness area, we observe a quiet zone as we pass the Christ in the Desert Monastery. Now begins the lively whitewater run (Class II-III) into the headwaters of Abiquiu upper Reservoir. Our take out at mid-afternoon, enables us to return you to your vehicles in Abiquiu before 4:00pm.

Campfire Serenades and Comfortable Camping Beneath New Mexico Stars

Dates

June 26-28, 2026

Participants

6+ yrs

Cost

Starting at $799

Difficulty

Easy

Overview:

The serenity of a great western river like the Rio Chama pairs well with most music, but a duo like Pat Byrne and Colin Brooks is truly something special!

Pat Byrne is an Irish singer-songwriter that migrated to Austin, Texas in late 2017. He has since been immersed in the Texas music scene and released his first independent album, Rituals, in October 2018. In 2019, Byrne’s breakout performances included the 30A Festival, SWSX, Kerrville Folk Festival, and the Americana Festival. When 2020 came along and live shows disappeared, Pat took full advantage and began work on his newest album “Into The Light”. You can learn more about his music on his website here.

Colin Brooks is a singer-songwriter, blues-rock guitarist and dobro player currently living in Austin, Texas. He was a member of the Americana group the Band of Heathens.

Brooks was born and raised in Michigan, but moved to the southwest to pursue a career as a solo artist. Brooks formed the Band of Heathens with Gordy Quist and Ed Jurdi in 2006, after they shared a stage together as individual songwriters. They have since released three studio albums. In 2009, the band was nominated for a “New Emerging Artist” award by the Americana Music Association. In 2010, the band was again honored by the Americana Music Association as nominees for the “Best Duo/Group of the Year”.

Highlights:

Inclusions:

Exclusions:

Reviews:

Day 1: After meeting at 9am we will take a scenic 1 hr. shuttle to the put-in that features vistas of the craggy peaks of the San Juan Mountains, the massive Brazos Cliffs-over 3000 vertical feet high, and the village of Tierra Amarilla, the center of Reies Tijerina’s land grant revolt of the l960’s. Our launch point is at El Vado Ranch, a rustic, riverside fishing resort. The Chama River immediately whisks us away through a series of swift riffles and into the evergreen-lined canyon. We enter Chama Canyon Wilderness and negotiate Aragon Rapids (Class II). Our camp will be on an old high-water bench, under shelter of ponderosa pines and Douglas firs. After a delicious supper everyone will settle in around the campfire for laughter, music and good times!

Day 2: Enjoy a very leisurely morning beginning with a hearty, hot breakfast. A song or two to get us going and we are of down the River. Hike up any of the numerous side canyons or to the top of Navaho Peak for a spectacular vista. We will arrive at camp early for more relaxing camp time, riverside music and great food.

Day 3: We will encounter some longer, steeper rapids and multi-hued sandstone cliffs up to 1000′ high. Emerging from the canyon wilderness area, we observe a quiet zone as we pass the Christ in the Desert Monastery. Now begins the lively whitewater run (Class II-III) into the headwaters of Abiquiu upper Reservoir. Our take out at mid-afternoon, enables us to return you to your vehicles in Abiquiu before 4:00pm.

Get ready to pitch a tent, sling a hammock, throw down a pad, and relax! Every day we will prepare and serve you a delicious riverside lunch, not limited to, but often including an array of home-roasted sandwich meats and homemade dips and salsas (see some of our recipes here). In addition, our camp dinners and breakfasts are a classic staple of the Far Flung experience, as 40 years in business has not only taught us the principles of reading white-water…but also of cooking and camp ambiance!

***Please let us know ahead of time about any allergies or special food requirements***

Camp Gear:
Following is a list of required and recommend items for this three-day camping excursion. You will also receive this list as part of your confirmation email. As part of the trip we will provide waterproof drybags for all of your personal items, camp chairs for fireside relaxation and enjoyment, plus any tents, pads and sleeping bags that you and your group need.

Please click here to look at a more in-depth list of required and recommended camp gear:

Going Camping? Here’s what you’ll need.

A cancellation more than two-weeks in advance will result in a full refund minus 10% of total trip cost; A cancellation within two weeks will result in a 50% refund of total trip cost; A cancellation within one week will result in a 25% refund of total trip cost; “no-show” on the day of the trip will void any refund.