John Wesley Powell River History MuseumJohn Wesley Powell River History MuseumThe language of kayaking came upon us in German, French, and an assortment of other foreign voices from Europe as they penetrated our rivers and waterways like a song. They left us with a new way of experiencing the Colorado and Green Rivers as their sleek single person vessels took to the waters and began making a history of their own. First one, then two, followed by numerous fleets of kayakers who first came to compete on the Arkansas River in the FIBArc Salida whitewater races, then they descended upon other rivers seeking new adventures and discovery beyond the competitive slalom racing that brought them here.
Skilled kayakers came like a song out of the destruction and ashes of war-torn Europe after WWII. Regardless which side they represented in the war, came together on the rivers to compete at kayaking, and their camaraderie fostered peace among them. The trio of European kayakers (Walter Kirschbaum, Roger Paris, and Ulrich Martins) represents a team of first descents and major influencers along the Colorado Plateau who made a difference introducing the Southwest to European boating techniques and the freedom found in exploratory kayaking.
Walter Kirschbaum (1926-1972) began kayaking at the age of 14 with a Bavarian club near his home in Fürth, Germany. Still a teenager, he was drafted into the German Army toward the end of World War II and was captured by Americans on the Czech front, who then handed him over to the Russians in 1945 where he was held as a POW until he was repatriated. He was severely emaciated from hunger from his time as a POW. Walter also struggled emotionally with a “tortured soul” that affected him throughout his life, and in an unforeseen way motivated him to explore new rivers.
After regaining his health, he returned to competition kayaking and became a World Champion in the K-1 Slalom at Merano, Italy, in 1953. In 1955, Walter was invited to compete in the FIBArk Salida kayak races on the Arkansas River in Colorado. He returned again in 1957 and remained in the United States. His interests switched from competitive kayaking to exploratory kayaking where he made many first descents in a kayak that includes the first non-portage transit of the Grand Canyon (1960), the first non-portage transit of Cataract Canyon (1959), the first to run the rapids of Gore Canyon (1962-solo), the first to tackle the entire Black Canyon of the Gunnison River in (1961 or 1962-solo), Cross Mountain Canyon on the Yampa during high water without portaging (1963), and first to run Pine Creek Canyon on the Arkansas River (1957-solo). His goal was to paddle all of the whitewater stretches of the Colorado River and its tributaries and he completed that goal in 1965. He said, “I live to paddle my boat…the only time I am free.”
Roger Paris (1928-2019), went by RO-zhe, had a completely different experience during the War, his town was bombed and taken over by the Nazis. Not entirely discouraged, Roger took advantage of newly formed whitewater created from the debris left behind by a bombed-out bridge on the Loire River near his home in Orleans, France. Roger was 12 years old when he first learned to canoe through the rapids. After being coached and gaining more experience paddling, he with his canoeing partner Claude Neveu would win five gold and two silver World Championship medals in the C-2 competitions when they were invited to compete at the FIBArk sponsored Salida, Colorado whitewater races on the Arkansas River in 1953. He intermittently resided in France and California until 1964. In 1964, while Roger and his wife Jackie were living in California, Walter Kirschbaum came to visit them. He had been working at Colorado Rocky Mountain School (CRMS) in Carbondale, Colorado, teaching kayak and boat building. Walter invited Roger to come help him at the school. Roger accepted the offer and also taught French, and soon became director over all their outdoor activities including kayak, mountaineering, and skiing. He would remain at CRMS until 1980, then move on to Colorado Mountain School (CMS). His greatest impact to the Southwest was made in the number of accomplished individuals that he coached and trained to kayak and his protégés continue to train the next generation of kayakers.
Uhlrich Martins, goes by Uli, (1935-current) followed a similar trajectory as he developed kayaking skills in his native Germany at the age of 22 or 23. Born in Berlin, Germany, he was ten years old when WWII ended. His only recollection of the War was constant hunger, there was little food to be found. After the War his father moved their family to Erlangen, Germany, where he learned to kayak and met Walter Kirschbaum. They both belonged to the same Fürth kayak club. Kirschbaum encouraged Uli to come to the United States and compete at the Salida races on the Arkansas River. In 1962 he came to the United States to race, and he became an international winner when he won the rigid boat class race in the FIBARC Salida races in June 1963.
Uli’s friendship with Walter Kirschbaum contributed to both of the first descents he is credited with on the Colorado River. Uli, along with Kirschbaum, Ted Young, and Joe M. Lacy were the first kayakers to run Westwater Canyon on August 16, 1962. The following year, Uli and Les Jones were the first non-supported kayakers to run the Grand Canyon in October 1963, when the Colorado River was running only 1000 second feet. Les Jones initially invited Kirschbaum to join him on the trip but he was unavailable. Uli was present when the invitation was made and he volunteered to go in his place.
In Paddler Magazine Jan/Feb 2000 issue they listed both Walter Kirschbaum and Roger Paris as “Paddlers of the Century.” Both Kirschbaum and Roger expressed how rivers made them feel free. It appears that the War was forgotten once they took to the wilderness canyons.
Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00am – 5:00pm
Adults (18+)
Seniors (62+)
Children (7-17)
Family
$8
$6
$3
$25
Free admission for children under 7, museum members, and Green River residents.