1979 FOR media trip with Harold Gilliam and others – scenes and the story

In August 1979, Friends of the River organized a media trip for Harold Gilliam (San Francisco Chronicle) and Scoop Nisker (KSAN/KFOG). Harold (Hal) was well-dressed in African expedition hat and khakis. The next month, he wrote about the trip in his seminal article, “Fate of the Stanislaus” (Sept. 16, 1979), where he described the Stanislaus as a “symbol of our seemingly irreconcilable water conflicts”, but then offered the thought that maybe the best balance was protecting the river above Parrott’s Ferry. Scoop told the story on his radio show, framing it, per his favorite saying: “If you don’t like the news … go out and make some of your own.” Jerry and Kris Cadagan, Richard and Margit Roos-Collins, and Catherine Fox were on the trip.

Photos, clockwise from top left:   Death Rapid, Devil’s Staircase Rapid, the camp across from Coral Cave, and Bailey Falls Rapid.