The campsite was unknown. The rafting company was unknown. The weekend had dates.
Friends were trying to organize a Royal Gorge trip for the end of June. The rough plan was to leave Friday, camp, and raft Saturday. Before anybody booked the campsite or picked an outfitter, the organizer needed to know how many people were interested.
That was how a lot of trips started. Send a wide email. Ask for a count. Tell people to forward it. Hope the group becomes real before reservations fill up.
The Royal Gorge put the Arkansas River through a deep, narrow section of Colorado canyon. Rafting there could be a serious day, depending on the water and route. The email itself was much more relaxed. It opened with "Hello My Dear Friends" and ended with "Much Love."
I do not have a reply from myself or a later booking confirmation. Maybe I went. Maybe work or another plan got in the way. This is a skeleton in the archive until a photo, calendar entry, or another message settles it.
What is clear is that the invitation was part of a run of outdoor plans. Skiing at A-Basin on Memorial Day. Rafting at the Royal Gorge in June. A Rockies game and fireworks in July. The group did not wait for one season to end before filling the next one.
My work at Beatport was built around a global internet business. My weekends were still being organized by one friend asking a few dozen people to email back within a week.
First get the count. Then find the boats.