Those looking to relax or adventure atop a body of water can book trips, grab gear and even walk to the Uncompahgre River from Best Slope Adventure Company, a new equipment and guide shop in Ridgway.
Husband and wife duo Clayborne and Alex Frost took over the float and rafting service from RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service — which wanted to offload that piece of its guiding business and focus on fishing — in hopes of blending hospitality with outdoor adventure.
Clayborne briefly served as RIGS’ general manager when the opportunity arose and took the chance to build a business around his background in raft guiding.
He said both local guiding companies remain partners, happily sending business to each other, depending on what a customer comes in looking for.
Clayborne spent the past six years working in local hospitality but wanted to return to his river rafting roots, holding years of experience as a guide for Outward Bound and other companies in Colorado and Oregon. He wanted to get back outdoors and blend his resume to create “hospitality-driven guiding experiences,” where customers can sign up for half-day, full-day or overnight rafting trips where the business takes care of food, refreshments and gear.
He said he thinks of it as “the luxury of car camping, but in the wilderness.”
Buying out RIGS’ rafting and river services came with gear and permits to run trips on the San Miguel and two sections of the Lower Gunnison River, including the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. They did not take over RIGS former business renting gear out at the Ridgway State Park.
In addition to guided trips, customers can rent stand-up paddleboards, river tubes and regular and inflatable kayaks to take out on their own. They can also request shuttles to and from local recreation areas.
Clayborne is most eager to run overnight trips but is looking to work with customers and try things out during their first summer to ensure everyone is getting the service they need.
“I just want to get people on the river,” Clayborne said.
For example, customers can request a shuttle service back from the end of a float, even if they have their own gear.
Alex, who is a school psychologist for the Uncompahgre Board of Cooperative Educational Services, is focusing on helping run the business behind the scenes and is calling this summer their “building year.”
The business opened its doors at 257 Sherman St., Unit A — just a brief walk from an access point off the Uncompahgre River — on June 1. The couple is already booking trips through the summer and hopes to host local events in the future, such as a weekly community float.
For more information, visit bestslopeadventure.com.
