Where River, Service, and Industry Meet: An All-Women Veterans Trip Through the Gates of Lodore

In June 2025, I joined something truly special: the first-ever, all-women veterans multi-day rafting trip through the Gates of Lodore in Dinosaur National Monument. Organized by Philip Crowley of Veteran Excursions, this five-day journey brought together women veterans to find strength, healing, and connection through the river.

I work year-round for Watershed Drybags, whose gear is trusted by both the military and the outdoor community. When Philip invited me to join as a safety kayaker, I immediately said yes—not just for the river, but for the mission. Supporting women veterans felt personal. My Aunt served in the U.S. Army during Operation Desert Storm, and her service shaped my respect for the military long before I fully understood it.

My career sits at the intersection of the outdoor and military communities—two worlds that share values of discipline, teamwork, resilience, and trust. Those same values matter just as much on the river. This trip felt like a natural way to honor that connection and give back.

The Gates of Lodore is remote and powerful. Our mixed group included women veterans, supported by guides. Our Lead Guide, Amber, is a veteran herself! As a safety kayaker, my role was to help keep the group safe through rapids and assist always. One day, for some reason, I told Amber after she mentioned she was a little tired, “You Are Capable.” And that was one of the group’s first inside jokes. I enjoyed having a mixture of non river folk and river folk from all backgrounds: civilian and non-civilians. So much to learn about everyone!

Being the first all-women veterans multi-day trip made it especially meaningful. Over five days, participants learned to live out of a drybag, cook outdoors, navigate cold water, and trust themselves—and each other. Watching confidence grow day by day was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

Reliable gear played a key role. Pit Viper provided polarized sunglasses, NRS supplied splash jackets, Mustang Survival outfitted us with life jackets and sun shirts, and Watershed Drybags kept essential gear completely dry while supporting me with time off.

Trips like this are about more than whitewater. They’re about connection, shared experience, and stepping out of routine to reconnect with the natural world. For me, this trip came full circle—honoring my family’s military service, supporting veterans through my work, and using the outdoors as a bridge between those worlds.

The river has a way of reminding us who we are—and more importantly, who we can become. At Watershed, we believe gear should be trusted where it matters most. 

By: Eleanor Ansback