‘Big Water, Little Boats’ author Tom Martin coming to Colorado Mountain College

Tom Martin
Author Tom Martin will appear at CMC locations in Carbondale (April 10) and Breckenridge (April 12) to talk about his book, “Big Water, Little Boats.” The Carbondale appearance will also feature a panel discussion about the Colorado Water Plan.

CMC in Carbondale and Breckenridge to host free talks

Tom Martin, author of “Big Water, Little Boats,” a history of river-running on the Colorado River from the 1940s and ’50s, will speak at two April appearances at Colorado Mountain College.

The free, 45-minute program features original photographs from various Grand Canyon river trips over several decades, including Boulder Narrows at 126,000 cubic feet per second in 1957. The presentation tells how Moulty Fulmer happened upon the McKenzie River hull design of today’s Pacific Northwest boats, and how he used that design to build his boat the Gem, Grand Canyon’s first decked dory.

Martin will also touch on the building of a full-sized replica of the Gem and taking the replica through the Grand Canyon. He will show photo rematching of original pictures from the 1940s and 1950s river trips. The program will be followed by a book signing.

Carbondale talk includes panel discussion on Colorado Water Plan

Author Tom Martin will appear at CMC locations in Carbondale (April 10) and Breckenridge (April 12) to talk about his book, “Big Water, Little Boats.” The Carbondale appearance will also feature a panel discussion about the Colorado Water Plan.
Author Tom Martin will appear at CMC locations in Carbondale (April 10) and Breckenridge (April 12) to talk about his book, “Big Water, Little Boats.” The Carbondale appearance will also feature a panel discussion about the Colorado Water Plan.

The first talk and book signing is set for Colorado Mountain College’s Lappala Center in Carbondale April 10, from 7 to 8 p.m. Martin’s talk will follow a panel discussion of the Colorado Water Plan that will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The Colorado Water Plan is a comprehensive, statewide plan being created this year in response to Gov. Hickenlooper’s executive order to figure out how to allocate, over the decades to come, our state’s rapidly dwindling water resources.

A diverse panel of water experts and enthusiasts – including CMC sustainability studies instructors Sandy Jackson and Ken Neubecker, CMC sustainability studies student Jeremy Isenhart and author Martin – will discuss the plan from a variety of perspectives, including agriculture, river ecology, recreation and land use.

After hearing from each panelist, the audience will be invited to provide input that will be gathered by panel moderator Louis Meyer (president, CEO and civil engineer at SGM) and integrated into the portion of the plan focused on the Colorado River Basin.

Following the panel discussion Martin will present on his book, “Big Water, Little Boats,” and will sign copies of his fascinating look at this mighty river. CMC in Carbondale is located at 690 Colorado Ave.

Breckenridge, Carbondale events arranged by CMC faculty, staff

CMC adjunct faculty member Matt Lit organized these events with Martin after seeing a Facebook post about the author’s presentation. CMC instructional chair Adrian Fielder organized the panel discussion for the Carbondale talk.

Martin’s second talk will take place on April 12, at Colorado Mountain College in Breckenridge, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Martin’s presentation will be followed by a book signing. CMC in Breckenridge is located at 107 Denison Placer Rd.

More information is available at BigWaterLittleBoats.com. For more about the Colorado Water Plan, go to coloradowaterplan.com.