Riverman: The Story of Bus Hatch

by Roy Webb

Bus Hatch, a hard-drinking, hard-fighting carpenter from Vernal, Utah, became one of the seminal figures in Western river running. Together with his inlaws (and a few outlaws) they began boating the Green and Colorado Rivers around 1930. It was they that introduced having a riotously good time to an occupation formerly considered very serious business. By the 1950s Hatch was hauling hundreds of clients downriver through Dinosaur National Monument and river throughout the West. Bus Hatch's river business--now run by his grandson--is still one of the best known in the country.

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 77 of 2025: Riverman: The Story of Bus Hatch by Roy Webb (2008, Fretwater Press, 168 p.)

I have run several trips on the Green and Yampa Rivers with OARS Dinosaur in Vernal, Utah. This OARS operation is the lineal descent of Bus Hatch's Hatch River Expeditions.

Hatch was a hard driving, hard drinking, and hard cussin' riverman from Mormon Vernal Utah...a contradiction if there ever is one. A pioneering river runner, Hatch essentially started the commercial river running on the Green, Yampa, Colorado (Grand Canyon), Snake, and Salmon Rivers. Add to this was the descent of the upper Indus River in Pakistan.

I super enjoyed reading this book, which provided much background for me to a descendant company I have long worked with. I must add the Salmon in Idaho to my ever growing list.

I also must pay homage to Hatch's graveside in Vernal, as well as his son Don's who ran the Vernal operations after Bus's death, the next time I am there.

A highly recommended read.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story of a man who really started commercial boating in Utah, Arizona and Idaho.