Martin's Boat - A Film By Pete McBride

Preeminent conservationist David Brower called him his conscience: in the 1950’s when the Bureau of Reclamation proposed two dams in the Grand Canyon—one at Marble Canyon and the other at Bridge Canyon—the late Martin Litton made sure the Sierra Club didn't acquiesce. Martin believed the best way for people to understand how important it was to preserve the Grand Canyon was to have them experience this secret world from the river, but not in just any boat. Martin pioneered whitewater dories on the Colorado River in the 1960’s and started a proud tradition of naming the boats after wild places that had been lost or compromised by the hand of man. Now, some 50 years later, America’s open-air cathedral faces continued threats from development and mining and it’s up to all of us to ensure the crown jewel of our National Park system is protected now and for future generations. Martin’s Boat is a film that honors the legacy of Martin Litton and follows the newest boat in the Grand Canyon Dories fleet, the Marble Canyon, on its maiden voyage down the legendary Colorado River through the grandest canyon on Earth.

Directed by PETE McBRIDE | Cinematography by PETE McBRIDE | Second Camera BLAKE McCORD | Edited by JIM AIKMAN | Assistant Producer MICHELLE SMITH | Boat Construction Footage BLAKE McCORD | Martin Litton Interview Footage LEW STEIGER | Additional Editing SCOTT McELROY | Motion Graphics MATT SCHULTZ | Audio Mix JASON McDANIEL | Boat Construction DUFFY DALE, SEAN BOTHMAN, BLAKE McCORD | Historic Footage/ STILLS JOHN BLAUSTEIN, RUDI PETSCHEK, MARTIN LITTON, The LITTON FAMILY, DON BRIGGS, U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION | Additional Footage AERIAL FILMWORKS, JUSTIN CLIFTON, JEFFE ARONSON, MONTE TILLINGHAST, SKIP ARMSTRONG | O.A.R.S. River Guides ANDRE POTOCHNIK, DUFFY DALE, MARK “MOQUI” JOHNSON, RIO HIBARGER | Film Boat JEAN PHILIPPE CLARK, BLAKE McCORD | Baggage Crew BEN SEUL, MARIAH HIBARGER , HAYDEN BRIAN | Music ABEL OKUGAWA, JOSH GARRELS, CONTINENT DRIFT, GOLDEN YOUTH, SUNBEAM, EULOGY, TAYLOR BUONO, IAN McCLOUD | Special Thanks ESTHER LITTON, DONALD LITTON, KEVIN FEDARKO, BRAD DIMOCK, JOHN BLAUSTEIN, GEORGE WENDT, TYLER WENDT, STEVE MARKLE, REGAN & OTE DALE, KERSTIN DALE, MONTE TILLINGHAST, DENICE NAPOLETANO, JOY PARADES, LEW STEIGER, JOE DE FRANCESCO, MARK DUBOIS, GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

Supported By: Sierra Club

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[TerlinguaTalkeetna]

Martin, Ed Abbey and several others from the WWII generation left a high water mark for stating what few others of their generation dared say. There is something greater in the world besides comfort and money. Wilderness is essential.

[jacttackle]

As a drift boat oarsman this film speaks to me in a spiritual dimension I’ve watched it more times than I can count and it always reveals something new I come from Oregon the home of the McKenzie river drift boat this film is haunting it calls to me guru out

[SequoiaForestkeeper]

The environmental movement lost a true champion when Martin died. But we soldier on. The irony of the current climate crisis is that champions like Martin and Sequoia ForestKeeper, have always seen the folly of man chasing dollars instead of protecting the very things that make profit possible. Thank you to OARS for continuing Martin's mission on the rivers.

[TadFoster-cgir]

Reading the Emerald Mile by Kevin Fearco and this film significantly helps to appreciate the book. A great story in book and film. Thank you Pete and all others behind this film!!

[wampusadventures]

One of my all time favorite films ever made period!

[alecharper]

What a great way to start the day. Hiking down Bright Angel Trail was magical... opened up my eyes.

[iiloveshane]

This is beautiful; what a legend. Thank you, Martin.

[othercharr]

Naming dories after places lost or compromised is a touching tribute to the

[gentrynewsom]

Dory's are a beautiful boat..I used to go out with a Dory fleet fisherman at Newport Beach Dory fleet as a kid late. 60s to early 70s..beach launch what an experience.

[TheStrayKiti]

My father took my brother and I on a Grand Canyon trip with Oars back in 2003 and Duffy was one of the guides on our trip. It was a trip of a lifetime and changed me for the better. We we're down there for a month and I never saw one cloud, had the best Thanksgiving meal ever, and was the first boat on our trip through Lava Falls! I'll never forget that trip. I see video and pictures from inside the canyon and I know where they are, I know the rocks, the beaches, and the canyons. They will be a part of me forever, I crave to be with them again, and fear I never will.

The boat after ours through Lava Falls flipped and one of the passengers got stuck under the boat. She was rescued and had a huge gash on her forehead (you could see her skull). The guide lead used a satellite phone to call for a air evac. A helicopter landed inside the canyon, the "very concerned" husband of the injured lady ran right to the pilot and asked "Did the Cubbies make the series!?"
The injured lady was in Vegas later that night playing slots.
Other than that and running out of beer in the second week it was a trip of a lifetime!

Thank you Dad, thank you Oars, and thank you Mr. Litton.

[azcojpg]

So glad people like Martin did so much to preserve this Canyon.

[RebeccaWelch-yyjh]

I had the beautiful experience of riding through Crystal and Lava Falls rapids in Martin's boat, rowed by another legend, Lew Steiger.

[dudleywicker]

Beautiful boats, nice attention to detail…….

[lwilson]

I'm in tears..wishing I had gotten the privilege to have met Martin.

[davidcarr]

I worked as a guide on the Middle Fork of the Salmon in the 70s. Martin and his OARS team ran the Middle Fork then as well as the Grand Canyon. Our paths would regularly cross as their regular start dates were the day before ours. The OARS dories were the only ones on the river.

[mattdelcomyn]

Beautiful story. Made me cry. Thanks for this fine film.

[codyprice]

It has been a year since I first watched Martin's boats, since then I've watched this video any day I have felt down or needed inspiration. also in that time I've learned skills, earned certificates and returned to my passions of nature. Now I guide students through the mountains of Alberta by rafts, canoes, bikes and maybe a dory one day! My other passion is wood and everything to do with it. Growing, harvesting and building with it sustainably . anything made out of wood is far more beautiful. Just wanted to let you know Martin is still changing lives, wish I could have met him. A true influencer.

[SolaceEasy]

Please allow me to relate a magical day that I had this June. Because of the covid-19 pandemic the Grand Canyon had no River traffic and no overnight hiking allowed. I walked to both ends of the horseshoe of Horseshoe Mesa and saw no one but three people I had seen walking earlier in the morning on the trail. I had the whole place to myself it seemed. Magical.

[daveahlers]

I've been waiting to win a Grand Canyon permit lottery for 20 years now, but this film will make the trip when I do win even more special. Thank you Martin for all you did - your legacy lives on.

[OarBoard-SUPRower]

Martin, you are an inspiration to us all!