Ote Dale has a passion for life

At 22 Ote Dale start­ed her journey and love of the Colorado River, eventually, be­coming a river guide. “To begin with I did everything, because they weren’t hiring women.” She painted boats, packed trips, bought food, packed food, and eventually “got on the river.” She realized her dream of becoming a Dory Guide, “It was really a fluke. They needed a boatman, and I was there. I loved it and that was all I wanted to do, until I had Duffy.”

Ote loves life, enjoying the bounty it has to offer. Photo by Laurali Noteman.

She and Regan built their home in the Ran­chos, in the mid “70s”. In 1979 the couple had their first child Duffy, and “then that’s all I wanted to do. Be home with my baby,” Ote de­clared. In 1981, Alissa became the newest Dale. Ote dedicated her time and talents to raising their children. She returned to the river after taking 10 years off, with her dory, “Dark Canyon” guiding over 150 trips, retiring at 67.

When the kids were in elementary school Ote worked with Pam Aziz and the special needs children. She created innovative so­lutions to assist in oc­cupational and physi­cal dexterity. She also worked with Melissa Smith teaching art to middle schoolers. She had, when she was young, received some misguided direc­tion regarding her art and didn’t really pick it up again until she was at home being a mom. Thankfully she embraced her gift and shared her talent with the youth.

Another passion is gardening. She tended the garden behind Wild Thyme for years. She and Victoria Cooper had a five-year agree­ment, working as a team, now remaining friends and both on to new adventures. Ac­cording to Ote, Vicki did most of the work, but she told Ote, “you are the thread that keeps it together.”

As a young mom, she began creating wonder­ful art pastels, later branching out into watercolors. Now her artwork enhances the walls at Wild Thyme, both in Kanab and Springdale. Her com­mand of watercolors is mesmerizing; Ote’s love of the Canyon is obvious in her work. She has cards avail­able at Jakey Leigh’s or Willow Canyon in Kanab. While view­ing her paintings I am drawn into the warmth and beauty of our high deserts.

Ote is also very ac­complished in yoga. In 2011 she started her yoga classes at the Best Friends Wellness Cen­ter. They were well at­tended, until Covid dis­couraged group gather­ings. During that time, she traveled to the Paiute reservation and taught yoga. They also had good participation until group gatherings were discouraged.

Ote loves to travel, especially with her daughter Alissa. She and Alissa have recon­nected with friends made on the river. Sometimes staying with previous clients, in New York, Canada, Patagonia. Another of their adventures, the entire family went, rafting down the Tatshenshini (Tat) River in Alaska.

To say Ote is an ac­complished woman is an understatement. She has led an exciting and diversified life and been an inspiration to more than she can even begin to imagine.