JACKSON, Wyo. — If you have the pleasure of going out for a day of whitewater rafting with Dave Hansen Whitewater, you’ll come across one of the most famous rapids in the Snake River Canyon — Lunch Counter. Ever wonder how it got its name?

Bud Chatham, owner of Dave Hansen WW, shares the tale…

In 1967 Dave Hansen and his friend, Henry Tomingas, decided to raft the Grand Canyon of the Snake.

“Even though both of them had been guiding float trips upstream, neither young man had ever rafted the section, though they both looked right at one another and feigned expertise, ‘Of course, I’ve rafted this section. No problem,’” Chatham explains.

“Putting in around the ramp called ‘Elbow’ about six miles into the trip, they look down the river and see the cresting, pulsing waves of a large rapid. Silence falls over the pair as they observe the series of waves ahead of them, pulsing with 8-10 foot walls.”

Uncertainly, Dave asks, “Henry, what the hell is that?” Henry, equally amazed and ready to come clean, says “Hell, I don’t know. I’ve never been here either!”

Realizing there is no going back, Dave laughs and says, “Well, if we’re ever going to get our lunch handed to us, we’re going to get it right now.”

Want to experience Lunch Counter for yourself? Book a trip with Dave Hansen Whitewater HERE.