Mike Milligan papers, 1809-2015

Michael D. Milligan (b. 1954) was a professional river guide for five years from 1978 to 1983, and during a Grand Canyon trip in 1984, primarily working for Western River Expeditions. He also guided a San Juan River trip for Dee Holladay, and for several years in the mid-late 1980s he ran the Snake River with Lone Eagle Expeditions. As a researcher, Milligan became interested in learning about the history of Westwater beginning in 1981. The culmination of his research resulted in the book Westwater Lost and Found that was published by Utah State University Press in 2004. He is currently working on a second book on Westwater and the Upper Colorado River. Over the past twenty years Milligan has been invited as a historical guest on a number of Westwater Interpretive River trips primarily sponsored by Colorado Plateau River Guides (CPRG). Interpretive trips involve guest experts on history, geology, flora and fauna etc. who train and teach professional river guides from commercial river companies based in Moab, Green River, and Grand Junction. The trips are generally held in the early spring prior to when the official river running season begins.