Once upon a time...

Long, long ago in the Shoshone River Canyon of Wyoming, an idea was born. A group of manky local kayakers decided their local run could use a sprucing up. Now the fact was not lost that anyone with class IV water to beater in their backyard would be extremely lucky. However, this crowd was a little different. Special, if you will...

There are some disagreements as to the exact origin of the idea, but most accounts can relate it back to the Late, Great, Ed Conning and his story of happening upon an unusual object during a portage. Other accounts argue that the inspiration came from the Game of G.N.A.R. (a tribute to Shane McConkey) and the need for some light-hearted fun. Odds are, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

To keep the canyon interesting, the mysterious object is hidden along the river for our friends to find and hide again. In an effort to post publicly about this object on our local message board, we nicknamed it, Woody. Once Woody is hidden, a clue is to be provided on the public message board in poem format. Once Woody is found, the hider of Woody then owes the finder a beer and the game continues. Woody has had some legendary hiding spots and spent many a cold night in the canyon. However, thanks to his original twine leash provided by Ed Conning, Woody has enjoyed a safer time in the river than most.

Fast forward to the Summer of 2018 when five of the mankiest of manky boaters embarked on one of the greatest kayak journeys they'd ever known (they were in way over their heads). As the group sat around the camp on a 12-day Grand Canyon self-support, it was decided that the group needed a name. Since the goal is to find Woody at all times, the Dat S#!t Mank(DSM) were born! There has been much discussion as to the true meaning of DSM, but Dat S#!t Mank was the original group and so it shall remain.

Bottom line- DSM is a lifestyle and life is a garden. Dig it.