Glenwood native finds purpose in the river

Jaymin Kanzer/Post Independent
Five years ago, Jimmy Elsen made a bold declaration.
“I could live off $3 a day for the rest of my life,” he told his friends as a sophomore at Glenwood Springs High School. They laughed, doubting the claim. Now, they’re watching him do exactly that.
Elsen, 21, has kayaked some of the world’s most remote and dangerous rivers while keeping his expenses to single digits daily. His passion for whitewater has taken him from the icy rapids of Alaska to the untamed waters of Ecuador, Nepal, and beyond. He recently returned from his second trip to Nepal, where he paddled the Karnali River, one of the most sacred waterways in the world.
Originating from Mount Kailash — considered the center of the universe in Hinduism and Buddhism — the Karnali River sustains communities with fresh water and irrigation. Despite limited infrastructure and difficult access, it remains a lifeline for many Nepalese people.
“Seeing so many people struggling can be overwhelming,” Elsen said. “You want to help everyone, but you just can’t. You see people with no legs, kids with one arm selling water. But they’re just like us. They laugh, they work hard, they play pool, they drink with friends. It makes you realize that wealth isn’t just about money.”
Growing up in the Roaring Fork Valley, Elsen found adventure at every turn. He skied Sunlight Mountain, biked the Roaring Fork trail, and climbed the cliffs of Glenwood Canyon. But it was the river that called to him the loudest.

At 10, he learned how to roll his kayak upright after flipping — an essential skill for any paddler. By the time he graduated in 2021, he had no interest in four more years of school. Instead, he chased rapids.
“I was uninspired in school,” Elsen said. “Then a friend invited me on a trip to Ecuador. I said yes without thinking. Six months later, I was on a plane alone, realizing how deep I was in. I had to do everything I could to keep the puke bag clean.”
That leap of faith launched him into a life of exploration.
For Elsen, the more remote, the better.
“The most isolated rapids call out to me,” he said. “There’s something about putting in on a quiet beach, knowing in a few hours you’ll be surrounded by grizzlies and wolves. The canyon’s shape forces you to run rapids you might otherwise walk. It forces you to be in the moment. One mistake—missing an eddy—could throw off the whole mission.”
His need for adventure stems from his father, Joe Elsen, a longtime kayaker who once tackled Nepal’s rivers himself.
“I knew I couldn’t discipline Jimmy on my own,” Joe said with a laugh. “The river can do that. It humbles you immediately. You have to respect it.”
Joe and longtime paddling partner Barry Chamberlain have kayaked at least once a month for more than three years. The elder Elsen passed down his knowledge of the sport to his son, watching with pride as he took it to new heights.
“Every time I drop him at the airport, I’m just overflowing with pride,” Joe said. “I know he respects what he’s doing. I just wish he’d cool it with the night kayaking — that’s a little much for me.”
Jimmy doesn’t disagree.
“You have to respect the river,” he said. “If you don’t, it might be your last time out. It’s all about balance. If you go full adrenaline junkie, you won’t last long. Kayaking requires surrender to conquer.”
Elsen will share his experiences and passion for kayaking during a presentation at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Himalayan Cuisine Restaurant in Glenwood Springs.

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