The reason my nickname is Blackdog is I am often seen with one of my black Labrador retrievers. Lava has been the joy of our lives for the past five years, and Marble a puppy is the newest addition to the family.

I grew up in Arvada, Colorado and went to college in Alamosa, Colorado.

After college I went right into teaching and coaching for five years. I taught business and computers at the high school level and coached football and wrestling. Three of those years were in Rifle, Colorado.

I spent the next 10 years in the tourism industry working for Adventure Bound Expeditions, leading multi-day river trips on the Colorado Plateau and managed adventure tourism trips in Belize for Slickrock Adventures. In the fall I guided clients for Little Creek Ranch big game hunting. In the middle of this I learned how to frame houses and did some remodeling. Some of the other guiding I did put me in Alaska, Oregon, and even New Zealand.

I would be happy to share some of my travel knowledge with you in planning your vacation.

In the late 1990’s I met a great lady who was a guide/adventurer turned nurse and fell in love. Shari and I were married in July of 2004 and missing her and our life together is a large part of my motivation to settle a little. We both love the area and are enjoying the way our life here is unfolding.

 Email Darren Smith Directly at: dsmith@coloradoheritage.com