Darryl Bangert
1975 was a big year for me, college degree in Environmental Studies and moved to Vail.
Skiing 150 days a year as a backcountry guide, 100 days/year as a river guide for the next 10 years was a dream come true!!
That time frame has been the basis for creating outdoor adventures that mean something to myself and our clients. If you read Malcolm Gladwell, this was my 10,000 hour training that gave me the expertise to take guiding to new levels.
We, my wife and now two grown children, have chosen the road less traveled, and it has been instructive. We have tried to physically travel around this amazing planet whenever possible.
We have always looked at new ways to “connect” our guests with nature in safe and different activities. We have had many firsts. First commercial raft trips on the Eagle River, first Jet Boat Company, first to run many different river sections here in Colorado, first night-vision rafting trips, first Hummer Tours, etc...
Interestingly enough, studies show the same reason for outdoor recreational pursuits by Americans. They want the sense of wildness, the same for cross-country skiers, snowmobilers, hikers, bikers, rafters, jeepers and on. That is why we have offered all these means to the same end as guides.
34 years, 250,000 guests and many companies later bring us to Sage Outdoor Adventures.
We as a family are focused to bringing fun, memorable vacations to our fellow citizens as a necessary connection between family and friends in an always hectic pace of life.
Robin Leedle Bangert
I guess I'm a product of my upbringing....I love new places and new people. I grew up moving every two to three years, though the only area we never lived in was the Rocky Mountains. So after studying Horticulture and Spanish at Virginia Tech, I made my way directly to Colorado in 1978. I have this incurable curiosity to know what lies beyond the next bend or over the next rise, and not necessarily on a beaten path. This has led to the most amazing discoveries in these beautiful mountains.
Being an avid back country skier, hiker, climber, mountain runner, and river guide has allowed me to compete in “ultra” endurance events, including the British Columbia Eco-Challenge. My newest quest is learning “horse -woman-ship”...a worthy endeavor that is an act of courage each time I ride!
Playing the violin, floral design (especially for weddings!), and leadership at church are some of the things that fill my time when I'm not moving in the mountains.
Family adventures, abounding with excitement, discovery, and bonding have come from raising our children, Autumn and Cole, in this environment. River trips, to be sure, have always been the highlight. To be in business with them now is a dream, and the adventures continue... The only difference is that they now lead the way and it's getting harder to keep up!
The river is such a dynamic place of beauty, energy, and life. We look forward to sharing it with you!
Cole Bangert
I was born in 1985 right here in Vail. My family lived in Edwards until I was the age of 9, at which point we relocated over the pass to Twin Lakes. While in Vail I was immersed in the outdoors, growing up on the rivers and hiking in the Gore. Once in Twin Lakes my love for the wilderness only grew stronger and I found myself in a young man's heaven, with secluded peaks, streams, and lakes at my fingertips.
While exploring my “backyard”, I fell in love with my bicycle, and before long I was spending all of my summers throughout high school racing Mountain Bikes. I started in Colorado, then went National, and right out of high school I was signed onto a team and went world wide with my racing. I competed on the World Cup Downhill Circuit for four years, traveling to Australia, New Zealand, Slovenia, France, Scotland, Spain, and many more amazing countries. I was a member of the US World Championship Team for three consecutive years. In 2007 I was crowned the US National Champion, and in the same year finished as the top American in third overall in the National Series. Last year I was signed on a factory team with Specialized Bicycles and Decline magazine, but a mid season crash left me injured and out of commission for the better half of the season.
Throughout my racing career I worked Excavation during the winters while training full time. Learning the construction/heavy equipment trade is a huge blessing and it has taught me things I will carry with me forever. This year I have decided to take a much needed year off from the racing circuit and concentrate on building this new family business. It’s not hard for me to get excited about going out on the river all day in the state I love the most on this planet, with the people that mean the most to me on this planet. I’ve seen enough of this world to know we’ve got it real good here in the mountains of Colorado. It doesn’t get any better than this.
Finding my place back on the water is a huge joy for me. Racing bikes is no life to complain about that’s for sure, however I missed my wild Colorado summers of exploring, rafting, kayaking, hunting, and just being a mountain kid in general. Every morning I wake up now just stoked to embrace this place again. I couldn’t be happier with the line of work that our family has engulfed ourselves in, again!! It’s all things we would be doing anyhow, because it’s our passion and what makes us who we are.
Autumn Eggleston (Bangert)
I was born and raised in the Vail Valley. My family has owned and operated local raft and outdoor recreation companies for my entire life, and I have loved being a part of it! I have advanced in responsibility from the very important role of making forts and playgrounds out of boats in the boatyard at age 5, to counting the days until I turned 18 so that I could actually guide those boats down the river as they were intended.
I split from the family business for about five years to pursue my dreams of being a professional photographer and to get married to my high school sweetheart. I ran a very successful Wedding and Portrait Photography Studio and I loved every second of it. I sold the business after two years to pursue a new adventure with my husband in Alaska. We ended up living in the hometown of Sarah Palin, where we were well received by the native Alaskans. We enjoyed many amazing adventures there, but Colorado called us home to its wonderful people and beautiful climate.
We are now settled back into the area and are very happy to be active members of our community. Both my husband and I volunteer for Search and Rescue and are members of the specialized Chaffee County Swiftwater Rescue Team. We enjoy being able to use our outdoor skills to help those in need or to save a life.
There is no limit to the outdoor pursuits that I love, including rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, horseback riding, skiing, hiking, backpacking and trail running. Being outdoors is home to me, and the place that I feel the most comfortable. I can’t wait to be your guide and to introduce you to my home and playground!
