Both born from the backcountry guiding community, The Whale Foundation and The Thalweg share several founding values. We believe in the power of people who work and live in wild landscapes and in building support systems where our shared community can thrive.  While The Whale Foundation provides services focused on health and wellness and The Thalweg is dedicated to supporting artists and creative storytelling, both organizations strive to support the guiding community from which they grew. We decided to put our powers together to create collaborative merch in 2024.

The Thalweg offered work from their previous contributor Wyatt Hersey to make hats, sun hoodies, stickers, zip-up hoodies, and other promotional material for The Whale Foundation’s annual WING DING fundraiser. This collaboration quickly grew, and Wyatt is now also showing some gallery work at the 2024 WING DING as their featured artist. All profits from the collaboration, including 25% of Wyatt’s gallery work sold at this year’s WING DING,  will be donated to The Whale Foundation so they may continue their work providing mental health services, health care stipends, and educational scholarships to Grand Canyon River Guides. We are grateful to share community and resources as artists, healthcare professionals, guides, and storytellers through this collaboration in 2024.