Thursday August 7, 2025 Day 4
Smog woke with us, and confirmed we still lived in a gray world. A loon’s lone call echoed in the gray. Is it a portent of a changed day? Although our trip hadn’t been fraught with anguish and danger, it had more than its fair share of discomfort, smoke, drab skies, chilly temperature and damp conditions.
But today, we would become River Runners at the start line. All of us were excited and a bit trepidatious. The loon called again. It was so singular. The air was heavy with an insular stillness. That loon, that one lone loon, held a message for the day. Because we all knew this stillness would be ruffled.
After breakfast each morning, if we chose, we could smudge with the group. Led by Allison, we gathered in a circle with the smoke from sage burning in an abalone shell. It’s an act of peace and calming. It sets a tone. It feels like respect for each other, self, nature.
Next we find a paddle partner for the day. Today I was assigned my partner. It was Garrett which is no surprise to pair the strongest with the weakest. I felt like I dodged a bullet instead of sweating them. I was not alone. One other participant felt insecure with white water and was partnered with the other guide Allison.
An hour or so into the paddle the water narrowed, and we tasted the current. We were in the river, not just any river it was the Hayes River. Lovely, eh? And powered by nature. We felt it.
This is a page of my Hap Map
Before we reach our initiation point—the point of no return—we break for lunch, a great tension reliever.
I could only speak for myself, but not having a clue of what to expect, builds tension. We were nearing the rapids. As we closed in l could see the edge of the river just dropped. Look like the water rolled straight down. It appeared to be like Curtain Falls in the Boundary waters of Minnesota. The one where two men lost their lives last year. N
I’ sure l’m over reacting. We all pull around the corner from the rapids. We walk up to a point where we can look down. We are not going to try that ledge Garrett told us. We walked back and started to carry everything. Quickly the four canoes and a few tons of gear were portaged around that first falls. Everyone grabbed a helmet. Heading into the Danger Zone.
Next Garrett told all of us we needed to kneel on the pads and sit back on the seat. I wrote on my application that I couldn’t do this but I guess he didn’t believe it. I told them during our zoom meeting. They said they would work around it.
“Why can’t you?” He wanted to know.
“I’ve tried since my ACL repair in 1996 to bend it like that, but to no avail.”
Oh, well just stay in your seat. Like there was some other choice.
We all scout a bit. Some confer with Garrett, but it’s clear to me, he’ll call the shots. The river is really low. So it’s bony. Lots of rocks.
Because Garrett was the leader and I was in the bow, I went first. He told me to paddle hard. Never stop. When in doubt, paddle.
We had no problem going through the first rapid. We eddied out to watch the others come through. All flawless.
On the next rapid, we bobbled, and I grabbed the gunnel. I was quickly reprimanded. I never did that again. But I made notes of those who did.
Mountain Peace 