Our final day on the river, so sad, but no time for that now. We still have 12 hours of sweet memories to make. We drive down Glenwood Canyon to Grizzly Creek exit. Earlier we pulled over to put on our wetsuits and get ready because the put in will be crowded with everyone and their mother jumping into a raft to enjoy the sweet view of the canyon walls and the mild but fun rapid sections of the river. Coming from a ski resort adventure town I liken kayakers and rafters to snowboarders and skiers or tent campers to RVers. As a kayaker you don't want to be anywhere near a raft in the rapids or you will be squashed and beaten or scoffed at. In all seriousness life on the water is the most calm and serene and the attitude amongst everyone is more like "Hey, Yo! How YOU doin? "I like the cup holder in your inner tube dude!"
It was our final day and before we jumped in our kayaks. Millisa aka "Smelly" (our camp director) asked us to find two rocks on the river side. One represents something negative in your life that you want to get rid of or throw away. The other is something you want to work on positively. We were handed out Sharpies and wrote our words on the rocks. I felt the weight lift after throwing the negative rock into the water. I wrote three words on the large sized negative rock: Stress, worry, frowns. My son (and husband) often say, "You're frowning momma". On the positive rock I write a word that, I believe, encompasses many or all aspects of life..."Happiness". I keep that rock in my life jacket. It's small so I'll still float :).
Further down we stop for lunch. Immediatley before I decided I was going roll. I told my guides and they immediately set up to rescue me "just in case". I leaned left with my paddle, went under the water and came back up the other side...I rolled!!!! Everyone in my group was cheering for me. I was so happy I was crying. I should have stopped there because I tried to do it again where we stopped for lunch and with about 60 eyes on me it was too much pressure, but I stayed in the water and an instructor broke down the steps for me again. It's scary when you first learn to roll, but no time like the present, no chance of drowning when you have 15 instructors ready to save you.
After lunch campers were asked to line up and get into our kayaks side by side. The counselors/staff were instructed to stand up behind us with their boats. It made for a fun, colorful picture.
Then without notice Smelly tells all the counselors to paddle out. We are left sitting in our kayaks, alone, on the bank of the river. Just then about eight rafts pull up and we discover we must be in the best swimming hole on the river because the rafters start jumping in the river. Smelly is the only staff left standing and informs us that this is our "graduation rapid". All of the staff and counselors have gone around the corner and will be lined up along the rapid waiting for us in the side eddys. One by one we go down the rapid symbolizing a week of conquering our fears and rediscovering life.
I am second to last so when it is my turn I paddle through the flat water for about two minutes navigating the rafts before I see the rapid ahead. As I power through the rapid I recognize face after face as they cheer me on before turning into the eddy to become one the people cheering for the final camper to go through the rapid. There were so many rafters and inner tubers in that section that the final camper "RV" hooked up with one and went through the rapid with her, he got a lot of cheers for that too.
The river section we paddled today was filled with lots of obstacles and so I learned how to "boof" kayaking over where a rock sticks out of the water and the river is pouring over it. You paddle like a maniac to get to the rock then boof over it and land on the other side, ideally. Needless to say I broke in my Jackson Villian very well on this trip.
Lauren "Box" took about 2,000 photos of us so after dinner we watched a slideshow of our week at camp and then gathered around our final campfire. Such an amazing time I can't begin to explain or convey what it all meant to me. I won the award for best on water that night for rolling. Just before our final take out where we load up the gear and drive back to camp I told the instructors in my group, "okay, I'm going to roll" five boats hovered near while I...did...my...roll...AGAIN! Yeah! A perfect end to the kayaking portion of this camp. Everyone at the campfire was happy for me and we heard many more inspiring stories throughout the evening. At one point we all gathered around a kayak filled to the brim with water, candles were passed out in little glass containers. One by one we placed a candle in the water floating in the dark. These candles represented a blessing for ourselves or for someone else who has been through or is going through cancer.
This week will stand out in my life forever.
Uncompahgre River
Liam and I on the Uncompahgre River
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Day four – Step it up!
We were blessed with a bluebird sky and warm weather, too hot to put on a wetsuit so we dressed in swimsuits or shorts and threw our gear bag in the truck, pack ourselves in the school bus shuttle. Lots of sunscreen and an hour later we are standing at a spot that 9 years ago was the finish line of a race I did through Glenwood Canyon with some friends. It is also today's river put in. We are put into new groups and each group creates a new name, but some of those are unfit to print so...
Many campers just wear the rash guard shirt, but I always wore the dry top because I knew I wanted to be in the river not just on it. It feels like we just started kayaking and floating down river when they say, "okay pull over time to get out, now you may run this if you want but we recommend scouting it first". Turns out to be the new Glenwood play park where kayakers go to play or "surf" the rapid. It is man made and crosses the entire span of the river. The lot of us pile up onto the large slabs of rock on the side. Groups of guided rafting trips entertain us as they go through the big hole and you hear screams and cheers. Some of us jump and swim through the rapid, that was exciting because you had to navigate your body to miss the rather sharp imposing rocks on either side of the river "tongue" where you should go over the rapid. I swallowed a large gulp of the Colorado and wondered if that would come back to haunt me later.
Lunch was delivered to the play park by one of the many awesome businesses that donate food for First Descents. We continue to watch and enjoy our lunch while some of the camp counselors/guides surf the waves. They make rolling look so easy. That will be me soon, oh yeah!
Today there were slightly bigger rapids and more up my alley with speed. Another great river day.
Campfire tonight felt like the final night because it was on the emotional side as was almost every campfire. One of the campers was leaving early, bye "Vice". We all took our turns sharing more stories. I told everyone I wished I could take them home with me because I felt they were my instant family of support and I didn't want to give that up. Thank goodness for Facebook :)
Many campers just wear the rash guard shirt, but I always wore the dry top because I knew I wanted to be in the river not just on it. It feels like we just started kayaking and floating down river when they say, "okay pull over time to get out, now you may run this if you want but we recommend scouting it first". Turns out to be the new Glenwood play park where kayakers go to play or "surf" the rapid. It is man made and crosses the entire span of the river. The lot of us pile up onto the large slabs of rock on the side. Groups of guided rafting trips entertain us as they go through the big hole and you hear screams and cheers. Some of us jump and swim through the rapid, that was exciting because you had to navigate your body to miss the rather sharp imposing rocks on either side of the river "tongue" where you should go over the rapid. I swallowed a large gulp of the Colorado and wondered if that would come back to haunt me later.
Lunch was delivered to the play park by one of the many awesome businesses that donate food for First Descents. We continue to watch and enjoy our lunch while some of the camp counselors/guides surf the waves. They make rolling look so easy. That will be me soon, oh yeah!
Today there were slightly bigger rapids and more up my alley with speed. Another great river day.
Campfire tonight felt like the final night because it was on the emotional side as was almost every campfire. One of the campers was leaving early, bye "Vice". We all took our turns sharing more stories. I told everyone I wished I could take them home with me because I felt they were my instant family of support and I didn't want to give that up. Thank goodness for Facebook :)
Day three (camp FD)
Free day! The weather was typical Colorado "wait five minutes and it will change". Crazy red-eye wake up call (5 am) thunder! Rub out those sore new kayaking muscles with an amazing massage, yoga on the lawn at dawn, yummy breakfast. Wanting to practice my roll today, but yoga tweaked my back so no volleyball or horseback riding for me; must feel better for the next two days of kayaking the Colorado River! The ultimate goal is to do a kayak roll by Friday. Instead of practicing my roll I shot footage of others getting kayak instruction on the sparkling pond located down a grassy path from the lodge.
Today we met Brad Ludden (professional kayaker and founder of First Descents). I took the opportunity to tell him in person what I thought when I had first heard about him. He, no doubt, has heard this many times...but it will never get old. I thanked him for creating a program so amazing and incredible and explained how it has renewed my sense that there are people out there who are going through the same things and that support and adventure combined can help facilitate and maintain the healing. He is a very humble and beautiful person inside and out. Soon after I met Brad he asked, "Does everyone know Timmy?" and in walks Timmy O'Neill whom I had met in 2002. They were up on the ranch shooting a pilot for a series profiling amazing people in mountain and other small towns. It was a fun visit especially when it started to rain a little and the sun was still shining, suddenly everyone started yelling and piling up on the covered deck, "Double rainbow! What does it mean!". After dinner we had awards inside because of the rain. Lots of laughter and more memorable pictures. Timmy (after an inspirational speech) instigated a group hug consisting of about 50 people in the lodge's living room. Another unforgettable day. Kayaking tomorrow!
Today we met Brad Ludden (professional kayaker and founder of First Descents). I took the opportunity to tell him in person what I thought when I had first heard about him. He, no doubt, has heard this many times...but it will never get old. I thanked him for creating a program so amazing and incredible and explained how it has renewed my sense that there are people out there who are going through the same things and that support and adventure combined can help facilitate and maintain the healing. He is a very humble and beautiful person inside and out. Soon after I met Brad he asked, "Does everyone know Timmy?" and in walks Timmy O'Neill whom I had met in 2002. They were up on the ranch shooting a pilot for a series profiling amazing people in mountain and other small towns. It was a fun visit especially when it started to rain a little and the sun was still shining, suddenly everyone started yelling and piling up on the covered deck, "Double rainbow! What does it mean!". After dinner we had awards inside because of the rain. Lots of laughter and more memorable pictures. Timmy (after an inspirational speech) instigated a group hug consisting of about 50 people in the lodge's living room. Another unforgettable day. Kayaking tomorrow!
Computer down!
Sorry for the missing days. I was bummed when my laptop stopped working the third night of First Descents camp. It's more difficult to make up the time than do it as you go, but the good thing that came of it is I completely immersed myself in the camp and paid little attention to the technology we are consumed by in reality.
The adventure finally continues...
The adventure finally continues...
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
On the river (Day 2)
At last night's campfire we shared our experiences with cancer. Everyone is between 18 and 39 so it's a younger dynamic. People in this group have gone through all kinds of health issues. Some are still "kids", about three have kids the same age as my son, and others are not able to have kids because treatments took that option away. We share stories, hand out awards for the day, play games, etc. After dinner last night Chris Anthony, a 20 year veteran extreme skier with Warren Miller Films, previewed some films for us on the big screen in the lodge's living room. Chris kayaked with us today on the river before taking off for Chilé to instruct a skiing camp.
While eating lunch on a sand bar we were surprised to see a bear, yes a bear, cross the river to our side! "Nature!"
Five hours on the river practicing eddy maneuvers, T rescues, swimming the rapids, taking accidental swims. We are exhausted.
I discovered another camper had melanoma so we shared stories the entire shuttle ride there and back and I told him he's had it way worse than me and he retorted saying, yeah, but it isn't in my brain. Well, okay. It could always be worse...for anyone.
As we lined up to eat dinner it felt as though we were related, all visiting for a reunion or holiday, complete with bickering, playful banter, telling personal stories, sharing too much information and just hanging out. Love it.
While eating lunch on a sand bar we were surprised to see a bear, yes a bear, cross the river to our side! "Nature!"
Five hours on the river practicing eddy maneuvers, T rescues, swimming the rapids, taking accidental swims. We are exhausted.
I discovered another camper had melanoma so we shared stories the entire shuttle ride there and back and I told him he's had it way worse than me and he retorted saying, yeah, but it isn't in my brain. Well, okay. It could always be worse...for anyone.
As we lined up to eat dinner it felt as though we were related, all visiting for a reunion or holiday, complete with bickering, playful banter, telling personal stories, sharing too much information and just hanging out. Love it.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Day 1
I have driven the 1-70 corridor through western Colorado a few hundred times and never been up this particular side road leading to a ranch that is home to First Descents' Vail sessions. This place rocks! Beautiful lodge and cabins with meadows and a pond to practice our kayak skills in the water. I drove from Telluride, a girl "Louise" from Texas and a guy "RV" from Reno, NV . A couple hours later the rest (who had flown into Denver) arrived on the short bus. In all we have 15 campers The weather was sunny! A nice break from the weeks of rain Colorado has been getting. We were all given nicknames right away. Mine is "Hot Rod". There are about 15 staff – making a sweet ratio of 1:1. The guides are a quintessential reflection of what us campers need; fun, inspiration and constant laughter. A raucous group with skills galore and patience.
It has only been a day and we are family. This morning we geared up and practiced the basics on the pond. Everyone performed a wet exit (flipping your boat, pulling the kayak skirt and pushing yourself out of the boat returning to the surface). About 30 of us campers and guides played water polo and those who had not already turned blue stayed to learn the T rescue (if you flip, and don't want to swim, another kayaker hits their bow to the side of your boat, you grab their bow and flip yourself upright). My "Villian" makes the hip snap feel easy.
We spent the afternoon in the hot tub and getting a massage, yeah, camp is pretty rough. Time for dinner and campfire, then hopefully some sleep. River tomorrow!
It has only been a day and we are family. This morning we geared up and practiced the basics on the pond. Everyone performed a wet exit (flipping your boat, pulling the kayak skirt and pushing yourself out of the boat returning to the surface). About 30 of us campers and guides played water polo and those who had not already turned blue stayed to learn the T rescue (if you flip, and don't want to swim, another kayaker hits their bow to the side of your boat, you grab their bow and flip yourself upright). My "Villian" makes the hip snap feel easy.
We spent the afternoon in the hot tub and getting a massage, yeah, camp is pretty rough. Time for dinner and campfire, then hopefully some sleep. River tomorrow!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
A day away
I am packed and ready to go! I hope they don't mind I bring my own kayak (They provide all the gear for you at First Descents). As you can see in the picture above my kayak was christened on salt water during a quick cross over to Turn Island (a tiny island south of San Juan Island, WA). Currents are strong, the water was clear. I safely crossed over and back without flipping over. I'll leave that for when I get in the river next week. I have a five hour drive to camp. Most (perhaps all) others are flying into Denver then driving. Who will I meet? Can't wait!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Getting ready
It has been five years since I ran rapids in a kayak.
The events that transpired during those five years have lead up to this next week when I will attend a First Descents kayak camp in Vail, CO!
I have no idea about the people who will attend with me, but I am excited to relate our experiences while having a blast on the water.
At this point I am a beginner whitewater kayaker, but let me go back a few years...
My first experience in the tiny little boats was with Mountainfilm on a San Juan River (Utah) group trip in fall 2005. On that trip I blissfully kayaked two days and only flipped once when trying to eddy out, I even went through a class 2 (3?) rapid successfully. That trip inspired my husband, Conor, to start kayaking because he saw how excited I was and it was something we could do together.
After a kayak "accident" on the Arkansas River in 2006 the doctor flipped open the curtain in the ER and said, "No treatment for you! You're pregnant!" Whoa. Months later I was diagnosed with melanoma so kayaking went on the back burner. Conor, however, continued to kayak and loves the sport more than eating. He is now very good and despite being 6'8" fits well into what I like to call his "golf club assemblage" of whitewater kayaks.
I have been timid to return to the river, but after a year and a half of waiting to attend this kayak camp I think these guys will get me back in the water with some tough love.
My husband is thrilled to see me kayak – that means more fun time together because he's not giving up the sport and I would never ask him to! More importantly I believe he wants to see my confidence return as much as I do in many aspects. I don't know if I will have internet where we will be lodging so stay in touch while I live and breath kayaking with First Descents and my new Villian S, a kayak my husband acquired to help inspire me. I will send updates soon!
The events that transpired during those five years have lead up to this next week when I will attend a First Descents kayak camp in Vail, CO!
I have no idea about the people who will attend with me, but I am excited to relate our experiences while having a blast on the water.
At this point I am a beginner whitewater kayaker, but let me go back a few years...
My first experience in the tiny little boats was with Mountainfilm on a San Juan River (Utah) group trip in fall 2005. On that trip I blissfully kayaked two days and only flipped once when trying to eddy out, I even went through a class 2 (3?) rapid successfully. That trip inspired my husband, Conor, to start kayaking because he saw how excited I was and it was something we could do together.
After a kayak "accident" on the Arkansas River in 2006 the doctor flipped open the curtain in the ER and said, "No treatment for you! You're pregnant!" Whoa. Months later I was diagnosed with melanoma so kayaking went on the back burner. Conor, however, continued to kayak and loves the sport more than eating. He is now very good and despite being 6'8" fits well into what I like to call his "golf club assemblage" of whitewater kayaks.
I have been timid to return to the river, but after a year and a half of waiting to attend this kayak camp I think these guys will get me back in the water with some tough love.
My husband is thrilled to see me kayak – that means more fun time together because he's not giving up the sport and I would never ask him to! More importantly I believe he wants to see my confidence return as much as I do in many aspects. I don't know if I will have internet where we will be lodging so stay in touch while I live and breath kayaking with First Descents and my new Villian S, a kayak my husband acquired to help inspire me. I will send updates soon!
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