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!