The day was perfect for a run down the world famous Payette River in Idaho—hot! It had been awhile since I last went whitewater rafting and after the run on the canyon section I am left to ask myself, “What took so long?”
We began the run just after noon and it started off with a few teaser rapids, wave trains as they’re called (or something like that). These teasers gave our guide (who happened to be my brother) an opportunity to shout commands at us such as, “all forward!” or, “right forward, left back!” to see what and how our response would be. I think we responded well. Then the fun began. “Make sure we’re locked and loaded” I heard from the rear of the boat. Of course, this meant we were approaching a rapid that deserved our full attention. Our boat was getting closer and closer to the rushing whitewater and then, “ALL FORWARD!” My heart began pounding in my chest.
We all dug our paddles into the water hoping to propel our boat forward successfully without flipping and without swimming. Needless to say, it was intense. We made it successfully through the rapid and a few subsequent rapids listening to the guide’s commands and following them. We were approaching our lunch spot and I hear, “Now, this next rapid is the reason a few members of my family won’t let me take them down this section of river anymore. I took a class 4 line and slammed them into the wall.” Not very comforting words. One of the passengers in the boat asked, “What line will we take?” The guide responded, “ Class 3.”
He positioned the boat perfectly and we made it through the rapid successfully and then we were at our lunch spot. The energy lunch provided was much needed as the fiercest part of the run was up next. A few class 4 rapids in succession. As one kayaker who was with us said, “Now the real fun begins.” And boy, was he right. After lunch it was class 4 after class 4. I don’t know that my heart has pounded so hard for so long in my life. I loved it! Lets not forget the portage around Big Falls. What a spectacular rapid—how beautiful the river. Oh, and the cliff jumping! Groovy! We made it through our entire run without flipping and without any swimmers. Some might call that a success, some might not. At any rate, that entire run was a blast and the adrenaline was sure in abundance.
What I’m getting at with this story is how great the run was, how fun the experience. Thanks to AIRE for making such great products to allow us to enjoy this world in which we live—to put ourselves in places that only rafts can take us and see the beauty that can only be seen from river level. I suppose I shouldn’t wait so long next time to enjoy me some whitewater! Until then…
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