I like stroking my suprarenal gland
I signed up for another run on the Gauley River in October 2014. This will be my third running of this river and I'm pumped!
This is relative to my Quality of life thread. The times I feel most connected to life is when it is the greatest at risk. I have done some very bold, and stupid things and it was the most fun I've ever had. If QOL is connected to fun, this is something I have to consider.
When my daughter was born, I cut that part off. It wasn't a hard decision. I didn't even see it as a decision. Taking a risk on destroying myself for the sake of thrill, with so much responsibility, was a no brainer. I was doing jackass before johnny knoxville was out of diapers. I did parkour before there was parkour. Really stupid stuff!!!
Now a days the greatest risks I take are as a landscaper and maybe catching snakes. I love the rush of walking into a customers yard who forgot to lock up the dog and staring it down. If you need to have your bamboo nandinas trimmed, but there is a yellow jackets nest at the base, I'm your huckleberry! WHOOooo Living on the edge!!! HAHAHA I know pretty lame. But my coworkers think I am a crazy old man and I enjoy that label.
Every couple of years I treat myself to a trip to the Gauley. The white water on the Gauley is #2 in the country and #7 in the world. It's greatest challenge as a rafter is harnessing the physical and mental discipline to adjust your weight quickly and ALWAYS paddle. While there is risk involved, it's minimal with discipline.
The last time I went, our raft flipped over as we struck a rock on the port, or left, side of the raft. As we were in mid capsize, time began to slow. I was watching my brother and others tumble over me as I became submerged under water. The water was cold, and surprisingly clear. I was still tucked in the boat, upside down. It was so peaceful. I didn't move, I was just taking in the moment. I felt no panic, no concern, not suicidal, just still. Quiet. Peace. The ones who tumbled out were now all falling all around me. I grabbed on to one their life jackets, but then realized I was still under water. They possibly could have cleared the boat, so I let go. At that moment, our guide flipped the raft back over and POP, there I was! HAHAHA seated like I had just climbed in. We grabbed up all our raft mates, and continued to paddle on.
Further up the river there is a 14 foot drop. Once you get passed this drop, there is an area to pull out, and they serve a lunch. While eating ours, we watched another raft that didn't clear the fall. They were in the heaviest of the white water. Some of the members floated out and were rescued on the shore line by some of the other "lunch breaking" onlookers. The other three in the raft though, had to be one of the scariest times of their lives. For twenty to thirty minutes, these three people tried to paddle out of this massive hydraulic. They flipped over several times, and would fight to get back in the raft, just to be capsized again. Other raft guides were attempting to pitch them line bags in order to be towed in. With all the turbulence of the water though, they couldn't catch them and when they did, they had to let go in order to get back in the raft when it flipped. After watching them struggle for fifteen minutes or so, doubt if they would make it, was starting to set in. I felt a fear for them. They may not go home this evening. I felt sad. After another very long and grueling five or ten minutes they finally popped out. Hit the right current or eddy and were able to get to shore. There was a huge roar of cheer from us, the onlookers. The three in the boat were exhausted and probably in shock. As sobering as it was, watching their harrowing experience, we all loaded back up in our rafts and finished the other half. That was an amazing day!!!
My youngest child is currently 12. In another six or seven years, after I feel enough confidence in him making it on his own and I haven't found myself on another path, I would love to become a guide, myself. Just have to wait and see if it is in the cards.
This is relative to my Quality of life thread. The times I feel most connected to life is when it is the greatest at risk. I have done some very bold, and stupid things and it was the most fun I've ever had. If QOL is connected to fun, this is something I have to consider.
When my daughter was born, I cut that part off. It wasn't a hard decision. I didn't even see it as a decision. Taking a risk on destroying myself for the sake of thrill, with so much responsibility, was a no brainer. I was doing jackass before johnny knoxville was out of diapers. I did parkour before there was parkour. Really stupid stuff!!!
Now a days the greatest risks I take are as a landscaper and maybe catching snakes. I love the rush of walking into a customers yard who forgot to lock up the dog and staring it down. If you need to have your bamboo nandinas trimmed, but there is a yellow jackets nest at the base, I'm your huckleberry! WHOOooo Living on the edge!!! HAHAHA I know pretty lame. But my coworkers think I am a crazy old man and I enjoy that label.
Every couple of years I treat myself to a trip to the Gauley. The white water on the Gauley is #2 in the country and #7 in the world. It's greatest challenge as a rafter is harnessing the physical and mental discipline to adjust your weight quickly and ALWAYS paddle. While there is risk involved, it's minimal with discipline.
The last time I went, our raft flipped over as we struck a rock on the port, or left, side of the raft. As we were in mid capsize, time began to slow. I was watching my brother and others tumble over me as I became submerged under water. The water was cold, and surprisingly clear. I was still tucked in the boat, upside down. It was so peaceful. I didn't move, I was just taking in the moment. I felt no panic, no concern, not suicidal, just still. Quiet. Peace. The ones who tumbled out were now all falling all around me. I grabbed on to one their life jackets, but then realized I was still under water. They possibly could have cleared the boat, so I let go. At that moment, our guide flipped the raft back over and POP, there I was! HAHAHA seated like I had just climbed in. We grabbed up all our raft mates, and continued to paddle on.
Further up the river there is a 14 foot drop. Once you get passed this drop, there is an area to pull out, and they serve a lunch. While eating ours, we watched another raft that didn't clear the fall. They were in the heaviest of the white water. Some of the members floated out and were rescued on the shore line by some of the other "lunch breaking" onlookers. The other three in the raft though, had to be one of the scariest times of their lives. For twenty to thirty minutes, these three people tried to paddle out of this massive hydraulic. They flipped over several times, and would fight to get back in the raft, just to be capsized again. Other raft guides were attempting to pitch them line bags in order to be towed in. With all the turbulence of the water though, they couldn't catch them and when they did, they had to let go in order to get back in the raft when it flipped. After watching them struggle for fifteen minutes or so, doubt if they would make it, was starting to set in. I felt a fear for them. They may not go home this evening. I felt sad. After another very long and grueling five or ten minutes they finally popped out. Hit the right current or eddy and were able to get to shore. There was a huge roar of cheer from us, the onlookers. The three in the boat were exhausted and probably in shock. As sobering as it was, watching their harrowing experience, we all loaded back up in our rafts and finished the other half. That was an amazing day!!!
My youngest child is currently 12. In another six or seven years, after I feel enough confidence in him making it on his own and I haven't found myself on another path, I would love to become a guide, myself. Just have to wait and see if it is in the cards.
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