Things I learned on my river trip:
- I’d rather be in the 90-degree air than the 55-degree water
- Peak river volumes coincide with minimum water temps (liquid snowpack…)
- The water was WAY colder yesterday than it was eleven days earlier when I flipped my raft
- Dogs wear life jackets
- Kayaks handle the big water more easily than inflatable rafts do
- It is possible to add air to a leaky vessel in mid-river if your pump is handy
- I will row on calm waters, but leave the navigating of rapids to my experienced river friends
- (Sun + wind + river) = dehydrating
- Tighten your life jacket fasteners maximally before heading into the most dangerous rapids
- Make a mental note of the number of beers your oar-men have consumed before deciding who rows through the trickiest sections
- No matter how cold the waves are as they splash into your boat, the sun will always dry and re-warm you
- If you scream when heading into a giant rogue wave, it’s more fun
