Hell's Canyon and Popping Lori's Cherry

Nicki, Lori and me ready for our flare-filled overnighter

The end of the summer means ants in the pants for raft guides at Wet Planet Whitewater. We've kayaked and rafted ALL summer long, hitting hard to hit runs in the spring and settling for backyard Green Truss runs into July and August. But the daily grind gets to everyone and now we want to go exploring again.

Many of us migrate back east :::sigh::: to work the Gauley or play on the Russell Fork and Green. Some chose the other direction exchanging creek boats for surfboards and taking a two month hiatus in Hawaii. Others will be in Nepal for months, opting for the abrupt environment change and increased life-lesson intake route.

But not us.

Nicki, Blee, Lori and I continued to train rafting guests for Husum Falls, answer phones and live in tents. Someone had to do it, but we needed an escape.

Hells Canyon, Snake River, Idaho...no wait....Oregon....ok, both.

Scouting the first bigger rapid from the OR side

Better than your average kayak self-support, this trip was going to be Lori's first multi-day river experience EVER, and Nicki's first one out of her kayak. Blee and I were there to see the epiphany that occurs when a kayaker realizes how easy, fun and liberating a self-support trip can be.

Blee in Wild Sheep Rapid...about to face the meat.

Waking up to the ridiculously bright headlights of multiple F3,000,000 trucks and stomping fisherman boots at the Hells Canyon Dam, we began the gear explosion that would lead to fully-packed kayaks.

Soon enough we were feeling our heavy boats pushing through currents and eddies on our way to the bigger rapids, all of which we would see in the first day. The newbies transitioned flawlessly. No worries or concerns about maneuverability with the added weight, just smiles at the thought of the experience.

Perfect lines and meaty-hole hits added to the general elation of the canyon and we settled into the peaceful pace the river sets. After 20 miles (total 35), we decided we would camp in ID, rather than the shady OR side of the river.

Unloading the Green Boat at camp, just in time to enjoy a sunset and the last bulkhead Hamms

This might be the hardest decision on a multi-day river trip. Choosing the location where elated exhaustion meets prime riverside realty.

Pine Bar campsite, ID side

Beautiful beach with grassy patches...yes please.

Lori takes a pre-rest before the real rest on the beach. Baby steps.

Warming by the moon-lit fire and passing out on a beach with the river lulling in the background. Is this a commercial for paradise?

Taking a lazy morning, despite the 15 mile agenda, is always a good idea. The coffee tastes better, the oatmeal fills the belly easier and the day just keeps getting better.

Nicki taught me how to take apart my Whisperlite and bang in on the ground to get it to work. She's a tough cookie in the kitchen.

Lori and I opted for the tarp...smaller than 2 bivy sacks. More ventilation to fresh air and plenty of coverage.

Sunday we floated. We caught eddies, rode wave trains and took it all in. Soon enough a truck appeared on the right, signaling that we had made it to our take-out. Not bad for a first taste for the girls and definitely a well-earned break from the daily grind for all of us.

Not a bad year for the Green Boat and overnighters...what next?