Kayaking

Sliding into the Salmon River for my first ever run in a kayak was equal parts excitement and nerves. The current grabbed the boat right away, quicker and stronger than I expected, and I could feel every ripple and surge through the thin hull beneath me. The paddle felt steady in my hands as I caught my rhythm, skimming over swirling eddies and dipping into small standing waves. Even the smaller rapids felt magnified from the kayak's low seat, the water rising up and splashing across my bow with every bounce.

Paddling into Black Creek Rapid in an inflatable kayak added a whole new layer of intensity. The river narrowed and the current surged, pulling me quickly toward a series of crashing waves and sharp drops. Each wave felt bigger and closer from the low seat of the kayak, and the water slapped hard against the bow, spilling over the sides and soaking my lap. I dug my paddle deep to stay upright and on line, weaving between rocks with fast, reactive strokes. The kayak bucked and twisted through the wave train, every hit jarring but exhilarating.