Doris Rapids

Morning light filled the canyon as we lined up for Doris Rapid, the first test of the day. The river funneled into a straight chute with a clean tongue dropping into a series of tightly spaced waves. The dory slipped into the flow smoothly, the bow lifting sharply over the first roller before settling into a fast train of deep troughs and steep crests. Diagonal laterals pushed lightly from river right, requiring a few strong pulls on the oars to stay center. Cool splashes skimmed the deck, but with the sun on our backs, they felt refreshing instead of punishing. The dory flexed as we rode through the last sequence of waves and dodged a couple of swirling boils near the tailout. Doris gave us a crisp, technical run to start the day, sharp enough to wake up the crew but smooth under the clear morning sky.