August 10, 2010

• Keep Your Ass In The Boat…Life Lessons: No. 1

  I have never done a repost of a blog post I have done, but now seemed to be an appropriate time. I haven’t had much of a chance to sit down and write much at length lately, my schedule just hasn’t permitted. I haven’t run out of things to write about, and the first chance I get I will be weaving tales, telling of my adventures…but for now, since times are tough and many of us seem to be struggling (be it with jobs, money, relationships…what have you), there’s a very good message and lesson in the following story, first posted by me in 2006.

  PADDLE OR DIE!

  It was those reassuring words which met me on a t-shirt in the gift shop of the whitewater rafting adventure company at the Gauley River in West Virginia about ten years ago. I was with my then husband (my son’s father) and we were going to be rafting the 28-mile-long Gauley with a group of martial artists who were students of a friend of his, along with the instructor friend. This was to be a two day trip, rafting the Upper Gauley on day 1, camping overnight, and rafting the Lower Gauley on day 2. The Gauley River is ranked as the #2 most challenging rapids in the Eastern U.S., and #7 in the world. I had never been whitewater rafting before, but I had been reassured that it was a lot of fun. For some reason when I saw that t-shirt I felt less than reassured!

  We were fitted with wetsuits since it was mid-September and an Autumn chill was in the air. We were also given helmets and personal flotation devices. As soon as everyone was fitted with gear we received a brief lecture about proper safety while whitewater rafting. The two things I remember to this day are:

  1) If you fall out, maintain an upright position with your legs fully extended in front of you, and your arms crossed over your chest. This is to help assure that you don’t get pinned under any rocks and drown.

  2) Keep your ass in the boat. Self-explanatory and the best way to avoid rule #1.

  After our lecture we were guided to the rafts and instructed to follow our guide down to the put-in. As if the t-shirt wasn’t enough, this is what was just above the put-in:

  

  For 5 consecutive weekends, the guide told us, these 12 foot in diameter pipes drain off water into the Gauley from the lake behind it at 2,500 cubic feet per second! Here’s a view from above the dam (click to enlarge):

  

  The put-in wasn’t very far from where the water was surging from those pipes. What had I gotten myself into? Would I live to see my children again? This was not the last time those thoughts crossed my mind over that weekend.

  After getting the raft in the water the guide asked if any of us were first time rafters. I was surprised, and frightened, to see that all but two out of 8 of us raised our hands. The guides expression and tone of voice did not comfort me when he said, “Okay, then…wow…listen to every thing I say and do exactly what I tell you. When I tell you to paddle, paddle with all your might. Paddle or die!” He went on to explain that the Upper Gauley is not the best part of the river to have your first whitewater experience. It’s challenging, and also has 5 Class V+ rapids. I couldn’t even get a hold of what that meant at the time, but I was soon to find out. Here’s a list of rapids classifications:

  Rivers are classified on the International Scale of Difficulty as follows:

  Class I
  Moving water with few riffles, small waves, few or no obstructions.

  Class II
  Easy rapids with small waves and wide, clear channels that are obvious. Some maneuvering required.

  Class III
  Waves may be high and irregular. Passages may be narrow and may require complex maneuvering. Obstructions are not life-threatening under normal circumstances. The route is clearly visible from the top of the rapid. Many of the New and Gauley’s most entertaining rapids are Class III’s.

  Class IV
  Very difficult water. Long, constricted, difficult passages that require complex maneuvering. Conditions make rescue difficult. Waves may be large, irregular, and breaking…capable of capsizing a raft. Life-threatening obstructions, such as undercut rocks, may be present. Routes are often not readily apparent from the top of the rapid. Any Class IV rapid is serious and requires the attention of everyone in the boat.

  Class V
  Extremely difficult and violent rapids with significant hazard to life in the event of a mishap. Rescue is very difficult and there is significant hazard to life. Waves may be huge, numerous, and breaking. Life-threatening obstructions, such as undercut rocks and “keeper” hydraulics may be numerous. Many Class V rapids are relatively long stretches of whitewater that require constant maneuvering. This requires intense teamwork between the crew and the Guide.

  Class V+
  A commercial designation, this represents the absolute limit of commercially run whitewater. Huge waves and hydraulics and many obstructions which can be life-threatening. Rescue conditions are very difficult. For teams of experts only. Class V+ rapids on the Upper Gauley in WV include Insignificant, Pillow Rock, Lost Paddle, Iron Ring, and Sweets Falls.

  Class VI
  Nearly impossible and very dangerous. Can be run only by teams of experts with significant danger to life. There are no commercially-run Class VI rivers. Many of the steep creeks in West Virginia, such as Mann’s Creek and the Lower Meadow river are true Class VI runs.

   

  If I’d have known this, I probably wouldn’t have gone. I’m not one to take my life into my own hands, especially now that I have children depending on me. But there I was, in the raft already. I was committed, and there was no turning back.

  I won’t explain everything that happened in detail, but suffice it to say that it was the most frightening and physically challenging thing I had done to date. The team that formed within the boat over the two days of rafting was truly amazing. We worked together, and paddled with all our might, just as the guide had instructed us. There were moments that were more frightening than others, and things that happened on that river (that seemed to have a life of its own) that took us by surprise. We rose to the occasion, and all of us kept our ass in the boat. Here is a video that gives some highlights of a trip down the Gauley River:

   

  That weekend of my life was very transforming. I learned a lot about myself and what I could accomplish and live through, though I am not retelling this story to boast about what I accomplished. I am not trying to make myself seem tough, because frankly, I’m not all that tough. I have often remembered this whitewater rafting experience and thought how very much it is like life for many of us, myself included. We’re here, and faced with challenges that seem overwhelming and impossible at times. There are bumps and waves, and currents which change seemingly at will. Sometimes things can be so turbulent that it feels like we are going to fall overboard, and be trapped under the rushing water, never able to resurface. And then I remember that the bravery to press on rarely happens without fear; we must let that fear remind us that we need to keep paddling through the rough spots. Somewhere up ahead are calmer waters. Just keep your ass in the boat.

   

  

   

  What class rapids do you seem to be maneuvering through these days?

  • 3:55 pm
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