A Wild and Scenic River

Chuck is the first to take to the frigid waters. His inflatable canoe, riding high, drawing just about 3 inches of water, heads toward the confluence with the river that will be our only way home. Heading toward a rapid, I snap a quick shot with my digital camera. Entering a rapid requires the paddler to be aware of the conditions of the water, how deep, how fast, what hazards lay beneath the boiling waters, what hazards lay beyond, where are the sweepers. A miscalculation can put one in an unfortunate situation. My inflatable canoe, a SOAR 16-footer, is well-suited for travelling this wild river. I paddled, pushed, and dragged this canoe over 127 miles of Class I-II (and a couple of Class III sections) and it handled very well. The character of the river changes constantly. Sometimes it roils of shallow gravel rapids. Sometimes it is glassy calm. We make camp at six in the evening. The tents are pitched. A fire to warm us is supplied with drift wood that Chuck had gathered. Dinner is being prepared. We could not help but notice the many moose, bear, and wolf tracks that mark our camp area. Night will soon be upon us. I have stood in the dark of a thousand silences and heard it break to the wild one's cry I have lived, I have lived For I have seen with my own eyes The strange fires in the sky. Enrique del Rosario Latitude 67 North Copyright © 2004

Copyright © 2004 by Enrique del Rosario