by Rolando Arrieta
It was a weekend of many firsts. The first time in more than a decade since I ran it at 2.5 and as a CCA trip coordinator for a trip of fourteen - I think!?
This was a Friday 7/29 - Saturday 7/30 scheduled trip.
On Friday, most paddlers bailed due to heavy rains in the forecast. It did rain a lot but by the time our small crew of four got on the water around 11am, the storm had passed, the skies cleared and it turned out to be a lovely uneventful day on the river. The rainwater pouring in from Meadow Run and other tributaries didn't seem to affect the level that much. However, it started to feel pushier as we got closer to Bruner.
Then on Saturday morning I woke up to a series of emails, text messages, phone calls, cancellations, additions to the trip. Over a camp-fire and a cup of coffee, I went through them all trying to make sense of who's joining us and worried I was forgetting someone. Not to mention, making that extra effort to purchase as many launch tickets as possible to minimize the ridiculous $6.50 service fee. Thank goodness that is no longer!
We all arrived on time at the chaotic put-in for our 11am launch, packed with rafts and other hard boat crews. At that point I counted twelve helmets. I counted again and ended up with thirteen. Counted again and it was fourteen. Like herding cats, I finally got everyone together and said, I think we're all here! Look around, introduce yourself, be safe and have fun!
That's because most folks on this trip were not CCA members, as I got very little to no responses to joining me. Derek Witcpalek was the only CCA member who paddled with us on Saturday and did the loop on Friday.
Once we got through the mayhem of Entrance and Cucumber rapids, some folks had paddled on at a faster pace and we settled into a solid crew of ten - eight kayakers and two C-1ers. It was a fantastic day on the river. Clear blue skies and fun fun fun all around. All the crazy coordination and organization quickly forgotten.
I am looking forward to coordinating the next Lower Yough trip where I no longer need to be annoyed at the $6.50 service fee but hope to get a better response from our members.