Heraclitus wrote: You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you.
That idea was tested Saturday, when Andy and I jumped in the van with my family and headed towards the Youghiogheny River. We dropped off Kim and the kids at Bedford (more about that later this week) and rolled on to the river. We were meeting a guy to buy a kayak, and had Andy’s boat on the roof. We were excited! The last time we were on the river, it was a fun run. We took high school students back in September for their maiden voyage. The loop was a good test of their abilities, and Andy and I felt like the day was a win. Our little fleet of playboats cruised through the rapids in relative safety.
The guy was late meeting us, so we decided to explore a little bit. We checked out the natural water slide and made our way over to Cucumber Falls. It was beautiful, and being around water always fires me up. As we climbed up out from the creek, we ran into Noah and Eva Shaltes, a couple I married a few years ago. They were visiting Ohiopyle with their baby (Peleh) and their dog. It was great to see them.
So far, so good.
The guy arrived, and the exchange of dollars for boat was made. He remarked that he’d like to put a boat in the water, but it was really high. We hadn’t noticed the water level specifically, but it did look big.
We talked to the park ranger, who said that it was indeed big and fast. We hadn’t seen many boaters, which we thought was unusual. The last time we ran the Yough the level was 4.5. Saturday’s level was 7.5. That means that the river is completely different. Some spots that are easy at 4.5 are horrendous at 7.5. Some of the more difficult rapids at low water are totally washed out at high levels. We thought it over and decided to give it a shot.
It turns out that the toughest spot is Entrance Rapid, right at the beginning of the run. We ran into a couple of guys that we’d seen driving to the river, and they said to stay right at the start. The only problem was that they told us this as we sat on river left right above the rapid. There was another guy (Carl) there boating solo, in a similar boat (small playboat), so we watched him do his thing for a while, then I took the plunge.
Literally.
The water was FAST and BIG. I was in a new-to-me boat, so I was trying to get used to the edges. It felt like the water was grabbing me, and I struggled to control the boat in the water. I got flipped right away, and couldn’t roll back over. I wasn’t worried, though. I grabbed the loop on my skirt and slipped out of the boat to begin swimming. When I surfaced, Carl was shouting for me to get out of the current, river left. I had to let go of my boat to swim, and it floated off down through the rapid. What I didn’t know is that there was a pourover ahead–a drop about 6 feet into a churning cauldron of foamy white water. These places like to eat swimmers. The recirculating water can make it difficult to escape, impossible to even grab a gulp of air.
Obviously I survived the drop. I made the bank, with paddle in hand, while Andy and Carl chased my boat. I was a little banged up (both knees bleeding, lots of scrapes, and somehow a crucnhed big toe), but I was breathing! I had to run down the river bank to where they had corralled my boat.
We talked a little while to Carl, who guides the river for Wilderness Voyageurs, and he kindly offered to run the rest of the the loop with us. He said we’d need to get river right (again, we’re on the left. dang) to run through Cucumber Rapid. Andy and I made our way out into the mix, and successfully navigated most of the rapid. Most of it, I say, because we both got tossed. I watched Andy hit his roll, then immediately hit a 6 foot wave that threw him into the air at a radical angle. I wish that I had been wearing a helmet cam, cause it was a beautiful thing to see! Unfortunately, both of us got tossed in the wave train, and had to bail out of our boats. We managed to hold on to the kayaks as we swam to the side.
After a little discussion, we decided that we were in over our heads. A good day on the river can be totally ruined by paddling way above one’s skill level. It’s not safe, and the end result can be tragic. So we thanked Carl for helping us, and shouldered our boats for the 1.5 mile hike out.
It’s not the first time that I’ve had to hike out of a river, and it likely won’t be the last. I was more than a little disappointed that I didn’t paddle better. I over-estimated my skill level, and was made painfully aware of my limitations.
But it was a good day.
Every time I go to the river, I ask God to teach me something about him, and something about me. I learned a lot Saturday. It’s good to test your limits. If you never strike out into difficult water, you never grow. Taking risks is important in all areas of life. Having a friend along who will help and encourage you, even support you when it feels like failure–absolutely necessary. Knowing when to step back from the edge is also key. It would have been foolish for us to continue the run, to let pride keep us from making the wise choice. There will be other days, other rivers, other adventures.
And someday, Andy and I will run the Yough at high water. Just not today…
Here’s a pic of Cucumber Falls, from behind the veil.
0 Comments