California, no doubt about it
Everything changes and ends.
This is yet another tale of beginning, ending, and the everlasting pursuit of connectedness. Traveling alone, physically, my trip began with a funeral, a wedding, and a peaceful day by a mountain lake with my uncle and spiritual guide.
Caitlin and myself join Scott and Kelli in starting a new life
I left those that I knew and traveled across the Sierras to begin my nomadic journey. However, river people are never alone in a river community. Upon reaching the Tuollumne drainage I quickly befriended Isaiah from ARTA and Rob from Whitewater Voyages who invited me into his home for the evening where we hung out with the guides and watched some crazy dudes from Oregon running big waterfalls in a raft:)
The Merced in Yosemite Valley
Granite.
Hard, big, steep, relentless.
The Merced tumbing out of the Yosemite Valley, God is strong here
I left the park to kayak the Upper Merced at a technical level, solo boating has some disadvantages-
Didn't see this rock at the bottom of a bouncy class IV, smoothe recovery though
Headin back to the Tuolomne I discovered the boat house for Sierra Mac.
http://www.sierramac.com/
Only two companies currently run the Cherry Creek section of the Tuolomne, 16 class V rapids in 9 miles.
Granite.
It was here that I met Sierra Mac’s head guide Adam Crom, a quiet, confident, strong man who maintains a standard of vigilance by training in the martial arts when not guiding what is likely the toughest section of whitewater ran commercially in the world.
“The river is fierce. Today we must also be fierce. There will be times when you are tired but you must continue to fight, you will need to reach down inside yourself and find whatever it takes to succeed”. – Adam Crom
Adam working the portage at Lumsden Falls
Mushroom (V+), the premiere drop in commercial rafting
Jesse, another Sierra Mac warrior navigates Cherry Creek
I have Jesse on line to insure he doesn't slip into a sieve just a few feet below
Kevin, Timber, Jesse, and Adam. Sierra Mac is world class
My hope is that someday I can someday also be a gracious host to everyone I met while paddling the Tuolomne and Merced. Thanks again Marty for allowing me to be a part of the Sierra Mac experience, your guides will always have a place to stay and boats to use in Oregon.
I dropped down into the Cadillac desert and headed north for the Trinity. After paddling the Pigeon Point section Paul Gamache and myself made plans to R2 Burnt Ranch Gorge, yet another California Classic that has eluded me for too long.
In the crux of BRG.
On patrol with the USFS, Aire, and Aquabound
A solo R2 run warrants a scout of number 3
I was able to find that strength from within that Adam was referring to. The Nomad’s last journey (sold the boat this morning) was a comprehensive success. Not only was I blessed with amazing whitewater but the rediscovery of our human spirit occurred by making new friends and reconnecting with old ones. The time is now, happiness is right here.
California, no doubt about it
