July 19: Lodore Put-In to Pot Creek

Day 2
The fun began very early on Day 2 as we were facing quite a long, hot day. Pumping and rigging boats was our first order of business. Clearly the students were not daunted by this massive task. Yes, all this gear came down the river with us!

Once the boats were inflated and rigged, we retreated into the shade for our safety talk. What happens if you fall out of the boat? What happens if you hit a rock? How do I get back into the boat? What is a PFD? All of these questions are answered...and then some.

Finally, we're floating. The scenery at the Gates of Lodore defies anything I could write here. This picture speaks for itself! Double click on this picture to see a larger image. (This is true for all the photos on the site.)







Before we could call this day a success, we had to tackle our first challenging rapid. The rapids in Lodore are commonly referred to as "technical". Teamwork, impeccable timing and quick turns are necessary to navigate a technical river. Students have to trouble-shoot, and work together to come up with a plan if the boat becomes perched on a rock. In this picture, Scott looks on as Megan and her crew sort things out in lower Disaster Falls.