Nov 22

Nov 22 One Minute, One Hundred Words - One Girls Quest to Raft the Entirety of the Last Wild River

After being the youngest woman to raft 556 miles of America's last wild river, Vay O'Brien, tackles tough questions on the young woman experience, resilience, building confidence, controlling fear, and finding your flow. Vay O'Brien shares her story in a five-part series: ONE Quest ONE Girl: Told in one picture, one video, and one hundred words.

People ask “Why did you do this trip?”

…but why does anybody do anything?

I want to test my capabilities. This is about needing something different. I want to feel like Tom Sawyer. I have so many questions, and maybe the best answer is to “try it”. The point here is that, I want to be my best-self and I want extraordinary adventures.

I want to be free.

To be valiant is to be determined, brave, and courageous. This journey has taught me that no one is born valiant. I want to learn to be courageous and to be brave!

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In our latest article (link in bio) we're talking about that strange popcorny smell that seems to spring up right when it gets warm. Fungus and bacteria take a huge toll on your body and your gear. So when your buddy be like, bro you stink, take that seriously because it can quickly lead to some equipment and medical issues.

In today's quick lesson, we're talking about how to achieve a little more power out of your strokes when you're hitting a big wave. Giving the thwart a little kick when you're pushing through a wave can give you a bit of an edge in your paddling. To do this effectively, you want to make sure you are really biting into the water with your blade and planting a good forward stroke. Remember, it is about moving the boat, not the paddle or the water. If you have a well coordinated team, you can do this in any paddle configuration to gain a little more of a push over short distances. If you want to learn more, check out our beginner and intermediate rafting series at the link in our bio.

In today's quick lesson, we're talking about layered safety. This is where we engage in safety practices with redundant backups in place. This can be as simple as 2 people in different places with throw bags, or a little more complex with shore based safety and a raft in an eddy below the shore based safety to help pick up swimmers. It's especially important coming out of winter when you may have boaters who haven't paddled in a while to just make sure we're watching each other's backs super well. Stay safe out there, friends!

Welcome

Nov 22 One Minute, One Hundred Words - One Girls Quest to Raft the Entirety of the Last Wild River

People ask “Why did you do this trip?”

Nov 27 The Gear Shed: Watershed Dry Bags

Nov 20 A Return to Rafting for the John Wesley Powell Route