*sigh*

i'm not sure that i can do my first descents experience justice. but apparently people like my aunt susan are dying to know the details. :) so i'll try my hardest to put some words to the experience.

first word.
incredible.

second word.
amazing.

third word.
please let me go back!

i drove approximately 7 hours into northern california on windy one-lane roads (yes, in the saturn) to get to otter bar kayaking school located near forks of the salmon, ca. basically where the salmon and the klamath rivers meet. otter bar is beautiful. a bunch of buildings and cabins surrounded by the salmon river, beautiful trees, ponds. a hot tub. an outdoor shower. a sauna with a window looking out over the river.

we ate incredible food every single meal. another participant actually took pictures of each menu because it felt like it was all too good to be true. chocolate molten lava cakes with raspberry sauce and whipped cream. risotto with fresh tomatoes, basil, and corn. fresh asparagus. almond-crusted french toast with real maple syrup. i mean? seriously. it was ridiculous.

i met amazing people. there were 11 participants - 5 guys, 6 women. ranging in age from 18 to 40. people came from all over (miami, vermont, oregon, montana, 3 san franciscans) having had all kinds of cancers (breast, ovarian, brain tumors). every.single.person was SO funny and SO nice and SO interesting. we had such a good time together. participants and the 5 staff and the 6 volunteers.
we played constant bocce.











and laughed all the time.











and kayaking?
it was SO MUCH FUN. i felt comfortable on the river. learned how to turn, go forward, AND how to roll. we spent a few days practicing in the ponds then moved out to the klamath for some rapids. the first day on the rapids none of the ladies flipped. we rocked it. the second day on the same stretch of river? i flipped in the first puny rapid. but was saved within seconds by amazing instructors.

and that was part of the amazingness of it all. we had three otter bar instructors plus brad (founder of first descents) and corey (8-year first descents instructor/counselor veteran). it was practically a one to one ratio of instructors to students. and every person had THE best attitude, the best laugh, the most fun in the water, the sweetest ways of helping.











i don't know what else to say.
basically, i went on this trip because my brother and my friend kelly starrett were pressuring me, begging me to do it, making sure it actually happened. and it turned out to be the most aMAZing experience. i was happy for 7 days straight, smiling, laughing, cracking up as i came up after flipping myself in the water. and i feel stronger. and braver. and understood. and respected. all in 7 days. all with a focus on kayaking.











in.
credible.