White Water Kayak School - Clearwater, B.C.

As August was quickly drawing to a close, we decided to find something new and different to try as a way to both celebrate and say goodbye to the summer.  Adam and Emma had the last week of August off (unfortunately, Ian was scheduled to work) so we chatted about different trips we would like to take as a family......Cape Scott, the Oregon Coast, Bowron Lakes Circuit, West Coast trail,  Galapagos (that will have to wait) etc.  During our lengthy trip discussions and research we stumbled upon the Liquid Lifestyles Kayak school in Clearwater BC.  SOLD!  We decided to try our hand at white water kayaking.

Our adventure began with a road trip, 5.5 hours to Clearwater.   Like all road trips we light heartily fought over seats, music, rest breaks ...and just like old times we pestered Rob with the "are we there yet chant and enjoyed a lively round of punch buggy!"  Ah - the memories of family road trips!

We had reserved a campsite at the North Thompson River Provincial Park.  This is a terrific little site, situated on the North Thompson river directly off highway 5, only a few kilometres from Clearwater and a fantastic place to base camp while exploring the Clearwater area and Wells Gray Provincial Park.   We were in luck as the campfire ban had been lifted, so after we arrived, we set up our tents and enjoyed a terrific evening around the campfire.  Of course, being a Weiss vacation, we were also treated to heavy rain throughout the night and woke to very wet, and chilly campsite.

Campsite over looking the river

Morning came quickly, and we all were up bright and early wondering what the day would hold.  We travelled to the Liquid Lifestyles office, met our fantastic guide Bryn ....signed the waivers and before you knew it, Bryn had set us up with wetsuits, life jackets, paddles, boats and helmets.

The course began with a morning on Dutch Lake as Bryn started with the basics:

• launching from the dock
• wet exits
• breath control
• T-rescues
• low bracing

Heads up on Dutch Lake

Emma working on the T-rescue....she gone!

The laughs were plentiful that morning.  Adam's spray skirt was really tight - so he struggled every time he had to wet exit and get back in his boat.  We teased him relentlessly each and every time he had to fight with the spray skirt.  By the end of the morning, Bryn was teaching Adam how to roll....Adam was catching on quickly....we were sure it was simply to avoid having to wet exit and deal with the spray skirt and our teasing.

Bryn works with Adam to learn how to roll

Rob won the prize for the first dump......it was a sharp right turn....that ended up with Rob taking the swim of shame to shore!

Emma was such a rock star....she amazed us all as she quickly learned to stay calm while upside down in her boat, patiently holding her breath as she waited for a T-rescue.  Later that afternoon, when we were on the river, Emma dumped in a section of white water.  I watched in pure amazement as she was being swept downstream, she calmly tapped on her boat and waited for the T-rescue.  Later, I asked her how she managed to stay so calm.  She gave me a cute little smile and said, "I knew Bryn would come."  ....just that simple!

Lunch break over looking the river

We enjoyed a terrific lunch sitting on the cliff over looking the river and the stretch of water we were to paddle that afternoon.  We were all feeling really excited at the thought of hitting the river.  We finished our lunch, jumped in the van and set off for our put-in.  Once we arrived, Bryn casually hoisted his boat onto his shoulder said, "this way" and set off down a cliff to the river's edge.  Rob and I looked at each other in disbelief.  To fully understand you must try and picture Bryn.  He was probably 6'2" with shoulders almost as wide - a Paul Bunyan type of build.  Of course, Adam and Emma set off after him without blinking so Rob and I wished each other luck and followed along.  I can not tell you how challenging it was to slip and slide our way along the trail, fumbling with our kayaks and paddles!  Definitely a young mans game.  

Follow the leader down to the river bank

We arrived at the river bank relatively unscathed and Bryn began to take us through our paces.  We practiced a few more t-rescues and then began to learn how to ferry across the river and eddy turn.  The day ended with Adam, Rob and I going for a very long swim beside our boats!   Emma managed to master that last eddy turn and was able to stay in her boat and  paddle her way down the river.

Emma takes a break

The day was physically demanding and we all arrived back at the campsite, battered, bruised, exhausted and LOVING IT!  What a day.  We really have to give our guide credit...Bryn was kind, and incredibly patient  - yet managed to individually challenge each and every one of us.

Adam attempts to surf

The next morning we awoke again to the sound of rain falling on the tents.  Not that it mattered much...we knew we would be wet for the rest of the day.  We arrived at the kayak office to the sight of the guides jump starting the vans.  We tried to not take the sight of the dead van as an omen for what lay ahead.  Bryn had planned a full day on the river... and a section of river that would be a bit more challenging for us.  We were all excited and nervous at the same time.

....creative entry point....

We continued to practice our eddy turns, on faster moving water and YES...we again practiced t-rescues and in my case long distance swims!  Adam really improved and was trying to master the roll and even surf a couple of waves.  As we came near a section of river called Swimmers Alley, Bryn took away our paddles.  He said he couldn't trust us with them!  The golden rule was to never loose your paddle - and to Bryn's dismay, we frequently found ourselves on a river bank without a boat or a paddle watching Bryn paddling like crazy to rescue our gear.  We made our way through swimmers alley with arms flapping like bird wings..and learning to trust in the river and the boat.  A great lesson!

Rob takes a break in the eddy

Bryn was planning to challenge us with a class 3 rapid in the afternoon.  I was completely exhausted and didn't want to hold the group up, so I suggested they continue without me.  I was quite happy to wait at the take out point - safe and dry.  The gang wouldn't hear anything of it, so Bryn suggested a double inflatable for the afternoon and Emma graciously agreed to give up her boat and join me in the inflatable.  He teased us and nicknamed us the GOON SQUAD.

The Goon Squad heading to the river

Rob and Adam bravely tackled the rapids.  The waves were really big (at least to the inexperienced paddler!)  Adam successfully managed an eddy turn into the river and then as he hit the first hole, we lost sight of him .... the next thing we knew he was swimming.  Rob didn't last much longer before the river took him as well.  Rob and Adam must have swam at least 1/2 km before they could get out of the river and back into their boats. 

Emma and I giggled as our double inflatable bounced and turned its way down the river..with Bryn yelling at the Goon Squad to get left..what a ride!

We managed to make our way through a series of class 1 and 2 rapids.  The calm sections of water allowed us time to take in the views of the beautiful canyon and river....spectacular.  We arrived at the take out point, tired, wet and happy.....we had all thoroughly enjoyed our time on the river and each of us had been pushed and challenged!

A great day on the river.....

Giggle of the day:

Bryn did a great job of teaching us the importance of checking your gear and ensuring you have everything with you before you hit the river.  When we arrived at the put in point we unloaded the van only to discover that we had everything EXCEPT our guide's paddle.  (we wont say who was responsible for loading the paddles)  We learned the biggest lesson of all.....what it means to be up a creek without a paddle!


Reflections:

As I reflect on our holiday, I am forced to admit that I was the weak link!  I am really comfortable in the water and love paddling....however, there was something about being upside down in the lake or on the river  with your spray skirt on that terrified me.  I was truly surprised at my reaction....I knew and logically understood that I only needed to hold my breath for a few seconds and help would be there, but the millisecond I flipped my boat, every instinct in my body SCREAMED at me to GET OUT!  It was an irrational fear that I could not conquer.....I am determined to try again next summer and win this battle, because it was such a thrill to run the river!  It was also an interesting reflection time for me.  For years Rob and I have ventured out with the kids and at times had wondered if we were pushing them too hard or putting them at risk.  However, deep down we knew that we could take care of them and keep them safe.  This week I came to realize that I must now depend on them.....a passing of the torch so to speak.  As I watched Adam and Emma fearlessly tackle the skills and the river I felt both proud and humbled!  What a trip!

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