Perspective

We were paddling down a river last night and approached a long rapid on it. As we had some beginners in the group, Dan and I decided to go down first, in the event a rescue was required.

We got into a conversation as we entered the headwaters and casually drifted down, circling each other without too much regard for waves, which we were familiar with. Upon reaching the bottom, I signaled the others to come ahead. I noticed one of the beginners’ face was frozen with intensity and the veins stood out on his neck. I empathized, recalling a time when I would tense up on this part of the run.

I commented on perspective to Dan, and how your experience level affects that. Dan added that there was more to it than that. Sometimes he paddles killer waters but, in photos he sees later, they look more benign. Something about being in the jaws of the beast.

I hear ya. On a recent trip, I was the first to launch and paddle out onto the ocean. High waves caused me to immediately question my judgment. It didn’t help that two of the biggest dorsal fins I had ever seen were cruising around me. Getting a little bit of the cotton mouth.

I felt a lot better when some of my companions joined me. In the heaving seas, we went in and out of view of each other. I thought this would make for some great pictures and tried to slip the camera out of my pocket very quickly. I ran off a half dozen fast one-handed shots, trying to effect some bracing with the other hand. Under these conditions, I like two hands on the paddle to brace upright.

It was a bit of a risk, but I figured it would be worth it for a few shots the engendered the feeling of the high seas. Guess again. When I later viewed them, they portrayed rolling swells, at best. Only the tilted angle of some gave any hint something was going on out there.

I guess you had to be there.