Today marks 65 days until our Grand Canyon Adventure! As I previously announced, I’m stoked to join Team River Runner this September as we guide five blind military veterans — four men and one woman — kayaking more than 200 miles on the mighty Colorado River. You can read more about this adventure here and what we hope to accomplish. To prepare ourselves for this epic trip, the TRR Grand Canyon team convened June 13-17 in McCall, Idaho, for three days of whitewater kayaking on the Salmon River.
Why the Salmon? Well, like the Colorado, it’s BIG water. The river was running at approximately 25,000 CFS. (Compare that to most of our Midwest whitewater rivers where 1,500 CFS is considered big.) In addition to action-packed rapids with sticky holes that everyone did their best to avoid, there are fun but challenging wave trains. And at the ends of each rapids, just when you think you’re free and clear, you’re greeted by turbulent boils, swirls, and whirlpools that appear out of nowhere. The swirly water grabs your boat, spins it in directions you never intended, and then subsides just as quickly. It was amazing to experience the immense power of this water as we practiced with our remarkable “vision team” veterans, all of whom proved they are up for the challenge of kayaking the Grand Canyon.
Here’s my GoPro edit from our three days on the water…
And here are excerpts from my daily journal about my Salmon River experience…
Thursday, June 14, 7:45 a.m.
Arrived in McCall last night after making the two-hour trip in a TRR van from the Boise airport. At breakfast this morning in the hotel I met three of the Vision Team kayakers. Brian Harris from Chicago, Steve Baskis from Colorado, and Travis Fugate from Kentucky. During our conversation I mentioned I was a guide for blind and visually impaired skiers for 11 years. They talked (especially Steve) about their experiences kayaking, mountaineering and overcoming other challenges. Last night Dave Robey from TRR assigned me as “hotel daddy” so I have to make sure everyone is up and ready to go in the parking lot by 9 a.m. Stoked for our first day on the water!
Thursday, June 14, 10:45 p.m.
Fantastic day on the Salmon River! My first whitewater kayaking out West. My “pod” consists of Steve Baskis, his primary guide Eric Carlson, with “Big Mike” Plourde and me as safety boaters. If things stay the same this will be our pod for the Grand Canyon trip. After a van ride north from McCall, we put in about 12:30 p.m. and took out around 2:30 p.m. Put-in was Spring Bar and take-out was Island Bar, a distance of about 8 miles. I felt like I was smiling the entire time. I rolled once today after overturning in a whirlpool. Man, that took me off guard! But after being introduced to the big swirling water today, I managed to avoid any more trouble spots. Tomorrow the plan is to run a different section of the river, putting in farther upriver. After cleaning up at the hotel, long-time Boise-area boaters Willard Kneidel and Bob Tracy offered to take me to a new McCall brewery called Broken Horn Brewing Company. We were joined there by fellow TRR volunteers Chip Sell and Cynthia Robey. After sampling the intoxicants, Willard gave me a tour of nearby Ponderosa State Park where we viewed the beautiful vista overlooking Payette Lake. 
This evening we enjoyed a picnic dinner at Rotary Park on the shore of Payette Lake, served by local TRR volunteers Mike and Ginny. Pulled pork sandwiches with all the trimmings.
Friday, June 15, 10 p.m.
Today’s put-in was at Carey Creek. From there we paddled to Spring Bar, about 13 miles. Another incredible day of beauty and excitement on the river. In a rapid called House Rock a huge rock in the middle of the river forces you to choose river left or river right. Steve got knocked over three times in the river left channel and successfully rolled up each time! It was great to see. Afterwards I told him I captured it on video. He replied that I should put music to it: “I get knocked down but I get up again.”
Back in town, dinner was hosted at the 
beautiful mountain home of a member of the McCall American Legion post, with several Legion members and their spouses preparing a fabulous feast of appetizers, chili dogs, salads and desserts. It’s truly amazing how this community supports our veterans. After dinner, Lonnie Bedwell, chief instigator of the Grand Canyon trip and himself a blind veteran, spoke about why we are undertaking this historic adventure through the Grand Canyon. As it states on his website: “Lonnie’s mission is to motivate and inspire others to embrace life with confidence and courage.” Lonnie was the first blind person to kayak the Grand Canyon. He choked up as he praised the veterans standing next to him in the room. There were many teary eyes tonight, including mine.
Saturday, June 16, 9:30 p.m.
Today’s paddle was about 7 miles from Shorts Bar to a spot about 2 miles shy of the Lucile take-out, again on the Salmon. At the put-in, Dave Robey told us there would only be two major rapids today — Time Zone (so named because it lies under a bridge that marks the dividing line between Pacific Time and Mountain Time) and Fiddle Creek. Later in our pod we joked about running numbers 6, 7 and 8 of our “just two” rapids. Steve got knocked 
over at Time Zone and his knee came out of his thigh brace, which prevented him from rolling up and caused him to swim. Eric, who was leading Steve, also flipped at the same moment. Big Mike quickly towed Steve to shore while Bill and Rachel from another pod helped us recover Steve’s kayak and paddle. After a brief rest on shore, Steve was good to go. 
Except for a few practice rolls at the put-in and along the way, I managed to stay upright yesterday and today. I had never paddled a river this big, so it’s a good feeling to know I can boat with these very good boaters and be an asset to the team. We arrived back at the hotel in McCall around 3:30 p.m. today. I sat in the hot tub for a bit, took a shower, then walked downtown to have a look around. McCall is one of the most beautiful towns I have ever visited. Nestled in the mountains on the shores of a large lake, with alpine and nordic skiing nearby, it offers year-round recreation. I called Mary as I sat on a bench at the beach and told her we definitely need to come here when we travel in our RV. After walking around some more, I made my way to a local pizza joint called Crusty’s where the entire TRR team was about to congregate for dinner. Crusty’s is owned by local kayaking legend Brian Ward, who goes by the nickname B-Real. B-Real joined us on the river Thursday and Friday as a guide and safety boater, so we returned the favor by patronizing his pizza joint Saturday evening. Good pizza! I recommend the house specialty “Wildwest” with its elk sausage, onions, black olives and fresh tomato.
Sunday, June 17
Our original plan was to drive toward Boise today and stop to paddle the Payette River. But after three days of beautiful weather, the rain poured down and the temperature didn’t rise much above 50. Our trip leaders decided to there would be no kayaking today. I would have gladly paddled. After all, how many opportunities will I have to kayak in Idaho again? At would have been our put-in, a place called Banks, we drove the vehicles and trailers under a large DOT salt pile shelter to escape the rain so we could sort boats, gear and passengers between TRR-National and TRR-Boise. 
I rode with Eric and TRR-Boise chapter coordinator Bob Tracy from Banks to Boise. Along the way we made a couple of stops at paddle shops to return rented gear before arriving at our hotel near the Boise airport. I checked in with Travis, my roommate for the night. After catching up on email and messages, I decided to get some exercise by going on a solo “discover Boise” run. I didn’t know where I was headed but I found a riverwalk along a canal that led downtown. I ran five miles total. That evening during dinner, I told Dave Robey how much I appreciate being chosen for the Grand Canyon team. Most of the whitewater kayakers I know would give their right nut to be part of this. Well, maybe the male kayakers would.
Monday, June 18
Travis and I both overslept this morning. He set his alarm in his earphones for 5:30 but went back to sleep. I didn’t wake up until 6:33. We managed to pack up and grab a quick breakfast in the hotel before catching our 7:15 a.m. shuttle to the airport. Even though Travis is experienced at traveling on his own, things go a little more smoothly with someone to guide him, so I escorted him through check-in, security and the coffee shop. We still had time to sit and talk at his gate. He told me about his combat experience in Iraq. In 2005 an IED blew up his face and took his eyesight. After months of recuperation and multiple surgeries, Travis studied computer science at Cal State University Monterey Bay. Today he operates an organic farm with his father and sister near Hazard, Kentucky. Travis was the first blind veteran nationwide to participate in TRR kayaking events. Like four out of the five Vision Team members, this will be his first trip down the Grand Canyon.
ADDITIONAL VIDEOS
Seth Dahl’s video featuring Travis and Brian…
TV news story about Travis Fugate…
A TV news story about recent training session at the National Whitewater Center in Charlotte
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Team River Runner page about the Grand Canyon Adventure with photos and descriptions of the participants
Very inspiring to read.
Thank you, Barb
Awesome pics/videos and a great write up.
Thanks, Mike! I’m looking forward to this trip with you and the entire team. It’s great that you ran into one of our TRR-GB participants John F and his son in Colorado over the weekend.