One with the river in Little Blue Cat

We took turns on the oars of the Little Blue Cat, a boat about 1/3 scale, that packed a lot of fun and excitement. Like being in a kayak, the view from this small boat is different, the sensation that you are riding in, not on top of the water. In the heart of the wave train, no one but you to pick the route and steer the boat. No co-pilot to offer a second opinion. With each big wave you expect to get soaked, but that's okay. It was smoking hot and it felt good.

Just past Mile 25 we approached Hancock Rapid. We followed our leader, entering on the far right. We ran the rapid long and clean. Big rocks protruded in the middle. As we rested in an eddy the next boat rammed against a big boulder in the center. The bow of the boat slid over the rock and left it high centered. We thought he was stuck but he waved us off and pulled from his dry bag a camera which he used to take snapshots of the boat behind him. Guess he knew what he was doing.

Hot tub anyone?

Later we stopped at Hot Tub Springs. After beaching our boats we hiked a rocky path, following a warm, steamy creek to a spot high on a cliff where we crammed into a manmade tub. The water temp was like a hot bath. It felt good except for the sting it gave my sunburn. Been to hot springs before and expected a sulfur smell but found none here. One of the more popular spots on the river, we didn't have long to soak before the next group of rafters, a large outfitted group, stood waiting their turn.

Salmon Falls offered big thrills

Friday: our party put in about noon. We approached Salmon Falls, sided by its rock wall on the left and big boulders on the right. Sitting in the front of the blue Avon I had the best seat in the house. In our way were two giant rocks, just right of center. Our boat captain calmly read the current, lined us up with the rock on the right. Our pace quickened as the current pushed us down the falls into the slot from right to left. But instead of sliding to the left around the trouble our rubber raft slammed directly into the big round rock, spinning our boat sideways into a hole. He pulled mightily on the oars, backing our boat out of the hole, rotating clockwise. Now we were positioned backwards in the heart of the rapid. I freaked but my friend on the oars laughed as we ran the balance of the rapid facing upstream.

"That was fun," I screamed.

Before my friend could answer we crashed into the next big wave and both of us were soaked by the giant splash that came over the stern. We pulled into an eddy and watched the others run the rapid.