River trips that make you who you are (part 2)

It's been a long time since I shared one of these stories. As I said like a year ago, there are river trips that definitely make a person who they are. Last time I wrote about one of these stories was to share the story of my first real whitewater trip and my start in the whitewater business (you can read about that here). Today, I'd like to share a story from a few years ago. I believe it was the 2005 rafting season. That was the summer before I got this real job and we were on the water everyday, working 7 days a week from the Moose to the Hudson or the Black or Sacandaga. It wasn't uncommon that summer for Chaz and I to run three or four different rivers in a three or four day stretch. We were driving around the state raftin' and partyin' and just having great times.

It was during this summer that we also had use of a 12 foot Puma raft from Aire (a demo boat) and we had some great times in that thing. One particular day me and Chaz were working up on the Black River (we had run a Hudson River trip the day before and I believe we may have even ran the first three drops on the lower Moose on the previous evening). I'd be lying if I told you I remembered anything really from the trip on the Black that day (I couldn't even tell you what day of the week it what the water level was). All I know is that after the trip about 6 or 7 of us piled into a few cars and made our way south to Pulaski to catch one of the releases on the Salmon River, bringing the little purple Puma along with us. I rode with Larry and I believe Chaz was riding with Erika but can't really remember. Also along for the ride was Bernie (a great guy and our safety boater at the time) and Toshia (our photog). There may have been a couple more people but it escapes me now. What I can tell you is that myself, Chaz and Erika took the Puma down the river and had a great time. The Salmon River is not known for any really crazy whitewater sections (basically all class II) but it was a beautiful evening trip with the sun about to set and the weather was just perfect. We surfed at this one little poorover for quite a while (I can't remember the name of it now, something like the terminator or something like that...can anyone help me out with that?). I actually fell out just goofing around low siding and having a great time. We also drank a couple bottles of red wine on the river that I brought with me. I even brought a few wine glasses to enjoy it properly. That was definitely a trip that has made me who I am and it goes to show that it's not always the trips with the biggest and best whitewater or the craziest carnage that you remember forever (although plenty of those days stand out also) but that good times with good friends will always be forefront on the best trips of a boaters life... That was a river trip that I will remember and cherish forever. Thanks to everyone that made it happen