We're Back!!! 4/11/09 Moose River, first trip of the year

Well, we are officially back in the whitewater game and I'm back on the water for the first time since last July (jeez, can't believe it's been that long, this "real job" really pulls me away from the river more than I'd ike...). We're all still anxiously awaiting Chaz's return from Colorado, where's he's been since last fall. Hopefully he will be back soon for a little while to experience our (albeit diminishing) spring water. Water levels are extremely low across upstate NY for April and it is a huge bummer. This past weekend we ran our first (and hopefully not last) trip on the Moose of the year. The level was just above four and a half feet. Spring and big water seem to be coming earlier every year and I think we ought to consider booking our first trips of the year on the last weekend of March instead of in April, but I digress.

Anyway, we had a pretty good trip on Saturday, even thought he water was a little low for April. The whitewater was still narly and we all had a pretty good time. The weather was good and sunny and not cold. We had three boats of guests (Alex, Steve B. and myself) and then a 'geek boat' of guide trainees led by Erika. All in all, it was a good trip, no one swam anywhere besides MixMaster (which is always good). I had a group of young guys that all went to college together, they were pretty good paddlers and they were there for a good time so that was fun. They told me they wanted to go big so I took them into the meat at MixMaster and the raft flipepd pretty quickly and violently. Good times! One thing that kind of sucked about the trip was our safety boater Marty's boat cracked at Froth Hole and he was taking on water for the rest of the trip (but better t happen below Froth Hole than further up river like in Tannery or something). The geek boat also provided some entertainment at Miller's Falls with a couple of them swimming. Erika had pretty sweet lines all day and hopefully sh'll be guidng guests down next week (assuming the trip happens).

We had a tasty dinner and afterward I went and got Heather and we headed down to Slicker's to enjoy a coupe of drinks. We met up with my sister Cae and ended up chillin with her and going to Tote's for a little while. All in all, pretty good day... See yo next time!