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July, 2007
Guidelines: Sweet Anticipation
By Scott Phair
Many river runners live for the coveted multi-day river trip. Most, but not all of these trips are found west of the Mississippi. Some of the names like the Colorado, the Green, the Arkansas and the Snake invoke legendary challenges and famous explorers. Other rivers like the San Juan, the Delores, and the Yampa promise warm weather and vistas unavailable anywhere else in the world. What all these trips have in common is the powerful feeling of anticipation.
Ah, anticipation! Have you ever noticed that when a permit for a trip in announced, everyone within earshot is definitely going. I suspect that this is true for many kinds of exciting events and I think I know why. Anticipation. It’s like playing the lottery. You really pay your dollar so that you can dream (anticipate) a future full of fabulous funding. How many conversations start with "If I had a million dollars I’d…"? I know how many. Millions!
Being part of a river trip is a similar experience. For many months (sometimes years for the Colorado River through Grand Canyon), everyone who might go shares their hopes, dreams and preparations for the upcoming event. You talk to people who have done that river before. You communicate via e-mail. You buy books. You look at pictures. Sadly, most people know at some level that money, kids, the real-world jobs, and many other commitments will prohibit their ability to actually go on the trip. But as long as they can maintain a connection, and no one asks for a deposit, they can anticipate all the wondrous possibilities a trip like this offers. And that is a priceless gift.
I am extraordinarily fortunate to have two highly anticipated trips in my immediate future that I will be a part of. The first will be taking place as you read this. We (11 of us including my wife, the River Goddess and my daughter, her first multi-day trip) will spend 14 days on the Tatshenshini River in southwestern Alaska. Old friends, new acquaintances, and several folks I’ve worked with on both the Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers make up the rest of the crew. Methods of preparation seem to be a function of age. All the old folks are working out like hell, trying to ensure that they are physically in top shape. The younger members are reading about the river, enjoying the poetry of the region and examining the gear that will be used extensively in these remote areas. All are in the deep throes of, yup, you guessed it, anticipation.
The second trip is another foray into the Grand Daddy of Them All, the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River, April 20th 2008. My boss has already cleared me for take-off. We are putting together the itinerary, deliberating on such topics as; how much time to spend in Marble Canyon? How many lay-over days? What are the best day-hikes to take? All these questions fall into the category of anticipation. The only certainty for both trips is the identity of the grooverman. That would be me.
As I conclude this latest version of Guidelines, I want to be sure to remind our readers of how lucky we are to be able to enjoy this playground we call Maine. Millions of summer visitors come here each year—and it’s not because they wish to be top billing on the black fly food chain. Biking, hiking, boating, rafting, and bean suppers (all potential extreme endeavors) are part of the culture and draw of our great state. As river guides, it is your job to ensure that we are able to continue this long tradition of tourism by being nice to the clueless, giving accurate directions to the lost and ignoring those who insist on bringing that which they’re trying to escape from with them.
Remember; everyone is a tourist somewhere—like me right now on the Tat. Until next time, "never give up…"
Scott Phair is an educational administrator in Augusta and lives in Manchester, Maine. Visit his website full of interesting river-related links, history and information at http://guest.portaportal.com/guidelines
Email nick [at] noumbrella [dot] com with your questions, comments and concerns.
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