Klamath 2004

I just returned from, as Grant called it, a "special" trip down the Klamath River. The trip really had it all...laughter, tears, no privacy when using the bathroom...here is my story.

I would have to say that the drive there, the first night of camping and really the first morning before put-in was quite possibly the worst 24 hours of my life. We did not arrive at put-in in Happy Camp, CA until 2:45 a.m. on Friday night. Since it was so late (or early, depending on how you want to look at it) we did not set up tents. Instead we slept on the ground. I for one was really excited about this part of the trip seeing as it was freaking freezing outside and the rocky ground was my mattress. Brittaney and Ryan however, slept inside the warmth and protection of their Xterra. No bitterness here. Luckily, I was so tired that falling asleep was not a problem. I just had several layers of clothes on, a beanie pulled down over my face and a mummy bag wrapped 17 times around my body...but really, it was great. And just when you thought it could not get any worse...it does (yay!) I think it was 14 degrees when we woke up on Saturday morning. Yeah that sounds about right, give or take. (This is the point of the story where the tears that I mentioned earlier work their way in.)

Although this was a very low point in the trip for me, it proved to be the only one. Even thought I did freeze my ass off for several hours that morning, the fog burnt off, the sky turned blue and the trip was awesome from then until take-out. The Klamath is one of the most beautiful places I have traveled. I saw a deer, several frogs and even two bald eagles (a very cool experience).

I learned so much on this trip as well...like how to squat and pee without taking my pants completely off...or that I actully like to sleep in a mummy bag...that "back paddle" is my favorite of all the paddles...always beware of dogs jumping out of the boat...and my favorite lesson is, of course, to always breathe in the trough! (Erica!)

So many memories were made that I will never forget and I am so lucky to have friends like Brittaney and Ryan to take Grant and I on adventures like this one.

Thank you Brittaney for your wonderful organization skills and for being sensitive to Grant's fiber needs.
Thank you Ryan for changing the "left turn, left side back" command to "left turn, Heather back!"
Thank you Julie for the PBR.
Thank you Kyla for driving us and more importantly, staying awake!
Thank you Erica for being the only one who fell in the river.
Thank you Werner and Ayla for not barking at night.
And finally thank you groover...for taking away all the feelings of privacy I once held about all my bathroom habits and for sharing the bathroom habits of others with me as well.

Goodbye Klamath...see you next year!