Safe Adrenaline?

With one day left on my fishing license, I wake up debating should I be fishing or sticking to my thoughts of rafting? The kayak school also has a little cafe, so it makes the perfect early morning coffee stop to start my day. The folks making the drinks don't know much about the water, but the guy out front loading some touring boats onto a truck does. He's an avid kayaker and has done some packrafting, and has run every part of the six mile. He's a great source of info, but he's an accomplished boater from what I can ascertain. Either that or that's just the persona he wants me to believe. He either wears or sells it well- I'm convinced enough to think what he says is approachable may indeed be more challenging. The run I was eyeballing is "roughly class 4" and a "hell of a lot of fun". While this excited the boater in me, it concerns the realistic part of me that knows I'd be doing it alone. I've got to admit, I enjoy taking risks when I've got some amount of layering behind it all. Its hard to have real risk without real danger, but I'm more apt to push that boundary with a friend... especially after my clear creek class 4+ bushwhack.

I also learn from my new friend that a very accessible run that can be hiked for one leg of the shuttle is the "between canyon" run. which is tamer water linking two of the class 4-ish sections. I ultimately opt for this, albeit a little hesitantly. I know its the safe choice, but it reminds me of the quote- "A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for".

The short run is not challenging, class 2 water, and is completed quickly. "Any time on the water is a good time," I remind myself as I hike the few miles back up the road to my van. With much of the day left to use, I'm tempted to head back to the kayak place and just say "what else ya got?"

I'm just finding myself in that spot with my paddling that in order to excite/challenge myself I'm going to need to pursue some bigger water with legitimate danger. Doing that alone just isn't a great plan if alternatives are available. So in order to have a truly satisfying time in my packraft, at least as far as white water is concerned, I'm going to have to bring a friend. There seems to be a few forces pointing my thoughts toward sharing my adventures with others these days.

As I drive onward toward Denali, I see quite a few cars loaded with short whitwater kayaks or raft frames or full on boat trailers with two fully rigged rafts stacked on the back. At one pull of I see two people in full face helmets and dry suits shouldering drybag backpacks I can only assume contain their packrafts. I'm missing some good water, I'm sure of it. Feeling a little like I'm missing out, a little general loneliness, and a little excitement for Denali, I press on.

I find a great little spot by a river, not too far south of the park to call camp. I roll out all my damp river gear and inflate the boat again to dry and enjoy my dinner by the river, reading my book.