Who Knows?

"Who knows what tomorrow will bring

Maybe sunshine, and maybe rain

But as for me I'll wait and see

And maybe it'll bring my love to me

Who knows?

Who knows?"

-Marion Black 1969

It was just another day. An exciting day. 

I did what one would expect of me.

In the morning I accommodated two clients from North Carolina on a three hour canoe tour. It was my first tour at Cane Bayou this year and I was not let down. We encountered numerous turtles, blooming lotus lilies, one osprey and 11 alligators. One even topped in at over 7ft. The highlight of the trip, though, was not getting to Lake Pontchartrain. The highlight was one creature of the wildlife we encountered: a river otter. I had heard rumors of otters on the north shore but I had yet to see one. An animal I frequently encounter in the mountains; I saw here at home, on a backyard adventure. How exciting. I almost didn't believe it.

(I wish I had pictures of the canoeing today, but, alas, I was "working" and did not have my camera.)

The tip my clients had given me ended up being used for a fine lunch of a "Surf and Turff" (fried shrimp and roast beef ) po'boy from Parkway Tavern. In a strange twist of events, during my lunch, I was invited to come aboard the Pineapple Express for an afternoon of sailing. 

Now, I know I talk about outdoor recreation and sing the praises of wilderness all the time, but, if there is one thing I have always wanted to do it has been to get into sailing. Even as a little kid I recall dreaming of owning my own sailing boat and living off it. Not having a house, or a car, just the boat. When hurricanes would come I could sail to a safer harbor or something. It would be cool. The first step though was learning to sail. The number of hobbies in my repritore was too high to accommodate though and that ambition landed on the back burner.

Today I got my first taste, and, hell, it was awesome. 

We met for 5:30pm to participate in the Wednesday Afternoon Regattas on Lake Pontchartrain.

Our Capitain, Guy, and his Hobie. A great leader and a pleasure to serve under.

My friend Molly who got me on the Pineapple Express, and of course, the Monkey Man.

Maybe this is the first step for me.

Maybe my hunger for the water is deeper than I even can begin to understand.

Maybe one day I may have a boat of my own and fulfill a childhood desire. 

Maybe I'll charter a crew and sail to Patagonia and "bring my true love to me"... 

...the mountains. 

-MG

Out Where the West Begins

Monday always breeds daydreams. Today we dream of the West. I hope you can enjoy one of my favorite poems as much as I do.

Out Where the West Begins

Out where the handclasp’s a little stronger,
Out where the smile dwells a little longer,
    That’s where the West begins;
Out where the sun is a little brighter,
Where the snows that fall are a trifle whiter,
Where the bonds of home are a wee bit tighter,
    That’s where the West begins.

Out where the skies are a trifle bluer,
Out where friendship’s a little truer,
    That’s where the West begins;
Out where a fresher breeze is blowing,
Where there’s laughter in every streamlet flowing,
Where there’s more of reaping and less of sowing,
    That’s where the West begins;

Out where the world is in the making,
Where fewer hearts in despair are aching,
    That’s where the West begins;
Where there’s more of singing and less of sighing,
Where there’s more of giving and less of buying,
And a man makes friends without half trying —
    That’s where the West begins.

- Arthur Chapman 1917

Photo of Mike G. at Canyonlands N.P. by Charlsie S.

Operation Darkwater

Mars' orders had been drafted
The cogs of the great machine began to turn
This is the valley where Heroes are grafted
Glory sought, our true character learned.

One of New Orleans prestigious private schools had brought into being a small contingent of the Corps of Discovery.  Many of the finest students from this institution were called into service. Outfitting for the venture began weeks before the mission by many of the new recruits. A call to action was in motion. The Canoe and Trail General Staff was summoned to provide support. Mobilization.

The objective of the operation was simple: Build confidence, show the value of teamwork and leadership while providing challenges through the education of outdoor skills over three days. The chosen site of the engagement was Black Creek, in Desoto National Forest M.S.

March 26th.

-08:00:
Over 50 students comprised this expeditionary force. A few shy of the full 7th grade class. They met for first muster and shuttle to Black Creek.  Byron, Chief of Staff (C.S.), Evelyn and Tom, members of the General staff (G.S.), had arrived at Moodys Landing on  Black Creek. A depot was established complete with  canoes the food and water. Logistics. The General Staff awaited contact with the shuttle.

-12:30:
A minor break in the communications link between the G.S. had resulted in minor confusion but arrival at Moodys Landing occurred on schedule. Lunch was served and the force was divided into four separate Corps. Red corps was to be led by Expedition Commander (E.C)  Bill and took the namesake of the "Red Barrons". White Corps was to be led by Corps Commander (C.C.) Karren . Blue Coprs, led by. Jenn C.C. and Paul C.C.. Camo Corps, led by Jason C.C..

-13:30:
The four Corps were directed to haul their gear and canoes down to the river and began launching canoes

Chief of Staff.

-14:45
All  of the canoes had made it on the water. The Corps had launched individually and at regular intervals  to maintain proper distance in order to navigate over the obstacles they would encounter on their advance.White Corps at to be at the front with Red Corps taking the rear guard.

-16:00
The expedition comes upon an oxbow bend in the creek that affords a large, broad, beach. An order to bivouac is called in by the G.S.

-20:00
After dinner a communication link is achieved between the party and General Headquarters in New Orleans. The information that is gained is less than satisfactory. A large, potentially powerful, storm front is heading in our direction. Impact is forecast for the following evening some time around 19:00.

Decisions in and any expeditionary attempt are rarely decided  by an individual. The course of direction is often decided through debates, combinations and compromises of multiple strategies and the tactics necessary to carry them out. The General Staff, Expedition Leader and Corps Commanders met to discuss the options. The party would Paddle to Janice Landing in the morning, as early as possible. From there Command could decide to stay, paddle on the four more miles to Cypress Landing, order a withdrawal to a safe location to prepare proper defenses or call the shuttle for a full retreat.

March 27th

-07:00
The recruits had awakened early and to a clear morning. Breakfast was being prepared and Blue Corps was given mess duties.

-10:30
Bivouac had been broken and the canoes reloaded. The process of launching began.

-11:45
All boats were on the water pushing for Janice.

-14:00:
All four Corps make it to Janice.
Tired.
 Exhausted.
 Fatigued.

-16:00
After a moment of recovery through time and a meal; the four corps met to haul all the gear from the river. The expedition decided on withdrawal from the creeks front lines and was to head west, just over a mile, to high ground to meet the approaching front.

-18:00
A proper encampment had been set up. Tents were pitched on high ground and a mess hall was prepared under the large pavilion. Dinner quickly led to rest among the recruits in anticipation of the coming front. The encampment became entrenched.

March 28th

-01:00:
Full contact was made with the storm front. The sporadic bursts of resistance sustained earlier in the evening were fully overshadowed. Violent, forceful and dynamic. Many of the recruits were initially shaken by the onset of the event. Once confidence in the defenses had been built, the sense of fear was abated.

-11:00:
 By mid morning the troops had maintained a high degree of morale in the wake of the previous nights engagement and victory without casualty. Joyful, in a state of solidarity, and slightly  drenched the troops awaited departure.The encampment had been broken down and the shuttle to take the expeditionary corps back to G.H.Q. in New Orleans had arrived. The freshly trained troops left the General Staff to complete the clean up of the site and shortly after, the G.S., departed for G.H.Q. also.

No mission is complete without setbacks but we managed to accomplish all of our intended objectives. The new troops of the Corps of Discovery had been sufficiently challenged. The respectable qualities of leadership and teamwork were instilled and the duration of the trip was maintained. One, unintended lesson though was also conveyed to the new troops: The value of Safety and Respect for Mother Nature. It was displayed by all members of command, an intuition for perusing safe operations, and when contact was made, with the violent force that nature can be, a plan and quick response, in the name of safety, had followed through.

-MG

Waters of March

March 7th - 15th: WFA, CPR, and Whitewater Raft Guide School

"And the river bank talks of the waters of March
It's the end of the strain, it's the joy in your heart"

Upon return from my most recent wilderness outings, prior to this trip, I had come home with little emotion surrounding the trip. There were moments in those trips where I felt empowered and called to act but the feelings would not last and carry back into my "normal life". It was the frequency and regularity of my trips. The novelty was gone. The experience became mundane.

It has been a long time since I came back from a trip and felt the way I do now. There are feelings of hope and the promise of something new. The river changed me this time. Her cool waters washed away my anxieties and left me with a clear mind. It meandered through my soul and deposited the sediment of a new perspective. I hope it gains force as it flows, rivulets add to the river and the channel widens. May it run deep and far until it reaches the ocean and a new life.

Outside of the changed state in my psyche I have returned this time as a stronger and more skilled outdoorsman. I had the opportunity to learn basic wilderness medicine and received my Wilderness First Aid training and certification along with CPR and AED certification. This basic medical training has barely whet my appetite for more knowledge and ability.

Following my basic backcountry medical training I was given the opportunity to work with a great group of 42 other students as we were taught the necessary skills of river guiding on an eight man raft. We ran the Nantahala River, French Broad and a few of us took some time in stick on the mighty Ocoee River. All of this was done in the anticipation of a job offer with our instructors at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. We all may not be hired but the team work and community we built together was worth the time and effort.

The nature of this trip has kept me from being able to detail each day as I was invested in gaining an education. Enjoy the pictures and hopefully this is the beginning of my summer of the river.

Endeavor gets her first snow!!

Will, the head instructor and master raft guide decided to stand up paddle a duckie for the Nantahala River fun run...

... He took a good line but couldn't hold it..

And how could I forget a picture of the Monkey Man!

-MG