THRIVE! with Rachel

By Rachel Kutskill

Water is and will always be on the go, speaking in a way that tells of where it’s been and where it is going. The deep bellows and creaks of glaciers are indicators that even when in block or frozen form, there is always movement, and it is always waiting for us to listen.

As water is constantly finding the path of least resistance, it demonstrates how to go with the flow of life. When obstacles emerge, water will go through, over, around and even physically move the obstacle from its current position. There is no force that water cannot reckon with. To think that we somehow have the power to contain it, enlightens us to the realization of how powerful Mother Nature is and will always be.

As a species, we acknowledge the importance of water and how it allows us and civilizations to thrive. Water is life. It can create life and also take it away. It is soft and smooth at times — still and peaceful — loud and powerful — raging and intense — water is all of these and while it can be briefly contained, that containment doesn’t last forever. Water will win every time. So it is up to us to pause long enough to hear the story, to learn the language, to understand what flowing water has been telling us all along. In order to thrive, we must live among the meandering waterways, letting it teach us, rather than try to change it into what we think it should be.

We find water in our cities, our homes. But when we encounter it in the wild, there is something quite magical about it. There is a draw of the human spirit to the unknown, the sought after, the uncertainty of living day to day, in the moment, without technology to tell us what’s next. “Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread.” — Edward Abbey, Down the River

In the 1800s and 1900s, when modern man geared up for explorations and adventures into the belly of the earth, to ride down moving waterways that carved out paths throughout millions of years, it was for educational purposes, fame and notoriety, and the excitement to travel where few have been before. As we evolved our technology of river crafts, understanding of hydrology, and how to survive for extended periods of time in the wilderness, we were able to bring others to these magical places. These time capsules of civilizations and inhabitants before us. It has taken time and moving water has provided us with many lessons throughout the years.

THRIVE TIP:

To truly navigate moving water, one must learn the language. It is one thing to memorize a specific section, to know how a stick floats through, to watch how someone else navigates the turbulence, but in order to truly understand how to get downriver, one must learn to listen to all that the water is telling us. It moves precisely, with a rhythm and smoothness that you can pick out in even the biggest whitewater. There is a smooth, green tongue pointing you to safe passages, bubble lines that show you fast and slow moving water interacting with each other, sounds that describe what is happening under the surface, where our eyes cannot see, how the water piles up on itself creating waves that may or may not be safe to run. It is there, always telling, if we are willing to listen.

water rapids and 1100 feet below the Royal Gorge Bridge. This section is for those looking to dive deeper into the belly of Mother Nature and try their hand at successfully navigating this higher level difficulty terrain. Experienced guides and outfitters line the river corridor ready and willing to take you through either of these sections of river, showcasing the beauty of granite walls, and the intricacies of navigating moving water by raft. It is truly an incredible experience, one that creates memories for a lifetime.

THRIVE Tip:

Experience a river trip in a way that you are comfortable with. Try a day trip with a local outfitter, seek out a multi-day excursion in a magical place like the Grand Canyon, watch a film or documentary about these exquisite waterways, contemplate setting the rivers free again.

PSJ Happiness Index:3.56/4

• Social Support -3.75/4 Some people have a fear of water, and therefore levels of anxiety or stress may actually heighten during this activity. Please be aware of how water affects you.

• Health - 4/4 Living in the moment during activities can produce higher levels of happiness and excitement of life.

• Freedom - 4/4 There are many outfitters who can take you down rivers that are in civilization as well as remote wilderness locations.

• Generosity -2.5/4 Hiring a river guide or outfitter for any river trip does cost money. If you have the skills to read water and guide a boat, the cost drastically reduces. While these options may not be for everyone, watching and experiencing river documentaries can elicit some of those same emotions, and can be free of charge.

The Pueblo Star Journal (PSJ) Happiness Index will rate our suggestions in terms of:

Social support- Does this help connect us as a community and is it inclusive?

Healthy life expectancy- Does this potentially prolong life to a high standard of living and without harm or risk?

Becoming a river guide is not something that you choose, it chooses you. The enticing draw of the water, the thrill of a successful run, the opportunities to withdraw from the modern world, if even for a few hours, it is all there. We now have the opportunity to navigate moving water, rivers and rapids, for a few hours, or multiple days. Martin Litton, a river guide in the Grand Canyon, company owner of Grand Canyon Dories, but by far a conservationist in the depths of his soul, knew that what river guides do down there changes people. What better way to help conserve our waterways than to show people first hand what is at stake, what would be destroyed.

Freedoms making life choices - Is this free from imposition on others or ourselves?

Generosity - How cost effective is this for others and ourselves?

At 87 years old, Marin Litton ran his dory boat through Lava Falls, one of Grand Canyon’s most notorious rapids, for the last time. “There’s a good dozen rapids down in the Grand Canyon that qualify as true humdingers, and Lava sort of distinguishes itself. This is the place where the Colorado River basically rolls over a set of enormous boulders and basically detonates. There is no guaranteed line through it…” Kevin Fedarko, Martin’s Boat As we say on the river, you either have a clean run, or a good story.

Just as the Grand Canyon offers this opportunity to truly experience what Mother Nature has provided, we have established river outfitters on many other rivers as well. Here in Pueblo, we have the Arkansas River flowing through our town, providing places to swim, boat, surf, and fish. It is a vibrant and ever changing centerpiece to our town and how fortunate that we have the opportunity to appreciate all it does for us. In terms of recreating, if we drive about 45 miles upstream to Cañon City, we find some of the most sought after whitewater rafting in the nation, and even the world.

Commercial guests, as well as private boaters, have two main sections they can run just outside Cañon City. The Parkdale, Bighorn Sheep Canyon is a class IIIII stretch that is suitable for beginners and families, or those who are looking for moderate excitement levels. The Royal Gorge section steps away from Highway 50 into the wilderness, taking river runners through 9 miles of class III-IV white-