DAMS, DESTRUCTION, EARTH'S NEWEST CANYON, AND A SEARCH OF EQUILIBRIUM

Exploratory kayaking is much more than paddling class V whitewater. It's a journey from dream to plan to execution. But there is so much more going on than just another kayak descent when you pay attention to more than just the river along the way. Ben Stookesberry recounts lessons learned from truly fearless friends during two decades in pursuit of untested rivers.

By Ben Stookesberry

"EXPLORATORY KAYAKING IS MUCH MORE THAN PADDLING CLASS V WHITEWATER. IT'S A JOURNEY FROM DREAM TO PLAN TO EXECUTION. BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE GOING ON THAN JUST ANOTHER KAYAK DESCENT WHEN YOU PAY ATTENTION TO MORE THAN JUST THE RIVER ALONG THE WAY. " Crossing into Ecuador from Colombia by bus at the end of 2003, the bus sprang a leak in the diesel line, and the lubricated rear tires sent us into a sideways slide towards a jungle abyss. In slow motion toward certain doom, I had time to think, "Ecuador wouldn't be such a bad place to crash if not for the thousand-foot cliff!" I clenched my eyes shut just as the bus screeched into traction at the last possible minute. On a trip that had…

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Kayak Session (Digital) - 1 Issue, Spring 2021

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