Jason & Cat

Cat and I decided to get away for the weekend and do a little camping.  Mostly Cat was tired of me complaining about working so much and me saying I never having any "me time" so she took pity on me we were off to Ohiopyle, PA.  What's in Ohiopyle you must be asking.  Well there is this great kayaking/rafting river called the Youghiogheny.   We had been out there two years ago and absolutely loved it. 

We left Saturday morning and drove the five hours.  We arrived in Ohiopyle around 3 PM and decided to go check out this natural waterslide area.  The place was packed with people sliding themselves down the rocks.  It was actually kind of funny to watch people because as they slid down they would grimace each time their tail bone smacked the rocks.   Either we've become older and more wise, or maybe just more of wimpy, but we decided not to join in the fun.

After taking some pictures we headed off to our campsite at the Ohiopyle State Park campground.  Our campsite was perfect.  It was at the very end of one of the cul-de-sac roads and was for the most part very quit and serene.  While Cat set up the tent (yeah she rocks), I went off to buy some firewood from one of the locals (got a killer deal on two bushels of wood).  When I got back we broke out our new portable grill and had some awesome sausages.  Although the sausages were good, we were most excited about our grill's fine performance as our last one totally sucked. 

Later on we planned on roasting marshmallows and having smores.  Unfortunately the killer deal that I got the wood was in fact one sucky deal as the wood was fairly wet.  We tried everything to get the fire started but had no luck.  As an eagle scout I felt like a complete failure.  Although Cat told me it wasn't my fault, I couldn't believe I let her down.  With nothing left to do we retired to the tent where Cat read and I played PSP. 

Back to our amazing campground.  It wasn't so amazing at 6:30 in the morning when our neighbors decided to break camp.  Seriously who thinks it's appropriate to be making noise that early in the morning?  After spending a few hours at camp, we headed off to take me to the river.

I hadn't paddled in two years so I was pretty nervous about jumping in the boat again.  At the launch I played in some flat water and practiced my roll.  Fortunately it's like riding a bike and it came back fairly easily.  So I was off.  I made it to the first rapid section and got a little cocky and decided to try to "boof" off a rock.  Essentially the rock was a fairly large poor over which formed a "sticky" hole behind the rock.  Because I didn't have enough momentum, my boat was pushed back up river and got sucked into the hole.  I made the cardinal sin and leaned up river which consequently took the edge of the boat and flipped me upside down.  I waited patiently to get pushed down river so I could roll up but my boat didn't move.  I tried rolling but the poor over was keeping the boat pinned against the rock.  With nothing else to do I ejected from the boat.  After grabbing my boat and making sure I had my paddle I swam for a rock where I could attempt to drain the boat.  After at least two minutes of fighting the river and a full boat I was able to get on the rock and dump out all of the water. 

With that phenomenal start to the day, I was off again.  Before the first major rapid I hooked up with a group of paddlers.  Ironically, I had paddled with a few of them the previously time.  The first major rapid is Cucumber rapid.  It's pretty straight forward...paddle between the big rock on the left and avoid the hole on the right.  I lined up and punched through the first rapid.  Everything was going as planned and then the boat flipped.  Knowing there was nothing down stream; I waited patiently, set up my paddle and rolled up.  Good thing as I did not want to swim again.

I paddled with the group for another 40 minutes or so but one of them was meeting up at the "loop take-out" so she could nurse her 7 week old baby.  Rather than waiting I continued down river and hooked up with another group of boaters.  They were very cool and as it turns out live not to far from us in NJ.  They actually were part of the NY Kayak/Canoe Club which I'm now going to join.

There's one really sketchy rapid section on the river called Dimple rock.  Essentially what happens is the river current gets pushed up against a big rock forming a pillow of water.  The biggest hazard to this rock is that underneath, the rock is under cut and the river can sweep you under where you get pinned and drown to death.  Because of my stellar start to the day I chose to portage the rapid and walk my boat around it.  Although probably the best decision, I still felt like a wimp for not going for it......it was Sunday though and I was afraid God would curse me down to Dimple HELL.

Cat picked me up at the take-out and we headed off to one of our favorite restaurants in Ohiopyle.  However, this time the food was horrible and we left disappointed.  After dinner, Cat and I headed off to the general store where we purchased a bottle of lighter fluid and a fire started log.  We were not going to be beaten by the wet wood. 

On Monday, Cat and I rented a two-person inflatable ducky and paddled a tamer section of the river.  It was fabulous weather and we had a great time.  Although there were a few times when we went around in circles rather than going straight, we made it without her throwing me in the water.  The only downside of the day was that I got completely sunburned on my lower legs and ankles.  Even two days latter, I can barely walk without crying out in pain....Cat thinks I'm a big baby.

On the last day of our trip I paddled again.  Before launching I asked a group of boaters if I could paddle with them.  As it turns out they were from Michigan and we got to talk about all of my great memories of living in Michigan.  I was paddling well and hitting all the right lines  so I decided to run the Dimple rapids.  Right before I was up there was a guided trip in a raft.  As they were paddling they got turned sideways and went into dimple rock at a very bad angle.  The boat got pinned up against the rock and the guides on top of the rock were trying to push the raft off when all of a sudden it flipped towards the rock and ejecting all the rafters between the rock and the raft.  Everyone on the scene was freaking out making sure that everyone was pushed clear of the rock. Fortunately there were no injuries and everyone was fine.  But me, now I'm freaked out by the carnage that I just saw.  I had already committed myself to the line and there was no turning back.  I hit the first rapid and then hit the eddy to the right of Dimple rock.  Now safely away from the rock I was relieved and lined up to finish the wave train.  I must say it was perfectly executed.

The trip was just what I needed.  Working in NYC is fun and exciting, but I think there's something to be said about getting away from the madness.  In fact I'm trying to convince Cat to let me quit my job next summer and so we can spend the whole time in Ohiopyle.  I'll work on my photography and Cat can finish her book.....it will be perfect.  Then again we're hoping to have a kid by next summer so my plan may get smooshed.

Although we had a great time,  it's nice to get home to my two puppies.