Day 30

14 September 2014

            Our thirtieth day of ECOEE dawned as most mornings in Canada dawn, cloudy and just a very little, teeny, tiny bit on the chilly side. We were not phased as we strapped on our headlamps and illuminated our patch of the world before the sun could stir itself. This business is old hat by now.

            So old hat by now that we, to borrow a phrase I've heard in the past, "put our brains in our back pockets." Our attitude toward the river has become complacent. We ran a rapid without scouting it, and Jeff let us know how unacceptable that was once camp was pitched at Thunder Falls.

            This was a fitting day for this particular lesson. Mistakes are made often in this world, and the consequences are big and long lasting out here. Today we saw two ripped up canoes--one at the bottom of "The Graveyard," and the other floating only a hundred yards or so from where I am now.

            Our campsite tonight is a reminder of what could be. A destroyed boat keeping its vigil in the eddie below the falls, and an array of clothes left to dry by their owner--an owner who is nowhere to be found.

            There are lessons to be taken away from here. We are not, no matter how much we may feel it, any more special than others on this river. We've seen bits and pieces of lives on this trip. The items on our beach, for example. Their owner is probably as happy-go-lucky as we are--and look what happened to his day. I do not want us to have a day like that. We must remain vigilant for any impending accidents, and stop them.

            Our days are consistently overcast and cloudy, but they're still the brightest that I've seen in a long while because of our expedition members' personalities. Losing one of you would permanently darken the rest of our days. So keep a weather eye out for yourself.

            Also, who built this Alps tent? I mean, what person actually sat down and thought that walls at a forty-five degree angle were a good idea? And vestibule zippers that go so far out at such extreme angles? This tent is less than well-thought out. And thank goodness I am not claustrophobic because it is not a four person tent with four man-sized men in it. I can't even lay on my sleeping pad without my shoulder touching Greg's. I'll be writing them a letter, to be sure.

                                                                                                            Most Respectfully,

                                                                                                            Anthony Killion