I am super bummed that this trip is over because I’ve had so much fun! Overall, this trip has been totally different then the Alzar trip in Mexico. I think I’ve improved a whole lot and I’m not nervous being underwater or trying new stuff. What I really liked about this trip was that not only do the instructors teach you how to do things, the students teach too. I’ve also seen myself improve off the water. My leadership skills have grown and changed since A.I.M. (Adventure in Mexico), and I could definitely see my improvement on FLOW. This trip has been so awesome I don’t think there has been a single time when I’ve been bored. I also don’t’ think there was a time where I wasn’t either smiling or laughing. Looking back on the trip, I think it has been so awesome because everyone is so goofy and the rivers have been so different but so awesome too. I’ll definitely miss FLOW and my adventures on Alzar and hope to do other Alzar trips too.
Thanks Kristin, Sean, Katie, and Claudio for making this trip happen- it’s been a BLAST!
Showing posts with label FLOW 2009. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FLOW 2009. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Glob by Connor Madigan
This trip has been a hesh learning experience for me. I have learned how to lead more efficiently, work better with different types of people, but most of all, and perhaps most importantly, I learned how to kayak. I started to get the hang of the fantastic things that is surfing. I also started on the road to mastering my roll, probably the most important maneuver. Kayaking has opened so many doors. Now I can go into bigger stuff, try new moves, surf, and have more confidence in my newfound abilities. I have just started to get the hang of all this new stuff that has been thrown indmy face. I have only begun to be enlightened as to all of the fun that I can have in this new sport.
McLeod's Blog Entry
This trip I have learned that there are a couple of types of people; those who do, those who watch, and those who think. No one person is only in one category, they are a cross of all of them, they just show one trait more prominently than the others. I have also learned to surround myself with people of all kinds so that I can learn from other points of view. But over all, the trip has been awesome.
Blog by Jeffrey Trufant
In this, my blog, there are a myriad of things about which I could write, but one is, by far, more important to me than most of the others. This thing is something that I began to learn before I embarked on my flight across the country to join Alzar. There are six billion people in this world- I only know a handful of them. Each of those people who are not in my handful- just like those who are- have, and create, opportunities for themselves, and unless I mix up my life every so often, the handful of people that I know my never expand and my opportunities may not either. There is a great big world out there- your own world is tiny, and you’ll never get out of it unless you throw yourself out. Give yourself a challenge, you can make it.
Final post by Mychal Hayes
Dear people of the regular world,
This will be my last blog entry of this trip. It saddens me that this trip is over. I have made some good friends that I hope to keep in touch with. My skills have improved on and off the water. My teaching ability and assertiveness has improved a lot since the beginning of this trip. Some of the best times of the trip were driving from the one river to another in the van. Those times were fun because we told a lot of stories and got to know each other. Other great times were after we got off the river and were sitting at the campsite talking. I’m glad I went on this trip and I wish it were longer.
This will be my last blog entry of this trip. It saddens me that this trip is over. I have made some good friends that I hope to keep in touch with. My skills have improved on and off the water. My teaching ability and assertiveness has improved a lot since the beginning of this trip. Some of the best times of the trip were driving from the one river to another in the van. Those times were fun because we told a lot of stories and got to know each other. Other great times were after we got off the river and were sitting at the campsite talking. I’m glad I went on this trip and I wish it were longer.
Last thoughts by Robert Lapeyre
This trip has been amazing from all the beautiful places we have been to the kayaking; it is going to be unforgettable. Going in to this trip I wasn’t sure how I was going to like the whole leadership part, but I soon realized that it was pretty awesome. It was great being able to watch my paddling skills grow throughout the past three weeks. Looking back on the experience these is not anything that I regret. I definitely have a different and better perspective on leadership now that I have gone through F.L.O.W. If I were given the chance to do this again I would definitely do it.
Final Blog Entry, by Zoe Mroz
It’s pretty difficult to describe just how much I’ve learned these past three weeks. Having multiple opportunities throughout the trip to lead the group and learn from my mistakes and others’ mistakes, honing and establishing a larger basis for my own leadership skills, has pretty much cut out my work for the future improvements I’ll make. This trip has only scratched the surface as far as my personal growth as a leader goes, and has paved the way to many opportunities to continue developing myself as a future leader.
Having never kayaked before this trip, my three-week crash course was in-tents (ha- like camping)! My head is still spinning a bit because the sport is so involved. I’m so happy that I learned, though, because it’s incredibly fun. I will admit that I’m still slightly intimidated by whitewater, but I’d probably hop into a kayak anytime and push through a challenging rapid (though I should hope its at my level, of course.) One things for sure- I’ll NEVER look at whitewater the same way again!
Best moments of this trip include learning to roll (even if I don’t get it the first time), getting my sprayskirt on by myself, learning to set up and/or dissemble a tent in 10 minutes or less, being able to see the rural (beautiful) parts of Idaho and Cali and Oregon, scaling a giant wave on the Snake river without flipping, getting airborne on said wave, cooking s’mores by the fire with everyone, having interactive lessons with our awesome instructors, just shredding the gnarr in general, eating lots of new foods, tooth brushing parties, hanging out in Happy Camp, rafting with Pebbles, listening to comedians on my iPod with Ellie in our tent, catching a tiny glimpse of fireworks between pine trees on the 4th of July, and all the O.H.O. time in-between.
I won’t soon forget all the experiences I’ve gained on this trip.
Having never kayaked before this trip, my three-week crash course was in-tents (ha- like camping)! My head is still spinning a bit because the sport is so involved. I’m so happy that I learned, though, because it’s incredibly fun. I will admit that I’m still slightly intimidated by whitewater, but I’d probably hop into a kayak anytime and push through a challenging rapid (though I should hope its at my level, of course.) One things for sure- I’ll NEVER look at whitewater the same way again!
Best moments of this trip include learning to roll (even if I don’t get it the first time), getting my sprayskirt on by myself, learning to set up and/or dissemble a tent in 10 minutes or less, being able to see the rural (beautiful) parts of Idaho and Cali and Oregon, scaling a giant wave on the Snake river without flipping, getting airborne on said wave, cooking s’mores by the fire with everyone, having interactive lessons with our awesome instructors, just shredding the gnarr in general, eating lots of new foods, tooth brushing parties, hanging out in Happy Camp, rafting with Pebbles, listening to comedians on my iPod with Ellie in our tent, catching a tiny glimpse of fireworks between pine trees on the 4th of July, and all the O.H.O. time in-between.
I won’t soon forget all the experiences I’ve gained on this trip.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Zoe's Blog #2
So I'm really excited about tomorrow because it's the 4th of July and we're staying in this phenomenally beautiful campsite, and we've made a really cozy settlement. The views are pretty amazing, so hopefully we'll get a good fireworks show.
Other than tha, I've been eating a lot of fruit/new foods and working a lot on rolling and I have FINALLY got it down. I even managed a combat roll on the Main Fork of the Payette. This was the second time we'd done this stretch but I'm really glad that we did because it is so much fun and accommodating for a beginning/intermediate kayaker like myself.
We have two more nights at this site on the Payette, and then two days on the Snake River. I'm quite excited to see what the leaders-of-the-day have in store for the group. That's always an adventure in itself!
Other than tha, I've been eating a lot of fruit/new foods and working a lot on rolling and I have FINALLY got it down. I even managed a combat roll on the Main Fork of the Payette. This was the second time we'd done this stretch but I'm really glad that we did because it is so much fun and accommodating for a beginning/intermediate kayaker like myself.
We have two more nights at this site on the Payette, and then two days on the Snake River. I'm quite excited to see what the leaders-of-the-day have in store for the group. That's always an adventure in itself!
Mychal's Blog Entry
Dear Citizens of the Regular World:
This trip has been a lot of fun. We started by going to the Klamath River. We ran that for three days, then went to the Cal Salmon and ran a couple of different stretches. We rafted and kayaked, the more experienced boaters paddled Clear Creek as well, which was fun. We also ran the South Fork of the American River, both the upper and lower stretches. There were some big holes and waves! Then, we drove to Reno and played in the whitewater park. We played for about 45 minutes.
After Reno, we drove to Boise and stayed at the Alzar World Headquarters. The next day we drove to the Payette and have been camping on a piece of property on near the South Fork. We've been running different stretches. First we ran the Main, then the Cabarton. On the Cabarton, after kayaking Howard's Plunge Conner, Robert, and I swam it, then jumped off a rock at the end. The next day, Robert, Ellie, Jeffrey, Conner, and I ran the Lower South Fork. Ellie and Robert got out above Staircase, the first larger rapid, and we finished.
This trip has been a lot of fun. We started by going to the Klamath River. We ran that for three days, then went to the Cal Salmon and ran a couple of different stretches. We rafted and kayaked, the more experienced boaters paddled Clear Creek as well, which was fun. We also ran the South Fork of the American River, both the upper and lower stretches. There were some big holes and waves! Then, we drove to Reno and played in the whitewater park. We played for about 45 minutes.
After Reno, we drove to Boise and stayed at the Alzar World Headquarters. The next day we drove to the Payette and have been camping on a piece of property on near the South Fork. We've been running different stretches. First we ran the Main, then the Cabarton. On the Cabarton, after kayaking Howard's Plunge Conner, Robert, and I swam it, then jumped off a rock at the end. The next day, Robert, Ellie, Jeffrey, Conner, and I ran the Lower South Fork. Ellie and Robert got out above Staircase, the first larger rapid, and we finished.
Cali vs. Idaho, by Connor McLeod
The largest difference between the rivers in California and the rivers in Idaho is the volume of the rivers. In California, the rivers are very small in volume, for example take Clear Creek, which was running approximately 400 cfs. It was very small compared to the Mighty Main Payette, about 5,500 cfs. The American River was larger than Clear Creek, but still was only about half of the Payette. Also in California, the rivers are much more technical... take the "Gaping Maw..." some pretty technical moves but there were very few large waves, as on the Payette or the Snake, where there are huge waves but fewer technical movs. But over all, all of the rivers have been awesome in their own special way.
Monday, June 29, 2009
First Impressions, by Conner Madigan
So far we have shredded some hesh moves, crushed the gnar, and eaten a lot of food. We have some great times, and I have learned a massive ton.
1) Eat lots of food
2) Drink lots of water
3) Have patience when combat rolling
4) How to combat roll
5) The value of a shower
6) Lots of other stuff
It has been interesting to go face first into this new fangled sport known as kayaking. Swallowing water, getting accustomed to being upside down, and the concept of plowing into a force of water that is twice your size are things that take some getting used to. While were were taking breaks from shredding or being shredded, depending on your skill level, we have been doing work, coordinating logistics, and planning for future days. The task of planning and leading individual days has been interesting. Wearing the leadership pants requires a lot of things… you have to be able to keep track of everyone, all of the gear, the schedule, and Pebbles. It requires thinking and responsibility. So far the trip has been great and it will be really fun to see how the rest of it shakes out.
1) Eat lots of food
2) Drink lots of water
3) Have patience when combat rolling
4) How to combat roll
5) The value of a shower
6) Lots of other stuff
It has been interesting to go face first into this new fangled sport known as kayaking. Swallowing water, getting accustomed to being upside down, and the concept of plowing into a force of water that is twice your size are things that take some getting used to. While were were taking breaks from shredding or being shredded, depending on your skill level, we have been doing work, coordinating logistics, and planning for future days. The task of planning and leading individual days has been interesting. Wearing the leadership pants requires a lot of things… you have to be able to keep track of everyone, all of the gear, the schedule, and Pebbles. It requires thinking and responsibility. So far the trip has been great and it will be really fun to see how the rest of it shakes out.
Clear Creek, by Robert Lapeyre
So far, in my opinion, there has not been a part of F.L.O.W. that has not been fun. We have paddled almost 10 different river stretches so far and they have all been awesome. With each river being different from the others in many different ways, my personal favorite would be Clear Creek. This creek, one of the most technical stretches we have paddled, was incredible. Between the clear blue, refreshing water and the powerful rapids, it could not have been any more fun.
The first couple days of this trip were sort of relaxing in the sense that we did not have to make any big decisions. That quickly changed when we started having leaders of the day. It is starting to feel like Kristin, Sean, and Katie are campers and it is up to us to decide what we are going to do. Going into my first day of being the leader, I definitely underestimated the difficulty and soon realized Sean and Kristin do not have an easy job!
The first couple days of this trip were sort of relaxing in the sense that we did not have to make any big decisions. That quickly changed when we started having leaders of the day. It is starting to feel like Kristin, Sean, and Katie are campers and it is up to us to decide what we are going to do. Going into my first day of being the leader, I definitely underestimated the difficulty and soon realized Sean and Kristin do not have an easy job!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Quick update- On our way to Reno
Hello! Sorry we haven't gotten too many posts lately... North Cali was pretty wifi remote. But, we just styled the Upper South Fork American today, and are heading to the Reno Whitewater Park, this afternoon. All the students are a lot of fun and are really growing as leaders. They are paddling well, treating each other well, and generally remind us why we run this non profit. Tomorrow we'll be in Boise (briefly) to restock with food, where the students will be making their menus. Then it's up to the Payette for a few days, then the Snake. So far, the river miles are adding up! We'll get more students to post tomorrow, and for those of you that are worried about it... almost all of them found some treasure at the garage sale in Happy Camp. Ellie was the one who ended up with the pink ski jacket, but there were some awesome finds!
More later, Sean
More later, Sean
Saturday, June 27, 2009
"Blast Off"
This trip has been phenominal so far; we have a great group of kids and the rivers are gorgeous and fun. I'm having a great time learning how to do tricks and different types of rolls. Every kid in the group is extremelly talented and has the ability to shar and teach their knowledge to everyone else. Just the other day I went creek boating- the water was so clear I could see all the way to the bottom.
Currently we are in Northern California paddling rivers like the Klamath and teh Cal-Salmon. Bigfoot is a big topic of conversation up here in the woods; today we spent time in a town called Happy Camp which has a huge statue of Bigfoot. There are eleven people total on this trip and everyone is extremely friendly and funny which makes it really hard not to have a good time. The food has been great, and I'm learning a lot, and I'm having so much fun.
P.S. Today I got a rad ski jacket from a yard sale. Its cropped, 3 quarter sleeves, and hot pink!
- Ellie George
Currently we are in Northern California paddling rivers like the Klamath and teh Cal-Salmon. Bigfoot is a big topic of conversation up here in the woods; today we spent time in a town called Happy Camp which has a huge statue of Bigfoot. There are eleven people total on this trip and everyone is extremely friendly and funny which makes it really hard not to have a good time. The food has been great, and I'm learning a lot, and I'm having so much fun.
P.S. Today I got a rad ski jacket from a yard sale. Its cropped, 3 quarter sleeves, and hot pink!
- Ellie George
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Greetings from Boise!
I am excited to have the chance to get to post this first blog of the F.L.O.W. 2009 trip. My name is Katie, and in addition to working this trip, I also serve on the Advisory Committee and went to Mexico this winter with Alzar. I’ve been all over the world the past few years, but most recently have settled in Colorado, teaching and leading trips. Sean, Kristin, and I are also joined by Claudio, the fourth instructor. Claudio is from Chile and leads trips through South America and here in the U.S. He joined Alzar in Chile in 2007. In addition to being a very talented kayaker, Claudio is an enthusiastic leader and instructor, and I’m thrilled to get to work with him these next few weeks.
This week has been full of final preparations for the trip, including solidifying permits, putting together Alzar’s new raft (which we’re very excited to have), going on some scouting paddling trips, and much more. We’re all very excited to have the students arrive today and get the trip started. Tomorrow we’ll head out on our drive to California, where we’ll spend the first half of the trip. After paddling there, we will return to Idaho to paddle here for the remaining time of the trip. Personally, I am very excited about the rivers we’ll be paddling. I love having the chance to return to the scenic and big water of Idaho, but I’ll also be exploring for the first time, like the students, the rivers of northern California, which should be a wonderful experience.
This is Alzar’s fullest trip, with seven students. Coming from around the U.S. and here in Idaho, they bring a dynamic range of personality and talents that collectively will aid in the development of both technical and leadership skills for all. Welcome to Connor, Connor, Michael, Zoe, Jeffrey, Ellie, and Robert! You will have the chance to hear from them throughout the trip, as they document what we’re up to and all of our adventures.
Pebbles (Sean and Kristin’s dog who has been keeping me great company while I write this) has put down her toy and is looking up, as if to encourage me to wrap up so we can wait for the students. She is equally excited for the trip. Until the next posting, I hope you all get outside and enjoy the beautiful summer weather!
This week has been full of final preparations for the trip, including solidifying permits, putting together Alzar’s new raft (which we’re very excited to have), going on some scouting paddling trips, and much more. We’re all very excited to have the students arrive today and get the trip started. Tomorrow we’ll head out on our drive to California, where we’ll spend the first half of the trip. After paddling there, we will return to Idaho to paddle here for the remaining time of the trip. Personally, I am very excited about the rivers we’ll be paddling. I love having the chance to return to the scenic and big water of Idaho, but I’ll also be exploring for the first time, like the students, the rivers of northern California, which should be a wonderful experience.
This is Alzar’s fullest trip, with seven students. Coming from around the U.S. and here in Idaho, they bring a dynamic range of personality and talents that collectively will aid in the development of both technical and leadership skills for all. Welcome to Connor, Connor, Michael, Zoe, Jeffrey, Ellie, and Robert! You will have the chance to hear from them throughout the trip, as they document what we’re up to and all of our adventures.
Pebbles (Sean and Kristin’s dog who has been keeping me great company while I write this) has put down her toy and is looking up, as if to encourage me to wrap up so we can wait for the students. She is equally excited for the trip. Until the next posting, I hope you all get outside and enjoy the beautiful summer weather!
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