Ryan Stuart, explore's gear editor
Ryan Stuart's tell all blog spot on his gear addiction and life and times as explore magazine's gear editor
An epic and the aftermath
Last night was awful. Despite being physically exhausted, I tossed and turned for hours while my brain replayed an epic afternoon on the river.
Two friends and I went to paddle the upper Browns River, a creeky class 4 run, according to this online guidebook www.bc-ww.com. It's only a seven kilometre run and just a 15 minute drive from my house, so we thought it would take about two hours or so. We left before two and got home around seven cold and tired.
Most of the run is in a canyon with vertical walls, steep gradient and powerful drops. I didn't know it going in but it was definitely at the limit of my paddling ability. We walked a class 5-5+ slot canyon, a long steep 4+-5 section and three slightly easier drops that we would have run except for some misplaced wood. The rest of the run was full on, non-stop 3+ with the odd 4 drop. It was fun, but stressful. The river was so small and shallow there wasn't a moment to relax.
By the time I finally got home I was toast, but the moment my head hit the pillow my mind started replaying each rapid. My heart raced. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get the action and stress out of my mind. I've experienced this before after long hard days in the mountains or on a bike. I think adrenaline takes over blocking my mind from processing the adventure until the adrenaline is all gone and I'm relaxed enough – about the same moment my head hits the pillow. The restless mind is a sure sign I've pushed my limits. I can't wait to do it again.
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