One of the most vivid moments I’ve ever experienced in my kayak was on the Upper Santa Maria during a week-long excursion up the Mexican coastline this past February.  River beds here are lined with travertine rock, a calcium carbonate rock similar to coral that is growing as groundwater leaches calcium, making the water a shade of blue I previously believed only to be present in overly the chlorinated pools seen at posh tropical resorts.  Every blue-eyed girl secretly wishes her eyes are this color of blue.  The river began as a flat, seemingly current-less stretch of water miles and miles long.  Miles and miles and miles long…at least 2 ½ hours of forward strokes and increasing doubts of upcoming gradient.  Luckily, canyon walls steepened and we found ourselves navigating through more technical whitewater.  As we approached the take-out, a 300 ft. set of waterfalls emerged, pouring off the cliffs on river left.  A rainbow perfectly framed the view as the sun’s rays pierced the spray created from the falls crashing into the river below.

            After much deliberation three group members, myself included, decided to attempt a crossing beneath the stampeding falls while the remaining three continued up the hillside to meet our driver.  Not knowing if this was actually possible—

water level too high?... curtain of waterfall too close to right shoreline?...spray/wind too strong to paddle though?—we began to paddle into the stormy abyss.  As we sat in an “eddy” between the first and second falls preparing to push through the thickest and strongest section, I struggled to keep my eyes open against the spray that now felt like a Supersoaker pointed at my face.  I continued paddling strong into the vehement wind to prevent slamming against the rock wall to my right or the floating trees to my left, however, I did not move.  First attempt to cross was unsuccessful, unable to decipher up from down, right from left and forward from backward.  Not willing to settle for defeat, I picked myself up, brushed myself off and paddled harder than ever.  Time began to stretch like the trail gum leaves when stepped on by a shoe, leaving me in a river hurricane.  Yet somehow the winds calmed, the spray subsided and the waves dissipated.  I was looking up at the falls from the other side.  Six miles of flat water to take-out, with a strong head, wind couldn’t even take away my smile.       

            Remember that experiences like this can be yours too with kayak instruction right here in the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania.  Learn from instructors that travel all over the world to kayak and are excited to share this passion with everyone.  Kayak lessons in Pennsylvania are a held in one of the best places here in Ohiopyle with whitewater ranging from gentle Class I to more advanced Class V, allowing you to advance your skill level as a beginner or a more advanced paddler looking to fine tune your skills on more challenging rivers.  Hope to see you on the river and discover the world through the eyes of a kayaker!!!