Shelbi Day carries a raft to the river
By Shelbi Day, Whitewater Rafting Enthusiast
For years, whitewater rafting has been one of my favorite hobbies. During a recent trip to visit friends in Seattle, I had the opportunity to raft the Wenatchee River – a beautiful river in the North Cascades.
The rafting trip started as a casual suggestion by my friend the day before I arrived in Seattle. Because she knows of my love for whitewater rafting and the outdoors, she was not surprised when I jumped at the opportunity to explore a new river. Our decision proved well placed – as we had a wonderful day of adventure on the river.
Our early morning car ride through the North Cascades was breathtaking. I was taken aback by the beauty of the mountains and forest as my friend drove through the winding mountain roads that led to the river. I have not spent much time in the Pacific Northwest, and found myself amazed by the beauty and serenity of all that I was seeing and learning as we drove.
When we arrived at the river, I was amazed by the beauty of the river. Having rafted several rivers in the past and working last summer as a white water river guide in North Carolina, I was not sure what to expect. But, our half-day trip on a class III section of the river was a blast. During a conversation with our river guide, I was surprised to learn that the North Cascades have nearly twenty commercially raftable rivers – a dream for people like me who love rafting and outdoor adventure.
The afternoon on the river was full of laughter and adventure as we crashed through the waves and rapids. In my mind, these kinds of experiences – sharing adventure and the beauty of the outdoors with good friends – is good medicine for the soul and what it is really all about.
