Slate and East Rivers

Under the threat of foul weather, Bryan, Nina, and I launched the new boat from our new neighborhood - a couple hundred feet from the new house - into the Slate River. It had been spitting sleet and rain alternately with sunny skies all afternoon, but we were going to make it happen. Putting in so close to the new house was mighty cool. The neighbors were bordering on incredulous and wanting to come along.

Other than having to either portage around or duck under a few barbed wire fences, the float was relatively smooth. We did an R3 configuration with Bryan starting out in the stern steering us and Nina and I on either side up forward digging for speed. Bryan got me on the helm despite my being nervous. Several times I wanted to switch back, but Bry made me stay put so I could get some experience under my belt. I loved the adventure of not knowing what was around every turn and the chaos of learning to control the boat in high water.

None of us had navigated the Slate from where we put in until the East River confluence near CB South. The weather held for us and we stayed pretty comfortable - save for having to pee while wearing wet suits. Once we made our way down to the East, Bryan had navigated Tippy canoe to the confluence of the Taylor River where the Gunnison starts, so the intensity eased and we could enjoy watching all the wildlife. Love was in the air and we saw several species of bird getting busy with the spring fever.