Ms. Straighthairedcurly, I have a question for you: When you plummet over a 30-foot waterfall, what is the scariest/most exciting part?

1. The night before, when you're lying in bed and thinking, thinking,, thinking?

2. Studying the approach and talking about it?

3. Approaching the waterfall?

4. Right at the precipice?

6. Falling?

7. Landing?

8. Or some other moment?

Also, another question: What's more daunting, an Arctic River or a waterfall drop?

Yet another question: What's the most beautiful place you've paddled and why?

Final question: The waterfall plungers are doing ever taller and more remote waterfalls for YouTube views and thrill seeking. This scares me. Some of them are dying. How do you feel about this push to ever taller, more remote, and more dangerous waterfalls?

If anyone else has done scary/dangerous things in a canoe or kayak, I'd love to hear you field these questions. The most I've ever done in an open boat is Class III rapids, so I can't answer these questions myself, but I know several of you have paddled in polar bear country and I'd love to hear about your fears or anything else related to those trips.

I don't qualify to answer these questions. Never done anything extreme enough in terms of rapids/waterfalls. I will say, though, that I did shoot a rapid (not sure what class, if any) and somehow got pinned underneath of a heavy, downed tree that came up on me in a hurry immediately following the rapid. It was an extremely terrifying moment (5 seconds, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, a minute - I had no concept of time when this happened). I was fully submerged with my torso bent all the way back and my lungs taking in unwanted water. I can't even say for sure how I got out of the trap. I just know that I lost my kayak paddle and had to do the remainder of the trip without a paddle. I was hurting BAD for several days afterwards.

Mr. 1992, please tell me more: How do you finish a kayak trip without a paddle?

Were there more rapids?

Does that moment stick with you? I think that helplessness would stick with me. Forever.

I ask the last question because a fellow paddler once told me about a time when she was caught in a hydraulic following a drop. She went around and around and inexplicably, as it was for you, it spat her free. She was never the same after that. She still paddled, but never above Class IV. When she told the story, I could see was still rattled.

I’ll share this just for the hey of it. My buddy and I bent a canoe around a rock on the 11 Point River in Arkansas on an Outward Bound adventure in high school. Came in a little too sideways in a spot in a rapids, got lodged against a rock, he fell over, the water rushed in, filled the boat in seconds and crunch, curled like a tin can around a shoe. Never forget that sound. Got my legs out just in time. So there we were standing on a rock in the middle of the rapids, water rushing by on both sides. We had to throw our gear out to the other guys and one thing I’ll never forget is I threw my boots into the water and as soon as they left my hand I was like, No!, sunk to the bottom never to be seen or worn again. Had to go 3 to a canoe for the last day or two left on the trip. I was told the canoe was salvaged with a power boat and bent back into shape, tho I can’t imagine that was possible. I would do it all over again, tho this time I would go left, like every one else did, not up the middle, but we were usually leading the pack so thats the way it went. That was a great trip overall, lots of other stories I could tell.

I didn't have to think about the waterfall the night before, because I had no idea I was going to do. I had figured I would just portage around it when we got there. However, when I saw it I started asking questions of some the people on the trip who had run it before. As we scouted and discussed the line you needed to take and the procedures to follow with the paddle so you don't hit yourself in the face and with the boat angle so you don't land flat and compress your spine, I felt an overwhelming sense of "I can do this! I have the skills needed."

I studied the entry features very carefully and used the same visualization techniques I used for whitewater slalom races. I thought through every paddle stroke, how to stand on my foot braces as I went over the edge, how I would have to stuff the kayak paddle shaft under the bottom lip of my PFD to prevent it from slamming me in the face or getting ripped from my hands.

The most nerve wrecking part was approaching the edge because you can't see where you are going to land and I worried about being lined up correctly. The most exciting part is standing vertically on the way down when you know you have hit the correct angle and are in control of the boat. Then the sensation of the boat diving deep into the cushion of aerated water at the bottom, being slightly disoriented about whether you are going to pop to the surface upright or flipped over and wondering how long it will take to resurface. When I popped back to the surface still upright it was awesome! I had a perfect run and was the only one that day that came back up in the upright position. As I clambered out on shore, one of the veteran guys said, "I didn't think about it before, but you are the first woman to run this falls." Bonus, but glad he didn't tell me before.

The waterfall was by far more daunting...I felt like I had less control and was all on my own. My first Hudson Bay trip was with a group and a guide. Though the trip I later guided was probably one of the most emotionally and mentally challenging things I have ever done (for reasons outlined in my trip report about it)...but I wasn't nervous beforehand.

The most beautiful place I have paddled...hmm, tough one. Three places stand out in my mind.
1) The Cross River in Manitoba with a cascading waterfall and white pelicans fishing the rapids below. White pelicans are my spirit bird.
2) Kopka River - the puddle below the iconic waterfalls has cliffs that are painted in all colors of lichen. Those cliffs tucked back in a little cove with the waterfall visible around the corner just struck me as incredibly beautiful. And I had the joy of visiting there a second time with my dad and my mom just a few years before my mom died at way too young of an age.
3) Stretches of the Attawapiskat River where the stone bottom of the river is almost as smooth as a sidewalk and the 12 " deep water is running fast and smooth over it. No need to even take a stroke, just watch the miles fly by and enjoy the scenery.

In terms of your final question: I think humans can push to amazing limits. I can not speak to whether or not specific people who die doing those feats died because they reached the limits of what a human can do or whether they simply did not have the skills it takes or whether bad luck played a part. I never considered myself an extreme boater and was always careful to measure my skill against the task rather than let my ego dictate my choices. But I had a kayaking friend (actually one of the friends who talked me through how to run the waterfall) who had luck run out on him one day. He flipped over in a hydraulic on a river and had a heart attack, may he rest in peace. Wasn't a lack of skill, just happened to be the moment.

DRob1992, getting swept under a downed tree or an undercut rock has always been one of my greatest fears. Glad you made it out! We used to paddle section 4 of the Wolf River in WI by hand paddling. It definitely uses a different set of muscles.

scat, glad you escaped unharmed from the wrapped canoe. I have never had the displeasure of doing that, but have helped a number of people who have. Gives you great respect for the incredible power of water.

Yes, no question the power of water in a roaring rapids is incredible. I did do a 10’ plunge off a waterfall in a canoe on the Flambeau River on another high school trip, called Little Falls. Actually did it twice cuz another guy chickened out. Which I guess sometimes can make you feel you can do anything, being young and all and full of beans. Bending the boat around that rock might have been a reality check, tho not really, I would do Little Falls and run those rapids again tomorrow. Don’t know your story shc, how high were your falls.

missmolly: Final question: The waterfall plungers are doing ever taller and more remote waterfalls for YouTube views and thrill seeking. This scares me. Some of them are dying. How do you feel about this push to ever taller, more remote, and more dangerous waterfalls?"

A new sport in the Darwin Olympics has been announced haha

missmolly: "Mr. 1992, please tell me more: How do you finish a kayak trip without a paddle?


Were there more rapids?


Does that moment stick with you? I think that helplessness would stick with me. Forever.


I ask the last question because a fellow paddler once told me about a time when she was caught in a hydraulic following a drop. She went around and around and inexplicably, as it was for you, it spat her free. She was never the same after that. She still paddled, but never above Class IV. When she told the story, I could see was still rattled. "

This happened in a typically harmless creek. Honestly, what I went over may have just barely qualified as a rapid. It definitely didn't look dangerous. I think it was just a freak incident. As for finishing the trip without a paddle, I just used my hands as paddles. Most of the creek was fairly shallow and my hands were sufficient enough. And yes, missmolly, that incident absolutely sticks with me big time. It was a huge ego check for me. It showed me that even the most innocent-appearing parts of Mother Nature can pose serious threats.

Straighthairedcurly, that experience was humbling because I never had a fear of downed trees prior to that day. I simply had never considered the risk. My youth and optimism made me more confident than I had any right being.

Thank you, Ms. Curly, for your generous, detailed reply. I've read it three times and will read it again tomorrow.

You've led such a rich life. I'm hoping you won't mind if I ask a few more questions.

I'm grateful to read about others' challenging moments. Great yarns!

Ms. Curly, I'm glad you remember so vividly. Your descriptions of the three most beautiful places you've been gave me glorious glimpses of each. I'm grateful that those places are distant and daunting. Otherwise, someone would build a McDonald's or lodge by each, and sidewalks and railings.

I had no idea that you'd stand on your foot braces, exercise some control on the fall, or even hope to bob to the surface upright. Amazing all. I also didn't consider the importance of paddle placement.

I feel a little like Chris Farley interviewing Jeff Daniels as I chat with you.

The adventurer Jon Turk's perspective on risk taking and surviving is different than yours. He said that it's largely luck, that he's adventured with people more skilled than he was and they died. I agree with you, that one should take all possible precautions, and I agree with Jon, that you can do that and be the most skilled and still be the one who doesn't survive.

I'm going to restrict myself to one, final question. Maya Angelou wrote a children's book titled, "Life doesn't frighten Me." After having paddled in places that would scare most people off, does life not frighten you? Do you carry a confidence with you far from those rivers and waterfalls?

missmolly, that interview is an absolute gem! I've never seen it before and I enjoyed it immensely. Thanks for sharing!

In answer to the questions that have popped up:

The waterfall was 30 feet. High enough to compress a couple vertebrae in a paddler in the past who landed wrong.

I do think luck is part of high risk, I just watched The Alpinist movie, and while skill was definitely present, ultimately luck played a big part. But I have always viewed risk from the perspective of you control as much as you can by being prepared and learning the skills you need. That just lowers the need for luck to always go your way.

"Do I carry a confidence with me far from those rivers and waterfalls?"
I think my experiences have definitely given me a confidence in life that has allowed me to continue to grab onto new experiences with less fear. It started early and built steadily step by step with guidance from wise and caring people. I have left good jobs to seek new challenges. I have returned to old jobs wiser and more confident from my varied experiences. I have jumped into new roles and challenges throughout my life and have tried to live it with few regrets. But I also think those experiences have made me more able to realize when I need help and ask for it. And I am thankful for the people in my life that have allowed me to be me...parents, siblings, spouse, friends, son, etc.

DRob1992: "missmolly, that interview is an absolute gem! I've never seen it before and I enjoyed it immensely. Thanks for sharing!"

I'm so happy it made you happy! Chris Farley would bear any and all indignities to make us laugh.

missmolly: "

DRob1992: "missmolly, that interview is an absolute gem! I've never seen it before and I enjoyed it immensely. Thanks for sharing!"

I'm so happy it made you happy! Chris Farley would bear any and all indignities to make us laugh. "

I remember back in high school, our assistant basketball coach took our post players into a classroom after suffering our first loss late in the season. He showed us Chris Farley's 'I live in a van down by the river' skit (too lazy right now to look up the actual video title). I honestly can't remember his purpose for showing us the video, besides for some good laughs and morale-boosting.. Anyways, I was enjoying a drink years later and I was hit by a sudden realization: I was living in a small RV down by the river. Laughed my ass off because I swore after seeing that video that I'd never live in a van down by the river. Ironic part is that our time spent living in our RV down by the river happened to be some of the happiest months of my entire life.

DRob1992: "

missmolly: "

DRob1992: "missmolly, that interview is an absolute gem! I've never seen it before and I enjoyed it immensely. Thanks for sharing!"

I'm so happy it made you happy! Chris Farley would bear any and all indignities to make us laugh. "

I remember back in high school, our assistant basketball coach took our post players into a classroom after suffering our first loss late in the season. He showed us Chris Farley's 'I live in a van down by the river' skit (too lazy right now to look up the actual video title). I honestly can't remember his purpose for showing us the video, besides for some good laughs and morale-boosting.. Anyways, I was enjoying a drink years later and I was hit by a sudden realization: I was living in a small RV down by the river. Laughed my ass off because I swore after seeing that video that I'd never live in a van down by the river. Ironic part is that our time spent living in our RV down by the river happened to be some of the happiest months of my entire life."

The simple life can deliver a wealth of riches, huh?

When Chris hit that coffee table, I wanted to spit up every glass of milk I'd ever drunk.

Ms. Curly, I find it fascinating that your knife's edge youth didn't curse you with swagger, but endowed you with humility. Am I right about that?

I suggest this epitaph for your gravestone: "Whew! Whadda ride!"