River Rules

I've been spending more than a little time in the West these days. It's an amazing landscape and the ultimate playground for those who love being in the wilderness. But this brand of nature can be rugged —and even turn deadly in a heartbeat. I've come to appreciate its power and beauty.

Last weekend, I floated on a raft down the Colorado River for the first time. My boyfriend, Greg,  and a gang of our friends packed lots of snacks and beer and prepared for a fun afternoon. All were veterans on the river, except me. 

 
As we prepped for the excursion, the weather turned out to be a little different than we anticipated. Gusting headwinds blew in and made conditions challenging. But my companions assessed the situation, made a few adjustments, and forged ahead with our planned "float."  

Feeling the wind whip up the canyon, I was grateful to climb into a large raft commandeered by two of my new friends, Emily and Lauren, who are professional environmentalists and river guides. As Emily began to row against the wind, I eyed the turbulent water warily. "What do I need to know?" I asked. "What are the rules of the river?" 

Emily and Lauren laughed and then provided me with the four River Rules they've learned in their collective years of experience as water-women. 

River Rule #1: Always stay with your boat/watercraft.
On the river, your vessel carries you from point A to point B. To abandon it prematurely can cause you —and other people — a lot of harm. There are submerged rocks and debris in the rapidly moving water. It might seem like a good idea to jump in and swim, but that craft is going to keep floating. Pretty soon you'll literally “be up a creek without a paddle.” Oh, just in case you do tumble out, never take off your personal floatation device (aka life vest) while in moving water. 

River Rule #2: Keep up with your stuff.
When you're in a boat, and need your paddle or a carabiner or a rope or a beer, it's really helpful to know right where it is and how to lay your hands on it quickly. Sometimes you don't have a lot of time to scramble around and find that thing that's going to keep you from capsizing. 

Also, allowing your stuff to get underfoot can trip you up — or send other people toppling. A raft doesn't have a lot of floorspace to begin with, so allowing your beer cans or provisions to roll about on the floor can cause all sorts of havoc. 

River Rule #3: Don't be an asshole. 
Being an asshole on the river might include, but is not exclusive to the following actions: throwing trash in the water or violating nature in any way; being loud and obnoxious; creating big waves or a wake that could adversely impact smaller, more vulnerable vessels; enacting any behavior that compromises someone else's safety, well-being or enjoyment of nature. 

River Rule #4: Always pay attention.
Yes, you're there to have fun and enjoy the beauty of nature, but being on moving water requires vigilance about whatever lies ahead. The river is unpredictable. There's a fine balance between remaining in the moment, truly appreciating nature's beauty, and anticipating what's coming up around the bend. The river demands that you hold both presence and vigilance in equal esteem. 

No matter how many times you've been on the water, it's never exactly the same river twice. Hazards can come at you without warning, so paying attention —even while you're partying and having a great time — is essential. Rocks, debris, flotsam and jetsam of all varieties can appear quickly. Other boaters and their stuff (see Rule 2) may create unanticipated issues as well. If you become too distracted by someone else's crap, you can lose your balance —or your way — in an instant. 

At first, I thought my friends were simply imparting etiquette about how to behave on this wild and often unpredictable force of Nature. But then it hit me: These are rules that apply to all of life. 

Life Rule #1. Stay with your boat. 
Ego might tell me that I'm strong enough to make it through life without a Higher Power, without a vessel to protect me from unseen hazards, but that's foolish to believe I can exist without Universal assistance. There have been many times when I jumped out of my metaphoric boat and was too foolhardy to ask for help. I didn't drown, but I was carried off by currents that didn't serve others or me very well. 

The good news is this: If I realize I need that vessel, I might just find it waiting for me in a tranquil eddy. I've had to swallow my pride (and set aside my Ego) more than once and admit that I was in over my head and needed a hand. And there have been times when I've been washed up on shore, seemingly abandoned —only to discover that I was exactly where I needed to be in order to (eventually) move forward. 

Life Rule # 2:  Keep up with your stuff.
In life, my stuff has often gotten in my way, tripped me up, kept me from meaningful purpose. On this journey, I'm learning to leave what isn't necessary on the shore. I want to carry only the essentials necessary to sustain me and others. And I need to keep those things in check. I don't need to allow my misdeeds to roll around underfoot. My experiences in life shouldn't create an obstacle course for other people either. My actions are mine to own and (hopefully) learn from and use to become a better human being.

Life Rule #3: Don't be an asshole. 
This one seems obvious and I hope doesn't need any explanation, but just in case it isn't clear, here goes: Avoid any action that's selfish, dishonest, self-centered, inconsiderate, or harmful in anyway to
others, to nature, or to yourself.

Life Rule # 4. Always pay attention.
Thich Nhat Hahn, Eckhart Tolle and many other other esteemed gurus write about the importance of remaining in the moment and taking life as it comes. Life requires the same balance of presence and anticipation as required when floating a river. It can be difficult to allow events to unfold with appreciation and knowledge that shit can and will happen and you have to keep going. 

Just like floating down the Colorado River on raft, life involves going with the flow. You can anticipate the rapids, but you will never be able to manage or control them. The best you can do on the river and in life is to be conscious of the hazards, prepare yourself for the inevitable, and keep moving forward. And of course, it's always a good idea to stop every now for a cold beer and a snack to makes the journey that much more enjoyable.

PS: Need help planning your own adventure in the southwest? Check out my friend Emily's awesome Southwest Jeep Adventures for trip planning services or camper Jeep rentals!