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I had been hearing for weeks that the next step for me should be to run the Cheat Narrows. Although I wasn't so sure, everyone else seemed to feel that I could handle this run. I was to get my chance this weekend. Because one of the tubes in my Tomcat had sprung a leak the week before, I was faced with making the run in my hard boat. I had spent most of the season in the Tomcat and was still extremely uncomfortable in the Kaituna. Although I spent the week trying to mentally prepare myself for this run, I was constantly praying that the new tube would arrive in time to save me. Well, of course, it didn't. Saturday morning arrived and we were off to meet Zeth. I spent the entire ride down obsessing about Calamity, Wind and Rocking Horse. I managed to completely freak myself out and decided that I was not ready to attempt this run in the Kaituna. Instead, I followed Bruce and Zeth down the entire length of the run getting some great pictures and video clips. Check out the pictures and video clips on Bruce's Cheat page. Even from the shore Calamity posed a threat when I just barely avoided a confrontation with a nasty looking snake while climbing over the rocks and boulders to get a good shot of the guys running the rapid. Because I had let my fear take over, I gave up a great day of paddling and my first Narrows run would have to wait for another weekend...or so I thought! While heading toward Ohiopyle for a night of camping we ran in to Dave and Melissa. They wanted to paddle the Narrows the following day. Since we didn't really have any set plans, Bruce quickly agreed. He then explained my Tomcat dilemma and asked Dave if I could paddle his blue duck. So there you have it. Within minutes I went from avoiding my first brush with the Narrows to having to prepare myself and try to overcome my fear. The only question was - Could I do it or would I chicken out once again? We turned around and headed back towards the Cheat where we spent the night relaxing around the campfire at Teeter's Campground.
Morning arrived and I was a nervous wreck. Although I had paddled almost every weekend the past two months the Narrows would be a step up from anything I had previously run and I seriously had doubts about my ability to make it down this section of river. Because I knew that both Bruce and Dave felt that I could do it and that Dave was going out of his way to help me by bringing the blue duck and a paddle for me, I didn't want to let them down. So, I did my best to get my nerves under control and once Dave and Melissa arrived, we were off to the take-out to set shuttle.
I spent some time at the put-in paddling around to get the feel of the Hyside and trying to ignore the killer butterflies in my stomach. Everyone tried to calm me down by letting me know that the Hyside was very forgiving and that it would help get me through everything on this run. It didn't really work. Even though it was the easier section, I don't remember much about the first half of the run because my fear took over and all I could think of was getting down the river. Visions of Calamity, Wind and Rocking Horse from the previous day were playing over and over in my head. We stopped for a break before Calamity. We talked about the rapid and decided that I would follow Dave and Melissa. We were going to start out left and work our way right staying far right of Calamity Rock. That plan didn't quite work out. Dave went first and had a great line as usual. Melissa followed went next with me following a little too close behind. Unfortunately she didn't get right quick enough and went sideways into the rock and flipped immediately. I saw her flip and frantically tried not to hit into her. I managed to avoid her but also went onto the rock. Because I leaned into the rock, I didn't flip but ended up going over the ledge to the left of Calamity Rock backwards! I had always been told not to go left of the rock but fortunately this side has cleared itself out and I made it through unscathed and was actually shot right into the eddy with the others safe and sound.
We rested here while Melissa and I regained our composure and then we were off to face the next challenge - Wind Rapid. With memories of Calamity still fresh in my head and the fear taking hold once again, I followed Dave and Melissa through this one too. This time making sure there was more space between us. Next up was Rocking Horse. This time I followed Bruce and of course he eddied out above the big hole. I hate doing this but know that I need to practice this because I won't be able to straight shot everything. With the fear pumping through me, I just sat there in the eddy freaking myself out about having to peel out and ferry across to avoid the hole. I finally got up the nerve to do so and managed to pull it off better than I thought I could. I really need to work on my confidence. The only real challenge that remained was a creeky section before the take-out. I followed Bruce down the left getting hung up and turned around once but managing to get straight and back in control and made it to the take-out without further incident.
Although I made quite a few mistakes and spent most of the run struggling against my fear and lack of self-confidence, I was ecstatic. I had made it through one of my hardest runs to date without swimming. A feat I had only accomplished a handful of times this year.
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