Pillow Rock

It is Gauley season everyone.  Who is excited??  Nothing like a drop of 700 feet over 28 miles while thousands of gallons are being pumped into the river.  It makes for a breathtaking, scared out of your mind, nothing but prayer kind of day.  Once again I'm facing the unmerciful river. The river as a whole is invigorating and exciting the rapids are large but so is the adrenaline except for one.  If you recall the last time I did the Upper Gauley during the season I was faced with my possible death at Pillow Rock.  As I looked around and realized I was still in the rapid in the boat yet everyone else in my boat was in the river I turned to my guide for comfort.  Yet when I turned around to make sure she was still there I saw something I never want to see again.  My guide covered in blood, TONS of blood.  She had been cracked in the nose with an oar when someone got thrown.  Now while my guide was okay, the nose just bleeds a lot, I made a promise to God that if he got me off the river I never would go back.  

Back I went though.  To other rivers, to different parts of rivers, but never to the Upper Gauley during Gauley season.  Yet this year I face my fear in honor of my dear friend's birthday.  I asked Stacy why she didn't want to pick an activity in which all of her friends could make it out alive?  She laughed.  I am still pondering this serious question though.   

So Pillow Rock here I come.  I pray that you are more forgiving than last time, and I pray that after all is said and done I've lived to tell of your challenging terrain and hard to navigate waters.  So that maybe in 15 years when another friends hits a milestone birthday I can be in the same position of questioning why I'm getting on the Gauley again.