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As we floated in our kayaks in the center of Lake Fairfield on a warm September afternoon, we heard Kelli Talley, Merrie-Woode’s Outdoor Adventure Coordinator and our lead instructor for the weekend, call us to bring our kayaks together to form a circle. “This is the flower of power,” Kelli said. “This weekend we are going to stick together as a tribe, a lady tribe, face our fears, and have fun!” As each member of the group took turns sharing her name, hometown, and years at Merrie-Woode, a bond was immediately established. We all shared a love of whitewater paddling, and now we were back at Camp, where we once spent countless hours on the lake, preparing to reconnect with the thrill of playing in the rapids once again.
Our group of alumnae traveled from homes in New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Boone, NC for the inaugural Alumnae Paddling Clinic during the weekend of September 13-15, 2019. Women in their thirties, forties, and fifties, many of whom had never met, quickly settled into a home-away-from-home in the cabin of Avalon, then headed down to the Boat House to select a boat and gear for the weekend. Once everyone had the correct sizes and labeled helmets with electrical-tape name tags, we were ready to hit the lake to practice strokes and wet exits.
It wasn’t long before this group was laughing like old friends over dinner in Lily Pad. While comparing our experiences as Would-Bes, we realized that while a few things had changed over the years, the memories of flipping pancakes on overnights, doing shake-outs in canoes, and surviving tests on vectors were universal. After dinner, we gathered around the fireplace to talk about our goals and expectations for the weekend. Everyone had a few apprehensions, some were nervous about their ability to roll or paddle confidently in fast water, though overall the group was excited to set out the next morning for the river.
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Following a hearty breakfast spread of eggs, sausage, and potatoes, with plenty of coffee, fruit, and granola, we loaded into the van and set out for the Tuck Gorge. A beautiful sunny day provided the perfect backdrop, and we cruised down the river, stopping to catch eddies and practice S-turns along the way. As we bounced through the big wave trains of Slingshot and Double Drop, confidence increased, and everyone was having a blast! We finished the day just as a rain storm moved in, having a delicious picnic lunch of chicken salad and sweet potato curry wraps on the porch of a neighboring outfitter. A late afternoon trip to Jack the Dipper was, of course, a must-do!
Back at camp that evening, we were treated to a delicious dinner of beef tenderloin, roasted vegetables, and key lime pie. Everyone was having so much fun visiting that we had to cut our evening session a little short to get a good rest for the next day! Holly Pierce Ambler, current CMW Trustee and an instructor in Outdoor Education at Appalachian State University, led a session on the fixed mindset vs. the growth mindset, based on the work of author Carol Dweck. Kelli followed up with the perfect reading, The Beginner’s Mind, an essay from Doug Ammons’ book, Whitewater Philosophy. Ready to apply our growth mindset/beginner’s mind, we easily fell asleep to the croaking of the bull frogs.
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The next morning, we got an early start for our old stomping ground, the Nantahala Outdoor Center. We definitely needed our fleeces and paddling jackets, since the river is still about 60 degrees down in the Gorge, aka the Land of the Noon Day Sun. Bouncing through waves and dodging rafts, we stopped for a quick lunch at the beach by the Surfing Rapid. After a quick scout and wild ride through the Nantahala Falls, we suddenly found ourselves back at the NOC take-out. The weekend had flown by! Everyone had a great day, and though we were tired, the experience rekindled our love for a day on the river paddling with friends. The Paddling Clinic was a great success, and from the talk on the way home, some folks are already planning to sign up for next year. We hope you’ll all consider joining us for our Alumnae Paddling Clinic next year. Save the Date for September 11 – 13, 2020!
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