June 11 River Rafting

The annual river rafting trip sponsored by Shoreline Community College is always a popular event – a great deal at just $30 – less that half the regular cost of participation, and with a barbecue lunch included! This year we went in a group of 20: 16 HTC students, 1 regular Shoreline student, 2 friends from the Rock Talk group, and me. We met up with other Shoreline students and staff at the rafting location. The morning in Seattle was cool and cloudy, and it didn’t seem much like a day for water sports, but once we crossed over the Cascade Mountains, Eastern Washington was sunny and warm. Because this spring has been unusually cool and wet, the mountain passes were still white with snow, and the melt-off made the river level twice what it usually was at this time of year. So the rafting ride was fast and furious! We boarded the rubber rafts in groups of 7 or 8. For most of the 3-hour trip we were just floating downstream, but there were 6 rapids in which we had to paddle with all our might – following the guide’s commands – or risk flipping over. All the HTC students made it through okay, but a boat with a different group of Shoreline students crashed into a bridge post, leaving one student slightly injured.
On the way to the rafting location we stopped in Leavenworth’s “Bavarian Village” for an hour of sightseeing. The students enjoyed German sausages and ice cream, and looking at various crafts shops. The architecture, music, and surrounding mountain scenery were reminiscent of “The Sound of Music”.

Neal Colodner (Seattle)