MOUNTAIN RIVERS

By now, the river has usually worked its magic. People have shed their workday tensions and settled into the easy rhythm of the trip. The group comes together through the sharing of the excitement of the rapids and the beauty of the canyon. The last night often becomes festive, with skits and awards commemorating trip events and individual personalities. It can also be a reflective time, as we talk of the trip and how we will remember it. The last day is a short one on the river. We hit takeout about noon, where we have a good-bye lunch and get people on the road early. Everyone takes the two hour bus drive as far as McCall, a beautiful mountain town on a lake, where the motel room will seem awfully small after sleeping under the stars on the River of No Return.Those who drive have their cars shuttled to McCall, while those who flew will fly on to Boise late in the afternoon.