Next Year In Corsica!!!

Gotta love the classic European architecture in Southern Switzerland

It’s really hard to believe that a few weeks ago I was certain I was going kayaking in Corsica.  The trip that i have just returned from could not have ended up being further from what I expected.  However, it was an awesome experience just the same.

Enjoying the Whitewater on the Lower Verzasca

In kayaking, things don’t always go as planned.  Sometimes your line on a rapid isn’t quite perfect, sometimes you don’t hit a freestyle trick quite right, and sometimes the water levels aren’t exactly what you want them to be. The latter was definitely the case upon trying to go to Corsica this year.  Two days before my flight was scheduled to take off, finally realizing my dream of getting to paddle in corsica,  I had a skype conversation with my buddy Mike that went a little something like this:

Me: hey, how are things looking for next week in Corsica?

Mike:  not so good, Corsica is really dry, I think they’re gonna cancel the Kayak Session Event.

Me: whoa that really sucks

Mike:  yeah, my plane ticket is transferrable I’m just gonna switch to somewhere else later in the summer.

Me: Mine’s not.  I’m still going to Europe one way or another.

As a full time teacher i don’t get to decide when I take time off, and with a non-transferable plane ticket I was going somewhere no matter what.  Rather than cancel I pulled together the meager resources I had and made a plan for a paddling trip in the Alps.  A small network of friends, some of whom I hadn’t even met yet, came to my aid and helped me salvage the trip.

nice and clean at the end of the Verzasca

It was a crazy two week solo mission that took many unexpected twists and turns.  In the end I realized that April is a little too early for paddling in the Alps.  Although flows were far from ideal, and I inevitably switched gears turning things into a ski trip, it was still an awesome adventure.  I am sure that there is no better way to see this part of Europe than flying by the seat of your pants.

Laying it down on the Oetz River in Austria

I completely committed myself to the mercy of my friends and the weather.  My friends both new and old, were fantastic.  They took such good care of me, I am eternally grateful.  The weather, however was not so cooperative.  Cold temperatures kept the rivers from really flowing, and cloudy weather kept me grounded from skiing in the high mountains for several days.  Good thing there were no shortage of good times to be found partying it up in Austria.

Making turns out of bounds at Lech when things turned cold

The memories of this mission will last forever.  Sleeping in a carpenter’s workshop near St.. Moritz, attending a massive party in an indoor out of commission swimming pool in Austria, and hitch hiking out of the mountains because I missed the bus are experiences that will be just as memorable as the paddling.

Tyrolian lunch on the banks of the Oetz

Making a trip like this happen despite less than than optimal conditions is definitely the less glamorous side of paddling.  However, it is still a part of paddling.  Sometimes when you commit to a trip to a place half-way across the world you just have to roll with the punches and make the best of the siutation.  Looking back I don’t think I would trade this trip for anything.

Beautiful views in Chiavenna, Italy

Florence by night

Even though it didn’t work out this year, I’m not going to give up…Next Year in Corsica!!