First Descents - Montana Camp #45

Great people, amazing experience, wonderful places - this is how I would describe the first First Descents Camp in Montana.

All we knew before the camps about First Descents was that this is an organization that organizes kayak and rock climbing camps for adults who have survived cancer.

To make it easier for the survivors to leave their "normal" lives behind them during camp, they and all the staff got nicknames during the camp. My nickname for the camp was "Babs" because I was wearing my genie pants and the genie was played by an actress named Barbara Eden in "I dream of Jeannie". Kevin got his name "Raunchy" for the first week because of Rumantsch being the fourth national language in Switzerland. But how they got from Rumantsch to Raunchy is still a mystery to me. 

We were amazed how the week turned out: on Sunday we first meet the staff and all the campers. Sitting around the campfire we got to know each other and I got the feeling that this was the start of a really nice week!

The next day, it turned out that I was right: we went to McDonald Lake in Glacier National Park and spent a beautiful day there. It was great to see all the campers doing their first wet exits - pardon - wet releases and first paddle strokes. But my highlight of the day was playing water polo, everyone had so much fun! I will never forget TBD flipping and being hand of godded still holding the ball in her hands!

McDonald Lake

First group shot

Slash, Pleeza, Franny May, Konvict and I doing the "45"

During the second campfire I already thought that there is something really special going on here in this camp. Everyone was so open to share their experiences and life stories and it was so nice to see the group coming together and making friends.

Captain O showing us how it's done

Good times on the Middle Fork of the Flathead

Wednesday was our alternative craft day and everyone was paddling a death kazoo (or duckie, however you prefer) and in a topo duo with one of the counselors. This was my first time seeing a topo duo boofing a rock! We all had so much fun and a few campers even did the stretch of the river in their own boats - hats off!

The week just flew by and Friday came along sooner than expected - the big graduation day! We paddled the same stretch of river as we did on Wednesday, but this time everyone in their own hardshell kayak. I was probably even more nervous than the campers, but I didn't need to worry - they did such a great job! I loved seeing all the smiles on the river and all the creek lines from the campers :)

And then the big moment came: the graduation rapid! Sitting on the edge of the big eddy and cheering  all the campers was a great moment for me. It showed me how much you can achieve in a week if you totally commit yourself to it. Graduation rapid was about successfully paddling the rapid on your own, but more than that, it was about life, thinking about the week and what you want to take home from the camp.

Snorty styling the graduation rapid

My favorite moment of the week was forming an eddy flower after the graduation rapid, everyone with a huge smile on their face, proud what they just achieved. I really enjoyed this moment and I realized how much this camp gave to me: friendships, great group experiences, a lot of amazing discussions and the feeling of just enjoying the moment.

The camp ended with a great evening with a campfire, a baci ceremony, the candle light ceremony, tears of sadness to say goodbye and tears of joy. A huge thanks to all the staff members and to all the campers for this amazing week!

We didn't leave the camp on Saturday because we were waiting for Raunchy's shortie to arrive at the camp. He didn't want to buy the black one in the shop so he had to order it and the packet didn't arrive in time. So we had to just stay till it arrived...