While complaining about my knee keeping me from anything that would allow me to enjoy an endorphin high (climbing, biking, hiking), Jake Ostlind pointed out to me that kayaking is a sport that doesn't necessarily need knees. I always forget watersports are a thing. As soon as Jake finished his pitch gears were spinning in my head. Maybe kayaking would keep me strong until I could get back on the rocks! Also, heartrate.

It didn't take much from there until I had a tiny plastic boat strapped on the top of my car and I was driving out past Kelly to Slide Lake.


The kayak I borrowed threw me through the ringer Saturday. I spent more time going in circles and taking on water than I did making real progress forward. My camera got soaked, and only just recovered enough to take this photo as I drove back out towards Jackson Hole.
The Tetons, as seen coming back from Slide Lake

So, when I needed to take a naked picture of myself (as one will, when one has just finished kayaking, removed one's wet clothes, and discovered one is a dashingly handsome man in secluded Wyoming nature), I had to use my cellphone. Its timer function eluded me at the beginning,  leaving me with a series of closeups of an unshaved (albeit attractive) long-haired hippy on my phone.

However, I eventually figured out what I was up to, and found myself with a series of zeroes and ones on my cell phone which represent something I'm rather certain I could sell for the cash monies, but which I shall graciously share with you without more self-flattery.

I'm smiling because I'm not wearing any pants
I'm smiling because I'm not wearing any pants

Yes, that photo is tastefully (and non-job-terminatingly) cropped.

Once I found some pants, I laid around on the wharf and played guitar for an hour or so, alone on a lake in with the Gros Ventre topography.



Sunday's kayaking session went much, much better. I had figured out that kayaking around on a lake in a short little kayak was not a job just for the shoulders. Instead, my thighs, my core, and I-kid-you-not, my ass all had to work together with my shoulders, arms, and back to keep me properly on course.

That understanding let me do a full loop around Slide Lake, and better yet, I got to do it without soaking my camera and myself.


Now it's a few hours later, and my arms are suddenly feeling quite fatigued.