Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Unplugging from it all

The irony that I am writing this post from my phone on wifi is not lost on me right now.  We live in a constantly connected society that will make you go into withdrawals if you haven't updated your Facebook every six hours.

Our rafting trips have horrible cell reception and at times it seems the only way to reach people is by smoke signals. And guiding these trips we have learned to watch the stages of withdrawal that guests will go through. 

Step one is the look that the guests give during the safety talk where we remind them that all electronic devices need to be put away in dry bags.  Cameras can be stored in easily accessible places  but cannot be guaranteed.  At this point in time some people will smile others will panic.

After the boats shove off we start our way down you see the occasional slap of the pocket checking for the phone.  Or the random twitching of the thumbs to send a status update.  Videos can still be taken of people coming through the rapids but not until we are safely through the rapids ourselves.



If it is just a day trip we finish up and the guests quickly grab their phones and check for the missed texts and up load any pictures they may have taken.  But for those lucky enough to be on a multi-day trip say 4 days they really get the chance to step away.  Dinner on the first night they might take a picture with their phone at camp, showing the beauty.


But the next morning you might see several people wake grab a cup of coffee and just enjoy the sun rise, with no phone or camera.  For several guest we have been asked if we had pictures from their trip.  Especially days 2,3,4 and 5.  Because a lot of people will move away from the lens or the phone screens and just enjoy the moment.  We try and accommodate as best as we can by inviting everyone to share their pictures.  

Now I have never seen Big Foot, the Lochness monster, or an honest politician.  But on several river trips I can say that I have seen the rare teenager actually smile and believe it or not the teenager's eyes do not always roll back with a disgusted look.  Several trips have produced smiles laughs and even hugs with actual gratitude towards their elders by these teenagers.*

When these multi day trips finally come to and end, hugs are given and even tears are shed.  The guests gather their belongings and head back to the real world, while the guides clean and ready the equipment for their next trip.  Some guests have reported that they made it all the way home before even bothering to check their phones.  

Its been proven that unplugging for 4-5 days is healthy, stop by for a multi-day trip and find out.




*results may vary H2O Idaho can not produce the impossible, you might have a better chance seeing a unicorn.