Stef 2023
There are so many great memories from my first Dumoine trip, but there is one story I will keep telling (to people who have probably already heard it and are tired of it).
We were midway through our trip and Jacob made fresh donuts for breakfast. Like, 100% from scratch, making and rising the yeast dough that morning. I hadn't realized what was missing from my life until the moment I ate that glazed donut still warm from deep-frying, two days from anything civilized and the rapids just above our site providing the setting.
A group across the river was gathering after their portage, breaking out of the forest just where the whitewater became runnable in open canoes again. As the group of young teenagers started downriver, one or two canoes capsized. I raced to one of our boats and paddled out to the pool below the rapids where the river had deposited the paddlers and their belongings, to see if I could provide any assistance. Everyone was fine and gear accounted for. Safely at the riverbank, I asked the group if they cared to join us for freshly-made donuts. The enthusiasm of the leader's "Oh my god! Yes!" more than made up for the insecure silence of the 13 or 14 year-olds in their care.
As the young campers arrived at our camp and tried the donuts, their shy nervousness gave way to smiles and laughter and expressions of disbelief that such a wonder could be had so far backcountry. It was so rewarding to be able to provide such a great experience to them, knowing they would go home telling their families stories not just of the river but of the incredible donuts they had with the super-cool old guys.
Likewise, as we reflected later, our group agreed it was absolutely one of the highlights of our trip.
As an aside, we were blown away by the capability of the trip leaders. The two 20ish-year-old women hauled the canoes and the bulk of the shared gear across the portage, enough for their entire fleet of eight or nine boats for a seven-day trip. I was very impressed by them, if a little less proud of our own accomplishments as 40ish-year-old men. I should also mention the group leaders reciprocated, paddling over to us to share some of their candy with us as we passed their group further downriver. What a great paddling community!
