I love whitewater. I haven't found a better way to let go of all the stuff that

  doesn't count and just have fun. Plus you meet so many weird people.

  This is me in Pillow Rock Rapid on the Gauley River in West Virginia, doing

  the big "splat" move.

  About as happy as a clam after paddling the Bridge to Bridge section of the

  Futaleufu in Patagonia. The Futa is the most beautiful place I've ever been.

  It's also endangered because there is not enough aluminum in the world. If you

  care about that sort of thing, you can contact Futafriends to find out what you

  can do to help.

  There's a kayak in there! This is my friend Steve Rebley practicing his roll at

  the bottom of Mundaka rapid on the Futaleufu. This is about the biggest wave

  I have ever failed to paddle around. A German guy we paddled with says,

  "The thing you have to understand about Mundaka, is it will all be over soon."

  Want to try this? New England Outdoor Center offers rafting trips

  and kayak instruction on three beautiful rivers in Maine. Or if you're

  closer to West Virginia, North American River Runners can show you a safe,

  wild time on the New or Gauley Rivers.