23 stitches. That’s how many were needed to patch up one of our oarsmen and solo boat trip members before we even left the launch, and coincidentally the same number of years of marriage my wife and I were celebrating.

He slipped getting out of his truck and onto the trailer, and his left shin paid the price, kicking our Wilderness First Aid plan into action. With the help of a National Park Service ranger, we evacuated him to Craig’s emergency room. These are the moments that remind you why you train, prepare, and adapt when needed. So we punted.

Well past 10:00 a.m., our launch finally happened at 4:30 p.m. after a terrible night of mosquitoes. Yes, a full-body bug net would have been a great idea.

The sand and cart system, with a little help from WD-40 on the rollers, was certainly better than hauling rafts and gear, but it was not the easiest process. Great experiences like these often come with a few hardships.

Our first night at Wade & Curtis turned out to be a great decision. It was a wonderful evening and an opportunity to regroup and talk about the next day, which would be a long travel day with significant rapids on the way to Rippling Brook II.

We read and ran everything but scouted Hell’s Half Mile. At approximately 2,000 cfs, the river pushed me right and away from Lucifer, but close enough to earn its reputation. We camped at Rippling Brook II, knowing we had time to play, paddle SUPs, enjoy a casual morning, and continue toward Limestone.

Not the camp I originally chose, but that’s how it ended up.

At 10:45 a.m., a commercial trip pulled into Rippling Brook II and announced, “This is our site tonight,” immediately beginning to unload and set up tables. One of the guides moved toward our groover location when I asked them to wait, as we had the site until noon.

It was not what we expected, and even the commercial trip clients seemed surprised. The outfitter has since responded to my feedback request. The right thing to do would have been to pull in downstream, leave the unloading until we departed, and graciously share this beautiful canyon.

Limestone proved to be a decent camp, though it created a long day to Island Park in the direct sun. Fortunately, the rapids along the way were fun read-and-run opportunities.

A red fox made off with a bag of peanuts left out overnight, and we spotted the beginning of the Dollar Ridge Fire directly to the west. We used the refuse containers at Rainbow Park and met several day users there. Thank you to the National Park Service for maintaining and protecting our public lands.

The takeout at Split Mountain provided excellent stand-up paddleboarding opportunities and a relaxing way to wrap up the trip.

Wildlife viewing was outstanding throughout the journey. We saw mule deer, bighorn sheep, a moose above Rainbow Park, raptors, beaver, and, of course, plenty of mosquitoes. The launch at Gates of Lodore was by far the worst for bugs.

FYI: No fires or fire pans were allowed during the trip. A complete fire ban was in effect, and propane fuel was the only approved option.

If you have the opportunity, this is a river trip and experience that deserves a place on your bucket list.