For my Ultra-specific New Year's Resolution for 2010, I decided one one that I had already achieved: "I Resolve to float the King's River from Marble to Marshall's Ford with some new paddling friends." I knew Painter Bob already but I didn't meet Rodger, Nik, Bea, and Archie till I arrived at the Kings River Store in Marble this morning. We waited a few minutes to see who else might show (We missed you, Eric.
Hope your back gets to feeling better.) and then set shuttle. The temperature was above freezing by the time we put in for 11 miles of the most enjoyable paddling I've ever experienced. The river was absolutely beautiful with huge overhanging bluffs and sand bars situated perfectly for enjoying them. The water was clear and the level perfect.Other than two low-water bridges and a nasty undercut at the second tall bluff, there weren't any hazards to speak of. That didn't stop Roger from pinning across a channel between a tree and some shallow rocks, though. While he was extricating himself, Bob decided to park his canoe alongside the same tree and hold himself there with his free arm as the current rushed underneath him. Rodger was still struggling to un-stick himself after several seconds so Bob thought he'd stretch his legs and rinse out the inside of his boat while he waited for the traffic to clear. Hey, if your hair didn't get wet, you didn't swim! Archie's hair did get wet but lab tests have proven that schnauzer undercoat insulates ten times better than 200-weight Polartec fleece. He was fine.
Nik and Bea brought interesting conversation, figs, and some seriously good venison jerky which they were quick to share. They could both thread the needle with their long touring kayaks, too. Between them and Rodger, they turned me on to at least 1000 miles of trails (and bushwhacks between trails) that I absolutely must hike before the end of the weekend.
While still a skeptic, this section of the Kings River is one of the best arguments for Intelligent Design that I have ever heard. If you haven't been on it yet, "waste a perfect whitewater day" and float this beautiful Class I creek the next time it rains. You'll be glad you did! As for me, I'm just happy to have my Ultra-specific New Year's Resolution out of the way so I can start banging away at that Generalized Resolution. Now that's the good stuff!
More photos here or in higher resolution here.
ok,so i did my part in taking the NEWYEARS polar swim 
... and ARCHIE SAID.." HEY,you told me to STAY in the canoe!! not jump out of it! ......looking ahead to the next one.. 
