R I V E R a l C h e M Y
ammons: apostle of the river
photo: charlie munsey
tHe class v pHilosopHer
DOuG aMMONs INTERPRETS THE RIVER ExPERIENCE THROUGH PEN AND PADDLE
MONTANA’S DOUG AMMONS has a paddling ré- aren’t interested in reflecting on it. If they were are these gifts free for all who paddle?
sumé that reads like a life list of rivers. Best known reflective, it would create a meditative, even mys- I think there are probably different grades of ex-
for a generation of pushing the boundaries of class tical, approach to experiencing one of the great perience as the stakes get higher, but the gifts are
V expeditionary whitewater, Ammons pioneered powers of the world—but mostly [the experience] there for everybody. Interestingly, in my experi-
first self-supported (with Rob Lesser) and solo de- doesn’t seem to be that deep. ence, most beginners and intermediates are more
scents of the Grand Canyon of the Stikine, as well As far as writing goes, the problem to solve is: aware of the gifts and are better at expressing
as descents of the Yukon’s Alsek River, Alaska’s how does one make these experiences acces- them than are the highly experienced, professional
Susitna and many other seldom-paddled rivers. sible to everybody? Beyond that, how do you in- kayakers. They have a freshness, humbleness and
Also a psychologist and author of The Laugh of fuse the writing with the energy and power felt in excitement that [make them open to] inspiration.
the Water Nymph, Ammons has made another first the river, stated so it infuses any reader with the The only problem is that most people tend to
descent of sorts—whitewater paddling literature.
same inspiration? leave the message on the river, when it’s actually
His newest book, Whitewater Philosophy explores
You write often about the incredible gifts to be
a profound life-encompassing perspective—a les-
the deeper meaning gained from a lifetime of pad-
found paddling whitewater rivers, especially
son that potentially affects everything they do. It’s
dling difficult rivers (available from Water Nymph
up to you to apply [the lesson] in a meaningful way
Press, 2009, dougammons.com).
from your experience on extremely difficult
rivers. is that where the gifts are?
beyond your paddling, or to see that your pad-
One of your overriding intentions is to try
The door is always open to everybody. However,
dling has brought you a gift that is rich beyond
to capture the whitewater experience in
the more intense experiences create more vivid
the river.
words. Why is there a need to articulate this
and dramatic images. They cut deeper and peo- so what are these gifts?
experience and put it into words?
ple seem to find them more interesting. The river gives beauty, danger, risk, excitement and
There is no need to articulate what the experience
I think it is a fallacy that class V will teach you challenge, and we answer with motivation, skills,
means beyond my own desire to understand, and
everything. If it did, there would be a lot of wise control and action. These things are all very com-
my own sense of clarity and inspiration. It’s im-
kayakers out there. But take it from me, the class V pelling [in and of] themselves, but more than that
portant to me as a personal process, but I don’t
dudes are as weird and quirky and as messed up they are doorways [framing] something beyond
presume that it is important to others. The sport
as anybody, and no wiser. themselves. In this sense the river is like a Zen mas-
is action-oriented, even hyper-action-oriented,
To paddle hard whitewater, all it really takes is ter pointing at the moon. We paddlers are the dis-
rather than reflective—so most people get all the
a lot of motivation, physical skill, time in the boat, ciples—some of us are just staring at his finger and
pleasure and understanding they want when they
some aptitude for understanding water and a de- some are aware he is pointing at something greater
get on the water with their friends.
sire to do hard things. It is goal-oriented, which and far beyond us. If you are able to use the aware-
is there something inherent in paddling that leads to trying to capture the goal rather than to ness difficult paddling gives you as a tool in the rest
limits its written interpretation? understand living it. None of these are qualities of your life, especially for understanding yourself,
Yes. For most people, action is the meaning. They that reward you with gifts. It takes a humbler state then that is something worthy of the gift the river
want to be immersed directly in the water; they of mind to recognize gifts. has given. —In conversation with Jeff Jackson.
1 Rapid spring 2010
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