I ran the Grand last May in a 14 foot cataraft, th

I ran the Grand last May in a 14 foot cataraft, the year before that in a 18 foot gear boat, both times on the oars. At Lava the rule was five minutes to scout, then run it. It doesn't get better by giving yourself more time to stare at it and more time to get up close and personal with your fear. No one in our group flipped, either time. We did manage to flip a gear boat in Hance this last time, one of several class eights on the river, and three people had a hellacious swim. There are a couple comparisons I find with what we are doing. I think Steve has us lined up perfectly to miss the ledge hole. Second, we are playing on a grand stage playing for a grand prize. In both cases the prize is transformative -- transformative experience and transformative wealth. No one ever said, and no one has a right, to expect either to be easy. But that is why we are here, poised above the horizon line anticipating our great moment. You've got to love it.