I greeted the Tuolumne for the first time at Turlock State Park at Sunset. The last orange hues of the day glowed on this little river pushing at its bank, swirling through the Willows, slightly muddied by its high spring water levels. Little did I know about the frothy Wild and Scenic Whitewater section above, the long paddle across Don Pedro Reservoir, the incredible wildlife, or the vastness of the 100 mile paddle through the Delta.
Over the next 3 weeks I would gain an intimate appreciation for this watershed, the wonderful people who came out to paddle, and the amazing work TRT does to vocalize the rivers needs.
From it's infancy to it's rebirth at the sea, traveling down an entire river creates a unique perspective that imprints in ones soul just how precious a resource it is, and how much it has been changed and influenced by man. Watching a river absorb the effects of human disdain may be disheartening to some, but the most inspirational finding for me about the Tuolumne, like so many other watersheds that have had their challenges, is that it is actually a symbol of hope.
It is a symbol of hope that even after being diverted and levied, dammed, and trashed there is a river teeming with wildlife, ready and waiting to flourish within its banks once more. Salmon, Beaver, Herons, Egrets, Hawks all hovering on the outskirts of an opportunity to make a little piece of heaven their home.
And that inspiration can carry one across the longest stretches of water, through wind and rain, through 12hour paddling days, and right onto the doorstep of a future filled with a vibrant and healthy watershed for all.
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