We started the day by discussing the previous night’s homework, which was to read the river travel instructions. When Mr. Rushin asked “What is the meaning of C-O-G, COG? and P-O-C, POC?” our participants enthusiastically and correctly replied, “center of gravity” and “points of contact”. This information would be very helpful later in the day. We then weighed everyone’s food bags for the overnight trip. The ideal weight for our trip is 8-10 lbs, but we had a range from 4 to 15 lbs (for some, it was very clear that they overpacked their food because of the containers basically spilling out of their bags). It may seem troubling, but it will be a great learning experience for all of us as we work to improve our food choices.
After joking about those who had too little and too much food, we went to Eno River State Park to do a 4-mile hike. We also got a chance to practice our river travel skills, as seen in the picture. Now all of us understand the importance of having a low COG and more than 1 POC, since no one wants to face plant into a pile of slimy algae (or worse, get swept away by roaring rapids).
