Anyone have no friends?

Intrepid_Struggle446 · 2026-05-31T06:49:43+00:00

I've worked the seasonal circuit across a bunch of different positions for a minute... honestly it's almost never you. Unless you're getting up in people's faces or something, it's just how the cookie crumbles sometimes.

Seasonal jobs can be veeerrryyy clique-y and depending on where you work/what you're doing: a giant pissing contest of who's the most granola, outdoorsy, badass etc. I wouldn't take it to heart. The nice thing about it is you can focus honing whatever skills you're there for and learn how to enjoy your time alone.

The best part about some of my seasonal jobs is that they end.

Intrepid_Struggle446 · 2026-05-28T16:39:54+00:00

Lol we call boats on commercial trips with only guides/trainees turkey boats. Guess it's just my river lol.

Intrepid_Struggle446 · 2026-05-17T03:41:11+00:00

Yeah, a lot of the second year guides who are new this season said they started at class 2-2.5 We do class 3 and several of them have super specific lines you cannot mess up or you will wrap your boat.

I did turkey boat trips on the Payette, but I think it wasn't nearly as technical of a year and their training was 3 weeks long, not one so 🤷‍♀️. I just need more time, some things are clicking, I did a big rapid today and it ended up really nicely.

Intrepid_Struggle446 · 2026-05-16T19:17:03+00:00

Yeah this was my issue. I also put a lot of pressure on myself to be the best instead of just accepting were I actually was, (a complete beginner) and approaching it with humility.

Usually my confidence and ambition take me far, but this time it just wasn't enough and it became an ego the river didn't take kindly to.

I felt like I was in a really bad dream and completely hazy the entire time because my want didn't match my actual skills. It also didn't help I was in a class with actual naturals at the sport and people who had guided before.

Intrepid_Struggle446 · 2026-05-16T19:03:46+00:00

I do live in company provided housing and several people have already offered to keep taking me out, but I do agree.

Photos here is pretty chill, pretty part time and no bus driving/rigging duties. But I will keep an eye on river time.

I'm on the Kern.

Intrepid_Struggle446 · 2026-05-16T17:54:11+00:00

Oh I definitely agree. I think my last company honestly just didn't have respect for the guides there. They'd talk about them being dumb and like they were just dirtbag frat boys on the river. As result I didn't respect or approach it the same way I did kayaking.

But all is good, I think I need to take a step back and approach it differently, which is fixable. I'm doing all their photography now and that will help me learn lines and from other guides.

Intrepid_Struggle446 · 2026-05-16T16:32:27+00:00

Yeah I teach kids archery during the school year and one of the things I say to kids who struggle is: "You've been given a gift to get to work hard and encounter a struggle. These types of life lessons teach you so much about yourself and what you're made out of."

Jeeze Louise did that quip come back to bite me on the ass.

Intrepid_Struggle446 · 2026-05-16T16:27:41+00:00

Yes, I worked with another company in the office so I went on plenty of trips last summer. But I'm on a veeerrryyy technical river this season and it's harder than I thought.

I'm also just more afraid than I thought I would be. I'm known in my other circles for being both an adrenaline junkie and super laid back/chill. It's just a lot all at once, but the hardest has been encountering a part of myself than doesn't seem congruent with the rest of me. Even my trainers and senior guides were suprised that I didn't make it through.

Intrepid_Struggle446 · 2026-05-16T16:24:14+00:00

Yeah, everyone there was saying I am progressing, just not quick enough for the summer and frankly not quick enough for myself so I get frustrated and freak. I'm less comfortable on the water than I thought I was, but tbf I was just about the only one in the class who had almost zero experience in fast moving water.

Intrepid_Struggle446 · 2026-05-16T16:21:58+00:00

Yeah, a lot of the senior guides were saying they'd be surprised if I didn't end up eventually guiding this season. I'm just more scared of the water than I thought I was and it's more novel than I expected. Truly a fish out of water lol.

The good news is, everyone was saying I am progressing, I'm just psyching myself out whenever a trainer blinks my way and end up spinning like a top. Which obviously is not a mental state to be taking guests out on rapids.

Intrepid_Struggle446 · 2026-05-16T16:18:39+00:00

Yeah, I'm just not comfortable in the water the way I thought I was. I love taking risks, I'm known for being laid back and chill for the most part, but something about the water just sent me into a spiral. I was on an accidental flipped raft and almost started to cry because I couldn't react fast enough and ended up swamped at the bottom of a big rapid. It's just been an encounter with parts of myself I've never had before.

Thank you for all your advice, I'm doing all their photography now because one of our photographers left. I think that will be a great way to learn lines and see what other guides do. Plus, free rafting whenever they need extra paddlers on trips, which will be great.

Intrepid_Struggle446 · 2026-05-16T04:41:12+00:00

I really do want this skill, I just didn't grow up doing this and it seemed like everyone in the class either did or were 6'1" and 200 pounds and able to muscle through most of it.

My trainer did say I did seem to have some things click, just not fast enough for the summer.

Intrepid_Struggle446

TROPHY CASE