{"id":8930,"date":"2016-05-06T08:00:57","date_gmt":"2016-05-06T15:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com-2\/?p=8930"},"modified":"2017-06-02T08:03:17","modified_gmt":"2017-06-02T15:03:17","slug":"the-chinese-experience-a-first-descent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2016\/05\/06\/the-chinese-experience-a-first-descent\/","title":{"rendered":"The Chinese Experience: A First Descent"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In August 2015, seven\u00a0children under the age of ten\u00a0and their moms traveled across the globe from their hometowns in China to raft world class whitewater and experience the love we have for our rivers right here in Idaho.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9127\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184848\/China-Paddlers-15_Web.jpg\" alt=\"China Paddlers 15_Web\" width=\"684\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184848\/China-Paddlers-15_Web.jpg 684w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184848\/China-Paddlers-15_Web-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184848\/China-Paddlers-15_Web-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184848\/China-Paddlers-15_Web-50x38.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>In the words of Travis Winn, owner and operator of <a href=\"http:\/\/lastdescents.com\/index.html\">Last Descents River Expeditions<\/a> in China: &#8220;We organized the Idaho trip with the idea that the kids and the families could experience and be inspired by a place where river conservation and river recreation are much more mature. It is easy to just get hopeless in China when confronted with the problems, but visiting the western U.S. can bring a bit of hope. So I think that\u2019s a really important thing for people in the U.S. to appreciate, is just how lucky we are to be in a place where so many of the different values of rivers are appreciated and protected.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9099\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184859\/China-Paddlers-1_Web.jpg\" alt=\"China Paddlers 1_Web\" width=\"684\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184859\/China-Paddlers-1_Web.jpg 684w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184859\/China-Paddlers-1_Web-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184859\/China-Paddlers-1_Web-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184859\/China-Paddlers-1_Web-50x38.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>North Fork Payette | The children from China and their moms spent four days on the Payette. Here the young kayakers are practicing\u00a0on the Cabarton run.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9100\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184858\/China-Paddlers-2_Web-.jpg\" alt=\"China Paddlers 2_Web\" width=\"684\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184858\/China-Paddlers-2_Web-.jpg 684w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184858\/China-Paddlers-2_Web--300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184858\/China-Paddlers-2_Web--400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184858\/China-Paddlers-2_Web--50x38.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Main Salmon River\u00a0| As the trip continued, the paddlers began to relax and become more adventurous on the water.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9101\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184858\/China-Paddlers-3_Web.jpg\" alt=\"China Paddlers 3_Web\" width=\"684\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184858\/China-Paddlers-3_Web.jpg 684w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184858\/China-Paddlers-3_Web-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184858\/China-Paddlers-3_Web-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184858\/China-Paddlers-3_Web-50x38.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Charging a Class III | Canyon&#8217;s guide, Kelli O\u2019Keefe, shows the kids\u00a0how to have a little fun challenging bigger water in the in the big boat.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9102\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184857\/China-Paddlers-4_Web.jpg\" alt=\"China Paddlers 4_Web\" width=\"684\" height=\"437\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184857\/China-Paddlers-4_Web.jpg 684w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184857\/China-Paddlers-4_Web-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184857\/China-Paddlers-4_Web-470x300.jpg 470w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184857\/China-Paddlers-4_Web-50x32.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Night One on the Salmon |\u00a0Devon Barker-Hicks and Travis Winn teach the basics of edge control and the wet exit on the beach.\u00a0Using the terms\u00a0tuck, pop, push as the steps to the wet exit, the instructors\u00a0exaggerated the sounds to go with their\u00a0moves. Travis Winn translated for the group. The students enjoyed working on dry land as they were trying to master the language at the same time.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9103\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184856\/China-Paddlers-5_Web.jpg\" alt=\"China Paddlers 5_Web\" width=\"684\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184856\/China-Paddlers-5_Web.jpg 684w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184856\/China-Paddlers-5_Web-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184856\/China-Paddlers-5_Web-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184856\/China-Paddlers-5_Web-50x38.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Morning Prep | Part of the foundation for this trip was to allow the young Chinese paddlers to witness the love we have in the United States, especially Idaho, for our wild rivers. As part of the practices of &#8220;love it, leave it clean,&#8221; Leave No Trace, and pack-it-in-pack-it-out principals, the group took time each morning to sweep the beach for micro-trash before setting out for the day.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9104\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184855\/China-Paddlers-6_Web.jpg\" alt=\"China Paddlers 6_Web\" width=\"684\" height=\"483\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184855\/China-Paddlers-6_Web.jpg 684w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184855\/China-Paddlers-6_Web-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184855\/China-Paddlers-6_Web-425x300.jpg 425w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184855\/China-Paddlers-6_Web-50x35.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Roll Session | In August of 2015, forest fires swept through the banks and wilderness of the Main Salmon River, threatening existing rafting trips and cancelling others. The kids were lucky enough to finish their trip without incidence, but the burning forest in the background, made\u00a0this kid&#8217;s rolling session with Devon Barker-Hicks that much more memorable.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9105\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184855\/China-Paddlers-7_Web.jpg\" alt=\"China Paddlers 7_Web\" width=\"684\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184855\/China-Paddlers-7_Web.jpg 684w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184855\/China-Paddlers-7_Web-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184855\/China-Paddlers-7_Web-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184855\/China-Paddlers-7_Web-50x38.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Breakfast on the Salmon | Canyons&#8217; guides speciality: made to order breakfasts for all the\u00a0guests.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9106\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184854\/China-Paddlers-8_Web.jpg\" alt=\"China Paddlers 8_Web\" width=\"684\" height=\"481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184854\/China-Paddlers-8_Web.jpg 684w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184854\/China-Paddlers-8_Web-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184854\/China-Paddlers-8_Web-427x300.jpg 427w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184854\/China-Paddlers-8_Web-50x35.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Historical Salmon River\u00a0| One of the kayaker&#8217;s mom poses in front of the\u00a0Reo Wolf homestead on the Salmon River. Reo lived and homeschooled her children along the banks of the river.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9109\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9109\" style=\"width: 684px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9109 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184852\/China-Paddlers-11_Web.jpg\" alt=\"China Paddlers 11_Web\" width=\"684\" height=\"456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184852\/China-Paddlers-11_Web.jpg 684w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184852\/China-Paddlers-11_Web-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184852\/China-Paddlers-11_Web-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184852\/China-Paddlers-11_Web-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9109\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Mike Hicks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Charging the Language Barrier | The instructors\u00a0faced many challenges, including communicating between the paddlers who&#8217;s native language was not English. During the dry land class on the second night on the Salmon, Devon used the acronym PASTA\u2014Position, Angle, Speed, Tilt, Adjust\u2014to teach the kids how to do eddy turns and peel outs.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9107\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184853\/China-Paddlers-9_Web.jpg\" alt=\"China Paddlers 9_Web\" width=\"684\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184853\/China-Paddlers-9_Web.jpg 684w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184853\/China-Paddlers-9_Web-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184853\/China-Paddlers-9_Web-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184853\/China-Paddlers-9_Web-50x38.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Duckys on the Main | To build their paddling skills and confidence on the water, the young kayakers took turns\u00a0throwing tennis balls with the \u201cchuck it.\u201d Whoever reached\u00a0the ball first, tossed the ball next.\u00a0By the end of the trip all of the kids&#8217; confidence on the\u00a0water had grown and everyone was paddling. Even the moms hopped into a ducky\u00a0or two.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9108\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184852\/China-Paddlers-10_Web.jpg\" alt=\"China Paddlers 10_Web\" width=\"684\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184852\/China-Paddlers-10_Web.jpg 684w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184852\/China-Paddlers-10_Web-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184852\/China-Paddlers-10_Web-500x296.jpg 500w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184852\/China-Paddlers-10_Web-50x30.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>River Flair | Everyone in-tune with the river community in Idaho (and elsewhere) are familiar with &#8220;dress-up&#8221; night on the river. Although far less traditional in the growing river communities in China, that didn&#8217;t hold these paddlers back.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9110\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184851\/China-Paddlers-12_Web.jpg\" alt=\"China Paddlers 12_Web\" width=\"684\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184851\/China-Paddlers-12_Web.jpg 684w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184851\/China-Paddlers-12_Web-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184851\/China-Paddlers-12_Web-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184851\/China-Paddlers-12_Web-50x38.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Whiplash on a Smoky Morning |\u00a0At low water, there&#8217;s only a small rapid, but above 35,000 cfs, Whiplash\u00a0is a huge ride with raging eddies and boiling lines on each side of the tongue of the rapid.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9112\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184850\/China-Paddlers-14_Web.jpg\" alt=\"China Paddlers 14_Web\" width=\"684\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184850\/China-Paddlers-14_Web.jpg 684w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184850\/China-Paddlers-14_Web-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184850\/China-Paddlers-14_Web-500x292.jpg 500w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184850\/China-Paddlers-14_Web-50x29.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Final Days\u00a0on the Salmon | As the smoke eased, the moms proudly posed in front of the tents they set up themselves. It\u2019s hard to say who fell in love with the river more, the moms or the kids, but it\u2019s safe to say that they\u2019ll both be\u00a0back.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9111\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184850\/China-Paddlers-13_Web.jpg\" alt=\"China Paddlers 13_Web\" width=\"684\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184850\/China-Paddlers-13_Web.jpg 684w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184850\/China-Paddlers-13_Web-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184850\/China-Paddlers-13_Web-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/31184850\/China-Paddlers-13_Web-50x38.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Smoky Salmon |\u00a0This day the smoke was thick. The Forest Service closed the Main Salmon just after the trip took out due to more forest fires in the area.<\/p>\n<p>This trip,\u00a0as well as the pre-trip speaker series focusing on U.S. wilderness systems, their management, and the benefits and challenges of creating and maintaining those areas, was organized by <em>Last Descents<\/em>, a Chinese-based company owned and run by Travis and Weiyi Winn, (an American and Chinese husband-wife dream team).\u00a0<em>Last Descents<\/em> is a company that operates from a heart fully rooted in sharing rivers both in China and abroad with Chinese, so as to inspire river conservation and preservation in China, a rampantly changing country and one arguably in a bottom tier of environmental consideration for future (and current) generations.<\/p>\n<p>Last Descents and filmmaker, Will Stauffer-Norris released a beautiful film this spring, <em>Salween Spring<\/em>, dedicated to the on-going battle for preserving China&#8217;s free-flowing rivers. Watch the full film <a href=\"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2016\/04\/26\/salween-spring\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a>. And stay tuned for future adventures with Last Descents and the next generation of China&#8217;s activists.<\/p>\n<p><em>Editor&#8217;s Note: All photos courtesy of Will Stauffer-Norris unless otherwise noted.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the words of Travis Winn, owner and operator of Last Descents River Expeditions in China: &#8220;We organized the Idaho trip with the idea that the kids and the families could experience and be inspired by a place where river conservation and river recreation are much more mature. It is easy to just get hopeless in China when confronted with the problems, but visiting the western US can bring a bit of hope. So I think that\u2019s a really important thing for people in the US to appreciate, is just how lucky we are to be in a place where so many of the different values of rivers are appreciated and protected.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9122,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[339],"tags":[38,316,59],"class_list":["post-8930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nrs-culture","tag-camping","tag-rafting","tag-travel","post-grid"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Chinese Experience: A First Descent | Duct Tape Diaries | NRS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In August 2015, seven Chinese children and their moms traveled across the globe to raft world class whitewater in Idaho and witness 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