Where was Heather?

Think back to my recent post about Shoshone Falls.  With that amount of water in mind, you may understand a little why by last night I was having a total panic attack.

On Mother's Day Heather just casually mentioned she was going with a group up to "the Murtaugh" somewhere in Idaho to do some rafting.  My radar said "worry."  My mind said, "she's fine.  She's with people who know what they're doing."  Besides, other than the Snake River, I really couldn't think of any other river that was up in Southern Idaho that could be too dangerous.

Right?

Well, come Saturday, no word from my daughter.  That's okay.  Didn't expect to hear from her then.  But when texts remained unanswered through dinner time on Sunday, I started to feel a little concern.  Finally, I sent a text to her friend Isaac.  Now, Heather's pretty good at losing her phone or not keeping it next to her, but Isaac, on the other hand, always has his phone at his side.  No answer from Isaac.

I was signing off of the computer when I thought I'd just check and see exactly where the Murtaugh is.  Right?
Bad, bad, bad idea.

The Murtaugh is a stretch of the Snake River that extends about thirteen miles with Class III and IV rapids EXCEPT IN SPRING when they can be CLASS V.  And it ends at the Twin Falls which are about a mile above the ones in the picture below.  (Think lots and lots of water!)

So now my worry thermometer is on high as in HIGH!!!! alert.  Finally, I swallow my mother pride and send one more text to my missing child.  And waited.  It's about  midnight by now.  Really, even if she was safe and at home she should be asleep and not hearing the text, right?  I mean, they were supposed to return Saturday night, anyway.

But I send it and then I wait.  I want to cry.  My heart is beating inside my chest.  I scan Twin Falls newspapers for some report about a raft overturning in the river and all the occupants missing.  Thankfully all that's in that news is something about rugby or soccer....  But then, if nobody saw the raft go over....

And then came the beep.  I quote her, "Yes I went.  Learned my lesson.  Won't be rafting  again anytime soon.  Yes everyone survived ... But not for lack of trying not to...."

So I asked her to call, and she did, and we visited for an hour.    She had slept all day and the phone was not charged... typical for my youngest.   Maybe I would have been better off not knowing all the details.  Sunburns, scrapes, hypothermia, survival.  All I can say is I am so grateful she survived.  And grateful that this kid who won't even ride Colossus at Lagoon really isn't into extreme sports.  I am such a helicopter mother.

But I love my kids.  I just wish there was a way to let them have experiences without exposing them to dangerous things...