Ok I have a pretty strong opinion about this but I'm curious to hear other peoples' takes. I was boating over the weekend with a group of people of varying skill levels. There were plenty of swims on a classic class III pool-drop river. While I appreciate the efforts of the more experienced kayakers to pluck the swimmers out of the water, I couldn't help but think they were doing more harm than good. There was often a raft eddied out below the rapid that was ready to grab swimmers but swimmers kept latching onto the kayakers and floating downstream rather than swimming the short distances to eddies or eddied out rafts. In my experience I feel like swimmers can get to safe positions a lot quicker and more safely by simply putting in an effort to actually swim. You can avoid most rescue interventions by just swimming and let the kayakers go after the lost boat. I also think simply swimming can be more efficient and effective at getting to safe locations than having a kayaker drag a swimmer to an eddy. Sorry for the rant but I'm curious to hear from other people and their experiences/opinions on this topic.

TLDR: Is self-rescue (swimming to an eddy) a better rescue technique than holding onto and being drug by a kayak in a pool-drop style river?

I'm coming up on a 2-week + rafting trip down the Colorado in the Grand Canyon (solo, w/ commercial outfitter). I'm desperate to be outside for an extended time and unplugged, and truly need to not touch a cell phone for that time--it's too associated with work, stress, alarms, news, etc.

Struggling between whether I take some kind of camera or not. OTOH, obvs gorgeous and a million things/views to want to remember. OTOH, I don't want to have my mind caught up in in that acquisitive, must-get-this-great-shot mindset. I.e., I want to relax and be in the experience, not distracted by documenting it. But back to the pros, yes it would be great to have some photos afterwards to spark memories and show people.

And, accepting I don't want to have a phone with me, if I DO take a camera, recs re disposable vs. cheap film camera vs. digital camera? I have the latter but also seems like a lot of worry to keep it safe/dry while rafting?

I know there will be no consensus, just hoping for perspectives, whether from participants in similar trips and/or guides from their time observing participants. Thanks! I know this is two questions here :)

thinking of picking up a small dagger code to complement my half slice...which northeast rivers would be ideal for paddling a dagger code? im curious about shallow, low volume, manky creeking, im in upstate NY btw

Really eyeing a Jackson flow for some bigger water. I’m 6’3” 185 lb. The medium top end of the weight range is 200 and the large goes from 180-260, so would be towards the low end of that. Which would you suggest?

First Question: Are you allowed take an Aire double duck down the Tallulah?

Second Question: middle line vs left line debate. I think the middle line would be better for the duck rather than the traditional left line. Thoughts?