Mary’s letter July 2010

There is nothing quite like the rush of a class III or IV rapid on the horizon (except a class V, which I am not yet ready for!)

My father, Leo McFarland, was raised in Cascade and graduated from Cascade High School in the early 50’s but had never been on the Payette River. A few years ago mom and I decided to change that. Dad was on the downturn of chemo and we knew this would be his last opportunity. We booked a trip with a local raft company and hit the South Fork of the Payette.  The guides explained the terms of rafting, sucked up our vests and we launched our raft into the cool water of the beautiful Payette River.

Dad was in pretty good shape, although a bit weak as you can imagine. It was a beautiful, hot, July day. Mom and I had rafted plenty of times and were anxious to enjoy the day. I don’t know that Dad knew what he was in for. We started out calmly meandering down the river, hit some mellow rapids, ‘right three, left two’ our guide would say as he sat on the back of the raft, calmly directing us down river. Mom and I knew our favorite rapid, Bronco Billy was coming up and we got more serious as it approached. Grips tightened on our paddles, feet pressed hard against the bottom of the raft as we braced ourselves and away we went! The tone of the guide changed from less of a tour guide to more of a drill sergeant. “DIG, left, left, left, dig, dig, dig.”

POP!

Up in the air went Leo. Before we knew what happened Dad was air bound then gone! It seemed like forever, but in reality must have been ten seconds before he re-appeared from under the raft. He had ridden the entire rapid under the raft! Fellow rafters grabbed him by the life jacket and hurled him back in the boat. (The need to suck up the life jacket was now quite obvious.) Dad had blood on his face and hands but otherwise fine. Now, he had seen the Payette!

As the rest of the trip wore on we laughed so hard we cried, talking about the fear and thrill. As the river mellowed, we took the opportunity to roll off the back of the raft and enjoy the cool water.

The guide was none to happy to be the last one to know about Dad’s weakened state of health. Riding the Payette was on Dad’s bucket list and we wouldn’t have missed it for the world. When we got home we had a tee shirt made for him that read “Payette River Swim Team.” Dad wore that shirt and those wounds like a badge. Reliving and retelling the story to the codgers back home in Twin Falls.

Now years later, I still think of him every time I drive through Cascade. I still have his gold and purple lettermen’s jacket hanging in my closet. Dad was only about 5′8″ and 160 but he lettered in football, playing eight-man football for Cascade High School. I even took it with me last time I was in Cascade, thinking I would donate it to the Valley County Museum. Just the thought made me cry so I decided it was not yet time.

Dad told me about watching the Cascade Reservoir fill as a teen. I know he would laugh to hear that it’s now a ‘lake.’ I guess when property values at Tamarack got involved the name changed.

Last week I took a road trip to Cascade to visit the new Kelly’s Whitewater Park. It’s on the old Cascade Mill property. Dad would have loved to see the changes to the riverfront. It’s really great to see how Cascade has made lemonade out of the lemons of the lost industry.

The whole family is getting together to ride the wild Payette this month. I can’t wait to introduce my nieces to the beautiful area ‘Papa Leo’ came from.