...I see him occassionally and had the pleasure of boating with him last year down the Toulomne. He was profusedly happy with running the old river with old friends.

Even more prized was his genuine request to me to watch over Brandon, his only son, as he was establishing his kayaking roots back in California. I took Brandon down on a wild combination of the N.Fork of the N.Fork American and the Giant Gap following an epic miss of the trail leading to our intended run on the Giant Gap only. We lived through my GIANT mistake and the Class VI rapids of the NF of the NF and had to rush to the rescue of Brandon when he pinned against a tree in the heart of Giant Gap.

Interestingly, prior to our run as I was describing the Class V Giant Gap run to Brandon, I asked him for a favor:

"Brandon, please don't pull a Reg on me..."

What is "pulling a Reg?" - asked Brandon.

"Pulling a Reg is going blindly into steep, boulder choked rapids, not having the slightest idea of what is below and if there is a way through. Reg Lake mastered that method and, by some accounts of miracles, tended to live through them. So, please spare my nerves with such, Brandon. OK???"

So, I had to yell at Brandon to prevent him from dropping over a horizon line on the NF of the NF of what lead into an absolute death cataract, then he pulled a second Reg when pinning against a submerged tree, then he finally pulled a third Reg by going left where everyone ahead of him went right... LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON... I love them both.

Albert