It was just a caiaking trip until it upended our lives. The whale sighting happened right away, minute into day one. We were only starting to move around again when we heard the first huff of a blow hole not far off shore. It seemed to him as if the animal were putting on a show, swimming playfully in the kelp,. diving, re surfacing and ploughing its open mouth across the surface to feed. Such a big pay off so quickly would get us excited and diffuse any apprehensions. John was ecstatic. He took it as a good omen - though i had no idea time he was anxious that dave and i might feel intimidated about
It was meant to mark the start of their lives out of college, but the adventure quickly turned into a nightmare. Beginning with what seemed to be a lucky whale sighting, three friends set out on a sea-kayaking trip through Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, watching out for bears, and having a good time, when tragedy struck.
In recounting the days preceding and following the accident, which seriously injured one of his friends, the Times journalist Jon Mooallem explains how he was forced to reckon with his fears. Detailing the incident’s surprising repercussions, he muses on the importance of overcoming one’s fears, and finding poetry in life’s darkest moments.
This story was written by Jon Mooallem. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.