The Daily The Sunday Read: ‘It Was Just a Kayaking Trip. Until It Upended Our Lives.’
May 8, 2022
Jon Mooallem, a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine, shares an unforgettable tale of a kayaking trip in Alaska that took a harrowing turn. What began as a picturesque adventure turned into a fight for survival when one of his friends suffered a severe injury. Mooallem reflects on confronting fears and the brutal realities of nature, intertwining themes of friendship, resilience, and the unexpected beauty found in darkness. His story highlights the lasting impact of trauma and the importance of embracing life's unpredictability.
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The Whale Sighting
- Three friends, Jon Mooallem, Dave, and John, embarked on a kayaking trip in Glacier Bay National Park.
- A whale sighting at the start of the trip exhilarated Jon, while triggering a phobia in Dave stemming from a childhood experience.
Wilderness and Foreboding
- Jon Mooallem, working at a literary magazine, felt uneasy about the whale's size and indifference, feeling out of place in the vast wilderness.
- He recalled Hayden Carruth's words about the universe's sadness and the menace of the wilderness.
The Friends and the Guide
- The three friends, in their early 20s, had graduated college two years prior to the trip.
- John, the trip leader, had worked his way up to guiding kayaking expeditions but lacked administrative skills, illustrated by a rejected grant application.