Sometimes city life can get you down, even if you live in a badass city like Pittsburgh. Your job is stressful, your apartment is cramped, and not even a night out at a relaxing bar or a day spent in a gallery can cure you of your ennui. At times like these, most chose to hole up in their room with some “profound” self- help book and emerge a few weeks later as a vegan, Kabbalist, or poet*. But honestly, who thinks that STAYING IN will fix anything? The real answer, as always, is to get out- not into the city, but into the wilderness. OhioPyle State Park is about a two-hour drive from Pittsburgh, and it features outdoor activities for everyone from your grandmother to Mike Tyson. We went yesterday for my delightful roommate’s birthday. Just your typical celebration, you know, friends, food and…whitewater rafting.
There are two options for whitewater rafting trips at Ohiopyle Park. We went with the less expensive Ohiopyle Trading Post ($73/person without an in-boat guide) and the more pricey Wilderness Voyagers. As far as I could tell, there wasn’t any difference between the two companies- Trading Post was just as safe, helpful and enthusiastic.
Upon our (late) arrival, the wilderness experts suited us up with helmets, lifejackets, and paddles, packed us into a bus, and drove us down to the Youghiogheny River, where we were briefed on safety and set adrift in the absolutely breathtaking river chasm. Guides were with us at all times, signaling us on what routes to take through the obstacles and watching to make sure nobody fell out and drowned. At times, we got the chance to hop out of the boat and paddle around in the river, and even to take a dive off a giant rock. Five hours later, we were exhilarated, exhausted, and ready to head back to the ‘burgh.
Although I would like to leave you with the misconception that I’m a total badass, honesty must prevail. The whitewater rafting was made manageable by the expertise of the guides and my more knowledgeable friends. (It was made even nicer by the large quantities of buff, attractive people in the immediate vicinity. Seriously, they all looked like Abercrombie & Fitch models but less shiny.) This is a really good jumping-off point for those who want to more into more upper-level wilderness sports. It was dangerous and physically taxing, but if you’re athletic and bored, do your psyche a favor and get the hell out to Ohiopyle. Now I’m going to do myself a favor and soak these sore arm muscles in a lovely bath.
*Note- I’m not knocking veganism, Kabbalism, or poetry, only the people who take them up for 2 weeks in a burst of “enlightenment,” then drop them as soon as the NFL season draft begins.
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