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Resistance : 8.19.10  Depending & Defending  Three generations
go backpacking  by Mary O’Brien  We seven adults were looking at
the Merced River in Yosemite National Park, wondering whether
any kayak could make one particular waterfall drop, not because
of the height of the waterfall or power of the river, but
because a huge, jagged boulder at the base appeared to leave no
room for maneuvering on either side.  Four-year-old grandson
Linus thought it no problem, however.  “Actually,” he said, and
I quote him exactly, “in the 1960s some Netherlands Army people
came down this river in kayaks, and they made it down this
waterfall.”  How had seven adults missed that piece of history?
What we did know was that backpacking five days and 29 miles
with Linus and his long-time best friend, 5-year-old Abby, was
just about the best thing we could imagine doing.  The day
before we had passed by a meadow stuffed with tall wildflowers. 
“That’s a classic Sierra m