The Impassable Canyon

I was alone.

Alone, in a group of 13 strangers, running a river through the largest swath of roadless land in the lower 48, with no cell service.

And no news feed.

On the bus to the tiny airstrip, everyone was wearing masks and social distancing.

Bush planes dropped us at a remote post, and the masks disappeared.

The river carried us to a small beach for lunch, and the social distancing relaxed.