jjcanoeguide wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2012 at 6:52pm:

The only people I have tripped with who would fit that moniker are those who really did not want to be there anyway.

A friend and I did two school trips with 16 or so people in the groups. Then the two of us went for a few years and one spring we got beat pretty bad. Then one year his wife and my gf decided they wanted to go along. We did everything to discourage them because we didn't want to be blamed if they didn't like it. We even took them in summer when the living is easy. Then for a few years the four of us did the same thing w/ others who invited themselves. We made sure anyone new knew exactly what to expect. My friend and I would do what we called 'recon trips' in spring to find the best.... Hey, it was an excellent excuse to do two trips!

Over the years my gf and I decided we enjoyed each other's company the most so we'd do spring trips with just the two of us. Years later same gf's kid (city kid) wanted to go. I was contemplating solos by that time so I took him as ballast one summer. The kid didn't know how to do anything but was open to suggestions. We took an easy trip but in the middle of it was a solid three days of horrible weather yet he never complained about anything whatsoever on the entire trip. Haven't seem him in 15 years but I'd take him again if he were to ask.

Over the years I've learned to choose carefully. Now that I only get one trip a year I don't want any disappointments and now with this site, that goes both ways.