Published: August 24, 2009 02:49 pm      

Life's Just One Wild Ride

GREENVILLE — Life is just one wild ride for Greenville native Brooklyn Parker, who has spent the majority of the summer in Buena Vista, Colo., serving as a river guide.

She was emplyed by River Runners, a company that, since 1972, has offered whitewater river rafting on the Arkansas River.

“It was awesome,” said Parker. “I spent most of my days outside. It was a great summer job.”

To escape Texas and the summer heat was Parker’s main ambition in becoming a guide in Colorado.

“I had some friends that worked out there last summer and it sounded like fun,” she said. “There was actually a big group that I go to school with at Harding University (in Searcy, Ark.) that were working in Colorado as mountain guides and river guides.”

Parker began training to be a river guide in May, when the river was little more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

“It was so cold it took your breath away,” she said. “The weather was cold, too. It was raining and snowing and sleeting on us during training.”

Parker went through two weeks of intense training, in what River Runners calls “Guide School,” to become a guide.

“We were pretty much on the water all day long and in the water a lot, too,” said Parker. “We did flip-boat training, learned how to rescue people, how to guide, what to watch out for and when and when not to paddle.”

The section of the Arkansas River in which Parker served as a guide had six to eight Class III and IV rapids, depending on whether it was a half-day or full-day commercial tour.

“It was pretty intense,” she said. “Lots of flipping went on. On purpose and not on purpose. They wanted us to get used to the water so they made us swim a lot. I don’t think I ever got totally used to it. Once it warmed up it was a lot better.”

Once training was competed and it was time for some commercial tours, the flipping on purpose ceased, though quite a few got wet and some totally drenched.

“There’s a lot of dumping people out of boats,” she said. “People would fall out on tours, but it wasn’t on purpose. The flipping and dumping on purpose happened during training.”

While Parker seems almost fearless, there were times when she felt a twinge of unease when faced with the might of the river.

“The water is very humbling,” she said. “It’s very powerful and people can get hurt, so it’s no game. It’s beautiful, though.”

The first week Parker camped out under the stars with the Collegiate Peaks for company.

“The view from our campsite was amazing,” she said. “We came thinking we’d camp out all summer, but then we met a couple from church that offered us a cabin at the base of Mount Columbia. It was nice and a lot warmer, too.”

The only downside to the cabin was the commute back and forth to the river.

“It was pretty far from where we worked,” said Parker. “The last two weeks we went back and camped with everyone else.”

Parker was somewhat sad to see the summer come to a close, but knows she’ll always have her memories.

“Some of my favorite moments were during training,” she said. “I’m already looking back on them and thinking, ‘That was crazy. What was I thinking?’ We took a lot of play trips out with other guides and sometimes we’d try to do crazy things just to see if we could do it. I’m thinking of going back next summer. When I got back to Texas and the wet heat I was like, ughh. I wasn’t used to it anymore.”

Parker first became enamored with the outdoors when she left to attend Harding University, where she majors in graphic design and minors in missions.

“In Arkansas there’s more to do outdoors,” she said. “I really got into biking and hiking and met a lot of friends that like that sort of thing.”

In September, Parker will be making a solo mission trip to Uganda, Africa.

“I’ll be painting murals, teaching the missionaires’ kids art lessons and helping out at the orphanage,” she said. “Pretty much whatever they need me to do.”

Parker sent out letters before leaving for Colorado to help raise funds for her trip to Africa.

“I raised everything I needed and more,” she said. “My church, Johnson Street Church of Christ, pretty much funded most of the money for my trip. They’re my main supporters, aside from my family.”

Even though this is a missionary trip for Parker, there’s no reason why she shouldn’t have some aquatic fun as well.

“I’m going to raft the Nile while I’m there,” she said. “I’m hoping they’ll let me guide one or two. We’ll see.”

Parker has also been on mission trips to Mississippi, after hurricane Katrina, and Guyana, South Africa, so one could say she’s an old hat at this sort of thing.

For a 20-year old, Parker has done and seen a quite a lot of wonders, with more in the wings.

“I’m very blessed,” she said. “And I know it.”

Parker’s parents admire their daughter’s determination.

“When she says she’s going to do something, she makes it happen,” said Don Parker, Brooklyn’s Dad. “She wanted to attend Harding University and after much studying and hard work, she made it happen. She wanted to get a job in Colorado over the summer, and she made that happen She wanted to do missionary work in Africa and after much research, faith and contributions from family and friends, she’ll make it happen this fall. With Brooklyn, the sky is the limit as to what she can do.”

Parker’s Mom, Shelly, is practically bursting with pride over her daughter’s accomplishments and caring nature.

“To say we are proud would, of course, be an understatement,” she said. “Athletically, she excelled at both volleyball and soccer. Academically, she was in the Top 10 of her graduation class. Physically, she was voted “Most Beautiful” by her senior class. Artistically, she has been blessed and won numerous awards for her work. We have no doubt that Brooklyn will accomplish great things and be inspired to make a difference in the world.”