THE VIEW / photography by Scott Martin L IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ACTION "The Merced River is unique, as the established trail runs beside it for almost its entire length," says Martin. "There are a few spots where the trail runs high on the ridgeline and the river cuts deep granite gorges. Steve and Pat scouted this section from high above, which made the river look two-dimensional. Once they committed to running this spot (Range of Light Gorge), they knew they needed to be laser-focused on each and every paddle stroke." R LEGENDS ON THE FACE Clockwise from top: The first day of the hike in began with a stiff climb up the Rafferty Trail with Vogelsang Peak towering in the distance. Steve Fisher, one of the most accomplished river explorers of his generation, enjoys the view after dropping into the Merced Valley. Martin notes that the kayakers always followed Leave No Trace principles when camping in the park. "The two kayakers always took their time to scout anything they felt to be committing and with little room for error," says Martin. Summer 2020 / OUTDOOR RETAILER 55