"Kayaking the Forbidden River" was published in the July 2005 issue of Men's Journal. Writer Frederick Reimers and I document the descent of a class V+ river in New Mexico. The river is rarely run - it is rare that there is enough snow run-off to feed the river, and the access to the put-in goes through private land owned by surly ranchers.
Jeff Pflueger joins a team of eight kayakers to descend the Class V Brazos River in New Mexico.
Captions: Gearing Up: Tim Kelton collects his equipment in preparation for tackling the Brazos. Making a run for it: Kelton runs a waterfall on the Brazos River in New Mexico.
Captions: River Rats: (Clockwise from left) Dunbar Hardy shoots a rapid on the Brazos; Atom Crawford casts for native cutthroat trout; John Fullbright whips up a gourmet meal for the crew; Jesse King, Dunbar Hardy, and the author (from left) plot their course through the Brazos's dangerous whitewater. Next page: The Heat is on: Atom Crawford and Frederick Reimers warm up by the campfire.
Caption: Carried away: Jessie King shoulders his boat after surviving the Brazos River.