Mo'er Daoga river kayaking

The Mo'er Daoga River begins high in the Greater Khingan Range and winds its way across the endless green grasslands in June in northeast China. It seems fascinating to paddle in such a beautiful environment.  

I started inside the Mo'er Daoga National Forest Park, and within minutes realized I had badly underestimated it. The river was surprisingly technical, with tight turns, strainers, and shallow rapids, all requiring constant attention.  

As darkness fell around 9 p.m., I tried several times to land but failed. Seeing a fallen tree along the bank, I grabbed it , hoping to stop my boat. What a foolish idea! The moment the boat turned sideways, the current flipped it over. 

Suddenly I was in the icy river. What followed was a brief hypothermia, a lost paddle, an unplanned night camping amid swarms of mosquitoes, and the next morning, a desperate river crossing using nothing but two tree branches as paddles. 

I carried that boat over 3,000 kilometers across China by public transportation, only for the trip to end after two hours on a river. Lesson learned: never underestimate the water.