The Colorado Kayak Chronicle aka CKS Squad Blog: A place for CKS’s Staff and Team Paddlers to share trip reports, gear reviews, photo postings and insights into anything and everything paddling. The goal of this blog is to bring you a variety of perspectives and interests from around the world, to share inspiring photos, videos and stories and most importantly, to help you get excited for your next day on the river!
This June, Cameron, Joe, Amos and I did a 4 day self support kayak trip on the Rio Grande from the Colorado border to the county line below the Racecourse. 65 miles of class 2-5. Great times, 1 lost kayaker, lost whiskey, carnage, fishing and a trip that is etched in my memory of good times forever. I had been wanting to do this trip for the last 10 years. I could never rope fellow boaters into it. I guess the concept of lots of class 2 and beautiful scenery didn't excite the "core" paddlers around. Luckily, I have some great bros that love kayaking regardless of the grade level and they joined me. We had flows of about 950cfs, tons of gear in our kayaks, a good attitude and actually paddled some whitewater during the trip. Sections that we kayaked were, Ute Mountain, Razorblades, Upper Box, la Hunta, Lower Box, State park, and Racecourse. I would recommend this 4 day self support trip to anyone that loves an adventure. We had an absolute blast. The wildlife was abundant, the scenery unbelievable, the winds way strong, and the whitewater was a blast. One of the best trips I have ever done. Oh ya, The Everest rules as a multi-day kayak. I think this trip will become an annual event. Stay tuned for next years episode and feel free to join us if you can break away from the "stout" for 4 days. It will do you good. Enjoy. beers, Atom...
Well its been a while since crystal gorge has been running, the last day we ran the gorge, our buddy Anson came and filmed us. We attached a canon 5d mk2 in an underwater housing to my boat. It worked pretty well, he also hiked in and shot us on some of the other rapids with his red camera. Check it out.
Well now that it is officially "Jonesin" season, I go into a strange and mildly satisfying state where I spend the majority of my time watching kayaking videos on the internet. As good as going kayaking? Not at all..... But im hoping by watching these videos, I will get a slight feeling of what it actually feels like. I find myself perousing through videos I have seen before, even some that I have seen 10 times, watching them over and over to try and bring back that feeling we all love of being on the river, and running big rapids. I can't wait to get back in my boat.
As usual, Demshitz's videos are some of the best out there.
There couldnt be a favorite video playlist without Rush Sturges and YGp's vids
Rush and Tyler's New Film, Dream Result is gunna be sick!!! Those guys can make some videos!
Some Palouse Falls Action... World records are cool too.
Carnage at Cherry Bomb!!!
This is easily one of my favorite vids, The Demshitz crew down in chile in 07
I dont tend to watch my own video that much because after editing them, i know everything that happens, but hopefully you like them, here is a link http://www.vimeo.com/user741074/videos
As the season in Colorado winds down... well mainly after Crystal Gorge stops running, I result to working, hanging out with friends, working on my car... things a river gypsy would only do if there isn't any kayaking. But every summer there is one wave that calls me out of my "normalcy" and makes me go whitewater boat riding. This wave is called m-wave. It is one of the only times where I am slightly scared playboating. The speed of the wave combined with the shape makes it one of the most fun playspots around. It was Conor's birthday also so needless to say, we had to do some whitewater boat riding.
We arrived in the evening, and proceeded to do the first ever m-wave night sess using alex's truck to provide some light. Birthday brown. I'm pretty sure I ate sh** here, but makes for a cool photo. Conor is really good at browning.
And backblunting... very nice!!
Jonny getting a little m-wave practice in before worlds. Yeah, he is good at kayaking. I didnt even know I could do that. Aerial BROWN!
"That Jonny Meyers is just so dreamy"-a girl at FIbark actually said that haha Alex Hotze throwin down on his home wave like it aint no thang. Jakub Nemec our good friend from Czec killin it as usual. I bought a new whip! Here is a cool edit I made from our little trip. David Yanez on the camera! Make sure to Download the E-V-A mixtape.
Big thanks to Forge motion pictures for letting us borrow their camera. check their stuff out here http://forgemotionpictures.com
