tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348779712024-03-19T03:15:52.722-06:00The Colorado Kayak ChronicleThe 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!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger419125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-34731200792615855612017-03-01T21:08:00.000-07:002017-03-01T21:08:36.488-07:00You boys like Mexico?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After a busy first two semesters of nurse practitioner school I was ready for a break and luckily my brother and two friends were looking for a reprieve from the drought stricken southeast. We threw around different ideas but settled on Veracruz, Mexico; Kirk did some pre planning and got us all set up in sweet cabana at Aventurec in Tlapacoyan.</div>
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The choice shuttle rig</div>
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Kirk Boofing on the Jalacingo</div>
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More Jalacingo </div>
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The logistics couldn't be any easier, the biggest hassle is getting to aventurec (which is pretty easy), once there they shuttle you around to all the great rivers in the area for very reasonable prices.</div>
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Hands down my favorite run of the trip "big banana"</div>
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Kirk on the 20 footer</div>
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We were lucky enough to boat everyday of our trip, which says something when you are traveling to a foreign country, there are so many amazing waterfalls in the area and just stunning scenery</div>
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Jim hiking in for more waterfalls</div>
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Kirk about to tuck it up</div>
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More Kirk</div>
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We were able to meet up with Nate and Heather at Aventurec and got to paddle a few days with them but enjoyed chatting around the table at meal times everyday!</div>
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The crew on the 7 sisters</div>
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Nate with some cool lighting</div>
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Jim boofing</div>
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One of the great sections we got to do was the seven sisters that starts right below the tomato 2 waterfall and requires as sweet 100+ foot repel</div>
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Steve on the 7th sister</div>
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Heather on the 6th</div>
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Kirk on the 1st</div>
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The start of the run is pretty impressive</div>
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Although it was pretty low the roadside section was super classic and a great "rest day"</div>
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Heather dropping in</div>
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Steve blasting through a cool drop</div>
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We returned to do the lower jalacingo with Heather and Nate and hike in above twisted pleasure to get two more fun 20-30 ft waterfalls</div>
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Nate on the second</div>
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Steve on the same</div>
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We did the big banana section the most and with good reason, it is truly world class whitewater in an amazing setting</div>
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Kirk taking in the falls at the putin</div>
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Steve on my one of my favorites, an awesome cross grain boof</div>
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Jim on the same</div>
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Jim dropping into mordor on the upper canyon</div>
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This trip was a great way to break up the winter between ski trips and to refresh me before spring semester started up, and I can't wait to go back.</div>
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Tom Janneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15684987509390575692noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-77109960484825371652016-04-25T11:32:00.000-06:002016-04-25T11:32:28.791-06:00Spring in CaliMy good friend Jason Stingl was nice enough to join me for a great "spring break" before I get back to the real world with working and school in Denver. We drove through a snowstorm along I-70 and drove through the night to make it to the kaweah the next day for a quick hospital rock lap.<br />
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Jason going zero to sixty</div>
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Dave on the tabletop boof</div>
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Jason on Little Niagara </div>
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From there we were able to squeeze in a great overnighter on the south merced with our colorado friend Dave Farkas, which flows through Yosemite and has some amazing whitewater and great camping. We had a great trip and finished at the perfect window with it starting to snow on us on the paddle out and we got to see the park with a fresh blanket of snow.<br />
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Dave on one of my favorites</div>
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Jason plugging and boofing</div>
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Jason and Dave enjoying the evening sun coming out of a gorge day 1</div>
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Jason finishing up the gorge</div>
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Jason on a fun slide</div>
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Superslide!</div>
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We kept our northern movement going and got a great lap on 49-B on the south yuba, but bombed most of it so I didn't get any pictures. We had a relaxing afternoon after the run and made our way to Orville to meet up with Darin and get ready for the finally of our trip down the devils canyon of the middle feather.<br />
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Darin on Franklin falls, it gets a bit pushy at these levels and can be hard to get right if your not online up top, Darin worked it out with ease</div>
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Morgan dropping in with a beautiful line</div>
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Jason in the pushy lead-in</div>
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And following Darin's meat line, unfortunately this didn't work out as smoothly as Darin's</div>
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I hadn't gotten to do this run in a few years and it is one of my favorite runs around, Jason had been excited for years as he somehow had always missed out on our crews trip over the years. The devils canyon has an amazing amount of quality rapids stuffed into its 35 mile length along with such unique geology and beautiful camping. We had yet another amazing run down the canyon and it was a perfect icing on the cake run to finish our great trip.<br />
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I've done this run about a half dozen times and had never camped here, it was a sweet big camp</div>
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It had a nice clear creek coming coming in that was a perfect spot to chill our beverages of choice</div>
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This view didn't get old</div>
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Morgan coming through a fun one early on day two</div>
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Darin on the same</div>
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Hope you enjoyed the pics!</div>
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<br />Tom Janneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15684987509390575692noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-12272892744926935002013-04-29T21:41:00.001-06:002013-04-29T21:41:18.944-06:00A Peak at Deer Creek<div>
These days there is a very cool phenomenon that happens around the kayaking scene every weekend. You get a text from one or two of your paddling bros, you make plans, show up at the put in, and without fail there will be 6-10 other bros that just happen to be there at the same time as you. It happens every time regardless of where you decide to go and its awesome!</div>
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So a few Saturdays ago, we drove past Arlington, WA at the town of Oso. Myself, Mike Nash and Nick Hinds sat and waited for the fashionably late to arrive. We were soon met by Brock Gavery, followed by Brett Barton, Chipper Maney, Ben Hawthorne, Rob McKibbon, Christian Knight and Joe Howard. Somewhere along the way Dan Patrinellis and Adrian Wigston showed up. </div>
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This was my first time on Deer Creek and from what I understood about it (and with a group of this size) the odds were in favor of carnage. The locals often refer to Deer Creek as Robe's big brother. As in the big brother that doesn't think twice about knocking the snot out of your for not sharing your favorite toy. <br />
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Good beta on this run is hard to come by as it can be hard to access and only runs when Robe is in the 7-8ft + range. We drove toward the put-in hoping the loggers kindly left the gate open for the remaining 3 miles of road past Lake Cavanaugh. Not so much. Once we realized that we were in for a 3+ mile long hike, a couple of the bros opted to run our shuttle and drink some brewskies. <br />
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McKibbon and Adrian Wigston hiking in</div>
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some of the group taking a snack break before starting the bushwack decent to the river</div>
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Deer Creek starts off with some pushy class III+ for the first mile or so. The ominous feel of the canyon, the relentless nature of the whitewater and not knowing the wood situation keeps you on edge. After a short paddle you come to the first big rapid which can be scouted from the river left. The following shots are all from the 1st major rapid.</div>
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Ben running the right line </div>
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Ben a little further down</div>
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Joe Howard on the sam rapid running left</div>
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Mike Nash driving hard and boofing to avoid a big hole</div>
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Adrian boofing the left entrance</div>
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Some continuous class IV and V read and run led the group to an eddy on the river left. We got some vague beta above a horizon line and ended up blue angling into a pretty big set with some really nice features. I vividly recall, "there is a big wave hole in the entrance, punch that and the rest is mellow." So as we approached the rapid the wave hole was pretty obvious and I gathered some speed, took a big stroke, threw my weight forward and popped through. Whew! Glad that was out of the way. What he failed to mention was that immediately behind the wave hole lurked a 6ft pour over with a massive hydraulic that required a crucially timed boof. I didn't have the angle I needed and did a bit of old school playboating, flushed out and scrambled for a micro eddy on the river right. </div>
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Super Joe from the correct eddy for the 2nd big rapid</div>
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Luckily everyone made it through and we ended up catching an eddy on the right above one of the longer rapids on the river. I grabbed this shot of McKibbon making the ferry to line up for the rest.</div>
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Rob McKibbon</div>
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More class IV read and run lead to the 3rd big rapid. Scout from the river right.</div>
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McKibbon maybe a little further left than he wanted</div>
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and resurfacing....</div>
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Kiwi Mike crushing it</div>
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and finishing it off...</div>
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From here the action continues for another couple miles. I would grade the run out of Deer Creek as quality class V read and run at its best. We had some flips and surfs and spins and funky lines but everyone made it through without a hitch. When in doubt, its down the middle and boof! This is an outstanding run with breathtaking scenery and solid rapids. I would recommend it for anyone that wants a little day trip adventure. </div>
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Here is a shot of the bridge at the takeout. We were thinking this was probably a medium flow at about 1500 cfs.</div>
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SEAN LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10841900484263166729noreply@blogger.com73tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-86205192147020154282013-03-22T10:11:00.000-06:002013-03-22T10:11:33.057-06:00The Upper Wind Race: 2013 Edition<br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Last weekend marked the start of festival season in the Pacific Northwest. The Upper Wind Race features a mass start format and consisted of around 50 competitors this year, with several divisions. I competed in the Mens K1 division. There was also a Womens K1 class, a long boat class, and a r2 class.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">The event is organized by The Oregon Rafting team, namely Tim Brink, and is heavily supported by Next Adventure, along with several other paddling related entities in the Portland area.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Seeing as this event was initially designed as a 'raft race' the course is quite long and a rather large portion of 'flat water' class III after the initial mile and half of IV+ whitewater. All combined, the course is just over 3 miles in length and takes over 20 minutes to complete. Needless to say, by the time you're at the bottom, everyone is pretty tuckered out.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">The week leading up to the festival had been uncharacteristically warm for this time of year, but right on cue, we woke up on Saturday morning to rain and cold temps. Spring is in the air! The rain did bump the water level up to approx. 5.8 feet on the Stabler gauge, which made for a nice flow for racing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">After the long boat class took off, the K1 Mens Division was up. All 30 of us lined up along the banks above the bridge at the Stabler put-in. This year, someone decided to have us start with our bows towards the bank, so the first paddle stroke that everyone took was actually a back stroke. We were seeded based on a poker card we had been issued upon registration. Naturally, I had drawn a 7 of hearts and was towards the back of the pack to start.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">The whistle blew and the river erupted into a flurry of boats and churning paddles. This was by far the most challenging part of the race for me! Trying to keep myself in the current while avoiding the serrated fiberglass blades of the guy next to me, the first 1/2 mile of the race was overly tiring and seemed to go on forever!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Just as the racers began to thin out and fall into line, we entered the meat of the run. Initiation down through Climax features a nice blend of class III and IV boulder gardens with one obvious crux at a rapid known as Ram's Horn. Having only paddled this river a few times in the past, I focused on keeping an eye on the guy in front of me as we dropped through the goods.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">By the time we came to the last real rapid on the run (Climax) I was overly tired and kind of forgot the line through this often sticky ledge hole. Luckily, I was able to orient myself at the last moment and came through the hole in big stern squirt. Just another mile of flat water to the finish line!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">I spent the last mile of the race jockeying for position with Jesse Becker and Michael Freeman. Jesse ended up winning the duel and I came in just a nose in front of Michael. After it was all said and done, I finished in the middle of the pack (9th place) and was a full minute+ behind Dan Rubado (1st Place) and Trevor Sheehan (2nd Place). Times were unofficial and haven't been posted as of today, but you can view the standings at <a href="http://www.wwchampionship.org/k1-men">http://www.wwchampionship.org/k1-men</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">In the Women's class, which featured 7 racers, Kim Becker edged Heather Herbeck for 1st place and had a pretty exciting duel at the finish line with Nicole Mansfield and Katrina Van Wijk, who were charging in the topo-duo. I believe Kim held them off in the end.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Below is a collection of photos taken by Eric Adsit, Jacob Cruser, and my girlfriend Claire, who was kind enough to hike all the way into Ram's Horn in the pouring rain to watch the show. I've also put together a video of my headcam footage.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Hope everyone can make it our next year! And remember, the Northwest Creeking Competition is only a month away!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Until next time,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Nate</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Dan Rubado, way out in front at the start of Initiation (Photo: Jacob Cruser)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> The front pack getting into the goods. (Photo: Jacob Cruser)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> More K1 Men routing through Initiation. (Photo: Jacob Cruser)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HZQegVU-FdXWGwIx83Zwjln0IIZdTTY_jXParWZFnzAkYPXc3wAIJGyIvgteKfJ8UhC850I5rWX1CD4_Z4FAoWGUD3uy7mHnF6ox8krkm7g0bIOwgC4ccuV8m3A5XPdxqptX/s1600/DSCF0674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HZQegVU-FdXWGwIx83Zwjln0IIZdTTY_jXParWZFnzAkYPXc3wAIJGyIvgteKfJ8UhC850I5rWX1CD4_Z4FAoWGUD3uy7mHnF6ox8krkm7g0bIOwgC4ccuV8m3A5XPdxqptX/s320/DSCF0674.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> Dynamic Duo. (Photo: Jacob Cruser)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2siJKS9wpb-JipyykNC834KO-JVMOm6d4LisCQCdPNoc-h01JyDzZGTqLvtHYKmCLeZY6IxEGURdLmjhbbYN9UNAfux1PuSlV_zVCdgDmBKWxLqdynxE872Dq-LY4jBQpbZas/s1600/DSCF0677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2siJKS9wpb-JipyykNC834KO-JVMOm6d4LisCQCdPNoc-h01JyDzZGTqLvtHYKmCLeZY6IxEGURdLmjhbbYN9UNAfux1PuSlV_zVCdgDmBKWxLqdynxE872Dq-LY4jBQpbZas/s320/DSCF0677.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> R2 Class (Photo: Jacob Cruser)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpb_0p5JfoxNpvudrBBfmHXjKQqGyfdxlg1FMfITOfd5eKngVVwBbLLlT-Hbun2s9mHmuxKGrQqfOi-WTLSBDQOmdoFLqecHlVDp6T-P8zj7ma26Ce1DzK2pZy27eI2n_OHPgw/s1600/DSCF0683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpb_0p5JfoxNpvudrBBfmHXjKQqGyfdxlg1FMfITOfd5eKngVVwBbLLlT-Hbun2s9mHmuxKGrQqfOi-WTLSBDQOmdoFLqecHlVDp6T-P8zj7ma26Ce1DzK2pZy27eI2n_OHPgw/s320/DSCF0683.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> More rubber. (Photo: Jacob Cruser)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjys5NpQ8dlllaFJ0vRXfb4zmCl2L10LWM3plkilZIuxpNqOjEz0e3gRY94AbhNM4j3DYnsMpmoYZuo33j0IKt8YDsYaetyMNvXdLunXh-0LKt64Tqy6alphBCjsPeA88UfNE0f/s1600/DSCF0688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjys5NpQ8dlllaFJ0vRXfb4zmCl2L10LWM3plkilZIuxpNqOjEz0e3gRY94AbhNM4j3DYnsMpmoYZuo33j0IKt8YDsYaetyMNvXdLunXh-0LKt64Tqy6alphBCjsPeA88UfNE0f/s320/DSCF0688.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Nicole and Katrina rocking the topo below Ram's Horn (Photo: Claire Rothstein)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIv7Q4pAC0k25zxvj-Mn5uUWuhi9P9uJePF8ZSXVDULec_JBGluV_l9RzSfWWz0-l4pudpyB2i7-WrLgczDJFj8kWvfC7o7v1jYC4BNse9iqfYVnvzJh-Ieh-IWExSWjRlUeeC/s1600/WindRace1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIv7Q4pAC0k25zxvj-Mn5uUWuhi9P9uJePF8ZSXVDULec_JBGluV_l9RzSfWWz0-l4pudpyB2i7-WrLgczDJFj8kWvfC7o7v1jYC4BNse9iqfYVnvzJh-Ieh-IWExSWjRlUeeC/s320/WindRace1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> Jesse Becker, Leif Anderson, Harrison Rea, and Nate Merrill in the middle. (Photo: Claire Rothstein)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzLTYshoMqWCS8ioKlMMeZ22XHNBgAxGHdOQtY2O_4gjAcENNwvoGZvapFbcqW3vR_yPi8Sp2M83-DxNOPvLXJhxMP9K-HAL6H-JkVt1l1CrxI5Hfco93D7hvCIXI6fbr0bRN/s1600/WindRace2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzLTYshoMqWCS8ioKlMMeZ22XHNBgAxGHdOQtY2O_4gjAcENNwvoGZvapFbcqW3vR_yPi8Sp2M83-DxNOPvLXJhxMP9K-HAL6H-JkVt1l1CrxI5Hfco93D7hvCIXI6fbr0bRN/s320/WindRace2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Random chargers below Ram's Horn (Photo: Claire Rothstein)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqEXTCOHl9tvnP0qrTx_6VGds-CP_Xm-DyhbH3vvu_8Ea-4ffewbyd1vDgZTA2m7ryt_TMdNG14aO8htKCAbQl1MrFKG3-z2T_oQ0yIeiDejrQfqqBkcgNAmQZtaaK_NhvJqt/s1600/WindRace4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqEXTCOHl9tvnP0qrTx_6VGds-CP_Xm-DyhbH3vvu_8Ea-4ffewbyd1vDgZTA2m7ryt_TMdNG14aO8htKCAbQl1MrFKG3-z2T_oQ0yIeiDejrQfqqBkcgNAmQZtaaK_NhvJqt/s320/WindRace4.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Dan Rubado trailed closely by Lewis Hooker (Photo: Claire Rothstein)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMnVO_NaPDkvPbOJPeb2VhspPxcGG-Hzzx7jZ5MAhsV81pdfW8-mjFBMkQGkp6OKsk4xc2d7Ihzin7Czw8MkHx2hJtmICiPSz5snUVgBnPSay465diFjwuPLyXiYP3LDV1sVO/s1600/WindRace5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMnVO_NaPDkvPbOJPeb2VhspPxcGG-Hzzx7jZ5MAhsV81pdfW8-mjFBMkQGkp6OKsk4xc2d7Ihzin7Czw8MkHx2hJtmICiPSz5snUVgBnPSay465diFjwuPLyXiYP3LDV1sVO/s320/WindRace5.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> Christie Eastman in the long boat division. (Photo: Claire Rothstein)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuiTLRrvTTIoKure5wGO_MxCLsO4XrGEH2P-FLwI4aF0usziXu9urJLY7q_EDn2sXR5KUtrI86YyskkjHHty23RxWeNpobd2BPAHBtxtwhlgeb593PIEohfEKE5RaJgQ13lURG/s1600/WindRace6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuiTLRrvTTIoKure5wGO_MxCLsO4XrGEH2P-FLwI4aF0usziXu9urJLY7q_EDn2sXR5KUtrI86YyskkjHHty23RxWeNpobd2BPAHBtxtwhlgeb593PIEohfEKE5RaJgQ13lURG/s320/WindRace6.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Harrison Rea and Nate Merrill (author) routing through the top of Ram's Horn (photo: Eric Adsit)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfhWuOZ1Jnu1z1MzZkZ7SPBnKuOOMLTPxQudheQdEvO7r9tebrokHPPYnCHYlB9A8cND1H4yb4fmlQSlIDaPYyRamFeBJEGKqkbsNw96I-4bYzqFx_Zzf-ciDe-HUOcz9ih0i/s1600/862673_10200746306118550_845328680_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfhWuOZ1Jnu1z1MzZkZ7SPBnKuOOMLTPxQudheQdEvO7r9tebrokHPPYnCHYlB9A8cND1H4yb4fmlQSlIDaPYyRamFeBJEGKqkbsNw96I-4bYzqFx_Zzf-ciDe-HUOcz9ih0i/s320/862673_10200746306118550_845328680_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> Follow the leader. (photo: Eric Adsit)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8j5LtiLHGBibgLuBCxk1qgU7D9kl6tqo0lysjAGHokZd6oowvpfiNyDsH_xPq7FcoX_ZOyQ06oXZtPGPuJmUzssP2yABdtClJzSf68gIgnE93UgPJIsFQS04E6GTLCOxw31K/s1600/862054_10200746306038548_1823268409_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8j5LtiLHGBibgLuBCxk1qgU7D9kl6tqo0lysjAGHokZd6oowvpfiNyDsH_xPq7FcoX_ZOyQ06oXZtPGPuJmUzssP2yABdtClJzSf68gIgnE93UgPJIsFQS04E6GTLCOxw31K/s320/862054_10200746306038548_1823268409_n.jpg" width="295" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">The video!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/sx8yt7tHl80?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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Natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746166840200638365noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-43677719069398604562013-02-24T18:01:00.000-07:002013-02-24T19:20:16.291-07:00A solid crew<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I think when moving to a new place, many people wonder where and how they will make new friends. Who am I going to watch the Sunday game with? What will I do for happy hour? Am I only going to meet people I work with? For me, almost every weekend now I find myself spending time with someone I have never met before, and usually those hours are some of the most precious I spend all week. For this, I blow off golf with my father-in-law. I don't go out and party all night. And I try really really hard not to make plans that could potentially cut into this valuable time. I make these sacrifices because that time is spent building a unique bond that can't be emulated by any sized group doing anything other than whitewater kayaking. </span><br />
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Having a solid crew for kayaking is crucial. There is a certain level of responsibility you have for others on the river when shit goes down so you want to make sure you surround yourself with athletes that want to get it done and will be there for you when mistakes happen.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">People in my office think I'm crazy. The husbands of my wife's friends don't understand why I don't want to do one more shot. My family wants to understand but it's just too far removed from anything they would ever attempt or enjoy. People wonder why we do it.... I still don't have an answer for that. Or maybe I do, but that answer would go on and on because it changes constantly. The questions from the people I interact with on a regular basis are always the same: Where did you go? Who did you go with? How do you meet those people? Is it cold? Do you wear wetsuits? Do you go upside-down? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes I go upside-down but I try not to. It is cold but we wear sick Kokatat dry suits. We went to Robe which is near Granite Falls. The question that always intrigues me the most is the one about how I "find" the people I go with. "How do you know these guys?"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">How do I know these guys? I was first introduced to the Seattle crew by one of my boys from Colorado and fellow transplant to the Pac NW... one of <i>the</i> household names of kayaking, Nick Hinds. If you don't know or haven't heard of Nick Hinds you should probably quit kayaking. Nick is a staple to the sport. </span></div>
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Nick on Big Brother</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">another sweet shot of Nick on one of my favorite runs in Washington, the Ohanapecosh</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> On previous trips to Washington Nick had introduced me to Scott Waidelich. Scott always has a beat on what is running and who is going. Without him I would probably have only half the days on the river I have so far in Washington. He is as smooth as butter on the river and the nicest guy you will ever meet. As per his latest facebook post, right now he is down in Chile on the Rio Futaleufu.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Scott getting style points on the top tye</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I met Adrian Wigston at his brother Nick's wedding a few years ago. Nick is a living legend in Colorado and one of the best kayak and swift water rescue instructors on the planet. Nick and I have logged some serious road trip hours together and had countless special days on the river. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Sweet photo of Nick Wigston dropping on the NF Little Wind</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">I hooked up with Adrian as soon as I got to Seattle. Adrian is a great person to know up here... so fired up all the time. He is a sick surfer too. If you are ever surfing in El Salvador make sure to connect with Adrian. He is always ready to charge!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Adrian in the Chelan Gorge</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Adrian introduced me to <i>the </i>Tom Janney of the Pac NW, Dan Patrinellis. Speaking of Tom, he was a breath of fresh air to my kayaking career. Tom was young ripper that moved to Boulder, went to CU and was ready to fire! I had heard about Tom on many occasions before I ever met him. Everyone made such a huge deal about how he swam in the Gore race. I never knew why the local Colorado crews thought this was so funny until I finally met him. The first time I paddled with Tom, he showed up at the NSV put in wearing shorts. The temperature was below freezing, there were snowflakes in the air, and we were putting on at what we think were record high levels - close to 600 on the gauge. I asked him if he was slow or something. Tom ran the entire river and didn't get his face wet.... I was thoroughly impressed. I wish this guy would move up here.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Tom gettin some on one of our road trips to Hood River</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Back to Dan! Dan and Tom are similar in many ways but I'm doing my best to keep this post as kosher as possible so I won't go into details. I love paddling with Dan. He has a great sense of humor and always has a smile plastered on his face on the river. Lately he has been getting on Robe 3+ times per week which is awesome! I'm looking forward to letting him show me down some of the runs on the OP this spring.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Dan on Ohany falls</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Through Adrian and Scott I was able to meet up with Kiwi Mike Nash. Kiwi Mike is one rad dude. He hasn't been in the States that long but already has an in-depth knowledge of the local runs. I was lucky enough to have Kiwi Mike guide me for my first runs on Robe and Ernie's. He loves to fire and is all about having fun all the time on the river. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Kiwi Mike showing some Spirit</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">A few years ago I put on the Skykomish for a solo lap and ended up paddling with a guy named Sam Grafton. Sam's name is starting to get out there now but he is not a big self-promoter and is probably the hardest charger you have never heard of. Sam is not flashy, he is not about getting the perfect shot, and I don't think he even owns a dry suit. I'm not sure how you can live in Index, run the shit all year long and not own a dry suit, but Sam pulls it off. He is a soul boater to the core. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Sam punching a little curler to avoid a massive hole on Eagle Falls at a juicy level. Most class V boaters won't touch this drop but its just another Tuesday morning for Sam. David Spiegel took this sick photo. He has recently moved back up this way from Colorado as well and is just killing it out there!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Sam's mentor is a guy named Rob McKibbon. Rob is a local legend here and another name you have probably never heard of. Rob does things in a kayak that even the best in the sport wouldn't dare. He has run Sunset Falls multiple times, Log Choke Falls is mandatory, and somehow he manages to run portages on a regular basis even when they shouldn't be run. He is well into his 40's and getting it done with the best of them. I'm thoroughly convinced he can breath under water.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Rob pretending to be human on another Robe lap</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">In spite of enjoying the hell out of the Washington crew, the core of my kayaking career have been my two best friends in Colorado and the two guys I have spent more days on the river with than anyone else... Andy Blakeslee and Forrest Noble. I miss these guys a ton and couldn't imagine two better bros to spend a day on the river with. Forrest and Andy are just sick!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Here is Forrest on his favorite run - Upper Cherry</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Andy Blakeslee always making it look easy</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">I have been lucky enough in my kayaking career to connect with some world class athletes. These guys are not only great kayakers but they are even better people. Of course there are endless names I have not mentioned here but I'll throw in a few more shout outs for good measure... Ben Martin, Jesse Steele, Wilson Bell, Gary Edgeworth, Josh Bruckner, Jared Johnson, Alex Clayden, Trey Chase, Max Sullivan, Chris Menges, Chuck Sission, Damon Hoydysh, Gordon Banks.... The list goes on and on.... </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Thanks again to Dan Patrinellis for some of these sweet photos.</span></div>
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SEAN LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10841900484263166729noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-20698094843074620892013-02-02T21:52:00.000-07:002013-02-02T21:52:17.969-07:00Winter Grand CanyonIt's day 4 of our marathon sprint 7 day trip. Ice has been forming on my gear all day long, a stiff headwind is stinging my face and it is 6pm and dark, we have been paddling for 9 hours. Strangely I'm enjoying myself, I feel fine with paddling for a few more hours, I've been so cold that its funny to me and I'm laughing as we crush mile after mile; is the grand supposed to be a suffer fest? Luckily I'm brought out of my focus for downstream progress by Ric yelling at me from a beach that I can barely see below a rapid. I get out of my boat and every piece of gear I have is frozen, luckily I had undone my lifejacket straps a half hour before camp when I could still manage to. I stripped off my frozen gear and got into my 5 layers of dry clothing, drank some hot chocolate, set up my tent and started a raging fire. We all cooked our meals, drank some choice alcoholic beverages, went on a cool random night side canyon scramble/climb, and went to sleep satisfied that we got as much out of the day as we could have anywhere.<br />
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Most nights of the trip were something similar to the above short story above. The canyon was the coldest it has been in 37 years, 7 days was WAY too short of a trip, it was as amazing as ever and fun as hell to paddle most of the big rapids in one 45 mile day (hance to blacktail). Our group of 4 was made of of people that have paddled some of the hardest whitewater in the world and yet everyone was having a great time, paddling our 200 lb boats down the river.<br />
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Self support trips are my favorite kind of kayaking trips, no loading/unloading rafts is so much nice. I have done the canyon 6 times now with half of those trips in the winter and every single trip is unique and memorable in its own way. This trip was a boys night out kind of trip that lasted a week, and was a great way to start off the 2013 season, I have never felt so strong in January before, but paddling 40 miles a day will do that. Enough of my babbling, I'll end with my top 5 pieces of gear to bring on a winter trip and some photos.<br />
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1) thermos: great for hot drinks and soup<br />
2) The warmest sleeping bag you have (Louis had a 30 degree and froze his ass off)<br />
3) Arugula, it adds a little bit of roughage to the diet and goes great with tons of stuff, plus its pretty hearty and can stand up the cold temps)<br />
4) Gatorade powder (you still have to hydrate in the desert in winter, it's hard to do with cold ass water)<br />
5) Your crossover boat of choice, I took the wavesport ethos and loved it, we saw pyranha, jackson and liquid logic crossover's and everyone seemed please. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the dagger crossover boat as well!<br />
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The crew at the put-in, looks balmy? (Tom, Louis Geltman, Steve Arns, Ric Moxon) </div>
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Gotta love enjoying some fine local durango brew at redwall cavern, day 2</div>
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Lots of gear fit in that thing</div>
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Myself at lunch on the coldest day of the trip</div>
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Staying warm by the fire</div>
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fun class 3, grapevine (I think?)</div>
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Louis in hermit</div>
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Ric showing of his big water sea kayak form</div>
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Scenic flatwater</div>
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A nice cave out of the wind</div>
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Ric soaking in pumpkin springs (nasty)</div>
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My favorite shot of the trip, Ric getting western in lava</div>
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Tom Janneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15684987509390575692noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-72673335294508770442013-01-28T19:53:00.000-07:002013-01-28T19:53:03.029-07:00New Beginnings in SeattleSo as I mentioned in my last post, in the last 6 months I moved from my home in Colorado to Seattle, had my first kid then started a new job 2 days later.... oh yeah and I have a 90 lb 10 month old puppy. So there have been a few minor changes in my life but its really no big deal.... I think... The 2 things that have helped to keep me balanced are my super supportive super wife and kayaking. My wife is from Washington and her family has always been here. <br />
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Kat and I floating the Colorado into Moab</div>
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As we learned we were having a baby the discussion of moving to Seattle became routine. It wasn't an easy decision to say the least. I love Boulder and I love Colorado. I love the Buffs and I love the people of Colorado. I love the Crystal drainage and I love OBJ. Colorado is freaking AWESOME!<br />
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Tom Janney took this sweet shot of me in the Black Canyon</div>
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Having the support of family to help with the baby was a great reason to move to Washington. As the summer of 2012 in Colorado burned on and I stared at my lonely kayak melting in the sun, a move to Washington seemed more and more attractive. I stayed for one last CU vs CSU football game at mile high and took off for my new home the next day. <br />
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Baby Stella has not quite grown into the Shred Ready Shaggy</div>
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GAME ON BRA!!!!<br />
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I had been up here paddling a few times in the past with Colorado legends like Tom Janney and Nick Wigston. Wigston and I made several trips up this way in the past and every time my list of rivers and creeks to run would grow and grow. After 12 years in Colorado and a super dry year, I was more than ready to try my hand at a new game. The Pac NW is pretty sweet! <br />
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A week or two after settling into my new home I kicked off my Washington kayaking career by linking up with the other Wigston and heading to the elusive Chelan Gorge. The Chelan Gorge is a very special run. After years of hard work and research the local crew here was able to negotiate a recreational release each year for a weekend in September. The timing of the release couldn't be better as many of the other run are getting to low and the weather is nice and hot! The town of Chelan welcomes the kayakers in and puts everyone up at the local baseball field, which happens to be right at the put in. Running water, a place to go number 1 and number 2, and a place to pitch a tent right in town....can't beat it! At 10am a little man comes out of his house to turn the water, he pats his hand on his helmet telling us he is ok and then we get to walk right past the no trespassing signs. What a cool event!<br />
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photo curtesy of Dan Patrinellis (sicko!)</div>
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The Chelan Gorge run starts at the dam the makes the beautiful Lake Chelan. From there its a 2 mile paddle to the top of the gorge which starts your descent toward the Columbia River. The gorge starts with a couple class IV+ rapids that jump right out at you. You quickly make your way to the first class V and the true start of the Chelan Gorge.</div>
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The first class V has 4 very tough moves. </div>
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Brian Burger making the 2nd move in the first big rapid.</div>
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Rob McKibbon cleaning up the 3rd move</div>
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Ellie Wheat on the same - took this with my iphone</div>
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The great thing about the Chelan Gorge is you run it with a huge crew. And by huge I mean 27 people. So when you get 27 people kayaking class V with tons of safety, there is bound to be carnage. These are not easy rapids. Lots of features to throw you off line and the holes are very sticky!</div>
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a very familiar scene at the first set of drops</div>
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After a while you have seen your fair share of carnage and the crew has made it through the first set. There were 2 rafts that day getting a first raft D which was pretty sick! </div>
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rafters on super boof</div>
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The local crew made it very clear while boozing at camp the night before that this was my interview and I better not blow it! So I laid down some lines that even Chunderboy would have been proud of. </div>
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a shot of me on super boof</div>
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Throne Room</div>
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Rafter between Throne Room and Pinacle</div>
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There are a few other gems in here that I'll be sure to get photos of next time. This is an short but epic run. The rapids are all very solid class V. There are only a handful of rapids but I can't even tell you how many swims we had in there. </div>
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one of the raft crews in fat lady looking toward the mighty Columbia</div>
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Thanks to Dan Patrinellis for hooking up some of these sweet Chelan photos. For more details on Chelan or to see more of his photos, check out http://fluidasalifestyle.blogspot.com/</div>
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SEAN LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10841900484263166729noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-5051458405096803482013-01-21T20:35:00.000-07:002013-01-21T20:35:34.677-07:00Better late then never!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I want to start 2013 off by rewinding about 1 year.</div>
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The last year has been pretty hectic for me to say the least. There was no snow in Colorado, then I moved out of state (more on that in my next post), then I had my first kid and and 2 days later started a new job. </div>
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I moved to Colorado 12 years ago because I wanted to be close to good skiing. In the winter of 2011 / 2012 I only got in 3 days. One was a solo backcountry day on Mt Audubon in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, one was a day at Crystal Mountain in Washington and the 3rd was actually a sweet powder day at Eldora. It was a horrible season for me to say the least.</div>
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Solo mission to ski Crooked Coulior on Mt Audubon</div>
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a typical look for the mountains of colorado in the winter of 2012</div>
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Epic day at Eldora outside the gate</div>
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The worst part about a weak ski season for a kayaker is that you get the double wammy because the water just won't be there either. But when you are a kayaker, you have to make the best of what you've got, and kayakers tend to be pretty good at that. </div>
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Forrest and I catching Boulder Creek as it flashes from 70 to 700cfs in an hour in July</div>
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In 2012 we got a rare mid - March run down Gore Canyon. Paddling Gore in March is kind of bitter sweet. You are paddling early and have just shortened the off season which is cool, but at the same time the only reason you can get in there is because it been 60 degrees all winter and there is no snow on the ground. Gore in the 600 range still goes great. Yeah you may bang off a couple rocks here and there but its March and you are kayaking in Colorado. Boofing the rock that makes "Ginger" is a really fun move and I feel like tunnel gets even more technical. </div>
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Here is a shot Alex Clayden took of me trying out a new downriver freestyle move into tunnel.</div>
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With positive thoughts....Gore at higher flows is one of the better runs I have ever done. When gore gets up over 4k again.... Cancel whatever kayaking plans you have in Colorado and put this on top of your list. You won't be disappointed. </div>
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Here is some Gore helmet cam eye candy from 2011 when Colorado had a good snowpack and a serious runoff. </div>
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I'll keep my fingers crossed for the Colorado core crew this year that it comes up this high again.</div>
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On a typical year as we approach spring the class V kayaking crew has 2 early season options to kick things off, the Rio Embudo and Escalante. Every year it feels like they come in just so fast and you are scrambling to clean the cobwebs off your paddle, make sure there are no spiders in your boat, and knock out whatever other critters decided to make a nice cozy home in your creek booties over the winter.</div>
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As we came upon that time once again the choice for our first mini road trip was the Embudo.</div>
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life on the Embudo wouldn't be quite as sweet without the hospitality of local legend Atom Crawford</div>
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Every time I run the Embudo I like it more. Its one of those runs when once you start to learn the lines and get to know where you are going, you have more time to focus on the magnificent canyon. There is just nothing else out there like it. The Embudo has great continuous action with 2 distinct sections. The upper section is highlighted by long rapid, cheese grater and mj falls. All of which can hand out beatings but go really well most of the time. The lower canyon is all about slots! Its a committing non stop, hole charging, boofing kayakers playground. The more water the better!</div>
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Forrest and I watching the crowds charge through slots of fun</div>
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If you haven't run the Embudo but have been thinking about it, make this your year. Here is a cheesy helmet cam guide video I threw together for the early season chargers that want a piece of the Embudo action.</div>
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- Sean Lee -</div>
<br />SEAN LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10841900484263166729noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-86355562401297273582012-12-04T10:25:00.001-07:002012-12-04T10:30:17.559-07:00Beauties, bootie beers, boofs and bros - the SE Wrap-upIt's been one hellva great year and change. True, I didn't complete my Southeast tick-list, but a lot of it got ticked. And I still have a CO tick-list after 13 years of boating. I guess I just never will get enough paddling done. Well, I just wanted to post some of my favorite shots from the year and give a shout to the homies who made it awesome:<br />
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I gotta start with one of my OGs, Eric. He was one of my original paddling partners from my first days. Day one of his paddling career started off in Cataract Canyon where we told him that if he could knock-out 100 rolls in the four days of flat water, then he might survive the class IV rapids. He made it without a swim! His triumphant return to the Southeast from CO occurred right in the middle of my time here and it was a blessing to get out and charge with him again!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric toobin the Green!</td></tr>
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Early on, I spent a lot of time scoping the Green putin for potential paddling partners. I was lucky enough to find Katie in need as well one sunny day. Her and Zac will make the next generation of River Gypsies.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katie likes it Horsey-style</td></tr>
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Speaking of the Gypsies, Leland and Andria are still living large. It is so much fun to see what a life-long paddling career looks like. Thanks for introducing me to the joys of Fall Dam Boating - I'm addicted.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leland is still Climaxing</td></tr>
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After my soft year in Texas, Jim Janney was so kind to help me back in hard-man's class V. It is hard to catch a good photo of him not because he doesn't fire huge, but rather because he's always rallying off to fast to focus the camera. I still need more of the West Prong and Raven Fork, so I hope to find myself at his house in the rain again soon.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim: N. Chick</td></tr>
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This year I was able to wet the appetite of my very favorite River Betty. Her shuttling skills, while not quite professional like Justin's wife Lori, have become polished. She's also paddled down the Gauley a handful of times and lit up Bayless' Boof. Her tick list includes the forks of the Salmon, Rogue and Deschutes. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jess representing for the CO </td></tr>
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The 'rado boys showed up to the party as well. Alex Clayton was first, but we took all the shots with his camera, so I don't have any. Justin convinced Lori that they should 'vacation' in the SE this fall:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justin redeeming his frequent flier miles</td></tr>
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My other boys rolled out for Gauley season. Joel just couldn't miss the Green while I was SE livin' and Mother Green didn't disappoint. We got a spectacular 200% day and Joel got the joy of just rolling Hammer Factor - blind. "You only get one shot to run it blind" - DD</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damn fine Mank Crew!</td></tr>
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One amazing aspect of paddling in the Southeast is the quantity of stellar kayakers. Meeting big names in the kayaking industry just requires showing up at the putin. If you want to paddle with them, just pick up the phone and ask. Toby MacDermontt started by bumming shuttles from me, but by the end he'd shown me the Linville, Horsepasture, and a 200% Gorilla.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Babelling</td></tr>
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Having all of these phenomenal paddlers around also really opens your eyes to exactly what is possible in kayaking. I watched Pat fire up a new line on Oceana, tail squirt the Triple Crown in pitch blackness, and launch a monster monkey boof backwards while 'racing' the Green. Dane rock spun the left line at Sunshine. Lil' A charges so hard that it's nearly impossible to keep up. I'm just here trying to make the 'classic' class V lines look good.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've got this shot of Pat at 1am as well. It was a little to dark to post.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowy is the all-around funniest guy I met. Who'd have thought that a Brit would know the best Mexican food in the Southeast?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lil' A fighting Gravity</td></tr>
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I met Scott Peaches while he was crankin' his Masters in Fort Collins. He then moved to Disgusta, GA for med school and I followed for my program. We were able to get out and get the charge!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinballin' around the nation</td></tr>
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And in the end, there was the Green Race. It is one of those pieces of paddling lore that I just had to play a part, even if minute. You can catch the Huckin' Duckie Cape in its full glory here at 3:50 (filmed by <a href="http://pilotcollective.com/">Pilot Collective Media</a>).</div>
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Cheers to all you boofers out there! Looking forward to sharing an eddy with you soon! The Mank Crew over-n-out to the Pacific Northwest via Kiwi land!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPEJU4gJ730pEapzOn5WSx5Tb7UPQ1-33HHFsYZTPWts3_-sGdQBYqXs9Q6ta-9bEycy6nT8X7L2T7vu56v3yu02KYtvgrV8d1GMOgEY6ER1S7W2zwEcOyk5YpZW4oN3gdFZH/s1600/IMG_4038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPEJU4gJ730pEapzOn5WSx5Tb7UPQ1-33HHFsYZTPWts3_-sGdQBYqXs9Q6ta-9bEycy6nT8X7L2T7vu56v3yu02KYtvgrV8d1GMOgEY6ER1S7W2zwEcOyk5YpZW4oN3gdFZH/s320/IMG_4038.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">True to the 'hood</td></tr>
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Huckin Duckiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631535006035019134noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-83400069319257252222012-11-20T21:48:00.002-07:002012-11-20T21:48:49.577-07:00Greg Parker's Year In Review<br />
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My 2012 goals were as follows...</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">1. Complete 2 months of strength training so that I am ready for the competition season.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">2. Top 3 finish in a professional event.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">3. Experience 3 personal first descents.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This past year marked a big change in my life. As the kayaking season was approaching, I was finishing up my first year of teaching as a Physical Education teacher and was going to spend my first summer as a full time resident in Colorado. I had spent the past 6 summers living and teaching kayaking at RMOC in Salida, but this summer was going to be different. I would still be receiving paychecks throughout the summer, so I didn’t have to work which would mean more kayaking in more places... or so I thought.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Unfortunately, there was no snowpack in the mountains. We all knew it was going to be a low water year, but nobody could have predicted how bad it really was. I remember checking the gauge on the Arkansas on a Monday in early May. The level has spiked up to 700 cfs. I had missed the first weekend of boating, but thought it would just be the beginning. Little did I know, the Arkansas would not hit 700 cfs for the rest of the season. As a result I didn’t experience any personal first descents.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">2012 Events</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In February I started a cycle of p90x. My goal was to complete 60 days, but I was extra motivated and I stuck it out for the full 90 days. I was strong and was ready to start training in May. The problem was that there was no water to train in and I went to my first event after just 1 hour of kayaking</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">1. BV Pro Rodeo- As the bell rang on my last day of teaching for the 2011-2012 school year, I jumped into my car and raced down to Buena Vista. I was pre-registered and placed in the last heat, so I could make the event if all went according to plan. I arrived in Buena Vista 30 minutes before my heat, so I had just enough time to get into my gear and take a couple practice rides. Needless to say, after a 8 month hiatus from kayaking, I didn’t do so well. I think I finished 11th, just missing the semi-final cut.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">2. Teva Mountain Games- After a few more days in the kayak, I was ready for the next event. I paddled well in prelims and semis and made the final cut to for the first time ever at Vail. It was exciting to paddle in front of such a big crowd and I was happy to stand on the podium (I was really just next to it) and to cash the 5th place check.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">3. Lyons Outdoor Games- Lyons has always been a friendly spot for me to compete. I paddle well in the hole, there is a slightly smaller field to compete against, and it has a general calmer feeling especially when compared to Vail. I felt great during my rides, but was just squeaked out of finals and finished 6th.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">4. Fibark- Salida was my last chance to make a top 3 finish on the year. I was hopeful that the water level would peak and Salida would be at a great level for the competition. Instead, I arrived at a small stream with hand piled diversions dams to direct the water over the playspot. I am accustomed to paddling in these types of features, but not in Salida. I had never seen the Arkansas so low. This spot truly was a challenge and I was surprised we could score such high rides. I managed to finish 5th place.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">5. Nationals at KWP- I thought Fibark would be my last event of the year, but I wanted another shot. I had paddling well all summer, but couldn’t get my top 3 finish. I drove to Idaho on Sunday night and had 5 days of training before prelims on Friday. This was very interesting to me, because I went through multiple stages of training for an event. Typically I arrive on Thursday and compete on Friday which doesn’t leave much time for training. In Idaho, I got used to the feature, mentally scored my rides, learned new tricks, mentally scored my rides, changed how I set up to go faster, video taped my rides, scored my rides on paper, edited a video of an “ideal” competition ride, visualized my rides, took a rest day, and then practiced my rides with a timer. It was fun to work through the process and I could see drastic improvements as the week went on. On Monday I was getting trashed in the hole and on Friday I was scoring 800 point rides which were good enough for my best finish at Nationals- 7th place.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">After Idaho, I made a trip to Glenwood and then it was time to put away the kayaking gear. I was only mid-July, but the water levels were so low it made Colorado boating nearly impossible. Instead, I switch my focus to climbing and relaxing before the new school started.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">2013 Goals</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">1. Have more fun and less stress at competitions. For years I have set a goal of finishing in the top three at a big professional freestyle event. I would still like to achieve this goal, but I am realizing that it may not be possible unless I am willing to make certain sacrifices. Years ago I thought about these sacrifices and I made the choice to have a “normal” life that involved kayaking as opposed to a kayaking life. I decided I wanted the “normal” life because it would be more balanced and therefore more sustainable. I am happy with my decision, but am learning that I need to accept that I may never be on the top of the podium. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">2. Have a memorable experiences on the river. Much of my recent kayaking history has been dedicated to training. I playboat to learn new tricks and to train for events. This is fun and I enjoy the challenge, but I want to step back because kayaking has more to offer.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">3. Create <i>Anybody Can Kayak! River Running</i>. My dad and I are thinking about creating our fourth kayaking instructional video.</span></div>
Greg Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08935653788439163900noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-25433147118240496462012-11-01T11:40:00.000-06:002012-11-01T11:40:48.087-06:00Get the Buzzz back!!!It has been a rough year to be a Colorado kayaker. I know. I was there back in 2001 or was it 2002? I'm still trying to block it out of my memory. Yet, I'm still heartened to see on the <a href="http://www.mountainbuzz.com/forums/f11/so-what-runs-did-you-knock-off-in-12-a-45619.html">Buzz</a> that people got out and crushed it anyway. <br />
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So this post is going to be for those of you who may have forgotten, just a touch, about how unbelievable kayaking is. <br />
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Remember the first time you stuck the hell out of a scary rapid or big trick? John Pilson explains the physiology:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31470320?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="400"></iframe><br />
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Nailing the left boof at Double Trouble gets me every time.<br />
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The Buzz is unreal. Sometimes after a big day on the river, I'll be driving home just jittery with excitement. I just can't wait to get back on the water. Rapid lines will day-dream through my head all week. <br />
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Motivation can be lacking. The Green is 3 hours from my house and the closest goods I've got. But I have never regretted a single day on the river. I wrote that last sentence on this very blog, years ago and it has held true every river day since (although I don't know if my wife would agree?). Speaking of my wife, she has notices every week whether I've been kayaking or not. I am more upbeat, positive and generally excited about all things when boatin' is part of my weekly routine. <br />
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What else can I say? Some people like kayaking. Joe looooves kayaking!<br />
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Enough of that sappy BS. What you all need is some stoke to get you talking about your winter paddling trips!!!! How about this shot of the original <a href="http://www.mountainbuzz.com/forums/f11/lyons-games-writeup-on-paddlinglife-25708.html">doublet</a>, as in The Toby, finishing off Staircase on the Horsepasture:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4K_bqnmvkBN66ovCJ1mbEcoyFb9vSd-gl8dpy6yZxao3C7Pb06ql8-NIkyhkvwHzmPzOo-QfISBy49fSvZnZ4F4WD0uke07CyUDoLXlazCYp7teCTJxBMmhIbLPsDGSo6FpGc/s1600/IMG_0282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4K_bqnmvkBN66ovCJ1mbEcoyFb9vSd-gl8dpy6yZxao3C7Pb06ql8-NIkyhkvwHzmPzOo-QfISBy49fSvZnZ4F4WD0uke07CyUDoLXlazCYp7teCTJxBMmhIbLPsDGSo6FpGc/s320/IMG_0282.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think you can call this a Grip of Waterfalls</td></tr>
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Everyone in the kayaking community is discussing the treatment of our ladies. Well, here are some photos of ladies laying Treats!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRP3PWc3D1exwEUNAAZDbGCdC0He0hsJjpk2-7W6XJBfdx-QP8IMa3VpBSN7wv2DmGJXw0hPreg0zPac9IE2T-rOgoHdQFQdp_EJgYWeBfUTKJ7hX9-eXCFSb3cOe04xJSrza/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRP3PWc3D1exwEUNAAZDbGCdC0He0hsJjpk2-7W6XJBfdx-QP8IMa3VpBSN7wv2DmGJXw0hPreg0zPac9IE2T-rOgoHdQFQdp_EJgYWeBfUTKJ7hX9-eXCFSb3cOe04xJSrza/s320/IMG_0231.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lil A' slaying you Marginal Monsters</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tHt-fwF4Ky1HdqHZEuzIObxzEvfOZrdpVvyHKuJKNgrS0R7q4typ-qdUflWnZFeCTkFMPXlJcujumRUsoVpoVfemo-jAVq0tBoX2uMpieVKXDLglqutrlGYPxfb2wmhoIDQj/s1600/IMG_0320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tHt-fwF4Ky1HdqHZEuzIObxzEvfOZrdpVvyHKuJKNgrS0R7q4typ-qdUflWnZFeCTkFMPXlJcujumRUsoVpoVfemo-jAVq0tBoX2uMpieVKXDLglqutrlGYPxfb2wmhoIDQj/s320/IMG_0320.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken on the class V Horsepasture... does it get any better? Katie D</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrWefCEKfsrvsW1Jg6DTjgBK1LFPAiKvmwwpximw7jgj1szu7Xye12J9Lr8NHEU5wTCYYke5__c24wkkS_wtYjzkEqlzDfke9ejsVtZFWzF6AQjDTOc6itseSCj1xrxJVkIvb/s1600/IMG_0390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrWefCEKfsrvsW1Jg6DTjgBK1LFPAiKvmwwpximw7jgj1szu7Xye12J9Lr8NHEU5wTCYYke5__c24wkkS_wtYjzkEqlzDfke9ejsVtZFWzF6AQjDTOc6itseSCj1xrxJVkIvb/s320/IMG_0390.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shannon following Toby down the Stairway to Heaven</td></tr>
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Some have <a href="http://www.mountainbuzz.com/forums/f11/green-race-whos-gonna-win-45630.html">suggested</a> that I might be able to take the ladies division this year at the Green Race, which is a compete fallacy. I couldn't beat her if I was in front of a Duo with her steering in the back. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xx3syV9X9yPdTxx_mTd_dNpgbzUSr0PzxuEGZAN_mm9CDbfa9APFxzVlpxVD6i-42pUr8wV9uBwXS3RTOECynOLOLPzG1KKhPAFbSl-5DeJxEA_DKxyWCxvyVeRmGlxeBZp3/s1600/IMG_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xx3syV9X9yPdTxx_mTd_dNpgbzUSr0PzxuEGZAN_mm9CDbfa9APFxzVlpxVD6i-42pUr8wV9uBwXS3RTOECynOLOLPzG1KKhPAFbSl-5DeJxEA_DKxyWCxvyVeRmGlxeBZp3/s320/IMG_0194.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gravity cravin'</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdM6GYEXKACsVjjSfbULmrMUk_bgbVa2hVyeo2ZtjIBbuSEBBCgaAMnBB9ye8pkQ79G9qfp1XCZFWJ3r6X7FmoNIS4Aelhw_jaSkT0CFCVfgjvve7Z9_xiA6FWAQ_HRkMjXNE/s1600/IMG_0520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdM6GYEXKACsVjjSfbULmrMUk_bgbVa2hVyeo2ZtjIBbuSEBBCgaAMnBB9ye8pkQ79G9qfp1XCZFWJ3r6X7FmoNIS4Aelhw_jaSkT0CFCVfgjvve7Z9_xiA6FWAQ_HRkMjXNE/s320/IMG_0520.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The prettiest Janney getting out of the Drunk Tank</td></tr>
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And there you have it. Some killer chicks from the SE!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfFsv9GiyjoCND2qV0hfj3S7fIpjMnGNHuy-LWmQGy2uD3ZnXwjDehG4MWzWi1WE5pSyrwxpjRHSjYug7OTxRvF9XEUPCegi7D3t_MpQ-NpRZMbE7j9tRs3RgQ6h8wHYeEKx3/s1600/IMG_0427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfFsv9GiyjoCND2qV0hfj3S7fIpjMnGNHuy-LWmQGy2uD3ZnXwjDehG4MWzWi1WE5pSyrwxpjRHSjYug7OTxRvF9XEUPCegi7D3t_MpQ-NpRZMbE7j9tRs3RgQ6h8wHYeEKx3/s320/IMG_0427.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'I love kayaking!!!!'</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbow Falls</td></tr>
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If I'm gonna post photos of kayaking chicas, I better post shots of their husbands golden stroking:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlToM1ZFNxBaiF3xmf902Yk_efK451r4aUkIK49hcl7p3hvqZG5-R8h2uWBBHwldRXggbLIzGX0ZxGcdtxlNb5yglKMhALR_3sXooFHvvdoqHwUaeDH-CPITeMLvY9l-E8K1xT/s1600/IMG_0332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlToM1ZFNxBaiF3xmf902Yk_efK451r4aUkIK49hcl7p3hvqZG5-R8h2uWBBHwldRXggbLIzGX0ZxGcdtxlNb5yglKMhALR_3sXooFHvvdoqHwUaeDH-CPITeMLvY9l-E8K1xT/s320/IMG_0332.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zac</td></tr>
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Now, as you all know by now, any blog post originating in the Southeast must include gratuitous photos of the Grandaddy Green. Has anyone ever told you that this diamond gemstone runs 300 days/year? Get out here EVAN STAFFORD!!!! I'm starting to consider the very real possibility that Evan's nerves have gotten the better of him? <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little 2hunge flow just Left of Death</td></tr>
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Our boy Justin caught the plane flight:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That looks like an awkward feeling on the way to a first Triple Crown. (Justin Merritt)</td></tr>
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Parting Shot:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justin riding the lightening!</td></tr>
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Huckin Duckiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631535006035019134noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-60976359957736005742012-10-21T10:40:00.000-06:002012-10-21T10:40:02.066-06:00Little White and the Colorado Fall Blues<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Given the exceptionally dry weather in Colorado this fall and little to no great kayaking opportunities, here is to thinking about the next kayaking trip. Little White Salmon, March 2012 with Ben Luck and Louis Geltman. Lots of water, lots of wood, lots of sunshine and a whole lot of good paddling.</div>
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<i>Nathan & Matthew Klema</i></div>
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<br />Matthew Klemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06060241658024411754noreply@blogger.com69tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-31330278347004174252012-09-10T07:34:00.000-06:002012-09-10T12:46:50.214-06:00Bailey Fest 2012I've been attending Bailey Fest since it started 3 years ago. Every year once it's over I leave thinking that it couldn't be any better, and every time I come back it's even rowdier. Bailey is a class 4+ 5- run. Bailey Fest is a class 5+ party. It gets wild. This year there were 4 kegs of Oscar Blues beer at the put in party and camp area and 40 cases of Oscar Blues beer at the take-out extravaganza.<br />
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If you go to Bailey Fest you can enter a number of competitions for prizes. This year I entered the world famous foamie race and won an awesome IR fleece. The grand prize was a Jackson Zen. BBQ from the local restaurant Hog Heaven for the party at the put-in as well as a hang over breakfast in the morning. At the party Saturday night, they premiered my movie Unlimiting Factor which was really cool to see projected on the big screen. I made a short edit from Bailey Fest. Juice Sauce.<br />
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Enjoy<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/49140115?color=ffffff" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="500"></iframe>
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/46901359?color=ffffff" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959650940570736132noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-4557239999355096752012-09-05T18:40:00.000-06:002012-09-05T18:40:38.176-06:00Upper Upper CispusLate August in the Pacific Northwest really means one thing for local paddlers... It's time to make the yearly trek to the Upper Upper Cispus. Most everything around has long since dried up and summer is coming to a close. Just as you find yourself looking ahead to the rains of November. Wham-o, the UUC drops in and we're all treated to a few weeks of summer time steep creeking.<br />
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The run itself mostly consists of class IV - V boulder gardens intermixed with some smaller slide and falls. This all changes and the bed rock begins to creep in as you approach the lower gorge. Approx 3 miles into the 5 mile run.<br />
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The crux section of the run consists of a steep and powerful boulder garden in the bottom of a vertical walled gorge that is directly above the lip of a 30 foot waterfall called Behemoth. The boulder garden itself isn't too difficult, but it certainly has a class V feel to it with the big drop just down stream. Adding to the suspense is the fact that the entire series is must run and it's fairly difficult to get out of your boat after running the gorge. Go with someone you trust and be prepared to run a 30 foot drop without a scout.<br />
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Directly below Behemoth is a sticky 6 foot ledge with a nasty hole on river right. If you run the big one correctly, 90% of the time you're going to end up gutting the worst part of the 6 foot ledge. Paddle hard!<br />
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After the sticky hole there is a big pool and everyone has a moment to catch their breath before dropping into the last series. This quarter mile long boulder garden is as good as it gets. Stay right the whole way and keep boofing.<br />
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Then entire series combined has to be one of the better 1/2 miles of white water around and something that shouldn't be missed if you're in the Portland/Hood River area at the end of the summer.<br />
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I snapped the following shots a few weeks back and have been back in the past two weekends as well. Enjoy.<br />
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Cruise Control scouts the Put-In Falls - This drop is a mere 200 yards below the launch.</div>
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Headed down</div>
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Melting the Put-In Falls</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-TZFj3DL11r6rrwMRCYoKdIqJDdi-NsgJBgmVWpEYhETN_Fp-zKbVkhmL5zHVpJVwpxZf3okwhv7qVzM_tIu8wPG97XbPDeOuCaeStW80Jm99lAn1KFbnnTaSPS6QgdvRHH5vA/s1600/P1040840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-TZFj3DL11r6rrwMRCYoKdIqJDdi-NsgJBgmVWpEYhETN_Fp-zKbVkhmL5zHVpJVwpxZf3okwhv7qVzM_tIu8wPG97XbPDeOuCaeStW80Jm99lAn1KFbnnTaSPS6QgdvRHH5vA/s320/P1040840.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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John Edwards on the same drop.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOetVrxDXPUs2OXDVe41o72NsxwGA7LYOKv_2Ua2EQ8A57ehY3DBsRl-KhXwg_Iie-iEiv4OemEcOjOoWmwjqUC1JQwhl01QSctnaAFSOZQaUrfOYlY8AHHMs2xpMwpk6YxvhkQ/s1600/P1040841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOetVrxDXPUs2OXDVe41o72NsxwGA7LYOKv_2Ua2EQ8A57ehY3DBsRl-KhXwg_Iie-iEiv4OemEcOjOoWmwjqUC1JQwhl01QSctnaAFSOZQaUrfOYlY8AHHMs2xpMwpk6YxvhkQ/s320/P1040841.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Typical boulder gardens on the upper 1/3</div>
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The right line at Island - Boof Early</div>
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Dan Rubado finishing off the right line.</div>
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Island from below</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f0js-F-UYDDY8t4ES6E72dugvWWfNaOlsoVV8VksNvP_a6mfwpYxffdOC0jDbYjkyBDvWYGbOZLLz5VQ1mQFo3ScQDHnRAwZacmALoIL7PO-Y7s-Ikw4JKyDh5B3zdsR8te6Eg/s1600/P1040850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f0js-F-UYDDY8t4ES6E72dugvWWfNaOlsoVV8VksNvP_a6mfwpYxffdOC0jDbYjkyBDvWYGbOZLLz5VQ1mQFo3ScQDHnRAwZacmALoIL7PO-Y7s-Ikw4JKyDh5B3zdsR8te6Eg/s320/P1040850.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And again. The bottom hole can be munchy.</div>
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That's me running the lead-in to Behemoth</div>
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And.. Clawing my way out of the hole right above the lip.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLJNRzVk7eTwNoKEfa_69zp7f7opOCMiQViSRht7kobd5NP3_GPqyIZX3CdqnK0IRtP7bapJYtVAqJseSeMTlVNE8fz1YVy77E8tjQnxq5sj9Hl_lDspkhNGCqjUD5lI1FZ4sNQ/s1600/P1040858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLJNRzVk7eTwNoKEfa_69zp7f7opOCMiQViSRht7kobd5NP3_GPqyIZX3CdqnK0IRtP7bapJYtVAqJseSeMTlVNE8fz1YVy77E8tjQnxq5sj9Hl_lDspkhNGCqjUD5lI1FZ4sNQ/s320/P1040858.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Looking back up the gorge - Standing at the lip of the falls.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanB_J5DRF09FM68BJ7Y5aBVEGdlEsfuAaMZ1pynwwfCq4oe3g1SSnL-V-0l4Ax_6gprxrwPpqQoPrVIdC5beM0M74D0m-ZBLoJmAlmlfZZvooBZlDb-o90hN7ATfqqV_QuDfX4w/s1600/P1040862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanB_J5DRF09FM68BJ7Y5aBVEGdlEsfuAaMZ1pynwwfCq4oe3g1SSnL-V-0l4Ax_6gprxrwPpqQoPrVIdC5beM0M74D0m-ZBLoJmAlmlfZZvooBZlDb-o90hN7ATfqqV_QuDfX4w/s320/P1040862.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's hard to get out of your boat at the lip, but manageable with the right ninja moves. - Scouting</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYuCAQSuxnejl9EnfPmt5StsXub929dtkbbX08YTQJBHFPrspxtqWOYNDtTgvk5mWlAk9-p0tpT56WQcVrENdcOL4qTndCBeMM4kGeO70THLMD0MkzXruz79KqulAesK1kbIQFQ/s1600/P1040866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYuCAQSuxnejl9EnfPmt5StsXub929dtkbbX08YTQJBHFPrspxtqWOYNDtTgvk5mWlAk9-p0tpT56WQcVrENdcOL4qTndCBeMM4kGeO70THLMD0MkzXruz79KqulAesK1kbIQFQ/s320/P1040866.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Looking down into the final boulder garden</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhb6mV7bZXnQ4It8veoznRklyzhWjSP_J4xyzEJeTfJB3XBh1w3gP617b0jnyL03RF1j1dgbF4hwic5nw9Y191lqIG2ppIfPowJo7nK-3uRKcth6JqIPdie4x6eSEHvepbJ2BiQ/s1600/P1040868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhb6mV7bZXnQ4It8veoznRklyzhWjSP_J4xyzEJeTfJB3XBh1w3gP617b0jnyL03RF1j1dgbF4hwic5nw9Y191lqIG2ppIfPowJo7nK-3uRKcth6JqIPdie4x6eSEHvepbJ2BiQ/s320/P1040868.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Brooks Foster gutting the ledge hole below Behemoth</div>
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Cruise Control on the big one.</div>
<br />Natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746166840200638365noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-88091134497077712422012-07-31T17:15:00.001-06:002012-08-02T15:15:09.591-06:00What's in a Sunshine photo?It finally happened. I sacked up and ran Sunshine at a normal flow of 100%. It's not even close to being the most difficult rapid I've run or the most dangerous. Not the most remote, not the tallest, not even the most challenging of that day. <br />
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But Sunshine has a mystique. Every hard paddler has seen a photo. A 10 foot falls that crashes down on a rock shelf, which causes a claymore mine explosion of water into the air. There is exactly one boat-width of salvation on the left or the right. Either direction is a classic cross current move to the lip. Losing your angle risks losing your legs.<br />
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The stories are legendary and relentless. Millions of tales from the first D to attempts at 'gapping' the shelf and onto the discovery of the left line. Crashes have occurred backwards, hairy side down, and pancake flat onto the anvil. Over the years, nearly imperceptively the pillow shrank, the little wave got bigger, and the right eddy became stronger - or so I've been told as I'm no local. The left line became the new right line. Legends echo up the gorge and through the foliage on a summer day.<br />
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I have seen scores of paddlers fire it. Some slick, some grating. Hack jobs and Olympians, kids and old-timers. Three strokes in either direction and you're a hero or a zero. I watched, watched, and watched. Several times I tried to force myself into the boat, only to find myself clipping the rappel rope yet again.</div>
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Finally, one day the sun was shinning, which means nothing as the drop is named Sunshine for glaring reasons. But rather, it was finally sunny in my mind; I was smiling on the inside. The day had come.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your's truly</td></tr>
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Sure, it's not the best photo. After years of dirt-bagging photos on the blog, my wife finally surprised me with a SLR camera. I'm slowly discovering that this shot is a little over-exposed with two slow of a shutter speed causing motion blur. Yet it is a really neat personal photo. It places me into the legends of the water along with uncounted others. It's one of those photos that never get old to the people who are in them like boof shots of Double Trouble, Entrance Falls or Oh-Be-Joyful. The photo gives a moment of pride in accomplishment and reflection on a long successful journey with rivers. </div>
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My skills have equaled this drop for a long time. My first Gorilla spanking was in 2004. I had boofed my way down the Green at midnight with just slivers of moonlight in the weeks before this photo. I have been paddling class V for 10 years on three continents, 5 countries and 17 states. I guess all of the experience gave me the patience to wait for just the right day and I was able to truly savor the flavor. Or maybe it just makes me a pansy? That is a razor thin line that never gets clearer with age. <br />
<br />Huckin Duckiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631535006035019134noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-50315910809736349962012-07-23T12:37:00.000-06:002012-07-23T12:37:18.756-06:00Acobamba Abyss section of the Apurimac River, PeruThe summer issue of kayak session features the Acobamba abyss section of the Apurimac river in Peru. We never did a write up on that particular part of our trip two years ago so we though we would share some pictures. Amazing river and amazing canyon. With Matt Wilson, Evan Ross, Ryan Casey and Ben Luck.<br />
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<i>Photos: Matthew & Nathan Klema</i><br />
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<i><br /></i>Matthew Klemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06060241658024411754noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-35405920566647661512012-07-18T15:27:00.000-06:002012-07-18T15:27:31.868-06:00On the Road (part 1)For two weeks I got to travel to Missoula, Montana and Cascade, Idaho. We left Salida and headed to Wyoming, where we surfed Lunch Counter. It was pretty insane! After a fun time there we headed to Missoula for the USAFK championship. When we first got there, we had to adjust to the fact that it gets dark at ten o'clock. It was pretty nice. On the other hand, the wave was changing constantly. At times the whole wave would turn green, and other times it would have a nice pile. After a couple days of training, and eating ice cream at the Big Dipper, it was competition time. The first day the junior women just receded. The wave was unattainable and after our four rides I ended up in a tie for second with Lauren Burress, but the tie broke my way, which put me in 2nd behind Sage Donnelly. The next day..... it was finals. Out of the three rides my first ride was the best. Unfortunately that wasn't enough to beat Lauren's third ride. I ended up third behind Lauren and Sage and third in the point series. It was a pretty successful and fun event!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson, Wy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch Counter</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willow Slide into the Clark's Fork </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Dipper Ice Cream w/ Kady Kellogg and Sage Donnelly </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missoula </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brennan's Wave</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Podium<br /></td></tr>
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<br />Anna Schehrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115356098775378465noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-46874803083952440412012-07-16T19:02:00.000-06:002012-07-16T19:02:58.881-06:00Mini expedition warm-upIn the amazing guidebook to the rockies (<a href="http://www.coloradokayak.com/Whitewater-of-the-Southern-Rockies.html?sc=26&category=19">WWSR</a>) there is a section on the back of the book that has lists of check-offs, such as best after work runs, best hike in runs, most likely places to swim and expedition test pieces. The list consists of the best 5 runs to test your expedition skills on and consists of: Hellsgate of tonto creek (AZ), Black Canyon (CO), Rio Brazo (NM), Bull lake creek (WY), The box (WY). <br />
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This year was a pretty dismal snowpack for colorado with most runs not seeing enough flow to boat but lucky for me I just moved to Durango. This year was amazing down here if you like running valliceto and pandoras box (and who wouldn't?), they were in for 3 months at great levels. Together with being the top runs in the region in both difficulty and quality, they both make you work for your whitewater or as the local boys say "keeps the rif raf away". Expedition boating along with great skill takes two main factors, being in shape and mental strength to paddle all day, two things living in durango with allow you to practice.<br />
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Having already completed 3 of the 5 runs on the list this year looked like the year to check em all off. Lucky for me I was able to have a good combination of flow and access to get to the rio brazo and find another person to hike 18 miles into bull lake at high water. And I was also able to do another run on the list (Black canyon) twice in one day and complete a 3 day mission on the north fork of the little wind. <br />
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Expedition paddling is what drives me (and lots of other boater) because it gets you away from the world for a few days and allows complete focus on just kayaking. The list in WWSR is a great spot to look for anyone looking to test themselves and to get on the best whitewater the region has to offer. Maybe someone can get them all done in a season, that would be fun wouldn't it.......<br />
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Enjoy some of the pics!<br />
-Tom<br />
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Tom Janney Brazo falls</div>
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Will Rawstrom hiking into the brazos</div>
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Freemont Shieds exiting the brazos canyon</div>
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Food for 5 days (note the peanut m&m's, a must have)</div>
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sunset on bull lake</div>
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deadman's lake, the putin for bull lake</div>
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Scott dent on bull lake</div>
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a family of fuzzy friends on bull lake=glad to have bear mace </div>
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Jim Janney black canyon</div>
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Painted wall black canyon</div>
<br />Tom Janneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15684987509390575692noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-53351196710626941952012-07-09T15:44:00.001-06:002012-07-09T15:47:53.164-06:00Low water blues? Go Stand Up Paddling!It has been a bleak year for h2o in Colorado and New Mexico. A lot of the classic runs never really had any run off to speak of. Never fear, SUP is here. Even with the low water, Stand Up Paddle Boarding is a total blast. If your running a class 2-3 drop, you will get a class 5 feeling in your gut without the consequences. Surfing waves on the river or in the playparks is a total blast. Go to your favorite lake and enjoy the quite and the scenery while getting a great work out.<br />
Just down the road from <a href="http://www.coloradokayak.com/" target="_blank">CKS</a> is the Buena Vista playpark in <a href="http://www.southmainco.com/index.php/riverpark" target="_blank">South Main</a>. Staircase wave is a total blast once you have your surfing feet under you. For beginners, the wave just below it will give you hours of surfing bliss. All this is a blast at these lower flows. The low water class 2-3 Fraction section of the Ark just upstream of BV is a great training ground for SUP river running. A weekend spent doing these SUP activitys in BV will have you grinning ear to ear.<br />
Top off your surf sesh with a cold pint at <a href="http://www.eddylinepub.com/" target="_blank">Eddyline Brewery</a> and the trip will be complete.<br />
<a href="http://www.coloradokayak.com/" target="_blank">Colorado kayak Supply</a> has SUP rentals and all your <a href="http://www.coloradokayak.com/Shop-Now/Stand-Up-Paddle-Boards/" target="_blank">SUP needs</a> dialed in. Call <a href="tel:719%20395%208653%20x%202" target="_blank" value="+17193958653">719 395 8653 x 2</a> for rental packages.<br />
I'm loving the <a href="http://www.coloradokayak.com/Radiant-3-0-Wetsuit-NRS.html" target="_blank">new wetsuit from NRS</a>. It is priced right and keeps me warm and protected when I hit the water. <a href="http://www.coloradokayak.com/results/#%21&ea_q=astral" target="_blank">Astral</a> makes a PFD called the <a href="http://www.coloradokayak.com/Sea-Wolf-Astral-Buoyancy.html?sc=26&category=950" target="_blank">Sea Wolf</a> that is perfect for SUPing. The <a href="http://www.coloradokayak.com/SUP-Leash-with-Quick-Release-Belt-NRS.html?sc=26&category=972" target="_blank">NRS leash system</a> works great for SUP and ocean Surfing. I'm also digging this <a href="http://www.coloradokayak.com/Accent-Max-FX-Adjustable-SUP-Paddle.html?sc=26&category=37844" target="_blank">pricepoint adjustable SUP paddle from Accent</a>.<br />
<a href="http://www.southmainco.com/" target="_blank">South Main</a> also just finished a new Beer garden area called <a href="http://www.facebook.com/thebeachbv" target="_blank">the Beach</a>. Music will be had every Saturday through out the Summer. Pretty cool.<br />
If your in New Mexico, hit up the local class 3 Racecourse run on the Rio Grande or head over to the Chama for some of the best SUPing around.<br />
Get out and try Stand Up paddling. It is a blast. See you out there......<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaron Koch on Staircase</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaron doing his best John Wayne</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mariela tearing it up on Satircase</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rach and Aaron tandem surfing</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atom chillin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atom throwing away the paddle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Praying for rain</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atom and Aaron doubling up for a surf sesh</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atom on the Racecourse, NM</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atom trying stuff</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I might need to buy property in BV</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate enjoying the Chama, NM</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zhcOVSIWslmBgZF3Z103EvitGR8q3VROqa0THPcOZTLfd-dAoRLu2yS5FsRqJU27xiJCYkH64Idq5klGoIXNTxBgOC7GaUIjtn-YHOXjHYAMjKEsHnxgraT0O1dkHvriY5ajmA/s1600/chama2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zhcOVSIWslmBgZF3Z103EvitGR8q3VROqa0THPcOZTLfd-dAoRLu2yS5FsRqJU27xiJCYkH64Idq5klGoIXNTxBgOC7GaUIjtn-YHOXjHYAMjKEsHnxgraT0O1dkHvriY5ajmA/s400/chama2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate and the Chama's beauty</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEJdYe-Yno_EDf8LzkC6OfaJfAJd7Oq5UXz47eWhOzVz1h7mgBEmnAoMBIyJ5C-MXO02bx_LAsA42VhGMjkfy7WmFGhnuCZ4TcIn0BJCe6v9HPbdac0VN3Js6LpNVINkcmhbZmA/s1600/grace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEJdYe-Yno_EDf8LzkC6OfaJfAJd7Oq5UXz47eWhOzVz1h7mgBEmnAoMBIyJ5C-MXO02bx_LAsA42VhGMjkfy7WmFGhnuCZ4TcIn0BJCe6v9HPbdac0VN3Js6LpNVINkcmhbZmA/s400/grace.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not only can Rach SUP, but she owned the Pimp and Ho party in BV</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjN9iXUyClA3UCy2alQoloMOlA1GEBfn3mOVOoQczZpRhtj5H-b-qDpxhNO157InSVmvGSVg96ShWjJtKOVd0Nr5Hd_J3omHqqqX6tZVPx45d7kiZpo-r0CHQjMEnEriacs6_nw/s1600/josh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjN9iXUyClA3UCy2alQoloMOlA1GEBfn3mOVOoQczZpRhtj5H-b-qDpxhNO157InSVmvGSVg96ShWjJtKOVd0Nr5Hd_J3omHqqqX6tZVPx45d7kiZpo-r0CHQjMEnEriacs6_nw/s400/josh.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proof that there is more than just kayaking. Josh Bechtel SUPing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SLgODv9aG-KktPnXvMWZPapDJg5_HNMEeDdNLtfxKwrbdaCd7A74JrZW8DHhPO6OODxPk-kPgJvGgTYV1_DIa4r5wxGj9-teeK1axko4Yx_LIsmfSQGkgjc4_BKGNRT8omkBCw/s1600/mar1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SLgODv9aG-KktPnXvMWZPapDJg5_HNMEeDdNLtfxKwrbdaCd7A74JrZW8DHhPO6OODxPk-kPgJvGgTYV1_DIa4r5wxGj9-teeK1axko4Yx_LIsmfSQGkgjc4_BKGNRT8omkBCw/s400/mar1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mariela showing how its done</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSbxTsE45eSk6Cco_yy9uJGTYumMmP4vz7Uf-DiQCOzMdEHSRJlGCFcIxLOFKd7SO43agtapaAnA3E_QVIbMba2eIFshphaA3p5Lyj3NfXXINRnU0CEBTdP0peMk7N3VknySQ3A/s1600/natesup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSbxTsE45eSk6Cco_yy9uJGTYumMmP4vz7Uf-DiQCOzMdEHSRJlGCFcIxLOFKd7SO43agtapaAnA3E_QVIbMba2eIFshphaA3p5Lyj3NfXXINRnU0CEBTdP0peMk7N3VknySQ3A/s400/natesup.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate on the Racecourse, NM</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHf8ziOqFEr7pt7dUYYTcRCBhIa5_cO67bz7SWpziuzzgG-_PZoCxghqP6u8exE9IJlbY72zyg-VHzv5N-Q3ISCK8x4NnwF5HSLPSOzBfauxsGG-mbOBycuWdl5Yj227AaqGOPpA/s1600/pattyb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHf8ziOqFEr7pt7dUYYTcRCBhIa5_cO67bz7SWpziuzzgG-_PZoCxghqP6u8exE9IJlbY72zyg-VHzv5N-Q3ISCK8x4NnwF5HSLPSOzBfauxsGG-mbOBycuWdl5Yj227AaqGOPpA/s400/pattyb1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SUP legend patty B!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtRtoBpgg2T39Cb7_oFaZRWqpr0NAPi244nn9Yb5MQ7fYOyyBaNpe-3H4sIwGQiCJXHkqRWkMQphNfmh1DxfG6f9LyCH3Kii2aGWNBNkvoOPNnTU72Hd6wFNCMhDOsqBGr4UKCA/s1600/rach1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtRtoBpgg2T39Cb7_oFaZRWqpr0NAPi244nn9Yb5MQ7fYOyyBaNpe-3H4sIwGQiCJXHkqRWkMQphNfmh1DxfG6f9LyCH3Kii2aGWNBNkvoOPNnTU72Hd6wFNCMhDOsqBGr4UKCA/s400/rach1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rach and the Sesh</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rach enjoying a longboard</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rach on Staircase</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My morning view on the Rio Grande</td></tr>
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<br />Atom Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932393639333519674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-7710081734006006142012-07-06T16:57:00.001-06:002012-07-06T16:57:33.818-06:002012 Nationals Training<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been in Cascade, Idaho this week training for the 2012 National Championships. The feature is a big and powerful hole that is hard to be quick and consistent. I made this video to help my training. Check it out and stay tuned for results.Greg Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08935653788439163900noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-3871768251433208922012-07-02T15:49:00.001-06:002012-08-02T15:15:49.776-06:00Single day perfection?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Which is the best kayak run in the country? As a creeking aficionado, names like the Clarks Fork Box of the Yellowstone, Upper Cherry Creek, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and the Perth River come to mind. Other big water trips like the Grand Canyon of the Colorado or Middle Fork of the Salmon definitely rank on the list. But for me, the entire list involves multiple days on the water and nights in the wilderness. So my thought today over a cold beer while playing with my kayak outfitting remains, which is the best single day run in the country? It would have to have a perfect combination of these characters:</div>
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1. Wilderness - this is why mind blowing runs like the North Fork of the Payette will never top my list. I need wild animals and minimal people with epic vistas.<br />
2. Quantity of rapids - Bailey Canyon on the North Fork of the South Platte is out.<br />
3. Quality of rapids - Sorry Upper South Boulder Creek, but you are basically golden boofs found in a choss pile of rocks. Minimal portages also counts in this category. <br />
4. Full Day Length - The Green River Narrows has all of the above laid out in short coarse format. The Raven Fork of the Oconaluftee drops 1,000+ feet in 2.6 miles. <br />
5. Fun Factor - insanely subjective category that includes glory boofs, photogenic character, relatively limited danger score, and utterly variable things such as boating partners, weather and my own personal sense of zen. Hence, everyone has their own set of favorite runs likely different from mine. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVc8qq6h6RYeeXOYvJhCIlnj33Eq1AMy_EH-ilyKWsCV4SPu-SLiw7sprT2qMzbglNjO9yRvCiOSW59v3YNqC9xzh4LPd2nXYPcgSiw_78MEaMZ5dIeIONkCCNWOzNxaQjTggL/s1600/IMG_2489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVc8qq6h6RYeeXOYvJhCIlnj33Eq1AMy_EH-ilyKWsCV4SPu-SLiw7sprT2qMzbglNjO9yRvCiOSW59v3YNqC9xzh4LPd2nXYPcgSiw_78MEaMZ5dIeIONkCCNWOzNxaQjTggL/s320/IMG_2489.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">doublet to lighting it up</td></tr>
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Up until last month if asked about the best single day run, I could easily fire off a single run: the Big South Fork of the Cache La Poudre. It is a multitude of clean challenging oversized drops laid over 12 miles of crystal Wild and Scenic water that has nary a portage, but a multitude of moose, elk, trout and raptors roaming high alpine meadows. The Big Steezy, no question. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDvXyOS3lLQ2SjQ_K6_rVwEYisqGjZoCpPDef6WexTnnJ3M4ukEQ4VJ3zzp-KRz-CIVd77TlVitXQbnfdxyQCV09VDSkf9QtDtJdgDeC5b__FEsV9xAxumPG33b9lFSs1Nye6/s1600/Leif+Cool+World+HIGH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDvXyOS3lLQ2SjQ_K6_rVwEYisqGjZoCpPDef6WexTnnJ3M4ukEQ4VJ3zzp-KRz-CIVd77TlVitXQbnfdxyQCV09VDSkf9QtDtJdgDeC5b__FEsV9xAxumPG33b9lFSs1Nye6/s320/Leif+Cool+World+HIGH.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leif Emberton stomps Cool World at ridiculous flow while National Geographic Adventures of the Year stood by in amazement. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOo5ot6qx5TEXtV-4Hhq7O0GTTYzV_3Z9FfFvap0iHA_J340FZoUmVlJTqClbZCA_ZySYYVoGuARPVNJXJxwCZ2aBND89YWuUy-bcWvNIKWXR3Q09j4B9zEgbMNV0U8MSHrAC/s1600/Double+Trouble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOo5ot6qx5TEXtV-4Hhq7O0GTTYzV_3Z9FfFvap0iHA_J340FZoUmVlJTqClbZCA_ZySYYVoGuARPVNJXJxwCZ2aBND89YWuUy-bcWvNIKWXR3Q09j4B9zEgbMNV0U8MSHrAC/s320/Double+Trouble.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yours truly bringing pink back, double.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeassjdk9Ibrv8hZx675VWEzW0Yj2HOyeRFNo3kY3MNmNGJdQKMgdO6i7U0imJ4QdxDxpFizVLFfqv_kr7iUDcesrf98rvC-T9XdKcYWSuegsv30DaUjDScnuizI7GoAPzdH1z/s1600/IMG_2484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeassjdk9Ibrv8hZx675VWEzW0Yj2HOyeRFNo3kY3MNmNGJdQKMgdO6i7U0imJ4QdxDxpFizVLFfqv_kr7iUDcesrf98rvC-T9XdKcYWSuegsv30DaUjDScnuizI7GoAPzdH1z/s320/IMG_2484.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Steezy McStafford glory boofing perfectly slideways</td></tr>
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Don't get me wrong. West Prong, Vallecito, Robe Canyon, USB, Kokatai, Chirripo Pacifico and the Crystal Gorge among a lot of other runs will all blow your mind. But the Steez just has the quan. Then a curious thing happened.... it rained, on a Saturday, over the Linville River and a crew turned up after many inquires. One of them you 'rado boaters may recognize:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ukmj_SI9SQ0opwKCVZG2iiUPQIbXb23_5EdwmkW1fYFjQFW47Xkrr3m3hgyFfmEwjoAm1o_uGqYpSiEUM04DhpNvLQo32rg54piF9DhmIpTdRUwDdhXwCt9d4b7pHWkcmWSI/s1600/IMG_3953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ukmj_SI9SQ0opwKCVZG2iiUPQIbXb23_5EdwmkW1fYFjQFW47Xkrr3m3hgyFfmEwjoAm1o_uGqYpSiEUM04DhpNvLQo32rg54piF9DhmIpTdRUwDdhXwCt9d4b7pHWkcmWSI/s320/IMG_3953.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scotty Peaches, who once went GA to CSU but currently considers medicines in Augusta.<br />
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Our other member some people may remember from a kayaking video (or 20) sometime in the recent past:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9QaEnbxB88yVfARcaKIZjeOAadIgWSeg_nrLNrJrlY4dEBZypcltgHrDKV0C8CKcggUVyXseDbth9rQY6K04UfQfUPbitmelebsgvHEKcBiEnA0l6_8t3HryBBjvu1q6IpbG/s1600/IMG_3972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9QaEnbxB88yVfARcaKIZjeOAadIgWSeg_nrLNrJrlY4dEBZypcltgHrDKV0C8CKcggUVyXseDbth9rQY6K04UfQfUPbitmelebsgvHEKcBiEnA0l6_8t3HryBBjvu1q6IpbG/s320/IMG_3972.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The LVM smoothness, Toby MacDermott</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The first legitimate challenge is getting into the gorge. Options include a lengthy mellow float or 45 minutes straight downhill charging:<br />
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But the rewards are clear even before reaching the get-in.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-01mDkEHUlQmOXPQVmbspUrdF7TidIaV1YADvjBqq0OXoOmlW1hPi4MAOBIjWs-C5mxX6WE8bMYtpr4UeJuufzfwBM-4T23rpnVpCtdZKPEhWyh1MSufeHNHjSyJt-1wOIoog/s1600/IMG_3957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-01mDkEHUlQmOXPQVmbspUrdF7TidIaV1YADvjBqq0OXoOmlW1hPi4MAOBIjWs-C5mxX6WE8bMYtpr4UeJuufzfwBM-4T23rpnVpCtdZKPEhWyh1MSufeHNHjSyJt-1wOIoog/s320/IMG_3957.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdWfTPNArkTUnh7x8pRY4Q9tkqEn90lD4z5Z2uRb0jtFppSlrQhlOePOIQNN1UcNwN4aR-Li-h6KNpauQiKVccCyUHvXg2xkF5M2VkxaSfTiIaKW1HQv1FVywB-_Y_04wX3uE/s1600/IMG_3961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdWfTPNArkTUnh7x8pRY4Q9tkqEn90lD4z5Z2uRb0jtFppSlrQhlOePOIQNN1UcNwN4aR-Li-h6KNpauQiKVccCyUHvXg2xkF5M2VkxaSfTiIaKW1HQv1FVywB-_Y_04wX3uE/s320/IMG_3961.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a moment of sunshine before the chaos ensues</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6NsHwnPY1BK_8Lhkjxsw4Rft4EwaCNtgOM_ZuBvCH9PRGTaR2nGoxrrVMFesCamraKMw03cP6gh7nUwnMK2XgZSz5CGBDAE3H31fi8V4Raz3dMWBNl1eUf0VJJuDQ3VJMQle/s1600/IMG_3962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6NsHwnPY1BK_8Lhkjxsw4Rft4EwaCNtgOM_ZuBvCH9PRGTaR2nGoxrrVMFesCamraKMw03cP6gh7nUwnMK2XgZSz5CGBDAE3H31fi8V4Raz3dMWBNl1eUf0VJJuDQ3VJMQle/s320/IMG_3962.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dropping!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysvW705svnuncKE1U6BTxCybA5VQGs29t7RJX_4L-cPwlq4gd_bwnMUUcKx76aCtsgyJPUhEJ9qMJc7iFIaL8FWLYlgMBp96e0h8yy3rez1eI_T1PqaCHJSoC7Nvyh3QZogd2/s1600/IMG_3969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysvW705svnuncKE1U6BTxCybA5VQGs29t7RJX_4L-cPwlq4gd_bwnMUUcKx76aCtsgyJPUhEJ9qMJc7iFIaL8FWLYlgMBp96e0h8yy3rez1eI_T1PqaCHJSoC7Nvyh3QZogd2/s320/IMG_3969.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The Linville has a ridiculous number of rapids and an overnight session is definitely a possibility for an unwary or over zealous group. There certainly are more portages on the Linville that the Big South, but some of them lead to impressive places:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopZMFPf_IZzYkLdlkh8DkDePURJexpEUVN7O8x6232vELD0-mBm4kbPUEAwKQOUPySwgkZZQ2UuRflfw3DHNFwfOIKwPmU7xbCS5_zPjLSgwe30_HMGR9EBxmkMS0yJN2YWnu/s1600/IMG_3978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopZMFPf_IZzYkLdlkh8DkDePURJexpEUVN7O8x6232vELD0-mBm4kbPUEAwKQOUPySwgkZZQ2UuRflfw3DHNFwfOIKwPmU7xbCS5_zPjLSgwe30_HMGR9EBxmkMS0yJN2YWnu/s320/IMG_3978.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toby demonstrates Cave Falls</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0kWmi8nYyT_HbRUAuMLfWXasA759xB74vBF_Pn_aOgmTvPF0oIGkRLhPuTI4BH2xUqPcPcIPZub3AAgAawvUN-iP6_rxPF-VrEb2J7zqHoEchR-_wJgL7rza-xwI0PvVzUUY/s1600/IMG_3976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0kWmi8nYyT_HbRUAuMLfWXasA759xB74vBF_Pn_aOgmTvPF0oIGkRLhPuTI4BH2xUqPcPcIPZub3AAgAawvUN-iP6_rxPF-VrEb2J7zqHoEchR-_wJgL7rza-xwI0PvVzUUY/s320/IMG_3976.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of those completely original drops</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtG78cSV_kyLmNEobU-t0pnklMSijl3PfD8gAARBqFbZXm2_D6cvVfF4dHY5H8a21o4evmhevZT-kvcyY31jHkAUTa__x1MQ-qvyUBa6xAJigJVBRFFGv_Qi2WgUJN4jWLuk9/s1600/IMG_3980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtG78cSV_kyLmNEobU-t0pnklMSijl3PfD8gAARBqFbZXm2_D6cvVfF4dHY5H8a21o4evmhevZT-kvcyY31jHkAUTa__x1MQ-qvyUBa6xAJigJVBRFFGv_Qi2WgUJN4jWLuk9/s320/IMG_3980.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is called the Bob Ross gorge and I suppose it is because he'd paint a happy little tree on top of a happy little gorge that contained a happy little boof session overlooked by a happy enormous table mountain.</td></tr>
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So the Linville has plenty of rapids, a deep committed wilderness gorge feeling, and a multitude of glory boofs. It also has a significant hike in and out, supremely dangerous sieve drops and a fair number of portages. Just as I started to sense the Linville might be one of the uber-classics, the river really kicked it up a notch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPfzqXL0Ypl06WL4oZ4Lyi7-pUNLotXcVNEsKMOI_ZxUpr0vPG_UgAB14bQLgcqWJ7_YPhDlcKYuHWJ_gx6LMUEmBKdA7uaU-cBfmJwxz06lTH1vZNzAah_1vB2fc-kaIiAB7/s1600/IMG_3988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPfzqXL0Ypl06WL4oZ4Lyi7-pUNLotXcVNEsKMOI_ZxUpr0vPG_UgAB14bQLgcqWJ7_YPhDlcKYuHWJ_gx6LMUEmBKdA7uaU-cBfmJwxz06lTH1vZNzAah_1vB2fc-kaIiAB7/s320/IMG_3988.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peering in</td></tr>
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<div>
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The Cathedral Gorge is one of those committed, tight, dangerous, adrenaline fests that just keeps calling me back over and over again. It truly kicks the Linville into the creme de la creme of kayak days. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjad9cm5nbXr0gGql7qp3-JYcuLWQQOhx_hDMop66PpdI9_N7VhujcMN5JLKhcxVzAe1JtGut6uQBYjgQ3HklhHENsv-fJp02hanE_8rZIat87Nvweg6EmPN9wVrowbqugplt/s1600/IMG_3991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjad9cm5nbXr0gGql7qp3-JYcuLWQQOhx_hDMop66PpdI9_N7VhujcMN5JLKhcxVzAe1JtGut6uQBYjgQ3HklhHENsv-fJp02hanE_8rZIat87Nvweg6EmPN9wVrowbqugplt/s320/IMG_3991.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ducky feeling minute but basking in South East glory</td></tr>
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The hike out keeps you honest. No overweight off the couch boaters allowed. The Green does not qualify you. Vallecito is a warm-up. 1,100 feet of vertical in 1.2 miles. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbLjK12jvtCeCVa-IPaJaQeGXqCDnDHg6snqJrVc4hsyKeMUVuFEQytSHv8Iy2rQoGM7o9Q4zpCYb8x2dQME6cln76AkoYTD1NcuzP3yk9Ordl-yE66H8g5hXleZg3aD5IE7c/s1600/IMG_3995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbLjK12jvtCeCVa-IPaJaQeGXqCDnDHg6snqJrVc4hsyKeMUVuFEQytSHv8Iy2rQoGM7o9Q4zpCYb8x2dQME6cln76AkoYTD1NcuzP3yk9Ordl-yE66H8g5hXleZg3aD5IE7c/s320/IMG_3995.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good friends know how to provide good rally motivation! Col Cold PBR represent!</td></tr>
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Better than the Big South? It's got gobs more rapids. It's more scenic, deeper in the woods and more committed. It has some beautiful drops and some classics unlike anything else. A superb guide and bluebird spring day combined with smooth lines to create the perfect vibe. The dual hike is a blessing and a suffer-fest. There's more portages and more danger, but less mank. In the end, it's hard sayin' not knowin'. I guess I'll just have to keep on going in 'till I'm sure....<br />
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</div>Huckin Duckiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631535006035019134noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-1766847002968054362012-06-27T10:32:00.003-06:002012-06-27T10:35:12.619-06:00Some North Fork Of The Little Wind Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here's a few pictures from my recent trip down the North Fork of the Little Wind. This run has some classic drops which are cleverly hidden within miles of heinous boulder mank. Be leery of blogs that compare this run to Big Kimshew or Upper Cherry. Still it was a good mission and fun was had by all.</div>
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Tom Janney running one of the top slides in style.</div>
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Xavier Engle in a slightly more typical rapid.</div>
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Tom Janney on Double Drop.</div>
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Tyson Titensor on Double Drop</div>
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Xavier Engle arriving at the put in after him and I got lost and bush wacked for several hours.</div>Nate Klemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06609392989065993162noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-85587425215993095402012-06-22T11:22:00.000-06:002012-06-22T11:36:03.945-06:00Kayaking<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">So far, this summer, freestyle kayaking has taken me to many places including, Green River Wyoming, BV, Lyons, and Salida Colorado. Even with low water conditions, it has been a lot of fun and tough competition. I've gotten to meet lots of new people and experienced a lot of different features. The first competition was in Green River. There, we got served breakfast, lunch, and dinner on competition day. As far as the competition, I ended up fourth behind Brook, Sage Donnelly, and Lauren Burress. The second competition, in BV, I also came in fourth behind Sage Donnelly, Rowan Stewart, and Lauren Burress.I got some very valuable help there from Claire O'Hara, Dustin Urban, and the Donnelly's. Before Lyons, Dustin Urban helped me out with a bunch of different things, which helped tremendously. In Lyons, after the much needed help from Dustin, I came in fourth again behind the same three as in BV. By far though, Lyons was my best competition and I scored my first 100 point ride. In Salida, the water was extremely low and many people formed a rock wall so the water would channel, and make the feature better. When the wall was first made the hole ended up a bit trashy, but then a few more rocks were added, and it was as good as it was going to get. I first competed in the raft rodeo. The rodeo was a blast and a bunch of fun chaos. I then competed in the big trick competition, for only women, and for $100. Haley Mills ended up taking that with some very huge air. As far as freestyle, junior women again went straight to finals. Our rides were between heats of SUP cross, and again I ended up fourth behind the same three. It was a lot of fun and I almost got my loop. As for now, we are headed off to Missoula, Montana and then to Cascade, Idaho to finish off the tour. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green River</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKisnorGrzGVnV2RKyPbZbu8vOjasXNS27T6VR-hClgBpKYsLZ8e0wvemAQixNc8w2cTpBkUW4loRBZJL1KeqvbqIRnusK9G2r7qX-cHZnOAKmLS-ThaA4kpBLVDbtOjl8jd4GkQ/s1600/DSC_0056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKisnorGrzGVnV2RKyPbZbu8vOjasXNS27T6VR-hClgBpKYsLZ8e0wvemAQixNc8w2cTpBkUW4loRBZJL1KeqvbqIRnusK9G2r7qX-cHZnOAKmLS-ThaA4kpBLVDbtOjl8jd4GkQ/s320/DSC_0056.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buena Vista</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3i2C1u2fi_5_mFf7MPnWWa7IvanFa4kgRTFgdy5lJDnsaycIwPpE5MUJvBnOvdmLjiF4__8KjiNm-urkKksnwPhmosh5TKB5vIO_ndra660HPmT38qeArW4G3OZLy4JG8qn2DEw/s1600/DSC_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3i2C1u2fi_5_mFf7MPnWWa7IvanFa4kgRTFgdy5lJDnsaycIwPpE5MUJvBnOvdmLjiF4__8KjiNm-urkKksnwPhmosh5TKB5vIO_ndra660HPmT38qeArW4G3OZLy4JG8qn2DEw/s320/DSC_0062.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BV</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5przhSxu64q9TVQ2jKrikocs7Dj-b3v_oP44J-9mUzAO5fMKkTdDZSXhTcWYbFNvhwkhp2JLQZpIGYkRJu22iu34KQeIY8yoEQrQlVa2UdFzGsUtpN5-sIlkM4uyw3ykn-1taCg/s1600/DSC_0053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5przhSxu64q9TVQ2jKrikocs7Dj-b3v_oP44J-9mUzAO5fMKkTdDZSXhTcWYbFNvhwkhp2JLQZpIGYkRJu22iu34KQeIY8yoEQrQlVa2UdFzGsUtpN5-sIlkM4uyw3ykn-1taCg/s320/DSC_0053.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lyons</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lyons</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4jUtfWz_PYgeDv_mn0gbgQUOgQRUNEvXEhNlxIr5E9i2o3ePhjwZ8u5kAc5XUWZ53VPqfkJo2WgElCVtyovWkCWDFiIYZlTTpMOYZz7DzkpBCh1RsnzQ6l20uL4eykGvfPqphg/s1600/DSC_0084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4jUtfWz_PYgeDv_mn0gbgQUOgQRUNEvXEhNlxIr5E9i2o3ePhjwZ8u5kAc5XUWZ53VPqfkJo2WgElCVtyovWkCWDFiIYZlTTpMOYZz7DzkpBCh1RsnzQ6l20uL4eykGvfPqphg/s320/DSC_0084.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lauren and Rowan and I in Lyons</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team Sages </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKwLP3jkIfgwXwYrLfAeUoWaMBTJtJqLAvEuVU2fxHdY49pPrCjmjyGbmCUVkXQC2p4JOcYhbjO7si6206uvKeQiF30bWgRpvwIFH4a7mFraVZYfccNOxjsoxeSj6g9XbTlnbEw/s1600/DSC_0105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKwLP3jkIfgwXwYrLfAeUoWaMBTJtJqLAvEuVU2fxHdY49pPrCjmjyGbmCUVkXQC2p4JOcYhbjO7si6206uvKeQiF30bWgRpvwIFH4a7mFraVZYfccNOxjsoxeSj6g9XbTlnbEw/s320/DSC_0105.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team Sages and the Kellogg Show</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXe18A0s1XYxSiIHWwrOh5aoifcOZckN32WGWhJiqzlVErQI6c5S2OScajLaucbz_B5fUELE3uzUyDkjYtJjHGggjNsOoHkzwRQWS07AJeX55iobC62zKL7hvAFhPJEE7W77UwQ/s1600/DSC_0074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXe18A0s1XYxSiIHWwrOh5aoifcOZckN32WGWhJiqzlVErQI6c5S2OScajLaucbz_B5fUELE3uzUyDkjYtJjHGggjNsOoHkzwRQWS07AJeX55iobC62zKL7hvAFhPJEE7W77UwQ/s320/DSC_0074.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fibark</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuv_IIQmICNT9qx0dKMe7XNWakV4AlE3KF80dQkVl_IS701QGsZew9xKA3EMjD6Bwa9gXx2C5IuYMxwbYvBBygBWMSmLF-KCtri7-EXA7fKLwiabJGiM7zPnl101nNWtc6aG6DA/s1600/DSC_0087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuv_IIQmICNT9qx0dKMe7XNWakV4AlE3KF80dQkVl_IS701QGsZew9xKA3EMjD6Bwa9gXx2C5IuYMxwbYvBBygBWMSmLF-KCtri7-EXA7fKLwiabJGiM7zPnl101nNWtc6aG6DA/s320/DSC_0087.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fibark </td></tr>
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<br />Anna Schehrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115356098775378465noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-30786171672041513002012-06-20T11:00:00.001-06:002012-06-20T11:00:07.258-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My dad filmed a edited a video of the Fibark Freestyle Finals. Check it out.</div>
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<br />Greg Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08935653788439163900noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34877971.post-6035611459469161372012-06-10T16:24:00.000-06:002012-06-10T16:24:43.079-06:00Adam Barron SSV Creek scrape 'n' race 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Words by Kyle McCutchen</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Tina Swan</span></i></div>
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A scorching hot 97 degree day melted away what was left of our plastic kayaks after we banged them down the Narrows section of South Saint Vrain Creek, just outside of Lyons, Colorado for the annual Lyons Outdoor Games' Adam Barron Memorial Creek Race on Saturday, June 9th. Despite depressingly low flows, the race still happened, and the wet rocks course provided an entirely new challenge to kayakers looking to cash in on some nice prizes. </div>
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Dave Fusili exits the entrance rapids to the Narrows. Lot's of mank and low water pin potential influenced times in this upper section... not really the type of thing any of us would normally run. </div>
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Seventeen year-old Spencer Huff made a proud showing as the only Lyons local to race. Shown here entering the crux section. </div>
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And I gave it a go, executing two spectacular piton's on my first lap. Fortunately, I was pleased to pull things together my second lap and finish with a time I was pleased with, but damn those pros are fast!</div>
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Jeremy Laucks in the crux.</div>
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Dave Fusili negotiating one of the more interesting sections. </div>
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EJ in route to a win. </div>
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Craig Kleckner airs out one of the best drops of the run.</div>
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The same drop as seen from below. Paul Palmer was the only other Colorado local to race this year. </div>
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The double drop can make or break a time. Clay Wright sticks it.</div>
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Brian Kirk finding the delicate balance between hitting the fast cross-current left line for a winning time, and pitoning his brains out, as a handful of us (myself included) did. </div>
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And just when you think it's over, one must negotiate Jihad! Mike Patterson finds the low water line.</div>
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So... I know it looks like I just wrote my name in... pretty sure Kyle McKlusky from Wisconsin was actually me. And given the field of competitors that came out for the race, I'm pleased to claim a 9th place finish! </div>
<br />Cutchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141426358019072590noreply@blogger.com16