weekend update - spring begins to arrive

Sunday. Two laps on the Clackamas, Sunstrip to Bob's. Paul M. and I had a good time bombing down. We stopped at Toilet Bowl during the first run, and I was able to catch and carve the monster bronco wave at the bottom -- a breakthrough for my surfing ability, for sure. The nice weather during the previous few days had all sorts of people out enjoying the river. Cat boaters, commercial rafters, IKers, and dirtbag hardshellers, boating in (im)perfect harmony. Awwww....

Saturday. Two laps on the East Fork Lewis's waterfall run -- one in the morning with Luke and Dave B., and one in the afternoon where Oly and I suited up and launched from his house to join Kourtney, Kim, Paul, Grace, and Dave P. for the last half of the run. Oly and Brenda made a big rib dinner that everyone was late for, but were gracious enough to pull it out of the fridge for us when we arrived. I think I owe Oly some indentured labor for how not-smoothly the evening went off.

Friday. After-work run on the Clackamas, from Sunstrip to Bob's with Robbie V. Ran into Trevor R. and BSed over some El Jimador. Good times.

Thursday. After-work run on the Clackamas, from Sunstrip to Bob's with Luke. Kind of a tweener day for play, but got some nice rides on Teeny Weeny Wave and Bob's. I left my PFD in Ashland after the "Upper Klamath" race, so I rocked the outfit at right. Style. Sophistication. Female attention. Have it all with an old-ass orange rafting PFD!

higher-resolution Truss video

I've uploaded my Green Truss videos to Vimeo, which means they're much higher quality.

Upper Klamath River and Scott River

Bryan from Next Adventure shuttled us down to the Upper Klamath race in Deek's bitchin' Mercedes van, with a dozen boats and 11 people making the journey. It took us 5.5 hours and 4 cases of beer, but we made it. I think everyone liked my story about hunting with my dad and brothers and running into a trapped sheep. For some, it was a crash course in my sick sense of humor, I think. We arrived at Noah's Rafting, set up sleeping bags both inside the warehouse and outside by the van, and conked out, eagerly anticipating the next day's whitewater.

Saturday morning brought a clear and dry dawn. After a bomber breakfast at the Breadboard in town, we loaded up and hit the Upper Klamath. The Upper K is a classic big water Class IV+ run. We were fortunate that both turbines were releasing from the dam, so flows were around 2850 cfs, which made for more entertaining whitewater and fewer nasty rocks to hit. Caldera was definitely the highlight of the run, with about a quarter mile of big Class V-ish waves, holes, and funky hydraulics. Our kayaker crew styled it, with most of us running in playboats. We definitely did a good job of representing Portland kayakers.

Snow Saturday night forced Tim B. to relocate the race to the Scott River. We even had a couple of inches on the valley floor.

A highlight of the trip came when I was inspired to throw a wet sheet of plywood on one side of the huge bonfire we had and jump it on a borrowed bicycle, under the full moon on 4/20 -- twice. I flubbed the landing both times, but Ty styled it once and called it good. I don't have any hair left on my knuckles. Paul Gamache from Team Bigfoot let Robbie Virostek shoot some video -- apologies in advance for the camera work of an inebriated minor:



Here's the weird part: I hadn't read Willamette Week before hitting the road, and I only sometimes read the Free Will Astrology horoscope. After the trip, I returned to read this horoscope:


Ooh-wee-ooh! Spoooooky!

Northwest Creeking Competition 2008: a great success for the community

We had 80+ racers for the event, and the weather and water level cooperated perfectly. Big up to Luke Spencer for being the lead organizer. I think the turnout this weekend surprised everyone involved. If it's any bigger next year, we'll rival the legendary Green Race. (Photo at right is yours truly boofing Hammering Spot during the race on Saturday.)

Sunday. We had a huckfest on Sunset Falls (video by Cory Morton):


Before it started, Dingo, Jesse, Cory, Neil, Johanna, and I put in a few miles above the falls for a run. Johanna was killing it for her first time in a kayak (inflatable though it was), and doing on a solid Class III/III+ run. I tried out my newly-repaired AT2 paddle (warranty repaired to a 0-degree offset) and was loving it until it broke again. It's true what they say -- nothing paddles quite like an AT. If only they were stouter. I'm told the AT Flexi is not as brittle. Back to the factory with it, I reckon. After the huckfest, it was time to break everything down and load it back in the cars for the trek back to Portland. Oly and Brenda were consummate hosts, as always!

Saturday. We had a stunning turnout for the race! 80+ racers and plenty of spectators and event volunteers made for a fun crown on and around Canyon Creek. The weather and flows could not have been more optimal: 70 degrees and sunny, with the level 3-4 inches below the unit. The higher flows seemed to catch some people off guard, especially those who'd only done the run in the relatively dry weeks prior to the event. Around 8 boaters found themselves swimming out of Prelude to Thrasher, and a few racers found the need to take a quick dip mid-race, probably just to cool off. ;-) Party.

Austin Rathman put together a video of the race:


Cory Morton put together a slideshow montage of kayakers on Thrasher and rafters on Big Kahuna:


Friday. Feeling well-worked from a more celebratory-than-usual Paddler's Pint, I managed to rise early enough to gather my gear and some roadsigns for the weekend, and ended up driving my own car up to the event. More to come...

local dirtbag photo model revealed

If you see the Canoe & Kayak Magazine pictured at right, check it out...I'm in an Accent Paddles ad on the third page, hucking Sunset Falls. I'd been paddling all of 6 months when the shot was taken, and if Luke or Oly's shots had turned out, they'd be in their rightful place in the ad. I'm told I'll be able to pick up a few copies at this weekend's race, so I'm stoked to provide some genuine autographed copies to my family and any groupies.

...

Allo, groupies? Are you out there?!? Williekayak(at)gmail(dot)com. ;-)

Update. The ad came out! So far, the spoils of my newfound fame remain to be seen, but I'm sure the riches are en route. The actual ad is pictured to the right. The photoshop work is not particularly stunning, but I'm happy to say that, yes, Luke is my fearless leader, and I'd follow him on most any run, so I'm happy to "Follow the Leader" in the ad.

Canyon Creek never gets old

Tuesday. With the level 3-4 inches below the unit (around 800cfs), Robbie V., Ty, Eli L., and I had a sweet run after work on Canyon Creek. Since I may not be able to get a run in on Friday (due to Northwest Creeking Competition 2008 organizing/preparations), I was glad to get a weekday run in before the weekend. Still paddling the Prijon Hercules, and loving it more as I get used to it.

The weather forecast for the race is looking sweet, indeed! 70+ degree weather should bring some snowmelt to sustain the creek's flow at an acceptable level, and the water should be clear and cold. We've got Hopworks kegs lined up for the party, and everything else is coming together for a great weekend.

I spoke with Ernie, The Plastic Mechanic, by phone today. He's going to contact me tomorrow about receiving my boat and making a repair that should hold up to the punishment of Northwest creeking...

short form weekend update

Things have been hectic, so this is a terse post. I'll try to revise with some photos soon.

Sunday. One lap on Canyon Creek with Luke S. Johnny O., IKers Riley B. and Brad, and a couple of psychotic hole-melting riverboarders. 4 inches below the unit. Good times.

Saturday. Two laps on Canyon Creek with a crew of 8, then 7. 8-10 inches below the unit. Good times. Luke S., Chuck T., Ken "Steinbrau" K., Allen S., Dan T. from Ashland, and more. The highlight was Luke forgetting his helmet and styling the run in Dan's yellow Pro-Tec loaner. Photo of that hilarious sight to come, hopefully.

I've been paddling a demo Prijon Hercules from Next Adventure. They've been gracious enough to spot me this boat in my time of need, and I'll be able to use it for the race. Thank you, Next Adventure! You blow doors down!

Canyon Creek this afternoon, check

People get fired for graphs like that one all the time. -->

As kayakers, we can't fire Mother Nature, so sometimes we have to fire up some bony boating instead. I'll probably scrape down either Canyon Creek or the East Fork of the Lewis today.

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Friday. Sometimes you wish you could tell the junior executive you just fired for presenting a shitty graph that your ruining of his future was all just an ill-conceived practical joke.

Anticipating the worst, I was pleasantly surprised to find that snowmelt and precip each contributed a smidge to make a double-smidge of the very slightest juicing up of Canyon Creek, Washington. Laurence R. and I made it down in under 40 minutes, despite the relatively low level. We charged the 1.25 mi. flatwater paddle out across the lake and I felt well-worked after the run. I had some creative lines, kind of dicking around.

I found that the weld under my left heel on Das Frankenboot (my Bliss-Stick MAC1) didn't seem quite so bomber as I had supposed it to be. I'll contact Ernie, The Plastic Mechanic, early on Monday to see how stout his warranty is. Meanwhile, I've got a Prijon Hercules (thank you, Next Adventure!) to paddle Canyon Ck. with tomorrow and possibly Sunday, and will plan to use the same boat for the Northwest Creeking Competition 2008, unless Ernie can whip my boat into shape in short order. Hopefully, I won't regret the money I spent on his initial services...

I snapped a fuzzy picture of a rainbow over Mt. Tum Tum (a nearly-perfectly-conical cindercone that has been brutally clear-cut) on the way back from the creek. It had been a double rainbow just moments before. Given how crappy my cell phone camera is, the shabby buildings, and the wall of blackberries, I think it turned out okay. :)