Pictures on Riot Team website

Luke made a trip report of a Canyon Creek (Washington) run from a couple of weeks back, and a version was posted on the Team Riot website. I'm in a few of the pictures. This one, at Big Falls a.k.a. Big Kahuna, is probably the best one:

Lake Merwin

Johnny of the lake. Test of Picasa "Blog This" feature.

Canyon Creek Washington, in a Scud

Ryan Y. and I took Paul M. down Canyon Creek for his personal first descent. He ended up sideways and/or upside-down in a couple of the drops, but for a first run, I've got to say he styled it.

I demoed Luke's Bliss-Stick Scud, and found it to be great fun. It doesn't punch, track, or hold speed well, but it steers and boofs like a crazy mamma-jamma and I can bow stall it in flat water. It's the best 66-gallon playboat (er, creekboat?) I've ever paddled. ;) I'd like to own one someday for tight creeks and various dicking around.

We ran into some folks in a mongo conversion van with 7 boats on it, but didn't interact beyond a few polite helloes, at least on this day. (Ooh, the foreshadowing!) The weather was in the mid-70s and the level was about 6 inches below the unit -- perfect for a first time descent! I'm hoping this run will have enough water left in it when I get back from the upcoming Cali Gnarr Creeking Roadtrip 2008. More to come on that.

3 runs, great day: Canyon Creek twice and East Fork Lewis

Luke and I headed up on the morning and duoed Canyon Creek lickety-split and were met at the takeout by Johnny O. and some newly-met Seattle boaters (Chris B. and Nick S.) for another lap. I almost got munched in Hammering Spot the second time down, but managed a hole escape before the real beatings began. Level was about 3 inches under the unit. I used the ol' Frankenboot (patched MAC-1).

Johnny had to bail and Chris and Nick wanted to see more area streams, so we popped over to Oly's and Steven joined us for a nice East Fork run. We put in a few miles above Sunset Falls and I got to run that section for the second time...it's pretty nice. I was in Steven's 5-year-old Jackson Fun, which is a very undersized boat for me. We had a clean run, except for Luke properly pulling an abdominal muscle that he'd torqued escaping from Prelude to Thrasher on our second Canyon Creek run. A minor, but painful and disabling injury that forced him off the river for the day.

Nummy fish tacos (halibut and ling cod sent from Alaska by Mike!) with Brenda and Steven had us almost nodding off on the way home. A great day.

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...

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. :)

belated weekend update

(The cable modem at home was out over the weekend.)

Wow, it's been all Clackamas all the time of late. My playboating has really come along, though...I'm gaining better control over surf waves, and nearly-reliably flatwater cartwheeling (example) my RAD 195...on one side, at least.

Sunday. Once again, I hit the upper Clack, playboat style. This time, with Scott W. a.k.a. Werewolf. We ran into Todd R. and Ken H., and I got more highly-valued tips from the old-schoolers. I'm feel so blessed to have these old hands at the game advising and encouraging me.

Saturday. Playboated the upper Clackamas with Kourtni. More progress playboating, and a nice day out. Teeny Weeny and Joe/Bob's Hole gave up nice rides for me. Turns out that Kourtni is not a half-bad boating companion...who knew?!?

Thursday. Got out after work with Luke S. on the waterfall section of the East Fork Lewis River. It was nice to see Oly, and I got a bit more insight into Screaming Left Turn, which is probably the most technically challenging rapid on the run.

I've been a bit timid since I smashed my nose on Canyon Creek. Fairly peeved with my helmet manufacturer (who shall remain unnamed for now) for their continual delaying of the release of their full-face add-on. I'll be firing it up again, but with this year's 150%+ snowpack, I'm in no hurry.

Looking forward to Lochsa River, Idaho for Memorial Day. Also, this summer's Northern California trip with the elders should be quite nice. Man o man, I love kayaking. It might be the best thing that ever happened to me.

Northwest Creeking Competition coming April 12th/13th

The first annual Northwest Creeking Competition will be held on Canyon Creek, Washington during the weekend of April 12th/13th. On the 12th is a downriver extreme race with four classes of competition, followed by a simply smashing party at Oly's place on the East Fork Lewis River with video premieres, competitor prizes, a bitchin' raffle, and much good times. The 13th will hold a freestyle waterfall huck competition to see who can run Sunset Falls with the most style.

I'm proud to be helping to organize this event. Our goal is to bring it back to being the community-based and conservation-oriented event that it was it years past. Mad props to Luke S. (in the foreground on the flyer) for being the driving force in making it a reality. If you click the image thumbnail above, you'll see the flyer I made for the event. My longtime friend Bo R. will be heading up from Medford to check it out, and I'm starting to get pretty pumped for it.

weekend update - clack, canyon creek, and rest

Sunday. I'll try to get out today, maybe an afternoon Clackamas run. The last thing I'd like to do is hit my schnoz again. EDIT: didn't make it out Sunday. Took the opportunity to patch myself up.

Saturday. I rolled out with Oly to meet Luke S. and Deek for a Canyon Creek run. Our group swelled to around 18 before it was done: Neal F, Chuck T, Ken Braumeister, Cory N, the midget and Cory M, R.T. and co. from Seattle, Mari and her "old-school boater husband", Ryan M, et al. Given the amount of people on the run, the carnage was minimal. Level was about 6" below the unit...pretty mellow.

Saturday Carnage. Wildcard IK crossover Markus got pinned upside-down between a boulder and the wall of the gorge, which was scary to everyone but him for a moment. I managed to bloody up my face with a close encounter of the paddle-shaft-related kind at Big Kahuna (a.k.a. Big Falls) by sneaking up on the undercut wall from below. I was in a borrowed LL Gus, and paid the price for a launch line gone awry, boof gone weak, and a melt line gone sideways. My nose was bleeding profusely from both nostrils and a cut by the bridge of it, so I was scaring the children with my bloody visage, for sure. Maybe Dave G got a good shot of it when it was fresh...time will tell. It looks a lot better since I cleaned it up, and I should only look like Meatloaf (per independent assessments by Dr. Peake and the Honorable Luke S) until the swelling goes away.

Reunion. Dr. Peake is returned from Mexico, and he, Kourtni, and I had a chance to catch up a bit Saturday night...the two that made it happen, and the one that couldn't. He shot some great photos down south, for sure. Summer schemes are still being hatched.

Friday. I got out on the Clack after work for a short run that actually included some decent play near Armstrong. Todd R, Jim, and Oldschool Ken gave me some good instruction in the fine art of surfing gracefully. By the time I got down to Joe Bob's I was actually applying some of it, even! Lots of work to do there, but it's getting better quickly. It was nice to see that my friend Diana actually boats these days. Level was around 1800...perfect for Teeny Weeny Wave.

canyon creek with the oregon rafting team

Should be a good level for today. :)

Post-trip update:
I learn something every time I go kayaking. This time the learning was intense and tiring. Canyon Creek was 2" above the unit (high-ish medium flow), and had many lessons for me. While I had several moments of brilliance, I managed to swim at Prelude to Thrasher after getting worked for a while.

Being worn out from my out-of-boat experience and agressively setting safety for the rafting team had me exhibiting some serious lack of grace at times throughout the rest of the run. Near the end I was upside down on some rocks and bruised the point of my right shoulder. Owie.

Thrasher was touch and go. I had a good line on Kahuna, and Champagne and Hammering Spot were kind to me today. It was a good, if strenuous and injurious, day on the river. :)

Edit: I forgot to mention that Mike G. and Sam D. were along in kayaks for the trip.

Canyon Creek run

I seem to have run Canyon Creek on this date, as I found this stylee picture of Heather H. kicking it oldschool on my phone. :)