Kayak Festival Rience Is Characterized by Smelly Gear and Ping at the Mall, They Would Be on the a Deep-Seated Aversion to Personal Hy- River
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t the wed. the sion. Goahead, get creative. Now you've and Whip-It": 1 two new playboats with planing hulls and performance rails, to fit any body. Ingenious? Undoubtedly. Artistic? i That's up / to you. Team member, : Shane Benedid Photo by: Christopher Smith Journal of American Whitewater Volume XXXVII, N0.4 Letters ................................................. 6 I Forum ................................................. 4 I V Director's Cut by Rich Bowers Briefs ............................................... 96 V The Last Chapter of the Deerfield River Success Story by Tom Christopher River Voices .............................................. 74 V Swimming Crystal V Whitewater Whammy V Top Ten Paddling Tips V Take Me to the River V The Innovators More Tham A Conservation ............................................13 Vacation... Mark White V Tallulah Release V Amazing Grace (Idaho) Safety ................................................72 Meet Bill Masters V Playing Parents by Mark Johnson by John Weld V A Brush With Death by John Frachella Access ................................................ 21 Cover: Arnd Schaeftlein making the last move on Triple Drop, Cataracts of the Kern. Photo by Barry Tessman. Humor ................................................ 87 V How I Got to be Younger than Mayo Gravatt Events ................................................ 25 V AWA Events Central I Rodeo Highlights V 1997 Schedule of River Events Printed on Recycled Paper Publication Title: American Whitewater Issue Date: July / August 1997 Statement of Frequency: Published bi-monthly Authorized Organization's Name and Address: American Whitewater P.O. Box 636 Margretville, NY 12455 American Whitewa ter v July/August 1997 Lower Kern in California. Until American creasing awareness of river issues is also Whitewater and our friends in the Kern on track. A growing number of river fes- Valley got involved with relicensing is- tivals, rodeos and races are bringing the sues, this section was off-limits to issues to boaters and non-boaters alike. whitewater. Today it is one of the hottest Check out the "Events Central" section runs in the country. Keep reading this is- and find out how we are spreading the DirectoPsCut sue, and you'll learn how boating groups word on the Potomac, Kern, New, and bv Rich Bowers and local businesses are ensuring even Canyon Creek. more improvements for this river - All in all, we are pleased with the As I write this article, the Directors through education of children, festivals, progress of our strategic plan so far, and and staff of American Whitewater have on-going negotiations, and continued ef- in Colorado we renewed our pledge to just returned from our annual board meet- forts to increase private use on the upper improve rivers and provide access in the ing, this year held in Salida, CO and gra- "Forks" run. upcoming years. We will also redouble ciously hosted by the Arkansas Headwa- Find out how American Whitewater our efforts to make rivers safer for our ters Recreation Area (Colorado State continues to locate new rivers to paddle, members and for others. In the next Parks). This was a long weekend of both by resurrecting rivers long dewatered by year, you can expect to see an even hard work and play, as the Arkansas river dams. If you're ready for it, you can sign greater emphasis on education and safety was just peaking from a mixture of winter up for this November's first ever recre- issues. snowpack and spring rains. Interspersed ational release on Georgia's Tallulah As a wrap up, I'd like to extend to with discussions of programs and strate- Gorge - or find out about recent efforts to you and your friends an invitation to cel- gic plans were multiple high-water runs of improve Utah's Black Canyon of the Bear. ebrate these river victories with us at our the Numbers, Royal Gorge and Brown's Besides better boating, American annual Gauley Festival in West Virginia Canyon. Without a doubt, the Arkansas Whitewater is increasing flows for fish, (Saturday, September 20th). This is Valley is one of the most beautiful aesthetics, and water quality - all impor- American Whitewater's 40th Anniversary, whitewater valleys in the country. tant aspects of a quality river experience. AND WE ARE THROWING A PARTY! We The central theme of the meeting was American Whitewater is also dedi- bill the Gauley as the biggest boater get- a review of our Strategic Plan, first re- cated to ensuring access to river re- together in the nation, and we promise leased in 1995 and the primary motivator sources. One reason for holding our that this year's festival will be bigger and of our actions through the year 2000. Is meeting in Salida was the opportunity to even more fun than before. Party On! American Whitewater on track? Where celebrate with state and federal agencies And another 40 Years of Conserving and are we heading? And what have we ac- the opening of legal access to the "Num- Restoring America's Wildest Rivers. complished for rivers and for our mem- bers" section of the Arkansas. Find out bers? Each of these major questions was how a ten-year effort by these agencies, examined and debated in Salida. While Colorado Whitewater Association. and there is always more work to be done, the American Whitewater has finally paid off review of our progress for both whitewater for boaters. Celebrate also, American rivers and members was very positive. Whitewater's purchase of land which To avoid excruciating detail on meet- guarantees public take-out from North ing minutes, I'd like to highlight recent Carolina's ~atauga,and on-going efforts accomplishments by pointing out some of with the BLM to purchase an access site the articles in this edition of the Journal. to California's Consumnes river. Our cover showcases the "Cataracts" of the American Whitewater's plans for in- I The opinions expressed in the featires and eciitorials of American Whitewater are * those of the individual au- I thors. Thev do not necessar- Editor: Bob Gedekoh, &ox 228, ~.d:#4,Elizabeth, Pa. 15037 Emeritus Editor: Chfis Koll Contributing Editors: John Weld, Pope Barrow Art direction/Graphic design/Production: John K. Victor, 370 Belleview Ave., Chillicothe, OH 45601 Contributing writers: Carla Gamson, Jonathan Katz, Ed Ditto, Lee Belknap, Joe Greiner, Mark White, Bruce Farrenkopf, Nathan Lewis, Brik Miller, John Foss, Paul Tefft, Howard Davidson Production Assistant: Richard and Teresa Augustin Advertising Director: Phyllis Horowitz, Box 636, Margaretville, New York 12455 (914) 586-2355 Safety Editor: Charlie Walbridge, 230 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422; Phone 215- 646-01 57; fax 2 15-643-0668; email 735 14.17 [email protected]. Consenration and Access Editors: Rich Bowers, Rich Hoffman, 1430 Fenwick Lane, Sil- ver Spring, MD, 209 10 Phone (301) 589-9453 Fax (301) 589-61 2 l, email: 72732.401 @compuse~e.com,76435.73 l@compuse~e.com Missing Copies and Address Changes: Contact Phyllis Horowitz American Whitewater is printed by SPENCER WALKER PRESS, INC., Newark OH. All rights reserved. American Whitewater v July/August 1997 Innovation Service Simply the best! Nestled on a bend of the famed California Salmon (301) 746-5389 River between the Marble Mountains and the Trinity Second Skin Pile@ Alps you'll find kayak paradise - Otter Bar Lodge. tights, vests, and Our amenities are unmatched - a deluxe lodge, one-piece suits sauna, hot tub, masseuse and the food - well -how "Upper Youghw many sports lodges do you see recommended by Bon Riverside Shop AppBtit? (Sept '92) And our rivers are gorgeous with sections for all levels of paddlers - a natural P.O. BOX 70 Disneyland with A to E ticket rides! 276 Maple Street But what really sets as apart is our instruction- Friendsville, MD al program. We provide the best equipment and 21 531 you provide the desire to give whitewater kayaking a try. Our instructors are some of the best paddlers call for anywhere and our student-to-teacher ratio is Free Catalog unmatched at 3:1. This allows us to tailor your week to your needs. Beginning, intermediate or advanced. Want more rolling practice? ...work on surfing? ...hole riding? Not a problem -your week is as chal- lenging (or relaxing) as you want it to be! Ask us about our Women's Only Week - August 17-23,1997 and Kids' Weeks. Drop us a note or give us a call - we'll send you a color brochure! Otter Bar Lodge Forks of Salmon, California 96031 91 6.462.4772 United States by Mountain Surf, Inc. We provide everything but water for the western boatm.. ... and for the eastern boater, too. Call or write for your copy of our 96-page color catalog. We ship everywhere, and we're ready to provide for your boating needs. We are whitewater raft specialists, but we're also paddlers, and we carry the best names in the business. (Check out our website: www.casout.com) "Best Instructional Video" Waterwalker Film Festival (Canada) National Paddling Film Festival (USA) The Art of Precision Playpaddling Send $29.95 for each tape, @us$4.00 S & H. Cascade Performance Video & instruction, Inc. 550 Riverbend, Durango CO 81 301 OUTFITTERS (970) 259-1361 Fa~:/9701259-41 48 P.O. Box 209, Springfield, OR 97477 1 -800-223-RAFT (7238), American Whitewater v July/August 1997 friends paddling open playboats bail. I paddling which drives the market. Are we agree with Bruce; the Cascade is a decent so narcissistic and selfish that we can only boat, but not perfect. And yes, I would get our boating kicks in the solo position? like to see a wider variety of C-1's on the market. It's like Robert A. Heinlein said about Hang 'Em High sex: "Masturbation is cheap, clean, conve- An open letter to whoever is paddling But lets face it, the only times I nient, and free of any possibility of my granite (white with black speckles) paddle C- 1 are when I can't find a partner wrongdoing..