BY BOATERS for BOATERS November/December 2006

BY BOATERS FOR BOATERS November/December 2006

A VOLUNTEER PUBLICATION PROMOTING RIVER CONSERVATION, ACCESS AND SAFETY American Whitewater Journal November / December 2006

�� COLUMNS �� 3 The Journey Ahead by Mark Singleton �� 4 Safety First: What’s your Sign? by Eric Nies �� 6 Letters to the Editor �� 7 News & Notes �� 16 A Geezer’s Guide by Bill Kirby �� 60 AW Constitution ��

� �� 62 AW Bylaws �� 63 Vote for AW Board Members

65 The Last Word by Ambrose Tuscano ��

�� 66 Corporate Sponsors - Immersion Research �� STEWARDSHIP �� by Kevin Colburn, Tom O’Keefe and Dave Steindorf �� 10 Stewardship Updates �� 13 How Climate Change Will Impact Kayaking by Emma Johnson ��

FEATURE - Wet n’ Wild Creekin’

22 The Green Mile by Jeff West

26 Trials, Tribulations and Lots of Water by T.J.

48 The “When to Scout” Dilema by Steve Augustine

54 Upper Cherry Creek - Sugary Schweet by The Dogg

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Publication Title: American Whitewater Issue Date: November/December 2006 Brian Jennings honing his Statement of Frequency: Published bimonthly Authorized Organization’s Name and Address: creekin’ skills on the Gauley River American Whitewater Photo by Tanya Shuman P.O. Box 1540 Cullowhee, NC 28723 Printed on Recycled Paper River Stewardship: processes, grassroots advocacy, coalition building, EDUCATION: AW shares information with the An Integrated Approach empowerment of volunteers, public outreach and general public and the paddling community education, and, when necessary, legal action. regarding whitewater rivers, as well as river Our mission: “To conserve and restore America’s recreation, conservation, access, and safety. This is whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities RIVER ACCESS: To assure public access to whitewater accomplished through our bi-monthly AW Journal, to enjoy them safely,” is actively pursued through our rivers pursuant to the guidelines published in its a monthly e-news, americanwhitewater.org, paddling conservation, access, safety and education efforts under official Access Policy, AW arranges for river access events, educational events, and through direct the umbrella of River Stewardship. The only national through private lands by negotiation or purchase, communication with the press. organization representing the interest of all whitewater seeks to protect the right of public passage on all paddlers, American Whitewater is the national voice rivers and streams navigable by kayak or canoe, for thousands of individual whitewater enthusiasts, as encourages equitable and responsible management Together, AW staff, members, volunteers, and affiliate well as over 100 local paddling club affiliates. of whitewater rivers on public lands, and works with clubs can achieve our goals of conserving, protecting government agencies and other river users to achieve and restoring America’s whitewater resources and AW’s River Stewardship program adheres to the four these goals. enhancing opportunities to safely enjoy these tenets of our mission statement: wonderful rivers. SAFETY: AW promotes paddling safely, publishes reports on whitewater accidents, maintains a uniform CONSERVATION: AW’s professional staff works AW was incorporated under Missouri nonprofit national ranking system for whitewater rivers (the closely with volunteers and partner organizations corporation laws in 1961 and maintains its principal International Scale of Whitewater Difficulty) and to protect the ecological and scenic values of all mailing address at PO Box 1540, Cullowhee, NC publishes and disseminates the internationally- whitewater rivers. These goals are accomplished 28723; phone 1-866-BOAT-4-AW (1-866-262-8429). recognized American Whitewater Safety Code. through direct participation in public decision-making AW is tax exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service.

American Whitewater Journal Staff Board of Directors & Staff TOLL FREE NUMBER AW STAFF Editor Ambrose Tuscano Sutton Bacon 866-BOAT4AW Laura Blalock 14076 Northwoods Blvd. Truckee, California 96161 [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Bookkeeper Atlanta, GA Cullowhee, NC Assitant Editor Tim Catalano Chris Bell [email protected] Graphic Design/Production/Photo Editor Christie Dobson [email protected] Tim Kelley Asheville, NC [email protected] Kevin Colburn Contributing Writers Potsdam, NY Ambrose Tuscano, Mark Singleton, Kevin Colburn, Eric Nies, National Stewardship Director Rich Bowers Missoula, MT Tom O’Keefe, Dave Steindorf, Bill Kirby, Emma Johnson, Don Kinser Jeff West, T.J., Mark Twitchell, Barbara Brown, Steve Augustine, [email protected] [email protected] The Dogg Bellingham, WA [email protected] Marietta, GA Photo Contributors Dave Cernicek Carla Miner Cathy Howard, Effort.tv, Johnnie Kern, Christie Dobson, [email protected] Mark LaCroix Membership Manager Mark Singleton, Kevin Colburn, Dave Steindorf, Jon McLaughlin, [email protected] Christopher Pesce, Jeff West, Robert Peerson, Tanya Shuman, Jackson, WY West Valley City, UT The Dogg, Charlie Munsey, Megan Seifert Thorton, NH [email protected] Adam Cramer Events / Advertising Coordinator Ben VanCamp [email protected] Evie Locke P.O. Box 1540, Cullowhee, NC 28723 Washington D.C. [email protected] Thomas O’Keefe phone 828-713-5825 Charlemont, MA Pacific NW Stewardship Director e-mail: [email protected] David Ennis Seattle, WA Safety Editor Charlie Walbridge [email protected] Eric Nies [email protected] Route 1, Box 329F, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525 Bryson City, NC [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Morgantown, WV Mark Singleton Steve Exe Stewarship Reports Editor Aaron Pruzan Executive Director Kevin Colburn, [email protected] [email protected] Mercer Island, WA [email protected] Cullowhee, NC American Whitewater Magazine Task Force Jackson Hole, WY [email protected] Jeff Espy, Dunbar Hardy, Dale-Marie Herring, John Mason, Liz Ferrin Tanya Shuman, Ambrose Tuscano [email protected] Norwood Scott Dave Steindorf Santa Barbara, CA [email protected] Missing Copies and Address Changes San Francisco, CA California Stewardship Director [email protected] Jennie Goldberg Paradise, CA American Whitewater is printed by [email protected] Charlie Walbridge [email protected] The Printing House in Quincy Florida Seattle, WA [email protected] All rights reserved. Bruceton Mills, WV Ben VanCamp Joe Greiner Outreach Manager [email protected] BOARD OFFICERS EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER Raleigh, NC Cullowhee, NC President: Sutton Bacon [email protected] The opinions expressed in the features and Vice President: Don Kinser editorials of American Whitewater are those of Kristine Jackson Secretary: Norwood Scott the individual authors. They do not necessarily [email protected] Treasurer: Chris Bell represent those of the Directors of American Rock Island, TN Whitewater or the editors of this publication. On occasion, American Whitewater publishes Andrew Jillings official organizational policy statements drafted [email protected] and approved by the Board of Directors. These Clinton, NY policy statements will be clearly identified.

2 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 3 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 American Whitewater Shapes National Policy as Founding Member of the Outdoor Alliance The Outdoor Alliance has retained Adam Cramer (American Whitewater board By Mark Singleton member) and his Washington D.C. firm, Leiter & Cramer PLLC, to serve as its According to new report released by the policy architect and general counsel. Outdoor Industry Association, human- Adam will provide unified guidance to the powered outdoor recreation contributes member groups in stewardship and public $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy policy initiatives. and generates $88 billion in annual state and national tax revenue. Additionally, Through the Outdoor Alliance, American the outdoor recreation economy touches Whitewater and other human-powered over 8 percent of America’s personal outdoor recreation groups can flex consumption expenditures, more than collective political muscle in setting 1 in every 12 dollars circulating in the national policy. This comes at a critical economy. The simple pleasures of human- shift in the way our public lands are powered activities — such as hiking, being viewed as the extractive industries bicycling, paddling, skiing and climbing of the last century (timber, mining and — are enjoyed by more than 150 million rangeland) are in tension with experience- Americans each year. Despite the common based use of public lands. By working with theme of nature-based recreation and our founding partners in the Outdoor respectful enjoyment of natural resources, Alliance, AW and other human-powered these user groups have seldom bonded recreation interests stand to shape public together to speak in a common voice. policy at levels that were simply not Until now! possible when we worked as disconnected interest groups. American Whitewater has teamed up with the Access Fund, American Canoe American Whitewater and other founding Association, American Hiking Society, members of the Outdoor Alliance believe International Mountain Bicycling this coalition of diverse recreation Association, and Winter Wildlands organizations will help to level the playing Alliance to join forces and establish the field in today’s debate over recreation Outdoor Alliance. With this coalition of on public lands, and will give a voice to founding national groups, the Outdoor millions of Americans who share our Alliance seeks to protect and secure concerns but who are not being heard. quality outdoor recreation opportunities Alliance members share the view that the on the nation’s public lands and time is ripe for an ambitious, coalition- waters through a collective voice and led effort to reclaim the advantage in our influence of human-powered outdoor national discussion of quality outdoor recreation participants. recreation issues and to speak out on behalf of protecting the natural systems Supported in part by funding from we cherish. the Turner Foundation, the Outdoor Alliance will help its member user groups See you on the river, improve their grassroots organization and outreach capabilities by educating key decision makers about the size, characteristics, and needs of the human- P.S. To download a copy of the OIA powered outdoor recreation constituency economic impact report, “The Active and by coordinating and mobilizing the Outdoor Recreation Economy,” go to: Alliance’s collective grassroots members http://www.outdoorindustry.org/pdf/Final on key issues. OutdoorRecreationReportEC.pdf 2 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 3 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 AW Wants to Know, or floating away from a drop I wish I’d you or someone else is lost in the woods “What’s Your Sign?” scouted. Like the STOP, it works best when or along the riverbank, and you’re trying you have eye contact with your buddy, to find each other. By Eric Nies and when you have bit of time to send the message. At the last second, I spy it—an evil log spanning the width of the little channel I use SCOUT in two ways: either I’m Then there’s the CHIRP, a brief, sharp, I’m running. It’s mostly covered with a telling my buddies I’m going to scout single toot that means “hey, look over thin layer of water, and is invisible until (point at myself, flash the SCOUT, then here.” That brief toot cuts through river I’m almost on top of it. With no other point at the area in question), or I’m noise in a way that shouting can’t, and lets options, I accelerate and grind over it and telling my buddies that the drop is funky, everyone within earshot know that some- fortunately it goes okay. But I don’t feel and they’d better scout it for themselves thing significant is going on: maybe there’s good about it, and I sure don’t feel good (point at them, flash the SCOUT, point at a swimmer who needs some help, or about my buddies in the eddy just above, the area in question.) Often this SCOUT maybe someone forgot that the next rapid who are about to chase me through the IT YOURSELF message happens after is a portage, and is blithely heading into it. same slot. my buddies and I have spent a couple of I do not use the CHIRP casually. Whistles frustrating minutes pointing, gesturing, are loud and obnoxious, and every time As I head downstream (this was a creek and shouting across the river about how I hear one my pulse rate shoots up—and sneak into a big-volume rapid, and my to run some blind drop with a hidden rock this is how it should be. The CHIRP is a next eddy is 100 yards away), I holler or some such in it. good generic tool that means “heads up, something and sort of wave my paddle something is going on.” spastically, to give my buddies some kind In the opening scenario, I don’t think of heads’ up on the log. Half a second later that either the STOP or the SCOUT signs I am gone, and all I can do is hope for would have worked. I didn’t have a chance Send Us Your Signals the best. to make eye contact, which is key for a lot of non-verbal river communication, What I wanted that day on the river— A minute later we are all reunited at the and I only had a moment. So, I couldn’t and what I still want—is a good hand bottom of the rapid. Everyone is fine, and really give the SCOUT, and I think that the signal for WOOD, something quick and everyone feels like they burned up a lot of STOP would probably have been mistaken unmistakable that I could flash with one river luck getting over that log. for a lame rail-grab or an air-brace. hand. And there are other signals that we need: BOOF, HOLE, SWIMMER, Thinking back, I’m not sure what my best Another option would have been the RUN JUST LEFT OF CENTER, etc. I’ve move would have been there. I could have EMERGENCY signal, namely, a waving seen some different signals for these, but given the generic STOP signal, and that paddle and/or a big, repeated whistle nothing that really grabs me as the perfect might have prompted my buddies to scout blast. This might have worked. It probably solution (Sorry, Kyle, but your WOOD or wait for another signal. The STOP is would have confused my buddies, and signal takes two hands, and also exceeds hard to give quickly or on the fly, though. they might have hesitated and maybe our PG rating). It’s a horizontal paddle held high and hopped out of their boats to see why I clear, and you know it’s a STOP because was freaking out. That might have given What have you come up with as a really the person giving it holds it for a while, or us a chance to communicate in detail, good river signal? AW wants to know. Send pumps it at you, or chirps their whistle, or or they might have scouted and seen the us your signals to signals@amwhitewater. makes eye contact and gives you the “don’t log themselves. Alternatively, they might org. Send us a photo or clear description, come down here” stinkeye look while have thought that I saw something bad as well as a SHORT description of how shaking their head “no.” happening downriver, and would have just and when it’s used. We are definitely charged down faster to help out. looking for the best signals for WOOD Another option would have been the and BOOF, along with whatever else you SCOUT signal, followed by a quick point Or I could have done a whistle CHIRP. have that’s good. Selected entries will be back at the slot. I know two signals for In my mind, there are three basic whistle published in future AW Journals, and may SCOUT: shading your eyes with your signals. First is the big repeated emergency work their way into a coveted permanent hand (like Daniel Boone scanning the blast—three blasts, to be precise, but if spot in the AW safety code. And, the first horizon), or pointing at your own eyes someone is tooting their head off, I figure people to send in the signals we select will with your index and middle fingers (this that something awfully bad is happening. get some prime AW swag. So become a is probably the clearer and better signal to The second whistle signal is the occasional part of whitewater history and send us use). Usually I use the SCOUT when I’m mournful single long toot. This is the one your signals. settled in an eddy, or standing on shore, you use to identify where you are when

4 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org November/December 2006 Rok Sribar giving the universal sign for YOU GO FIRST.

Photo by Cathy Howard

4 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org November/December 2006 Dear American Whitewater, Dear American Whitewater, Dear Barbara,

I was just rereading the March/April issue and I wish to comment on the write-up about I appreciate your concern for the group in read again Rocky Contos’ article on paddling the flotilla of rafts that dominoed into a question. However, I don’t believe that they the Rio Sirupa. I’ve known about Rocky’s fallen tree on Idaho’s Marsh Creek (AW failed to notice the danger their group was exploits and have seen his accounts on various September/October 2006). in, nor did they try to hide it from anyone. posting boards over the years. At times I’m I applaud the group for its honest reporting impressed with his guts (like on the Rio Sirupa) Did they forget to scout? The minute the of a difficult episode and I hope paddlers and other times I’ve wondered if he just has a river became blind somebody should will continue to feel comfortable telling death wish. have been scouting on foot until the route their stories—whatever their nature—in could be guaranteed, or until the hazard this magazine without fear of criticism by No one can deny his desire to go places where was spotted—especially since this section third parties. We can certainly have a civil no one else has, but his whole concept of is known to collect strainers. discourse on the best plan of action for a paddling difficult and remote water alone group of rafts on an extremely continuous brings up a safety issue, at least to me. We all Was their communication system river with few eddies. My guess is that know and (usually) respect the rule that three adequate? Enough distance should have veterans of Marsh Creek will find it hard to paddlers are the minimum for a whitewater been kept between the boaters with reproach Mike Holmstrom’s group’s safety trip. Most of us have probably broken that rule communication—whether whistles or plan given the nature and length of the run. by going with two people when a third wasn’t hand singles (or even getting out of the available. I know some of us also paddle alone boat to run up and tell the others the For an in-depth discussion of the scouting at times. status of the river)—around every blind dilemma, see page 48 of this issue.” turn. This discipline must be absolute; no My personal problem came about when a Sincerely, member of our Shasta Paddlers’ club boated exceptions and no lapses.

Class V Slate Creek solo, and then wrote up Ambrose Tuscano an article in our club newsletter boasting of The article states that one of the two his first solo descent of this creek (Slate is run kayakers was able to eddy out and avoid frequently, especially by this individual). Now, the hazard. Ergo the kayaks should have I submit that the difference between a descent been the leaders. Upon seeing the hazard of a very difficult and dangerous creek with and eddying out, they were in a position to a group vs. alone is merely one of stupidity, tell the others. lack of judgment, or both, but my problem was that he publicized this artificial (in my Thus, this ordeal, and close tragedy, can be opinion, at least) “milestone” in our newsletter. made into a profound lesson. In our area, we’ve had a history of problems with the local sheriff closing creeks and rivers Barbara Brown (illegally, in our opinion) because they are too dangerous. As I told the fellow, if he got himself killed up on Slate Creek, do you think anybody else would ever see that run again? I did appreciate the fact that Rocky’s story downplayed the solo aspect of his trip, which was not the case with our newsletter situation. So, while I certainly respect Rocky’s right to explore areas of the earth that few do, I still have a concern that publishing accounts of Class V solo runs could encourage similar behavior from those common-sense challenged members of our community. Just some food for thought. Thanks, Mark D. Twitchell Safety Chairman / Shasta Paddlers Redding, CA

6 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 7 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 $10,000 Donated to Green River Access Fund in Memory of Daniel DeLaVergne

Filming just completed on the Zimmer motivational film featuring their six most Orthopedics Sales Success Kayaking Film successful sales representatives drawing featuring former freestyle C-1/ OC-1 metaphors and parallels to Class I – VI National and World Champion Brian whitewater kayaking. Interviews featured Miller on the Narrows of the Green River Zimmer’s top reps with backdrops with filming done by Spencer Cooke of such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the Effort Inc. Hollywood sign, just to name a few.

Zimmer is the Global Leader in the Mr. Rich Greenhagen, President orthopedic device industry. Zimmer of Greenhagen Medical, which has decided to put together a global internal distributor rights for Zimmer’s products Daniel DeLaVergne in the Carolinas, picked the Narrows of the Green River as the perfect location for photo by Johnnie Kern Spencer Cooke films Brian Miller running Go Left on the film. the Green Narrows Filming on the Green took three days. Mr. photo by Effort.tv Greenhagen hiked in to enjoy the sheer

6 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 7 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 The 2005 Green Race, Daniel at the put-in.

beauty of the Green River Gorge and to Daniel’s death has changed a lot of how photo by Christie Dobson introduce the film. Class I –VI whitewater I think about paddling and I hope it can was introduced and then run by Brian change yours. We need to celebrate each Miller with Spencer Cooke directing and other and our rivers. We are all family with calling the shots. Gorilla was run a total of the common bond of the river running five times, Go Left and Die and Sunshine through our veins. We, as paddlers, are were run four times each. the true stewards of the river and we each need to take ownership for our part in Brian Miller’s Perspective conserving our playgrounds. To paraphrase JFK, “It is not what the river can do for me Mr. Greenhagen Mr. Greenhagen, who has been a friend but what can I do for the river.” I would of mine for years and familiar with my challenge every paddler and outdoorsman shouted he was paddling accomplishments approached out there to take ownership. If you are going to double his me with his idea for the project. Of course involved in a project concerning the river I was game and knew the perfect spot just consider how you could broaden your donation from $5000 30 minutes from my house. I immediately the efforts to benefit the river. If you are called Spencer and he too was in. associated with a corporate organization, to $10,000. I tried to find out how they determine where they yell a “Hell Yea and Initially my motivations for the project will make their charitable donations were self-centered. Cool, getting paid and ask them to consider donating to Thank You” but my to paddle the Green and having a good an organization that benefits the river. If time doing it. However, as I reflected on your kids go to camp, find out what the voice cracked. the prospects and depth of the project, it organizations are doing to preserve the dawned on me that this project was given resources they use to generate income. to me for a bigger purpose. I, like much Put a trash bag in your boat and pick up of my boating family in Asheville and litter during and after your run. Not only across the globe, was in mourning of the is it good for the river, it is good Karma loss of Daniel DeLaVergne. This was my and if the bag is air tight it will make for opportunity to lose my selfish tendencies good floatation if you swim! Go big or and think big—like Daniel would have go small just go do something positive done. I wanted to honor the legacy of my for the river. We all miss Daniel and in fallen friend, to preserve one of his, mine mine and Spencer’s simple way this was and many others’ favorite places to paddle for future generations of paddlers to come. our opportunity to let our actions speak I called Spencer with the idea to underbid for themselves. our services and ask for a donation of $5000 to the Green River Access Fund I would like to thank Mr. Rich Greenhagen in memory of Daniel and he agreed. Mr. and the fine folks of Zimmer for their Rich Greenhagen of Zimmer graciously kindness and generous donation agreed to donate the money. After he to the Green River Access fund in hiked into the gorge and witnessed the Daniels’ memory. spectacles we refer to as “Getting Your Squeeze On” or “Spanking the Monkey” I would also like to thank those that helped with me in the eddy below Gorilla and he with the project: Liquid Logic, Astral up on the rocks, Mr. Greenhagen shouted Buoyancy, Immersion Research, Aqua he was going to double his donation Bound, Shred Ready, Spencer Cooke of from $5000 to $10,000. I tried to yell a Effort Inc., Raymond Cotton, Abhay Patel “Hell Yea and Thank You” but my voice “Green River Sherpa,” my family for their cracked. All I could do was float in that support and Daniel’s family for allowing eddy flooded with emotions, look up us to honor their son. at Gorilla, with Spencer and Raymond Brian Miller, Spencer Cooke and Rich Greenhagen in eddied out at the notch, remember all the the Narrows of the Green River great times we have had on that river and missing Daniel. photo by Effort.tv

8 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 9 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 4th Annual Reno River Festival Set For May 10-13, 2007

RENO, Nev. —The Reno River Festival According to Deanna Ashby, executive is all set for another year of world- director of marketing for the Reno- class kayaking on the Truckee River in Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority downtown Reno, Nev., May 10-13, 2007. (RSCVA), “The Reno River Festival is Now in its 4th year, the Reno River Festival a great example of what our America’s brings together top kayak professionals Adventure Place message means and the and amateur athletes from around the event brings adventure to life right in the world to compete at the nationally heart of downtown Reno. All just steps acclaimed Truckee River Whitewater outside our hotel room doors. Spectators Park. The Reno River Festival showcases and competitors can expect amazing kayaking action at its best with a weekend whitewater action with the addition of new full of competitions, demos, clinics and events and competitions, as well as demos, an expo featuring the hottest products instructional clinics and exhibitors.” on the market, all set in one of the most adventurous cities in the country—Reno- The Reno River Festival is held at the $1.5 Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place. million Truckee River Whitewater Park, located in the heart of Reno’s booming “In just three short years, the Reno downtown business and arts district. River Festival is now recognized in the The park, with rapids rated Class II and kayaking industry as one of the premier, III, is both Nevada’s and the region’s first first-class events in the country,” said Jim whitewater park and kayak slalom racing Litchfield, Truckee River Whitewater Park course, totaling 2,600 feet in length and designer and principal of Fluid Concepts, featuring north and south channels that competition producer for the Reno River surround an outdoor amphitheater and Festival. “Now, as we go into our fourth park. There are 11 “drop pools” and year, there’s a huge expectation in the specially-placed boulders for kayaking industry for the event each year and our maneuvers, a slalom racing course, and hopes are to attract even more competitors 7,000 tons of smooth flat rocks along as well as provide additional opportunities the shores for easy river access and for participants of all levels to find a spot spectator seating. to compete while continuing to provide access to those that want to learn.” For more details about the 4th annual Reno River Festival, please visit www.RenoRiverF estival.com.

Reno River Festival on the Truckee River.

photo by Mark Singleton

8 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 9 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 By Kevin Colburn

Judge Says Power is Not opportunities, and the preservation of that the minimum acceptable flow is other aspects of environmental quality.” 934cfs, a good standard trip is 1225cfs, Always First Priority At – Federal Power Act the single best flow is 1418cfs, and 1844cfs Dams in Landmark Case was the ticket for a high challenge trip. The judge then wrote: “Therefore, the Current releases are 1000cfs. AW carried A new court case has settled one of the question we must decide is whether out and shared this study in order to add longest standing debates over a dammed “reasonable terms” can, in some cases, be value to the collaborative management of river, Washington State’s North Fork terms that may have the effect of shutting the Cheoah. Skokomish River. The dam owner first a project down or occasioning a change received a license for their dam—which of ownership. We think the answer is yes, Mid-Atlantic Benefits on severely impacted the river, its salmon especially here where, according to FERC’s runs, and the native culture that depended factual finding, Tacoma has recouped the Way on them—in 1924. The license expired its initial investment plus a significant in 1974 but numerous delays within the annual return on that investment. The 2007 will be an exciting year for paddlers Federal Energy Regulatory Commission obligation to give “equal consideration” to in the Mid Atlantic. American Whitewater led to an unheard of 24-years of annual wildlife protection and the environment has been working with volunteers on licenses, which allowed the power implies that, at least in some cases, these several projects to improve flows and company to operate under the old and environmental concerns will prevail.” access on several regional classics. We are environmentally devastating 1924 rules. working towards a new flow schedule on In 1998 FERC finally issued a new 40- “In conclusion, we find persuasive FERC’s the Upper Yough that will provide releases year license for the project that conflicted argument that Congress implicitly on Saturdays virtually all summer. Also up with the tribes, other federal agencies, the extended to FERC the power to shut for discussion are releases on Maryland’s state, and the power company. Lawsuits down projects either directly, by denying Savage and North Branch Potomac were filed and consolidated and the judge a new license, or indirectly, by imposing Rivers. Pennsylvania’s Lehigh River is issued a stunning decision on August reasonable and necessary conditions being adaptively managed to improve 22nd, 2006. The judge decided that that cause the licensee to reject the flows for recreation as well, and we expect the other federal agencies had absolute new license.” 2007 to offer additional benefits. We are authority over prescribing flows necessary also testing out options for increasing to protect the river and its salmon, and, This is a truly awesome decision for access to Ohiopyle Falls, and the future in a very exciting ruling, found that rivers. It is now clear that fish, wildlife, looks promising. In the works for future FERC can issue licenses where required or recreation can take priority over years are recreational releases on Stony environmental mitigation renders power power generation in dam relicensings if Creek and a new whitewater park on the generation at the dam uneconomical. The it is clear the greatest public benefit is Susquehanna, both in Pennsylvania. utility had made the absurd argument that to be had through managing for those dams causing the most harm with the least non-power uses. AW’s Work on the economic return should only have to do a minimal amount of mitigation to keep the AW Cheoah Flow Study Merrimack River Sets New project economic. Standard Reveals Opportunities The judge cited the 1986 amendment to Brace yourselves for a surprise: studies New Hampshire’s Merrimack River should the Federal Power Act that is our favorite have major runs of Shad, Herring, Eels, piece of legislation, the one responsible for show that paddlers love North Carolina’s Cheoah River. The Cheoah River study and other seagoing fish, but these runs are nearly every whitewater release and access significantly diminished by the presence area on a dammed river: carried out online by AW in the spring of 2006 revealed that startling fact and of dams. The owner of these dams recently tried to use the new 2005 Energy Policy “In deciding whether to issue any license many others that will help the USFS and other stakeholders better manage the river. Act to challenge federal requirements under this Part for any project, the to improve fish passage. American Commission, in addition to the power and Roughly 250 paddlers took the survey and AW then wrote a detailed report, Whitewater, with the help of volunteer development purposes for which licenses Tom Quarles of Devine Millimet, LLC, are issued, shall give equal consideration which we shared with the Forest Service, Graham County, the Power Company, and intervened in the case to support the US to the purposes of energy conservation, Fish and Wildlife Service’s mandatory fish the protection, mitigation of damage to, other stakeholders. Paddlers suggested some higher flow releases, vegetation passage requirements. The case was settled and enhancement of, fish and wildlife in August, in advance of a hearing by an (including related spawning grounds and management, and specific access improvements. Paddlers recommended Administrative Law Judge. The settlement habitat), the protection of recreational protects fish passage provisions, and sets 10 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 11 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 By Kevin Colburn

a new standard for public involvement in these proceedings. Prior to our case on the Merrimack, parties other than the dam owner and the government were not included in negotiations – leading to political vulnerability and settlements that jeopardize the river’s restoration. Thanks to our superb volunteer assistance and unique regional stewardship model we were able to set a new standard in the implementation of the 2005 Energy Policy Act.

Esopus River Releases Protected (NY)

The City of New York was granted a new permit to release water into the Esopus River. The releases deliver drinking water to the city, but turbidity of the water raised concerns about the releases impacting fi sh and violating water quality standards. After a scientifi c review, the releases were found to actually benefi t fi sh because as Wayne Elliot, the regional fi sheries manager for DEC testifi ed, turbidity does stress the fi sh, but not having enough water in the river makes it impossible for them to live. So, New York citizens get to keep their taps running and paddlers get the fringe benefi t of a treasured Class II whitewater run.

Above: Cheaoh

photo by Kevin Colburn

Left: Esopus River Releases

10 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 11 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 FERC Recommends New AW weighs in on Climate Whitewater Opportunities Change Case before the for the North Fork Rogue Supreme Court

Oregon By Thomas O’Keefe

By Thomas O’Keefe American Whitewater joined 73 The Federal Energy Regulatory FERC further recommended that organizations in a “friend of the court” Commission (FERC) released their final PacifiCorp provide daily flow information. brief filed by the National Wildlife Environmental Assessment (EA) on the AW always supports reporting of hourly Federation this fall in the first-ever case North Fork Rogue’s Prospect Hydroelectric real-time data to provide boaters with involving global warming to be heard Project. American Whitewater has been the most useful information on trends. by the U.S. Supreme Court. The case, working on this project for the past few In addition, hourly data gives the public Commonwealth of Massachusetts, et al v. years with the assistance of volunteer Bill a greater opportunity to monitor project United States Environmental Protection Cross who has represented AW. operations. In many cases where we have Agency, centers on a 2003 EPA decision been the primary group advocating for a not to regulate carbon dioxide and other The EA provides a favorable review gauge we find that soon other stakeholders greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles of whitewater boating and proposes a realize the importance of realtime as pollution. three-year study period to assess boating information for monitoring compliance demand on this reach. During this time with project flow requirements. The Supreme Court’s ruling in this case flows would be restored to the river on could have far-reaching implications one weekend each in July, August, and FERC must still issue a license for this for how the United States addresses its September, and on the 4th of July and project and make a final determination contribution to global warming. The Labor Day. This will restore summer on recommendations in the EA, but our crux of the case involves whether or not boating opportunities on the great Class local volunteers should be proud of what greenhouse gas emissions from cars and IV reach that begins with the Class V we have accomplished so far. light trucks should be regulated by the Avenue of the Boulders. EPA under the Clean Air Act due to their contribution to global warming. One of the most important conditions AW worked for was access to the powerhouse. John Kostyack of the National Wildlife This would allow paddlers to access a Federation noted that “this may indeed take-out for the short Class IV run, which be the most diverse coalition ever to file contains over a dozen great rapids. It will an environmental amicus brief with the also provide put-in access to the wonderful Supreme Court.” The groups include scenic Class III reach downstream of the sporting and conservation organizations, powerhouse that offers opportunities for state fish and game departments, year-round boating. While FERC originally professional fish and wildlife societies, rejected access at the powerhouse as zoos and aquariums and religious “unsafe” they reversed this determination organizations. following comments we filed stating, “After reviewing additional information AW will continue work with our partners provided by American Whitewater in to weigh in on important policy issues response to the draft EA, we find that most regarding climate change that have major of the public safety concerns noted by us implications for the long-term health of in the draft EA could be addressed with our nation’s rivers. further planning and implementation of some additional design features (e.g., A view of the put-in to the Mill Falss stretch of the signage) as we discuss in section.” North Rogue.

photo by Jon McLaughlin

12 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 13 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 How Climate Change Will Impact Kayaking

By Emma Johnson

This spring was awesome for kayaking in won’t be skiing at Snoqualmie Pass). the Pacific Northwest. Tons of snow and a slowly warming spring was the perfect Such a drop in the area’s snowpack could combination for consistent and awesome mean that in the future the domestic water levels. Somewhere in the back of water supply could diminish by 20 my mind, though I remember 2005—my million gallons a day. In addition, 90 or if I invest in planting enough trees first real year of boating—and how river percent of Seattle’s energy comes from to suck up my release of C02. There are after river reached record low levels. Was hydropower.(3) More people means more several organizations that sell Green Tags, 2005 just another fluke, or was it an early need for energy, and less water means that including Puget Sound Energy. Another is warning sign of what is to come in the kayakers may not have plentiful access to Bonneville Environmental Foundation at Northwest and beyond? the fresh snow melt we love. https://www.greentagsusa.org/GreenTags/ index.cfm. Your money goes to bringing Worldwide, the global temperatures What To Do climate neutral wind, solar, and biomass reached some of the warmest ever Climate change IS happening regardless of sources of energy on to the grid in places recorded—2005 virtually tied with 1998 any small action we take. We can reduce it makes sense. as the hottest year on record. For people carbon emissions to the atmosphere living in the Northern Hemisphere, through the obvious steps, such as Local ski areas, including the Summit and 2005 was the hottest year since 1880, the carpooling, buying local food, using Stevens, offer mini-green tags every time earliest year for which reliable records biodiesel in diesel engines, recycling, and you go skiing. www.skigreen.org. Since we were available worldwide. Nineteen of the buying fuel efficient cars, but the reality don’t pay a lift fee for kayaking, it wouldn’t hottest 20 years on record have occurred is that without global commitments from quite work as well, but maybe we could since 1980.(1) It makes me wonder what all nations, we aren’t going to move the all consider a “kayakgreen” donation 2006 will look like and, I must admit, I projected path of climate change very along with our annual AW Stewardship am nervous. much. We will need to learn how to adapt donations. Food for thought. then to these incredible variations, not The result of a warming Pacific Northwest only with our recreation, but with our use of energy, water, and food. Footnotes climate, according to the Climate Impacts 1. http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science/ Group (http://www.cses.washington.edu/ recordtemp2005.html cig/) at the University of Washington, However, I struggle with the idea of apathy. 2. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/ It is hard to truly “sit back” and watch it 2003040140_futureweather05m.html is that though the total amount of 3. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/ precipitation has not dramatically differed happen knowing the implications. 060605/5warming.htm for Washington, more of that precipitation will fall as rain in the winter, and Offset Kayaking Emissions from Driving not snow. to the River The average driver releases 19.5 lbs of The evidence is in our not too distant carbon dioxide for every gallon burned past: since 1949 Cascade snow pack has in driving (yes, this number is correct). declined 50 percent. In the next decades I feel REALLY bad knowing how much we will see an acceleration of this trend. carbon dioxide is released just because The most intense warming will occur on of my love of kayaking. I’ve decided to the windward slopes of the Cascade and invest personally in alternative energy Olympic mountains. By 2090, mountain through a program called “Green Tags” temperatures could rise 10 degrees or in order to counteract my emissions. more, with snowpack levels reduced The concept is emissions trading—I another 20 percent (2) (i.e. your children can emit C02 if someone else doesn’t,

12 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 13 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 AW Files Poe Comments

By Dave Steindorf

In September American Whitewater filed Feather River. The Poe reach contains a 4.5 Our recommendation to FERC included comments on the Draft Environmental mile Class V section and a 4.5 mile Class an adaptive whitewater flow schedule Assessment (DEA) for the Poe project on III section. Having two runs of different that will meet the needs of whitewater the Feather River. These comments, which difficulty in such close proximity makes recreation and gather information to were filed jointly with Butte County, for a great opportunity. Groups with increase the comfort level of agencies, addressed a number of deficiencies in varying ability levels can find “something and specifically their amphibian biologist, the DEA, not the least of which was a for everybody” on this reach. The Poe in providing recreation flows on the Poe recommendation to provide no provisions reach is also different from the Rock Creek reach. We are also supporting a base flow for whitewater recreation in the new and Cresta because these runs flow away schedule that that we believe will improve license. from highway 70 and have a more remote the aquatic ecosystem, particularly the wilderness feel. Also users are not faced trout fishery. It is our hope that this base The Poe Project is the last project in with the same safety issues of fast moving flow schedule will provide some minimum PG&E’s “Stairway of Power” to be traffic as they are on the Rock Creek and level of whitewater opportunity. relicensed on the North Fork of the Cresta reaches upstream.

14 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org November/December 2006 We also recommended specific improvements to ramping rates, particularly in the critical frog breeding season (ramping rates are how much flows can change over time). We are happy to report that many of the resource agencies responded to the information provided by AW that showed the impacts to frog egg masses from PG&E’s operations during spring spill (see AW 2006 Foothill Yellow Legged Frog analysis). These ramping recommendations will provide for more natural flow conditions in the spring and will hopefully keep frog egg masses from being either stranded or scoured by project flow fluctuations.

AW also recommended a number of non-flow measures that will improve recreation for boaters and non-boaters alike. These included a hiking trail along the remote section of the Poe reach that will be very popular with swimmers, anglers and hikers. We also supported the recommendation to provide access to the Poe reservoir. This will provide a much- Pulga Bridge on the Upper Poe run needed year-round flatwater paddling opportunity for the area. Last but not least photo by Dave Steindorf we are recommending that PG&E should construct a boating play feature below the Cresta Powerhouse. We feel that with the regular flows from the Cresta Powerhouse combined with the ample parking would make this an ideal location for such a feature. We also feel that this would be a very efficient way to provide a whitewater opportunity that would be available every day of the week. Additionally, this would require no additional releases of water, no lost power generation, and no expensive biological studies. We hope that PG&E and FERC will see the merit of this recommendation and the others that we included in our filing.

AW volunteer Charlie Guilbault on the Upper Poe

photo by Dave Steindorf

www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 15 November/December 2006 A Geezer’s Guide

By Bill Kirby

Do you remember glass boats? Harishok same basic equipment and techniques I say, mature paddlers. The rivers haven’t life jackets? Jofa helmets? If you do, then thought there were few opportunities for changed, but our approach to them can you, like or not, are a geezer. We geezers growth in the sport left open to me. More and should move forward. There is a whole who are still paddling may sometimes or less by chance I got to know a few of the range of opportunities for fun waiting for feel like phantoms, spirits whose time has younger paddlers in my area and I began us in the brave new world of paddling. All come and gone, unwilling to leave behind to think that there might be something it takes is a decision to let go of some our the world we knew, but unable to step fully new to learn. For the last couple of years preconceptions. The following is a brief into the strange new world that is modern I have been making a conscious effort to guide to some of the exciting new stuff in whitewater sport. When did you have the see and understand what is happening our sport. most fun in paddling? I bet it was early in today in our sport. What I’ve found your career, when everything was fresh and is that the differences between the old Boats every river trip taught you something new. days and modern times are fewer than Those days may be long gone, but you can you might think. My overall impression By far the biggest changes in the sport still recapture some of that magic. is that the similarities are greater than involve the evolution in boat design. the differences, and that the new school Opinions vary on when the development After paddling for over 35 years with the is actually quite accessible to, shall we of current designs began, but I date it

16 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 17 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 The author in 1973.

to a change in the slalom rules in 1973. baffled by the developments. At some of all, they’re short. In longer boats it really Prior to that time, boats could only have indeterminate point in time the boats doesn’t matter much if you lean forward convex curves. That is, scooped out bows became so short that technique underwent or backward; the large amount of volume and sterns were prohibited. This rule was a revolutionary shift. The new school was in front or behind you means you can only intended to prevent undercutting slalom sho’ nuff in the house, y’all. affect the trim of the boat slightly. Modern gates, i.e. passing the bow or stern under boats are so short that you can easily a pole while negotiating the gate. This New School Technique submerge the bow or stern in flat water necessarily made boats somewhat bulbous with a sharp lean forward or back. This and high volume and kept everything We older paddlers have habits and can be disconcerting to paddlers who are on the surface. The old rules produced preconceptions that must be adapted to used to longer boats, especially in white many fine river running boats, including suit today’s boats. When I decided to get water where the stern of all boats tends slalom boats like the Lettman Mark IV, a short boat and see what all the hubbub to drop anyway due to the action of waves Prijon Augsburg, and Hahn C-1, as well as was about I started making the rounds and holes. purpose-built cruisers like the Holloform of the boat shops and trying out boats as River Chaser, Prijon’s T-Canyon and all opportunities arose. I went to a boat demo Perhaps more importantly, modern boat the Perception classics of the 70s and day at one of our local shops here in D.C. hulls are very asymmetrical from front 80s. I think of the fat, convex boats as looking for some free information. Inside to back. The forward portion is flat from the genuine old school. Of course, there the shop were dozens of paddlers, both side to side, with more or less sharp are still paddlers out there who learned new and experienced, trying on boats and chines depending on the design. This to paddle in foldboats and canvas canoes. chatting with the pros and manufacturers' is called a planing hull and allows great These folks probably regard fiberglass reps. When the well-known paddler maneuverability when on a wave. The boats as new-fangled, so it’s all relative. and factory owner who sponsored the flat forward hull makes these boats very event hollered out, “Who wants a free stable compared to old displacement hull After 1973 the rules on slalom boat mini-clinic?” all of us prospective buyers boats, particularly since most of them dimensions were relaxed and undercutting looked at each other with the unspoken are somewhat wider than older boats to became a standard part of racing technique. rhetorical query, “Would a hobo eat a ham make up for the overall volume lost in the As a result, boats became flat and slicy, sandwich?” Down to the pond behind evolution to extreme shortness. with lower volume, especially in the ends. the shop we went. Once in the water, the These designs were built to go underwater. instructor asked how much experience The aft portion of the hull is often very This led to pivot turns, which led to squirt each of us had and observed us paddling rounded and usually has lower volume boating, which led to modern playboating. for a few seconds to assess our skills. As than the bow. This means that when you The ’73 rules change led to boats like the I paddled around in circles he looked at lean back the stable bow rises out of the Phoenix Slipper, Lettmann Mark V, and me quizzically and said “Are you a slalom water and you are resting on a hull with Prijon’s T-Slalom and Tornado. Later racer?” I admitted that I had been such very little primary stability. Combine refinements led to early playboats like at a time before the glaciers retreated, this lack of side-to-side stability with the the RPM and its innumerable relatives in and he smiled wryly and said something tendency of the low volume stern to sink the 90s. These boats are often classed as to the effect that I needed to forget most (stern-squirt) and a paddler new to these middle school. that I had ever learned about paddling. boats may feel quite out of control without What I’ve discovered over the past year realizing the source of the problem. It If you learned to paddle in old school of paddling a seven-foot boat has shown is tempting to dismiss the new boats as boats your skills were pretty readily this to be an exaggeration with a distinct twitchy toys unsuited to river cruising, transferred to the middle school. The kernel of truth. but the whole problem can often be solved newer boats were shorter, slower, and merely by keeping your weight forward. easier to turn than the old boats, but there For us old schoolers the revolution in wasn’t anything qualitatively different technique can be summed up as follows: This is probably a bigger problem for about them. Just as the slalom boats of the experienced paddlers than for new paddlers 70s were also the standard river runners starting out in modern equipment. I was of their time, the middle school playboats Don't Lean Back completely unaware of how often I leaned became the river cruisers of their era back until I got in a new boat. These boats as well. There’s more to it than that, of course, won’t let you forget this rule, but it took a but feeling comfortable in a modern boat few months before I fully integrated it into As the millennium turned and the new pretty much boils down to that. And, it’s my paddling. Once this basic principle is century unfolded the boats got shorter harder than it sounds. absorbed the possibilities of the new boats and shorter and many of us old and will open before you. Playboating is loads middle schoolers became more and more Here’s the short version of why you of fun, even while you’re learning, and shouldn’t lean back in the new boats. First 16 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 17 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 Which to choose?

nothing will improve your combat roll the time available and your energy level. line at a relatively sharp angle, and paddle more than aggressive playing. This was In a modern short boat this is no longer hard to get across the current as quickly as an axiom of paddling even back in the an option. The first time I tried one of possible. Ferrying in a short boat is an S- day, but playing in a modern boat is one the standard Potomac attaining routes in turn, not the satisfying, dynamic zoom it is of the aspects of whitewater sport that has my shiny new short boat I was horrified. in a faster boat. truly been revolutionized to a new level of A boat that won’t go up through Difficult fun in recent years. River running in these Run Rapids? Abomination! Portaging up Surfing in a short boat is pretty much the boats will give you an entirely different Wet Bottom? Disgraceful! But, over time same as in a long boat, except modern perspective on those tired old runs you’ve I have learned some new routes that are boats respond much more quickly. They been doing for years, and it’s actually easier attainable, with lots of effort. Also, it gives are designed to carve the wave, so the tilt than in your old boat. Just remember to a more aerobic workout on the same old of the boat left or right creates an instant keep your weight forward. rapids than a faster boat does. Mostly, response. Here’s another place where you though, I have just accepted that, whatever really need to keep your weight forward. Get nose plugs. I always thought nose I’m going to play on, I’ll get to it from The old long boater’s surfing pose with the plugs were for geeks. If you want to learn above, not below. body leaned back and the blade behind you playboating, you’ll need them. You’ll will pull that carefully designed carving spend a lot of time upside down. This is The second place you may miss some bow right out of the water and leave a good thing. speed is on big water. High water often you wallowing on the unstable, round, features big boily eddy lines that take some stern hull, out of control. New boats will New boats have big cockpits and they seem energy to punch through. A short boat’s change the places you choose to surf. to keep getting bigger. This is the biggest lack of speed may result in being rejected They prefer steeper waves than the long single safety improvement in the history from the eddy line, followed by a struggle boats, requiring more downward angle of kayaking. It is also a boon to the mature in the whirlpools and conflicting currents. to maintain the speed needed to stay on paddler because it makes entry and exit of Also, high water often means a wide the wave. Newer boats have a huge degree the boat, wet or dry, much easier. Some channel with large features you’ll want of rocker, so they will happily surf steep, of us have knees and ankles that really to miss. If you come over a big wave and short waves that would cause a longer boat appreciate this feature. Also, modern find yourself looking down a long slope to purl and ender every time. cockpits and the sprayskirts designed to fit into a 100-ft wide hole, the pure speed of them are amazingly dry. I often find that, a long boat will be sorely missed. Under Paddles in cooler weather when a dry top of some these circumstances a short boat demands sort is feasible, I can paddle my new boat good route planning to ensure you’ll be in Until last year I hadn’t bought a new for hours of park-and-play and ride home the right place at the right time. As a very paddle in at least 25 years. My straight in the same clothes I wore in the boat, experienced big water boating friend said, shaft, 90-degree twist, wooden Mark Gees without getting the car seat damp. To the great maneuverability of the short paddles felt like an extension of my arms someone like myself who used to make his boats almost makes up for the lack of and I couldn’t imagine changing to one own boats, but could never seem to get the speed. Almost, but not quite. of these new odd-looking curly things. cockpit rim-to-deck junction completely I thought I’d never adapt to a low-twist sealed, this is a revelation. Ferrying is a different exercise in a short shaft; those bent shafts just looked crazy, boat. In a long boat you are accustomed and switching to composite construction As in life in general, there is no such thing to setting a very shallow angle to the was unthinkable. After all, back in the day a as a free lunch in the area of boat design. current, crossing the eddy line, and using hot paddler had a wooden stick; fiberglass The new boats are comfortable, light, and the combined velocity of your speed and was for hackers. Then, I ran into an old mind-bogglingly maneuverable. But they the current to create an efficient vector paddling pal on the Potomac, one who are also depressingly slow. This is only a across the river, like tacking a sailboat into had been paddling longer and at a higher problem under certain conditions. First, the wind. Modern short boats, however, level than I had ever done. This owner of a attaining. Forget it, they don’t attain, have no glide whatsoever. That is, the only whitewater training school recommended period. On my home river, the Potomac, speed they have is the speed you just put a low-twist shaft to help mitigate my the particular arrangement of rapids and into your forward stroke. As soon as the increasingly annoying arthritis. Soon after, flat water make it possible (in a longer stroke is over, they stop. For ferrying, this I spoke with another fellow geezer on the boat) to do many multi-mile outings means that you can forget about adding Gauley who recommended a bent shaft with no shuttle. One can park in one spot, velocities to make an efficient vector, for the same reason. I was wavering. When paddle up flat water to one set of rapids unless you have a sizable wave available to I spotted on Boater Talk’s Gear Swap a for play, attain up to more flat water and surf across. As soon as you cross the eddy left-control, bent shaft carbon composite continue up to more rapids, and repeat line your forward speed is dead. So, to ferry paddle, brand new and for a bargain price, this sequence several times, depending on a current in a short boat, cross the eddy

18 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 19 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 made especially for whitewater paddling, but the criteria for choosing among them are lacking. In short, there is no consensus about what makes a good, safe paddling helmet and hyperbole abounds. So, choosing a helmet today is pretty much a crap shoot. I’ve tried a half dozen new ones in the last couple of years, but I keep going back to my 35-year-old Bell motorcycle helmet. If you’re looking to buy a new one, I can only advise that you go for safety and comfort, not for looks or popularity, and be prepared to spend quite a bit of time customizing the liner to achieve a good fit. I’m sure there are good ones out there, but a helmet is so critical, and information on their performance is in such short supply, I haven’t a clue how to make a good decision. The hunt for the baddest chapeau continues.

Clothing

As with my paddles, until recently I hadn’t gotten a new piece of paddling clothing in years. This was a serious mistake. The new paddling clothing is fantastic.

Back in the day, we wore wet suits and wool sweaters through the winter months and were quite safe and reasonably comfortable. Wetsuits work by allowing a thin layer of water in and trapping and warming it against your skin. This meant that your first immersion was a shocker, something to be either avoided if possible, or with sufficient moral courage, shortcut by doing a roll at the beginning of the trip. The advent of the dry suit, Helmets however, has been a revolution in cold weather paddling, one that I eschewed I succumbed. I can’t say for sure that it has Helmets have always been difficult for for years out of sheer stubbornness. A helped the arthritis, as the problem comes whitewater sports, and they continue to be dry suit sounds horrible in principle: a and goes according to its own mysterious so today. Just as with paddles, helmets have rubber gasket around your neck so tight agenda, but the paddle feels great. not been the subject of as much research that it seals out water. Who could wear and study as boats, probably because they such a thing? It turns out, though, that the There isn’t as much science to discuss in don’t offer the same financial incentives as gaskets don’t need to be very tight to form the realm of paddles as there is in boats. an item with a larger price tag. Also, the a good seal and they are no more irritating, Paddle preference is still primarily visceral. demands placed on a whitewater helmet with proper adjustment, than wearing None of the problems I anticipated with are severe. They must be comfortable and a turtle-neck sweater. The effect of this changing the twist angle or the weird light, but withstand repeated exposure new piece of equipment has been to make looking shaft has come to pass. If you to sun and water. They must be cool winter paddling a much more reasonable haven’t tried one of the funny looking in summer and warm in winter. Most exercise. Winter paddling is primarily paddles, you owe it to yourself to check importantly, they must absorb the energy a mental exercise, a battle between the it out. I predict that in about an hour of of an impact with rock and disperse that inertia keeping us inside and warm, versus paddling you’ll feel like it’s all you’ve ever energy in a way that doesn’t cause brain our knowledge that, once we get out there, used. I haven’t given up on the wood part, or spinal injury. And they must do all we can actually be quite comfortable. With though. I’m still convinced that wooden of this while looking cool. In years past dry-gear of the appropriate kind much of paddles are more durable and have a most helmets worn in whitewater were the inertia associated with winter paddling better feel than composite. My new bent- adapted from other sports, particularly is removed, and we can paddle year-round shaft, 30-degree, wooden Backlund is the from motorcycling and hockey. There again with few second thoughts. With a stick of a lifetime. are now a plethora of helmets available suitable insulating layer underneath a dry

18 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 19 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 One of the biggest obstacles to the veteran paddler who wants to learn something about the new paddling may be the ego. If you’ve been paddling for decades, it’s not easy to top or dry suit it is possible to paddle and Finally, the most frivolous of all modern line up at the beginner’s play hole with play for hours in water barely above freezing paddling gear: the waterproof MP3 player. I the pimply-faced teenagers. Especially while staying warm and dry. In extreme know, I know. We go out to the rivers to get when the teenagers, naturally, make conditions you can add a neoprene hood and away from modern noise and re-establish our you look like a complete klutz. gloves or pogies to create virtually impervious connection with nature. But admit it, when There are a number of ways to deal armor for the winter paddler. It still takes a you’re out at your local park and play spot with this. mental kick to leave the house when the icicles all alone (yes, being a geezer probably means form, but it’s much easier than it once was. you paddle alone a lot, but that’s another First, you can play the grizzled story), trying to nail down that tricky Space veteran card. Loudly tell old war Miscellaneous gear Godzilla or Phonix Monkey you just learned, stories to everyone within hearing wouldn’t it be cool to have Led Zeppelin, or range about how rough things were One of the non-essential but fun Hendrix, or the Beatles (fill in your choice) in the old days and how paddlers had developments of the last few years is the blasting away to give you that gung-ho to be tougher than they are today. advent of waterproof electronic gear. The edge? Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Young paddlers love being informed ability to take photos without stopping to how insignificant their current take out a waterproof bag or case from the A final thought. You don’t, of course, actually accomplishments are compared to boat, take out a camera or camcorder, get need any of this stuff. If you’re still satisfied the Golden Age of Paddling. This your shot, then reverse the procedure has with your neoprene and wool, your glass approach is guaranteed to give been a holy grail for decades. Back in the 69 Prijon Special, your Norse paddle, by all you plenty of free time to work day I had a Nikonos diving camera rigged means stick with them. Despite all the new on your technique undisturbed, up on a chest harness for such a purpose, stuff, the river is still the point of the whole free of idle chitchat with your but it was a clumsy set-up at best. Now, I exercise, and the river hasn’t changed in all fellow paddlers. carry a waterproof digital camera about the these years. But, there are some new ways to size of a deck of playing cards in my PFD have fun out there and you should give them Another approach is to try to become pocket. The image quality of these cameras a shot. No matter what your age or how many cool. Try this: hold out your hand, still isn’t quite up to the standard of film years you’ve been paddling, the real adventure palm toward you. Fold the second and cameras or digital SLRs, but the convenience is in learning. If you’re still paddling when third fingers down and lay the thumb and small size make them a no-brainer trade- most of your contemporaries are playing golf over them. Hold this sign up in front off for everything but photos intended for in Florida, you still have the heart of a warrior. of your chest and shake it gently. publication in paper media. They even create Trying out some of the stuff above will help The hand sign is gangsta for “Fire it small videos. Most importantly, having a you remain an INDY paddler. INDY is the up!” Using both hands makes it even camera immediately available is often the battle cry of the geezer boater. At the takeout more emphatic, but makes it hard to difference between getting the cool shot and we stand together and sound our barbaric hold the paddle. If arthritis makes missing it completely. If you’re a whitewater yalp to the world: “I’m Not Dead Yet!” this gesture painful or impossible paddling photo enthusiast you should check for you, go straight for the linguistic out one of these modern miracles. cool. Learn the lingo. For example, work on calling anything good “sick.” Follow up any declarative statement The author today. with the exclamatory “Fo’ shizzle!” For instance you might say: “Dude, that pop-up I nailed was sick, brah! Fo’ shizzle!” Nothing says “cool” like an overweight bald guy trying to act like a teenager. This approach will encourage conviviality in your new peer group, as your compatriots share a hearty laugh together. Especially when you’re not looking.

If neither of those two works, you can always fall back on open- mindedness and a joyful willingness to learn, even from those younger than us. Distasteful? Sure, but the skillful outdoorsperson always has a backup plan.

20 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org November/December 2006 20 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org November/December 2006 The Green Mile

By Jeff West

This past July I heard the words I have single day. I am sure a physiatrist would 5:30 in the morning. We had gotten a few dreamed of hearing for many years: “The have a field day trying to figure out what hours of sleep in a motel near the put-in. Tuxedo Hydro Station will be running one drove us to this goal. In fact, I am still At 5:45 we were geared up and walking unit at 100% capacity from midnight to not certain today why we wanted to do down the put-in trail. At 6:04 we slid in midnight.” This phone recording meant it—even after the fact. I do know this: the water, barely able to see. At 6:19 I was North Carolina’s Green River was releasing my friends and I made the most of our in the eddy above the notch at Gorilla the following day sunrise to sunset (and day dropping 5,250 feet. We went as wondering whose insane idea this was. beyond). This rare occurrence during the hard as we possibly could and the fun of I stared through the notch reassuring summer months was the chance for my kayaking never left us during our 14.5- myself, I have made this move many friends and I to try our luck at a kayaking hour marathon. times before. So what if it was just barely goal we had dreamed up years before. daybreak and all I could see were shadows Jonathan Shanin and Mark Bowman lingering below. A few minutes ago I was We had the ambitious dream of paddling joined me for this monstrous day of comfortably asleep; now I must charge this the Green as many times as possible in a paddling. Our wake-up call came at beast. Gorilla worked out fine that first run

22 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 23 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 Jeff West and Jonathan Shanin squeezeing through a tight slot in Nutcracker versus walking, no brainer

photo by Christopher Pesce

and the notch treated us well throughout Back at the job at hand, laps two and launch pad. The entire experience is over, the day. My friends and I spent the day three passed speedily and uneventfully. regardless of the quality of your line, in a paddling, smiling and soul searching. Completing lap number four we found few seconds. The countless thoughts of past kayaking Adam Herzog waiting at the take-out. He days filled my head while racing each lap. was looking for a shuttle and we obliged. When you are eddied above the notch Amazing memories of long ago creeking Adam is an amazing boater. He is probably on the river left you stare over your left trips played like a movie through my day. in the best health of any kayaker I’ve met. shoulder at the move. You see the river Completing our first run we arrived at the He cross trains by riding and running. right eddy surging below. You know how take-out at 6:50 a.m. We kept up the same Adam has paddled Linville Gorge multiple terrifying the undercut is on the right at pace until 8:30 that night. times in a day and won the recent Green the base of the notch. You know that it Endurance Race. This is a mass start head- is possible to flip and run the main drop So how does one end up paddling the to-head race which includes kayaking upside down. Thoughts of getting turned Green from sunrise to sunset? My story the river and biking back to the put-in. backwards and going over the main drop starts in 1992. I was trying to do enders Adam won this past race beating, as an stern first add to the stress. But, you focus at the Ocoee’s Hell Hole when a really on catching the eddy below the notch and good boater asked me if I was interested in drive to that goal. Of all the spiritual places guiding rafts for the summer. The boater kayaking has taken me, Gorilla is at the top was Marc Lyle and the summer job was of the list. The notch acts as a doorway or there on the Ocoee. Yes, before Marc Lyle “Of all the spiritual gateway to another world. It may only be designed kayaks for Dagger he managed an a rapid, but to me it is one of the perfect Ocoee rafting company. My crazy luck was places kayaking has places in kayaking. You focus on the move to meet him one day in an eddy. I told him and if it doesn’t work out as planned I might take the job the following summer, taken me, Gorilla is you have about a second to fix whatever but wished to creek with him during the craziness you and your kayak are caught coming winter. I had just bought a Dagger at the top of the list. up in before dropping the main falls. Freefall and was fired up about creek boating. Marc and I became friends and The Notch acts as a Running this rapid always reminds me of before long he invited me on a creeking the first time I fired it up on a hot summer trip. Since I had only been kayaking for a doorway or gateway day 12 years ago. I couldn’t stop smiling year he was concerned, but I assured him to another world”. for a week afterwards. The notch is the my creeking abilities were good to go. My test and the main drop is your reward experience at the time was actually limited or punishment. After hundreds of runs I to floating down a couple of streams in have only screwed it up four times. Three north Georgia. I really had no idea what times I ran the main drop backwards and individual, the teams who had multiple creek boating was, but assumed a stream once upside down. All screw ups were in members to share the different disciplines. and a creek must be the same. I assured a 12-foot kayak running direct (without Even Adam was a bit surprised to hear Marc I knew how to creek boat and that aiming for the eddy), practicing for the we had already completed four laps that I was more than ready for a good Class V Green race. Funny how the many good morning. Keep in mind it was only 11:00 run. Somehow I talked him into showing lines blend together, but the four bad a.m. when he joined in. me down Bear Creek. ones still play out vividly in slow motion in my mind. Thankfully, I have never Starting with lap number five I began to Bear is insanely steep for a first timer, but been hurt here. The notch reminds me fixate on the notch above Gorilla. The I made it down unscathed. Marc could tell how fortunate we are. I often think of entire river is funneled through a gap in I had pushed my limits and afterwards the amazing kayakers who have passed the rocks so tight hikers can leap from asked if it was too much. between those narrow gate rocks, all with one side to the other. Running the notch clear focus and full of heart, all of them is always a huge challenge for me. After a “Are you kidding,” I replied. “This has firing it up with determined intensity. I’ll decade of regularly paddling here I still been the greatest day of my life!” certainly never take Gorilla lightly; it still miss the eddy on the river right below energizes me as much today as it did my the notch at times and have to run the I had lucked into finding a great kayaking first time, 12 summers ago. flume direct. The feeling of missing the mentor. Marc took me under his wing and eddy is always such a surprise. The first has inspired me ever since. Somehow, I Lap number five complete, I text messaged thought passing in your mind is “How did ended up paddling Bear Creek before I my girlfriend on the shuttle drive back to I miss that?” Then your heart races as you knew Baby Falls existed. It’s funny what the top, “Five down, FIVE to go!” The day realize you are about a half second from major effects someone’s kindness can have is starting to seem possible. We definitely going over the main drop. Frantically, on your life. will have daylight for ten runs, but will you straighten your boat and aim for the 22 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 23 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 our energy last? Will the release continue to take a break for a few. Maybe ten laps drop and gone in ten seconds. A crowd of as scheduled? A broken boat or injury will would actually happen! Feeling stronger paddlers scouting from shore gave us a big end this challenge and we are definitely I knew I had to do something about my yelp to encourage us downstream. I have not as strong now as we were during the river shorts. No one had a spare pair and no idea where this surge of energy came first laps. The time is 1:20 p.m. and we are I was not going to be turned back due from, but I felt like it was my second run launching on lap number six. Jonathan, to chaffing. Mark and Jonathan grabbed of the day, not my ninth. We hit the take- Mark and I cruise downstream. The Green their gear and started walking towards lap out with our fastest run of the day and has a nice class II-III warm-up section number eight. My legs were killing me. I felt invincible riding back to the top for before Frankenstein. could not fathom another hike to the put- number 10. in wearing these shorts. What to do???? As usual, we found our rhythm and were Yes, the shorts stayed in the car. Besides, I Walking down the trail our tenth time I ready to race after the Bride. These guys are had a sprayskirt on; no one would see me. realized I had forgotten to eat a powerbar great to boat with. We kept the boats in the No one would know, right? during shuttle. I was so amped on current leap frogging for safety through completing nine runs that I had spaced the tough rapids. The only eddies we have Lap number eight was smooth and lap it. By the time we entered Gorilla for time for are at Gorilla and Sunshine. The number nine was actually our best of run number 10, I was out of juice. I sat rest of the run flows together as one long the day. The three of us were paddling in the river left eddy above the notch for rapid. Jonathan is determined to fire up extremely well for number nine. Arriving a moment focusing. I had to turn my Gorilla each run and has smooth lines at Go Left we were only a few feet apart growling stomach into the desire to make each time. Bowman chooses to walk on from one another. Mark lead with a left this move. A moment later I was safely occasion. He has nothing to prove and angle. Jonathan and I immediately knew in the river right eddy below the notch. I only runs the big ones when his heart is he was going left. As Mark committed left couldn’t believe I had safely navigated the fully committed. His strategy is smart and Jon committed to the river right line. This notch ten times today. Dropping the flume his lines show it. Lap number six turned gave Mark enough of a head start for me was as sweet as ever. Cruising down to out to be our fastest: 39 minutes from put- to follow him left. The three of us cleaned Sunshine I knew what a huge challenge we in to take-out. the rapid and were through the entire had left. One major rapid stood between

Lap seven was a tough one. I was tiring. The day was wearing me out and my lines showed it. I flipped in Go Left, flipped at Speedtrap and barely cleared the rock at Sunshine. Carrying to the car at the take- out my legs were killing me. The put-in hike is less than a mile and all downhill, but carrying a kayak seven times with wet, sandy river shorts had seriously chaffed the back of my legs. I could barely take a step without cringing. My buddies were giving me crap. Was it time to call it a day? Nope, it was time for Red Bull and Vitamin I (Ibuprofen).

Revived at the put-in, we found ourselves ahead of schedule. We actually had daylight for 11 full runs if we wanted and decided

Jonathan Shanin lines it up and knocks it out at the Gorilla’s Notch

photo by Jeff West

24 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 25 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 our goal and us, one last huge boof. I We completed our feat at 8:30 that evening. caught the river left eddy above the final Amazingly, we still felt strong. There was move at sunshine and tried to relax a bit. I even time for another run before the sun had flung myself off of this monster nine set. It took about two seconds for us to times so far today and pulled deep for consider and then we all agreed no-way. one last good line. I could see the large We were happy to stop at 10 for the day. crew we passed earlier enjoying the big Plus, our shuttle driver Mason had a hot rock below the rapid. Great, an audience. date in Tennessee and we had to get him I was tired and really wanted to finish home. In the end we managed ten runs this day with just my friends, not with 20 with no wipeouts. We each flipped a few spectators watching. I went for the move. times, but stayed safe during our Green As I flew off the boof I knew I had made marathon. Jonathan ran Gorilla all ten it. Landing in front of the cave in the pool times and I Tripled Crowned all ten below I celebrated a second too early. The runs. The day was amazing. Of all places, landing blew my skirt! I made it to shore Hammer Factor, an easy rapid at the end, as my kayak filled with water. I stepped out actually gave our group the most trouble. and hauled my boat up to drain it. Then I That final rapid keeps you humble. I heard all the yelps. Oh yea, no shorts on at enjoyed the day for a million reasons, the moment! The crowd got a nice view of but most of all it allowed me to reflect my pale behind. The last thing that group on fourteen years of creek boating. The expected was to be mooned at Sunshine. day reminded me that kayaking is such an Even with the embarrassing exposure, amazing gift and we should each take time paddling to the take-out felt great. We had to share our skills with others. I am so very completed 10 runs on the Narrows of the thankful for bumping into Marc Lyle in Green in a single day. that eddy long ago.

24 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 25 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 Trials, Tribulations and Lots of Water on the Middle Kings By T.J. Trials, Tribulations and Lots of Water on the Middle Kings By T.J. Beasts of Burden.

28 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 29 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 In the porcelain tub, the drain, wondering what it would be like shipped out early to avoid any problems to be two inches tall and riding that water on the day of departure, and recruit our the soapy ocean is calm spiral to the unknowns of our household only western crewmember, Goodwin, to plumbing. The final drops of water meet us with a second shuttle vehicle. The and warm. A royal blue disappear with a gurgle and I grab my little stage is set, and it is now a waiting game to blue toy and step out of the tub and into see when the water levels will come in. kayak emerges from the the warm dry towel between my mother’s depths, riding in the small arms. The little kayak is my favorite. We wait, speculate, correlate, and then Together we have traveled to distant lands dance a jig and wait some more, and at the hand of a six-year-old and paddled mystic waterfalls. end of May decide to shoot for the second week in July. Yet, snow continues to fall on boy. The wind begins to Some things never change, and as I sit the Sierras. So we push our target date back here recalling the dreams of my youth, and buy some plane tickets. At this point blow and the waves grow I realize how soon in life I became a the Rogers Crossing gage is still through larger as the little kayak kayaker. From playing in the garden hose, the roof and showing no signs of giving, building snaking rivers and pebble dams, but neither does Kris’ job. We are going is tossed to and fro in the to the day I turned 15 and bought my to California but unsure of what we will first whitewater kayak, it was all a series of paddle. The snow pack is dwindling, but cloudy water. Lightning stepping-stones. Any paddler will tell you the water is still ridiculously high. Maybe that to progress in whitewater one must set the late summer, record heat will zap the and thunder roar as the goals and attain them through persistence remaining snow and drop the river into a waves begin to top the and hard work. It is the personal challenge high side of runnable level, but it doesn’t that drives us to the next river, and there seem likely. Our friends across Appalachia upper limits of the sea- is nothing like the feeling of achievement laugh at our plan. The team’s hopes of when you look upstream and see the hitting the Kings this year all but crash bath and splash over onto white froth that only a moment earlier into the side of the proverbial mountain. was your greatest nemesis. And so it We gather beta and gear and pack as if we the freshly mopped tile comes as no surprise that as we sit in will spend six days in the woods, but as we floor. It doesn’t look good his living room guzzling cold beer and speak to our western counterparts it seems comparing safety gear that all Captain Upper Cherry Creek will be our best bet; for the little kayaker. He Ralph and I are thinking of is our next it is going to take a miracle to bring the has been lost for days kayaking adventure. Kings down. It is late in the 2004 calendar year that July 20 rolls around, and since I am flying and is about to meet his Ralph and I decide to shoot for the with Delta and leaving a bit earlier, I head demise at the end of my Middle Kings. Maybe it is the seven- for Atlanta with Eichhorn (who jumps river expedition blog, the reoccurring on board a little late and has to fly with scrub down. He flips and dreams featuring Roger Rabbit and his his kayak) around 10 in the morning; tooth-grinding, goofball band, or maybe there’s plenty of time to make it for my 1: his roll fails him. Water it’s just time to put our cowboy river 30 flight. Thanks to the previous night’s running skills to the ultimate test. Any head banging bon voyage bash, we get rushes in, the kayak sinks way, the Middle Fork becomes the focus lost on the way and show up a little late and disappears into the of our day dreaming river obsessions, and a little fuzzy. I miss my flight. After and as the months pass by we spend our walking around in circles cursing, I find depths of Davie “extra” hours at work thinking through the rebooking booth and get on another logistics, watching the snowfall in the flight a few hours later. At this point, the Jones’ locker. Sierras, and trying to find ways to make rest of the crew is piling into a limousine, this thing happen. It does not take much drinking 30-year-old scotch and firing up “Bath time is over Bub! Hop out and let convincing to get the crew on board; Cohibas compliments of the Knights of me dry you off,” Mother says as she pulls Kris Pistopherson, Beryllium Tubes, The the Templar. Smashing. the curtain aside and pulls the plug on my Broiler, Third Eichhorn, Captain Ralph, murky seas. and I were all interested in this 10-day- Dallas-Fort Worth, Salt Lake City, peanuts, maximum-one-shot at the Middle Fork of pretzels, and a five-dollar beer later I am The water level inches down and I stare at the Kings. With Ralph behind the logistics sitting on my bags in the Reno airport. the amazing little cyclone forming above helm, we arrange to have our boats A few hours later I finally see the rest of

28 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 29 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 I think D said it best when he described the Cherry Bomb Gorge as “quite possibly the epicenter of spiritual river running.” If you havn’t been to this place, I am sure you have seen the pictures, but as is the constant, they don’t really do it justice.

30 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 31 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 No where to go but down.

30 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 31 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 the crew round the corner. Turns out I should be coming in perfectly. We drive hunger. The other boaters in the area are wasn’t the only one who had some trouble until everyone’s eyelids are made of lead, headed to Cherry Creek “proper,” but we along the way. A nearly missed flight in pull over to the side of the highway and decide to drive into Groveland, get some Minneapolis means that half of everyone’s crash right there in the gravel pull-off. breakfast “proper” and check levels at the bags are somewhere between here and library to see where our next destination there. We report the lost bags and grab The logging trucks barreling down the will be. The word on the street is that a couple of taxis to our complimentary hill signal that we have, again, slept too everything is too low, except maybe Hell’s rooms at the Peppermill Casino. late. We rouse the troops quickly and pick Kitchen, and even that is questionable. up a quick cup of Joe at one of the many Needing to unwind after a long day of espresso shops that litter highways west As we wait for the library to open The plane chasing, everyone but The Broiler of the Mississippi. We make it to Cherry Broiler says, “Three years ago, when we hits the casino floor for a cold beer and a Lake around noon and get our permits. did West Cherry, Upper Cherry Creek, game of blackjack. It only takes five hands We are the last group of the season to go and The Middle Fork of the Kings in and twenty bucks for Eichhorn, Ralph, into the gorge with any hope of having succession, the level on Cherry was higher Kris, and I to accept defeat and we head some real water to speak of and the first than it is right now. We headed straight back up to the room for some shuteye, group to get a permit. With the permit for the Middle Kings after we took off leaving Tubes to hold his own at the comes a list of rules to abide by while in Upper Cherry. It seems we might be in the blackjack table. the gorge. Being loud and rowdy southern same position.” gentlemen, our favorite is NO HOOPING I awake the next morning just as Tubes AND HOLLERING! This gives everyone a new, and scary is coming in from an all-night blackjack sense of hope. We just barely have enough epic. He tells a drunken story of roller I think D said it best when he described time to squeeze it in if the levels come coaster proportions: five hundred up, the cherry bomb gorge as “quite possibly in perfectly. feeling good, the sun already rising, but the epicenter of spiritual river running.” there are no windows in this place so If you havn’t been to this place, I am sure “After checking the levels, I am not sure it how should he know. He goes one more you have seen the pictures, but as is the is going to drop, like many of the optimists round, and has suffered a final all-in, constant, they don’t really do it justice. in the group predict,” Captain Ralph says double-your-money defeat only fifteen Our three-day adventure here was an epic to Kris after we have mooched the library’s minutes earlier. in itself, and I do not have the space to go internet. “Everyone at home thinks we into the details here. Let me summarize in are crazy, but if we set out to traverse the Eager to get out of town, Ralph and I three sentences: Eichhorn was a no show Sierras this summer we should go for it. head to the airport to get the rental car at the put-in. Godwin is lucky to be alive. Why should we let a few gut feelings that and search for the missing bags. A proper Fuzzy endured the most hardcore beat this might be a bad idea and some concern goose chase later, we find the lost bags and down I have ever seen. But I digress…. over spending an extra night out in the head back to the Peppermill to rally the woods stop us?” troops. Piling into the Dodge truck, we As we made our way over the last few head for the Reno whitewater park where horizon lines and into the big blue lake, “Ralph, all the planets are coming into we will drop four people off, pack all the we were all in awe that such a perfect place alignment perfectly. We have to go,” Kris gear in the backseat of the truck, send two to kayak could even exist. After a thorough replies, and Tubes adds his two cents: people to pick up the boats, and wait for safety debriefing we headed across the “She’s staring us in the face. This is what Goodwin, the driver of our crucial, second two-mile lake paddle as dusk set in. Upon we came out here for. We have to do it.” shuttle vehicle. arriving at the boat ramp on the other side we were greeted by none other than The sweet taste of Cherry still lingers on An afternoon in the Truckee Whitewater Third Eichhorn, patiently waiting with the everyone’s palates, and the Middle Fork Park proves quite stimulating, and by the suburban. He had taken the trail to Kibbie Kings at Rogers Crossing is at 2000 and time Godwin arrives we are all ready to be Lake, hiked an extra eight miles and spent dropping 200 cfs per day. If it continues to on our way. the night by himself in the mosquito hell fall at the current rate, and we start hiking near the top of the ridge before giving up tomorrow, we will be in the crux three days We finally hit the highway outta town and and heading back to the car. from now at a high but runnable level. cross the border into sunny California just after midnight. With help from some local We camped on the lake, built a bonfire, and Godwin immediately backs out with heroes, we decide to head straight to the recounted the past three days’ adventures excuses that his twin sister is awaiting much talked about Upper Cherry Creek. as the bottles are passed around. his presence at the birth of her first child, Some fellow Tennesseans had done the but he agrees to help us with the shuttle. West Fork earlier that week and said it was We awake the next morning with stiff Unbeknownst to him, he has just agreed to good. By our calculations, Upper Cherry hangovers, sore muscles, and ravenous drive us eight hours through the night on

32 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 33 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 A long way from water.

32 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 33 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 one of the longest and most complicated suburban to the brim and begin our all- is a little ticked that we told him the drive shuttles in the lower 48 states. We pile night trip around the Sierras. would be four or five hours when it was in the cars and head for Yucca Point, really eight. The dust trail he leaves behind the confluence of the Middle and South Trying to sleep in a car that is fully loaded settles on our minds with the weight of Fork Kings, and our take-out. We make really sucks, unless you’re Beryllium Tubes knowing we are now locked in. Captain it there just before dark and catch our and refuse to move your butt out of the checks the levels from a phone at the pack first glimpse of the intimidating canyon front seat, even to take a turn driving. I station in an attempt to comfort his own that holds the “last nine” and some of the get shoved into the very back on top of gut feeling that this is a bad idea, but it hardest whitewater in California. all the gear with The Broiler. After a little doesn’t matter any more. The only car is at rearranging, I manage to find a way to lie the take-out and the only way to get there Since Godwin will simply be dropping down and actually fall asleep. I awake in is through the canyon. We all pull our us at the trailhead to the put-in the next the Mojave Desert at daybreak and take sleeping bags out and try and get a little morning, we gather only what we will the last shift of driving through Bishop, nap before starting our 12-mile hike up need on the river and suit up in our up to the South Lake trailhead and the and over 12,000-foot Bishop Pass. boardies and polypro. We stuff Godwin’s Rainbow Pack Station, where our mules await us. The manager of the pack station wakes us an hour later and we begin our brutal hike When we arrive, we quickly unload and to the top. We make it to the pass about the Godwin takes off for Oregon. I think he same time as the mules. I guess it is around Steak and taters, classic Middle Kings fare. 2:00 pm, judging by the sun.

34 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 35 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 We stop for some fresh spring water and uneasily staring at the moon all night in “So how far are you guys going,” asks one a little lunch. The view from the top is a anticipation of the next day. of the hikers. little overwhelming. I try to ignore the feeling of heavy commitment as I watch I sleep through the first few hours of “Ohhh, about thirty miles in four days. the mules disappear down the pass, the light, and finally get up as the sun crests Have you heard any kind of weather way we’ve come. It is mighty hot and the the stout peaks to our east. I notice some report,” I ask, probably starting to sound sun is burning us alive, so we pack our big puffy clouds in the same direction, a little worried. boats and head across the last snowfield but make no mention of it. We breakfast and down into Dusy Basin, now carrying slowly, feeling the miles of the day before “Yeah, the ranger we talked to a few miles our boats and all of our gear. We pass in our backs and knees. One more time, back said thunder storms are in store for many backpackers and hikers. Some look we shoulder our burdens and head down the next three days, and that a big one was on with awe, others praise our manliness the steep, final miles into the Kings. already brewing for this afternoon.” and a few look on with disgust, and ask if we are crazy. We find the river by early afternoon, “Really? Thanks,” I say with a hint of quickly gear up to avoid the mosquitoes sarcasm as I hear the first boom of By this time, I have arranged a pretty and slide our boats into the water. The thunder overhead. good carrying system and I am able to Broiler inspects the river for a moment pull ahead and make good time down to and says, “The water doesn’t look low. I We walk a few more manky, wood-filled “the brink.” This is the edge of Dusy Basin don’t think we want any more water, but slides and paddle into a lush, green and the beginning of the descent into Le this seems like it should be fine.” meadow. The river feels like a winding Conte Canyon and the Middle Kings. I snake moving calmly and slowly, deeper absorb the amazing view while smacking It feels good to be floating finally after into the mountains, a sharp contrast to the mosquitoes and waiting for everyone else so much hiking, and no one pays much deteriorating weather conditions. The sky to catch up. After the group reassembles, attention to the ever-darkening skies. quickly turns solid black, and the lighting we agree that our knees need a rest before reminds me of a scene from The Lord of the last few miles of downhill and we make Bumpy Class II/III leads us into a couple the Rings. The clouds dump raindrops the camp within sight of the river, thousands of slide drops that are choked with wood. size of elk pellets, and the silence between of feet below. We easily make our way around them lightning strikes and thunder rolls all following the Muir trail on river left. We but fizzles away. Our canopy continues Our spirits are as high as our elevation bump into a few more hikers as the first to crack with lightning and we begin to as we fill our stomachs with as much few raindrops fall. understand what this might do to our as the altitude will allow us. I rest a bit water level.

34 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org words by Clay Wright - photoAmerican by Johnnie Whitewater Kern 35 November/December 2006 November/December 2006

“Damn this rain,” Tubes yells as it and the other to search for dry wood. We goes high above the first gorge, blasted continues to fall in sheets. find some shelter under some evergreen into the granite nearly a century ago. trees and break off some of the lower, “It won’t do this all night. This has got dryer branches. We use some to provide We begin to drop back down and cross a to be just a little afternoon shower,” I dry sleeping quarters in case of more rain creek that falls in right at the bottom of the say, fully aware that this is no ordinary and the rest to start a fire. Our survival biggest slide, the end of the first gorge, and afternoon shower. skills prevail and we dry out around the “the best rapid,” according to The Broiler. blaze, eating some fresh fish and fine bag Crossing this tributary proves to be a small We float there in silence watching meals. We crawl into our pine boughs and triumph due to the thigh deep flows, and I the lightning bolts hit the peaks just fall asleep. We awake the next morning stare down it and think about how much it downstream of our position, glad that we directly above the big stuff. We are now on would suck to be swept away by this small, are, at least, in the lowest spot around. day two of the river and headed into the swollen tributary that probably isn’t even Devil’s Washbowl. on the map. About this time a Boy Scout troop was struck by lightning only 25 miles away. The first thing I do after I wake is jump We get back down to river level and They were camped at the foot of Mt. over a couple of rocks to get a look at decide to wait. I half expect them to Whitney. We were looking at the same Palisade Creek. It has changed color from come bombing down the slide, having storm that zapped them. And even though brown to blue, but has only dropped a few just completed an impossibly high we were in the lowest possible spot it still inches. It still appears to have a lot more descent of the Good Morning Gorge, but didn’t really seem safe, floating in the flow than the Middle Kings. a few moments later, I see their kayaks water and all. high above on the trail, slowly moving We take our time, and let our gear dry out toward us. The storm had already killed by the time in the sun that graces us with its presence. it threatened our lives with high water and I think everyone is hoping that the river When they arrive we eat some lunch and commitment in that canyon. What were is still falling fast. I am starting to think talk about what to do. we to do? I gave some thought to turning about the hydrographs I studied in college, around, but it seemed so pointless. We’d making biased predictions and assuring “It’s just too damn high, man,” Kris have to hike back over the pass, give up on myself that it is coming down. says as he watches the eddies surge back the Kings … and then what would we do? into terminal holes. “No one would There was no way out from Bishop and we The first rapid of the day is like a quadruple survive this.” would be on the wrong side of the Sierras espresso, and we are immediately aware of with no transportation. The only logical the higher than normal water level. The “You wouldn’t even be able to get out way out was downstream. water is fast, cold, and pushy. We run a anywhere. And in the unfortunate case big slide and punch a couple of giant that you did swim,” his voice trails off Our meadow begins to drop out from recirculating hydraulics. The scenery is as he turns and looks downstream at under us, and we run a couple beefy Class amazing as we make our way to the edge the continuous Class VI froth falling off IV rapids in the rain, until we come to nice of the earth, but no one has the time horizon line after horizon line. “No way 15-foot slide into a small pool. The river to look or care, and the cameras stay in man, no freaking way.” splits around an island after this and to the their bags. left we catch a glimpse of Palisade Creek, We have no other choice but to hike down doo-doo brown and three times the flow Class V that should be IV, Class VI that to Simpson Meadow. of the Middle Kings. should be V, and after what seems a small eternity, we finally make it to the Good Everyone is putting together their carrying “So Palisades is supposed to be about half Morning Slide and the beginning of the systems while The Broiler jumps ahead the flow of the Kings, huh Broiler?” first distinct mini-gorge. Broiler, Kris, and and gets way out in front, making really Tubes run the slide down to the entrance good time. The last thing he says is, “As “Uhhh, from what I can remember. It of the gorge and almost get blown straight soon as I see navigable whitewater, I’m was maybe a little more than half, but a into the meat. The Captain and I observe. putting on.” hell of a lot lower than that,” he answers, pointing to the flooded little gorge. Unable “Screw that, man. You can run it, but then Tubes gets his backpack together first and to go any further due to the high water, we you are going to have to hike back out of leaves on the heels of The Broiler. are forced to camp just upstream of the the gorge 25 yards later,” the Captain says confluence on the river right. as he shoulders the old plastic burden and We all feel the same way: sweaty, swearing, heads for the trail. and tired of walking. A mere Class V rapid The rain finally begins to peter out and we would be a welcoming sight for everyone. split into two groups, one to catch dinner, I silently agree and do the same. The trail Again, I blank my mind, tuck my head,

38 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 39 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 38 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 39 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 and start walking. Occasionally I look him around the corner. The trail should something a little better. Finally, in the last to my right and see terminal hole after follow the river all the way through few moments of light we come to a 10-foot terminal hole stacked up like bricks in a the meadow.” high eroded bank with some flat ground, a wall, one after another. I lose all sense of fire ring and tons of dry wood just above time for a while until I notice a change in Beryllium Tubes’ convincing is all I or it. We pull over, unpack and build a huge the topography around the trail. It seems anyone else needs, and as the rest of the fire to signal The Broiler, just in case he like the gradient is finally letting up. I turn crew trickles in, we put on our gear and is within sight. We scramble down to the a corner and find Tubes with his kayak on head down to the river. We put in on river and make a little stick gauge. Kris the ground packing away his backpack. some fast, Class III/IV boogy water—it’s dubs our camp “Cliffhanger” because really moving. As we proceed through the of its precarious position overlooking “Let’s put on,” he says. meadow, we become spread out further the river, and we sit around wondering and further. Periodically I scan the left how we are, for the second time on this At this point, I don’t even care if it is Class bank looking for signs of The Broiler, and California journey, one man down. VI. Anything will be better than taking see nothing. I keep telling myself we will one more step with this giant burden on run into him just around the next corner. We move through the next morning at my back, and I agree before he even has a a snail’s pace. The skies are clear, but the chance to finish. A blanket of darkness is beginning to stick gauge shows no change in the river creep down overhead, and we still haven’t level, and there is still no sign of The “Do you think The Broiler already put on,” found The Broiler, or a good spot to camp Broiler. Kris wakes with a feeling that he I ask as I peer down the trail trying to find for that matter. We stop and check out is still in front of us, so we pack it up and some sign of him or his kayak. a couple of possible sites, but they are paddle downstream until we have entered so mosquito-ridden that we saddle up the first gorge of the day and some water “Probably, but if not I’m sure we’ll see and head downstream hoping to find that The Broiler definitely wouldn’t have

40 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 41 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 paddled by himself. upstream and then bushwhack all the way water. Almost immediately, I feel the tug back down the river right, which is most of a bite, but the sound of Third Eichhorn Kris and The Captain decide to hike up likely impossible. The hiker says he has hollering on a boulder high above distracts and look for the trail, while Tubes, Third seen The Broiler and graciously shows me. He has spotted The Broiler coming Eichhorn and I wait. They hike way up his map to Kris and The Captain. They downstream. In a few moments he comes the side of a ridge looking for some fabled determined that there are 21 miles of river around the corner yelling at me, “What in ranger station that The Captain thought to go and the only way out is downstream. the hell? Where were you guys?” he remembered from his maps (which The hiker expresses some concern for were conveniently stored in Chattanooga). them, seeing that they are in the middle of I point him toward our boats just Kris finally convinces him to turn around. nowhere with nothing but a pair of water downstream, and run through the woods They head back down the ridge and then bottles, but they thank him and head their to meet him. Turns out he camped the turn upstream, hike through some desert, separate ways. night before near the beginning of the the meadow, and past all the stuff we meadow right on the trail, waiting for paddled the evening before; still no sign of Meanwhile, at the entrance to the first us to come walking up. Had we walked The Broiler. They turn around and make gorge, Third Eichhorn keeps watch for another hundred yards before putting on, their way back, empty handed and out of The Broiler while Tubes finds some respite we would have never lost him. ideas. in the shade and saws away at his sleep debt. Unable to rest, I pull out the fishing The Captain and Kris are still hiking Along the way they meet a hiker who pole and do some of the best fishing of the around looking for him at this point, so I is looking for a way to cross the river trip. I am making my way upstream to a tell him of the fishing, and we explore the and head south towards Tehipite Valley. perfectly deep, clear eddy, where I can see eddies downstream, pulling out the largest Kris informs him that there is no way to some monster trout lurking. I crawl down trout of the trip from a shallow little pool cross the river unless you head way back to a little perch and toss my line in the right next to the bank.

40 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 41 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 After another hour of fishing, The Captain The high water blazing continues for a curtain. No one sees him for a good 10 and Kris return to find everyone, including another mile, where we come around count. I trade a fearful glance with Kris The Broiler, now waiting for them. It is a bend to see the sun illuminating the and Tubes, and then look back upstream 2 pm and we are just starting the longest crown of Tehipite Dome. Our spirits to see his orange boat burst through the push, mileage wise, of the entire trip. experience another rebirth and, as we curtain back to the downstream side and Eleven miles of whitewater lay between bask in the majestic beauty of the Dome, flip again. He rolls up again and furiously our current position and Tehipite Valley. we are confident that we can make it out back paddles until he is out of the hole. by the end of the day. We cruise through We waste no time and begin bombing the meadow, hungry to complete the final He peels into the eddy next to me with down some quality “high water West nine miles and make our flights home. his helmet all pushed back on his head, Prong” stuff. Our time concern lights a fire looking like he’s just met God. under us, and we don’t get out to portage As we exit the valley, classic, big-water, or scout much at all. We explore the many Class V rapids one after another find us “Are you okay,” I ask, totally amazed he side channels that have opened up due to willing and ready to do whatever it takes had held on so long. the higher-than-recommended flow, and to make it out of the gorge. The sun sneak around some of the more deadly reaches its peak overhead and we come “Yah, I knew I had to hang in …” he hydraulics this way. When there is no to a lull in the whitewater. It has been a says, taking a minute to breath. “Because other option, we blaze the meat and hope long morning, but we figure with an entire a swim in here would mean … you’d be for the best, following the bobbing head of afternoon to work with, the six miles to royally SCHIZBLARNIGAN!” he whose turn it is to lead. Yucca Point should be no problem. Our roller coaster ride is almost over, we just Turning to look downstream I realize that We portage Big Bad Beaver, wondering want to hear that fat woman sing. he couldn’t be more correct. what The Tsunami was thinking as we stare at the massive eight-foot pile on the We snack for lunch and push on. To We wait for The Captain to catch his hole at the bottom, get back on the river, our dismay, the gradient increases and breath and move on. The most impressive and push on till dusk. The lust for some the afternoon gush begins to juice the display of gradient any of us have ever seen flat camping pushes us onward. Tehipite already too high flows. The feelings continues to push our limits and challenge Valley should be just around the bend, but of accomplishment everyone had felt our mental and physical endurances. the last drops of light escape us and we are prematurely at lunch are being stuffed It’s about this time that I drop my boat forced to camp above another horizon back down our throats. We follow Tubes after slipping during a portage. I chase it line in a sandy, insect hell-hole that Kris into unknown, sieved out side channels, downstream like a madman, leaping from names “Camp Motivation.” He sees the not because it is cool but because we are rock to rock. My heart beats out of my poor camping as a good reason to get up out of dinners, and sick of dried fruit and chest. If I don’t get this back, it is going and out the next morning at the crack of nuts; we want to make our flights home to be a long walk out of here. Amazingly, dawn. The Captain puts a notch in a stick and we want to be off this river. it gets stuck in a hole, takes a five-minute and places it deep in the water, and we eat ride and floats out into the eddy Iam some yummy bag meals, trying to decide if The Captain gets out to scout a little mini watching from. I am so lucky it didn’t we should ration the rest of the food. side canyon. He points everyone off the get away. I look to the opposite bank to drop and gets back in his boat to run see the rest of TJ laughing and sharing No one really sleeps well. The Captain it himself. I guess he didn’t get it after Petite Ecoliers. has dreams of being bitten by a rattler, watching five people run it because he and as I drift away in to the subconscious, missed the line, dropped into a hole backed Our progress slows. It is starting to get late an eight-inch millipede crawls across my up by a rock and started side surfing. His in the afternoon and everyone is tired. We face. The rest of the night I balk at every eyes were as wide as the Mississippi as he portage more and more, occasionally just little noise thinking that the big guy’s looked to The Broiler and yelled, “Get because it takes less time than finding and family has come for revenge. As I stare up your rope ready!” running a line. Tubes describes the river at the clearest night sky I have ever seen, as “power-mank,” like Suck Creek and the a meteor shower criss-crosses my field of Seeing no way out on the river right, he Linville Gorge all rolled together at super view with a brilliant light show. decides to switch a couple ends and turn high water. himself around to face river left. A couple The next morning, the water on The more retendos, and he drops off the side We continue to claw our way down. Captain’s gage is higher than the night of the hole and into a bigger one in the Exhaustion, thirst, hunger and fear of before. Wondering how this is possible, main flow. A few power window shades in another night in the gorge wear down we scout the next rapid and hit the water this hole work him further to the left and on us all with an indescribable weight. in the first minutes of the day, hoping this underneath the most vertical part of the At every corner we expect to see an end will be our last in the gorge. falls at which point he disappears behind to the gradient and the confluence with

42 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 43 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 42 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 43 November/December 2006 November/December 2006

the South Fork, but every time all we see before dark, while The Broiler, Kris, between the three of them. is another white torrent pounding its way The Captain, and myself wait for Third down the gorge. At one point we turn a Eichhorn to catch up so that we can give A couple of times the wind picks up and bend and see a big wall in the distance. him some water and a light. He finally I can sense through the darkness that it is Everyone gets excited, thinking that this catches up and The Broiler gives him one a steep drop off just beyond the edge of is the end, but as we get closer it becomes of the best motivational speeches I have the trail. That’s about when The Captain clear that this is not the case. ever heard. misses a step, stumbles on a rock, and falls off the trail. Nearing the top, they The warm sun has gone behind the “You think it sucks trying to hike through know they are close, because they can mountains, and with it goes our happy, this now? Just wait till it gets dark! You hear Kris and I celebrating, but that is good-time feelings. Third Eichhorn have to run hard and fast. Do not stop! when they hear the unmistakable rattle hits a mental and physical wall. He says You don’t have time for anything. You of a Western Diamondback. The three of something about staying one more night, have to make it out of here tonight! We are them awkwardly retreat back down the and not being able to paddle anymore, but so close man, really close. You will make trail. They make Third Eichhorn go first we all kind of ignore him, forcing him to it, but you got to go hard and you got to because he has the light, no boat, and keep on moving. We know we are close at go fast. We’ll see you at Yucca Point!” And he has already faced a rattler and a bear this point, but dark is quickly approaching. with that we split with our tired old friend that evening. He pushes on and quickly Every second now is invaluable, and the and blaze the last few miles of whitewater comes retreating back, talking about how river isn’t giving an inch. toward Yucca Point. it sounded big and he thinks he saw it. The next go around they power through and We come to another power mank portage As dark sets in, we see the confluence keep moving. A few moments later they and The Broiler, Tubes, and I find a small with the South Fork Kings, signifying come around the corner and see Kris, The micro eddy on the left and portage rather our take out and the end of day five. The Broiler and I drinking a warm Optimator. easily. Third Eichhorn, Kris, and The celebratory hoops and hollers ring off Captain opt for the river right portage, the canyon walls. We strip off our gear, We pack the truck to the brim with six which proves to be quite technical. raise our hands to the sky and let out the people, five kayaks, and ten days worth of primal roars of survivors. The feeling of gear. Fully loaded, we head into Fresno to As we wait for them downstream we can accomplishment in that moment is like no find something to eat. see them dropping boats off a 25-foot wall other that I have experienced. into a giant eddy and jumping in after Sitting in my warm home here in them. They all disappear behind some An hour rolls by as we wait for Third Knoxville, I am easily transported back rocks and I figure all is well. Just then, I Eichhorn. Eventually we see a little speck to this time and space as I read this story see the tip of Third Eichhorn’s red boat of light coming down the gorge. Bruised for the hundredth time trying to figure peel out from behind the rock and into the and beaten, he finally emerges from the out how to end it. I can see that crisp, current with no kayaker in sight. It quickly woods across the river. Having survived California blue sky, feel the cold waters turns over and fills with water, passing both a bear and rattlesnake encounter, and taste that nasty bag-food, and it all The Broiler and I off the next few horizon he shows us his bloody shins and swollen goes on in between my two ears. lines. We look downstream and watch ankles, telling us how he ran through the as Tubes’ blindly chases it through two thickest briars without pain or hesitation, The memory has something to do with rapids and comes to a stop before another until now. He looks happy just to it, the reason we kayak. Beyond the rush heinous looking ledge. A chase is out of be alive. of flying and the Zen mind testing, we the question. To run these rapids blind is are building a cache of memories that a dice roll with terrible odds, and Tubes’s One last time, we pack up our burdens and will live on for eternity. I think back to gambling record ain’t all that great. The head up the two-mile trail to the car. It is the days when I traveled to places like boat is gone. Eichhorn’s only option now completely dark now, probably around the Middle Fork of the Kings in my own is to run out of the gorge with the little bit 10:30pm, and there are only two lights imagination. It strikes me that the mind of daylight left. We all get a little ahead of between the six of us. I force feed myself is the only place we ever exist, or maybe him before we realize he doesn’t even have some Goo and hurry out of there with that is what we strive for: to rid ourselves a headlamp. Kris and The Broiler following my light of the distractions of society, the lies of close behind. This leaves The Captain, marketing and politics, the sadness in the Tubes takes off on a solo mission to finish Third Eichhorn and Tubes with one light world, and escape into the mind.

46 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 47 November/December 2006 November/December 2006

On common runs like the Middle Kings it’s important to keep your guard up, so the paparazzi can’t get a clear shot of your face.

Are you guys staying at the Marina?

46 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 47 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 The “When to Scout” Dilemma A Collaborative Roundtable

Making sure you and your paddling partners see the same things can be critical.

48 PhotoAmerican by Robert Whitewater Peerson www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 49 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 By Steve Augustine what makes you comfortable—but never Craig: If the riverbed in general has really take any rapid on any river for granted. hard or steep stuff; or if a given rapid is a Roundtable participants: Steve Augustine, Scouting is absolutely a situational horizon line …. Craig Parks, Matt Jennings, Juliet Kastorff endeavor. Many factors play into the extent and Jimmy Blakeney and fashion of looking at a particular Juliet: On my first run down a river, I am rapid. Rapid characteristics, horizon lines, all for scouting rapids—even if they end river flows, capabilities of paddlers in the up being wide open and good to go. On One of the most group, time of day, weather, and the list something steep, my ability to see the goes on with these factors; again, totally bottom of the rapid is a big determinant of complex and situational. With a good solid group of whether I scout or not. If I know that there important decisions we boaters, where everyone has knowledge of is a particularly large, significant rapid the river or rapid, or where someone with ahead, I know it will be worth getting out have to make on the excellent knowledge of the run explains and scouting. It also depends on who I the rapids to everyone in the group, there am paddling with. If I am with someone I river concerns scouting is little need for everyone to get out of their trust and see their line through a rapid and boats, walk over slippery rocks and spend their body language indicates it was not a rapids. When, where, valuable daylight on inspecting a rapid big deal, then I will follow them. well within the scope of manageability of and for how long? Do I the entire group. How do you decide between boat scouting and getting out to scout? look every time, or just Jimmy: If I can’t find a way to see the once? Should I scout at bottom of the rapid, I scout. The only Matt: Here again, when you boat scout, exception is if I’m following someone who you need to feel comfortable enough all? These are just some I fully trust. going into the eddy that’s right above the rapid that you can’t see. If you don’t feel of the dilemmas we Matt: It’s all visual. Of course, that comfortable going into the eddy that’s depends on the gradient/horizon lines. right above the rapid that you can’t see face on the incredible Most rapids that you paddle up to and then you will want to get out of your boat can see, you’ll run without scouting, but if to scout earlier. On the other hand, you whitewater rivers we there’s something you can’t see, then you also can’t limit yourself by going down to paddle. definitely want to scout it. the last eddy above the drop since getting there may not give you sufficient time to I remember looking at Class III Nantahala To scout or not to scout … while that is make the line you want. For example, if Falls my first time down the river. I stood the question, the real answer here is IT you have a big wide river, and a horizon there and calculated my line for half an DEPENDS. line, sometimes it’s not in your best hour. All of that indecisive gandering interest to get into the last eddy. In a creek resulted in the neophyte standard: What factors does it depend on? it’s, again, all visual. flip right, swim, textbook self-rescue. 1) First, the type of river. I’d separate them Nowadays the only time I scout Nantahala into two general categories: creek-like Jimmy: Your skill level often determines Falls is to offer “experienced” advice to rivers where there’s only one channel, and this. For many big rapids, it is possible to friends taking the plunge early in their wider, bigger rivers, where the lines may find a little nook or slack water just above kayaking careers. not be conveniently placed nearest the last the drop so you can see the landing zone attainable eddy. The dynamic is different without getting out of your boat. These So when should you scout and when is in drop-pool runs. 2) Is it continuous? types of boat scouts often require expert scouting unnecessary? We have brought That’s another question. Take the example skills due to the small margin for error. together a diverse group to chew on this of my recent adventure on the Rio Lipeo, I guess you could classify boat scouts topic. Joining me are Craig, Juliet and in Argentina. You have a quarter mile of just like you do rapids: your skill level Matt with a guest appearance by Jimmy Class IV river, visibly clean, then we come determines how hard of a boat scout Blakeney. Our combined thoughts on around a curve and see that the gradient you’re willing to do. Regardless, if you scouting follow. suddenly gets a whole lot steeper. We pull can’t see the landing from your boat, you all the tricks to stop at the last eddy to get need to get out to scout. What determines whether a rapid is worthy out and scout, only to discover another of scouting for you? continuous quarter mile of Class V rapids. Juliet: Depends on where you can stage Good to scout these. from the river. If there is not a good place Steve: I believe the best advice is to do to boat scout, then it is well worth getting

48 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 49 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 out and taking a look from shore. Steve: I have some rapids that, for one Juliet: For me, the three key factors are: reason or another, I always get out to look 1) if the rapid is committing and known Craig: If I can’t creep close enough to the at. There are only a handful out there on to have wood in it or has had a big flood; edge in my boat to look I’ll hop out. You the familiar runs, and these rapids might 2) how difficult the rapid is. If it is really have to find a safe eddy low enough to see, not necessarily be the hardest I run—I just hard I am all for getting out each time to but where you can still run the line or get like to look! just make sure I have a visual on the line out of your boat once you get down there. I want to take. Watching a probe go first Matt: It depends on 1) the degree of sometimes gives you added reassurance; 3) Once you have scouted a rapid, how do you difficulty and 2) my familiarity with if the water levels tend to change a major determine whether to scout it again or not? the river. A river that you know well at rapid. I learned a hard lesson this year in 1000 cfs, 10,000 cfs and everything in Costa Rica, running a rapid that I had run Craig: If it changes frequently or if I between you shouldn’t need to scout. many times in the last fourteen years. The don’t really remember the details I might 3) The fluctuations/potential changes: increased water level changed the rapid rescout something. Or if it always has big Although I’ve spent a lot of time on the drastically. I could have stopped above it consequences. I’ve never scouted Pillow river, I always scout the biggest rapids in a last-minute eddy to give it one last Rock Rapid since my first time down the (two in Inferno Canyon, Throne Room, glance before heading into it, but I didn’t. Gauley because you can roll at the bottom, Terminator and Casa de Piedra) on the I went into it with 100% focus on my line but I always scout Mike Tyson’s Punchout Futaleafu. The reason is that the river (I have never taken this rapid for granted). (Raven’s Fork) because I definitely don’t changes so dramatically season-to-season The change took me totally off guard and want to crash. and even day-to-day and so do the lines. I paid a big price for just paddling into it In creeks, you always want to scout for without scouting. new logs.

50 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 51 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 Jimmy: That’s a good question and one level, it very well could look different of the toughies. It’s a judgment call, really. and have new hazards with more or less If you’ve run a creek a lot and know what water. Sometimes the difference between to expect, you don’t have to scout every a favorite play spot and a serious pourover time. However, if there’s been a really is not a lot of water. River levels—and windy day, or an ice storm, or really high translating those levels to understand what water recently, you have to be extra careful a rapid contains—should be understood because new strainers may appear, or before even putting on. rocks could’ve moved. Craig: If I think there could be new rock or What kind of changing conditions would trees I rescout, or if the water levels make a make you rescout a rapid? big difference there.

Matt: Water levels (and frightened Jimmy: See above and also really cold paddlers). weather, because ice can be a big hazard! I’ve been on trips where we started a Steve: Don’t forget that river levels can run and all the drops were clear, but as change rapids dramatically. The Ocoee at we entered a shaded part of the gorge all 3500 cfs is a much different river than at of a sudden the creek was covered in ice a normal summer flow. Or the Chattooga bridges. Someone got caught in one and Sheer, tight gorge, lots of whitewater - a good place at 1 ft versus 2 ft. No matter how many we ended up hiking out. The whole creek to have a look. times a boater has run a rapid at a certain was frozen over further downstream! Photo by Rob Peerson

50 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 51 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 How much gut instinct plays into your too comfortable out there. When we’re my two feet along in case I need to check decision to scout or not? running Manns Creek (my home Class something out! V creek in West Virginia) day after day, Craig: I usually put everything I know Matt: There are definitely times when you can become complacent. You have to about the run into a decision to scout; my I decide to go, just looking at the remind yourself the dangers are always gut reaction would be to scout if I don’t surrounding environment, even though there, and are always changing, so you know enough. I usually know all I need; I can’t see the rapid. It depends on the don’t inadvertently put yourself in a I get instinctual if I can’t see enough or character of the river really. But a good bad position. water does something weird where I can rule of thumb is to say that, if you can’t see see it. I almost always see enough to run a it, SCOUT IT. Juliet: I think a lot of my gut instinct is line and go for it. A total lack of visibility is determined by the caliber of boaters I usually the reason to scout. Jimmy: How much gut instinct plays am with. If I have an implicit trust in the into your decision to scout or not? For boater(s) I am with (meaning I know them Steve: I have even found that when I me it’s more calculated than that. Once well because I have paddled with them look at rapids too intensely, I often psych I’ve thought about the things mentioned for years), I am a lot more comfortable myself out and have problems running it. above, my “gut” instinct tells me what running things on the fly. I can read their The times I scout briefly, or just go ahead to do. Sometimes you take a bit of extra body language and make my own decision with what I know, I find that instinct risk depending on how you’re feeling confidently. And just because someone and momentum serve me well. This on the creek, but I try to always err on I know runs something on the fly does theory generally works on low to mid the side of caution … trying not to get not always mean that I do. I always bring volume rivers and creeks where rapids are

52 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 53 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 When in doubt, have a look.

Photo by Tanya Shuman

characteristically shorter and require few scouting is not a good paddling partner. moves, or a sequence of short moves. On And in asking someone about your ability big water, however, where rapids can be to run something or not, beware of the hundreds of meters long and might take words “oh, you will be fine.” If you get out a long time to scout, wave top scouting to scout a rapid and do not see your line, works great. In most cases these rapids, don’t run it. On the other hand, you can once committed to, can be seen entirely get wigged out with too much scouting. If from the top. This allows for any hazards you know the rapid, know the line, know i.e. giant holes, boulders, etc. to be seen the conditions—don’t keep scouting. and negotiated on the fly. This is not Sometimes you just have to suck it up and always the case though. Knowledge of run a rapid that makes you nervous to serious hazards—like Killer Fang Falls prove to yourself that you have the ability being around some bend halfway down to run it. the run, approach with caution—can be useful. Steve: Whatever you decide to do, don’t forget the time tested, best safety Any other words of wisdom? precautions we have out there: Sound educated judgment. Hindsight is always Jimmy: A huge part of creeking is mental. 20/20. Never become complacent. And get Confidence is key, but it’s a double-edged as much knowledge of your destination as sword. When you find yourself getting possible—that is half the battle. confident and feeling solid, that’s the best time to re-evaluate and be extra careful, because there’s a fine line between confident and cavalier.

Craig (After a day running the Raven’s Fork): If I am really scared but know the line I have somebody check for trees for me and then I paddle off it before I realize what I am doing. It worked all day yesterday.

Matt: With the great amount of focus most put into running a rapid at the peak of our abilities, we rarely get ourselves into trouble. It is the case, however, that most of the horror stories we hear of or experience occur when paddlers become complacent. We should all remember: one boater’s Section III of the Chattooga, is another’s Section IV, is another’s Narrows of the Green. Perceptions are everything.

Juliet: Scouting is not an ego thing. It is a part of paddling. Anyone who refuses to scout because they are too good for

52 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 53 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 Sugary Upper Cherry Creek Schweet by The Dogg

Upper Cherry Creek has been getting a lot EVER if I was going to be a quitter! No, booth and transform from an ordinary of press lately for being the latest, greatest it was time to step up to the plate and citizen like you, the reader, into your run. With all the hype, one might say that show “Grapefruit” Creek that if you bite paddling superhero! Once at the put-in it the Dogg was more than a little curious. the Dogg, the Dogg bites back! You mess was time to put my game face on. Upper Was Upper “Strawberry” as big and bad with the bull and you get the horns! When “Tangerine” had bested the Dogg once but as everyone was saying, or was it just I come back, I’m crackin’ skulls! It’s TRUE! that was not going to happen this time. something that adults made up to scare It’s TRUE! Jeremy told me that he would keep me on little kids, like the Boogey Man, Mickey a “short leash” to make sure that I didn’t Mouse or Barney the purple dinosaur? Now, moving on to the summer of 2005, get lost this time. Carrying a boat on a hike To find out, I flew to California during the Dogg was ready for redemption. I of this magnitude is quite a challenge. It the summer of 2004 to try and run this flew to Sacramento, where I was grateful is important that you have everything you creek. Having never done a multi-day to be able to stay with Greg Speicher for need, you really have to cross your “t’s” trip before, I was not fully aware of what a few days while Jeremy Laucks’ Chasing and dot your lowercase “j’s.” However, to it meant to try to use a 60-70 pound boat Rain van could get some engine repairs. keep the weight down, it is a good idea to full of gear. More or less, I underestimated While waiting for Jeremy I cruised around bring only the bare necessities. I decided to the magnitude of the situation. I opted to the Sacramento area to pick up chicks, leave the black market stinger missiles that build my own backpack for the 11-mile a successful venture for sure. Since I I had purchased at a government auction hike in and decided to leave the water appeared in People Magazine’s 50 most of seized contraband behind in the van. purifier behind since my friends had beautiful people of 2005 issue, the girls Although potentially useful if I saw a bear, several and I could just borrow theirs. To have been hounding the Dogg for some they were not necessary and would have make a long story short, I fell behind my lovin’. And who am I to deny them? added a fair amount of weight. The hike buddies due to the constant adjustments After a particularly enjoyable rendezvous took us somewhere around eight hours to I had to make to my cheap backpack. with the Sacramento Kings’ cheerleading complete. Jeremy kept asking the question, Then, about five miles into the hike, squad, I decided to switch my focus back “Does the fun ever start?” I told him to my backpack broke. I left the boat and to kayaking and Upper “Blackberry.” Once stop being a moon-faced assassin of joy continued with all my gear but got lost Jeremy was able to pick me up, it was because it wasn’t going to make the hike about eight miles in. I camped and was GAME ON! Who was Upper “Orange” to any better. Besides, the scenery was nice eaten alive by mosquitoes (one eye swelled deny you, the anticipating reader, another and the day wasn’t too hot. Prepared with a shut). Being out of water and dehydrated work of literary greatness from the Dogg! state-of-the-art backpack, a water purifier, the next morning, I decided that the best The nerve! As your paddling superhero, it and high quality boots cured in Sicilian idea for my survival was to admit defeat, is my mission to run SIK drops and save Sumac leaves, I smoked the hike in with walk back, and live to fight another day. I the world from boring kayak articles! We no problems, a feat that should come as may not have been victorious but I didn’t eventually headed to Upper “Kumquat” no surprise seeing how as I’m THE world’s lose my head like Ann Berlin! and were set to have perfect conditions most premier athlete. I warned Jeremy not for the run. to fall behind because stragglers have been One might assume that I might leave known to get hit by trucks. I think that California and never return. Will you The Park Service gave us our permit and Jeremy was pretty worn out by the end of return, you ask? You bet your booger I will! a list of rules to follow while we were in the hike because he started talking weird As with all great athletes or superheroes, the wilderness. Most of those were things stuff, referencing Navajos, Hopis, and defeat doesn’t sit well. The Dogg is not I already knew, like carrying my boat to kachina dolls. I was getting pretty worried one for giving up and, in my estimation, avoid plastic shavings. I found it very about him but he snapped out of it once Upper “Watermelon” had won that battle funny that they wanted me to smear my we put on the creek. but the war wasn’t over. Did Superman poo on the rocks. I used to get in trouble give up when faced with kryptonite? with the law when I was a kid for lighting We started down the creek in the early Did Rocky give up when facing Mr. T or bags of poo on fire and leaving them on evening and headed downstream to get Drago the Russian? Did the Red Sox give people’s doorsteps. Now I had a viable legal away from the hotbed of mosquitoes that up when facing elimination against the authority telling me to go out and smear is Lord’s Meadow (the put-in). We were Yankees in the 2004 playoffs? No, I think away! I told the ranger that he might regret immediately greeted by some slides that not! In all instances, the athlete/superhero asking me to do this but I figured, “What created some white H2Ooooooohhhhh came back to beat their opponent into the heck, why should I argue?” Yeah! The second good slide was long an embarrassing pulp! Well, the Dogg and dropped steeply, ending in a 15-foot is no different. Would I be the world’s We drove through the town of Cherry Lake falls. I flew down the slide and caught a most premier athlete and greatest kayaker and I took the time to stop by the phone major SIKy off the boof lip of the falls. Oh

54 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org November/December 2006 Jeremy Lauks contemplating the fruity goodness.

Photo by The Dogg

Need caption

Photo by ??????

54 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org November/December 2006 Yesh! It was SCCHHWWEEEEETTTT!!!! I both aced it but it was a pretty scary drop. Teacups, which are a series of six perfectly- I wondered if it would be much more Soon, we were out of the first gorge and shaped drops of six to 12 feet in height, all difficult to paddle with a boat full of gear many great slides carried us to the crux of in a row. These were so sweet that I had but it wasn’t really a problem. I was a little the run, Cherry Bomb Gorge. We got out to carry up and run these several times. worried that Upper “Rhubarb” would push and scouted the entire gorge to make sure Yeah buddy! I was happier than a kid who me around like a Playskool® corn popper that we knew all the lines. Floating willy- just got a quarter from the Nose Fairy for but this was not the case. However, when nilly, haphazard, or slapdash into this leaving a nose nugget under his pillow! you can leap buildings in a single bound gorge would likely end in disaster! like me, your worries quickly fade away! We decided to camp a little downstream Once in the gorge, the creek goes Richter! from here on the right since the Park After a few more sloping ledge drops, It gets funky like chicken, in the mix like Service told us not to camp at the Jeremy and I decided that we had put trail, super like Mario®! The challenges Flintstone Camp. It was still early evening enough distance between us and the posed by this gorge can be quite scary so we decided to just hang out and kick it mosquitoes and we decided to camp. The but fear is not an option. Fear causes like Pele. It would have been nice to have next morning we headed downstream hesitation and hesitation causes your an Eskimo Pie® at this point but, because through countless slides and ledge worst fears to come true! This gorge of the heat, the only treat that I could drops. Most drops were boat-scoutable begins with a sieved-out area that you have was a package of astronaut dry ice so we made excellent progress. We were have to portage around to get to Cherry cream that I bought on Ebay®. The warm motoring along, beating the horse’s Bomb Falls. I slipped on the portage and weather was relaxing and welcomed me behind with a belt! Several of the rapids skinned my knuckles on a rock. Since to jump in and swim, which was very featured extremely narrow slots that the nobody makes me bleed my own blood refreshing. This was all good and fun water was funneling through, which led and gets away with it, I was determined to until I got bitten by an ill-tempered large- to some excitement in a few places. We seek revenge on Cherry Bomb Falls. The mouth bass! If you’ve ever been bitten by ran through a narrow slot off a six-foot falls was ominous sounding, like the roar one, well, citizen, I don’t have to tell you ledge and one of us was back-endered of thin sheet metal being shaken backstage what it feels like! I occupied myself for the harshly into the wall. I won’t say who this during the storm scene in a play. This falls rest of the evening with a mini yo-yo that I happened to but we’ll call this paddler is a very large and steep slide that banks had packed. I must say that this may be the Jeremy L. Wait, that might be too obvious. into a wall at the bottom. How high, you best invention since pay toilets! How about J. Laucks? That’s better. It was ask? Well, it was 10 stories tall if it was a in this part of the run that Jeremy and I foot! It probably drops a total of 30 feet, The next morning, after a good poo passed a CREW of excellent boaters and going down a steep slope before hitting smearing session and another run of the young whippersnappers who had decided the launch ramp and falling into the short Teacups, I was ready to head downstream to hike in at night and do the whole run in pool before the wall. I took a look at my and do battle with the lower part of Upper a day. This feat strikes the Dogg as a very watch and the big hand said that it was “Kiwi.” After a quick portage around a admirable accomplishment and I would time to get SIK! Both Jeremy and I came sieved-out falls we came to a clean 30- someday like to try it myself, once I have down with left angle and caught major air footer. It fell down an 80-degree slope into learned all the lines. off the launcher at the bottom. Oh YESH! a beautiful deep pool. This was followed It was NICHE! 100% Pure Adrenaline! by a narrow boulder drop that fed right It wasn’t long before we had entered the into Double Pothole. Double Pothole first gorge, which featured some steeper At this point we were down in the heart of goes down a steep slope before falling off ledge drops. One drop was comparable the vertical-walled gorge and escape would a 15-foot falls into a short pool followed to Gorilla on the Green Narrows but have been nearly impossible. The drops are by a 12-foot cascade. This drop requires a seemed narrower and sketchier. It looked fun ledges of 5-8 feet, some with sizeable certain amount of precision to avoid the like it would be a fun drop if you aced it hydraulics. The most formidable of these pothole in the center and line up for your but, if you blew it, you’d be in a world of is called The Weir, which falls about 4 boof. I developed a keen eye from my days hurt. Contact with rocks was a distinct feet into a dam-type hydraulic trapped as a professional boar hunter in Punjab possibility for the upside-down kayaker. A in by the canyon walls and a boulder and this skill served me well here. I knew blown line here would really put the lime downstream. It is extremely important to that I would ace this drop because when in your coconut! Jeremy and I decided to get to the left after landing off the drop. the Dogg zones in on a drop the outcome walk and were greeted by more good drops I don’t want to even think about what is always success. It is an exact science, downstream. One drop had a two-foot might happen if you got surfed here. Soon consistent as gravity! I came flying down ledge into a sizeable hole followed by a the gorge opened up and the creek raced the slope and launched a SCHWEET one six-foot boof ramp that you needed to get down a very long slide where I reached off the falls and then flew down the runout to in order to avoid a swirling vat of pure the speed of exactly 734.3975 miles per cascade! Oh yeah! This rapid is top drawer, evilness recessed against a cliff. Jeremy and hour. The long slide carried me into the first cabin! I emerged from the drop with

56 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 57 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 Classic Upper Cherry Action

Photos by Charlie Munsey

my hair glistening in the morning sun like the World’s Greatest Kayaker! The water fresh snot on a nose hair after a sneeze! was flowing under, around, and through the boulders that were perched on the Immediately below Double Pothole, Upper lip of the falls. There wasn’t a space large “Apricot” entered another gorge and went enough for a boat to fit through. However, down another series of teacups. This one I was not going to be denied. I decided that had four drops between 5 and 15 feet in I was going to seal launch off one of the height. I must say that the two to three boulders and run it. Jeremy kept calling miles from the start of the first gorge to the me a tool and saying that it wasn’t a true bottom of this third gorge contain some run of the falls. Well, I’m sure this subject of the finest drops that this super-paddler could be debated until we’re blue in the has ever seen! For my money, it doesn’t face but the bottom line is that I descended get any better than this! It can get kind of the falls and it was SIK! I got in my boat on crazy because it never stops. It just keeps one of the boulders. I seal launched two coming and coming and coming, there’s feet, landed on the lip of the falls, took two never a let-up. It’s relentless. And then the controlling strokes to line up and plunged bar code reader breaks and it’s Publishers 40 feet straight down into the beautiful, Clearing House® day! I digress…. deep pool below. I resurfaced perfectly and was beginning to celebrate when I We got out below the Teacups to scout the got pushed into the bowled-out wall on rest of the gorge. There was a cascading the right. I got flipped against the wall and 20-footer into a steep-walled section. the current held me there. I tried several Below the 20-footer, the run sieved out unsuccessful roll attempts that were held into a boulder field before exiting the back by the wall. I was contemplating canyon off a 40-foot falls called Dead Bear a swim but then I realized that, as your Falls. Jeremy and I knew that portaging paddling hero, I must fight through and the sieve in this vertical-walled gorge save myself in the face of danger. After all, would be almost as difficult as trying to when you are stronger than steel and faster milk a gnat or teach Japanese to a monkey than a speeding bullet, there is nothing so we opted to walk the whole shooting that can’t be accomplished. I was able to match. Running this section at this water muster the strength to right the kayak level was one of the worst ideas I’ve ever and paddle away from the drop in full heard of. Oh yes, it is terrible! However, celebration mode. Being the scofflaw that I a group of guys ran the gorge as we were am, I eschewed the rule about keeping the portaging and, when we talked later in the whooping and hollering to a minimum trip, they confirmed that the portage was and got jiggy with it! That’s the kind of as miserable as we had imagined! drop that’ll make you stand up and yell, “DOGGPOUND!” Once around the gorge I was contemplating carrying up to run Dead Heading downstream, we continued with Bear Falls. My mind was going back and more fun slides and drops for another forth like a weathervane in the wind. mile. Soon, the run flattened out for a nice Ultimately, I decided that, in order to get pastoral stretch that allowed us to look the maximum SIKness of the run, I had around and take in the gorgeous scenery to run it. How could I look you, the fans, that surrounded us. We must have passed in the face if I had not gone out there and a dead animal carcass at some point given 110%! You expect nothing less from because a disgusting odor perforated the

56 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 57 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 air. It was a smell that could gag a maggot; drop fell 10 feet and pinched into a narrow and each firing up 40s of Steel Reserve. even stink would say it stinks! After about slot with a nasty recirculating hole at the Only the highest quality beverage for us! a mile of this the river bottom changed bottom. I didn’t like the looks of it so I We then popped a keg and the girls came from sand back to rock and we entered a scouted. Jeremy was stuck in a swirling rushing in from Cherry Lake. It was like a junky section of creek with a lot of sieved- mess at the bottom which was circling hummingbird feeder! However, the party out areas. There were a few portages around near the drop and apparently had ended abruptly when the scary lady with involved and a lot of scraping. All this a guard rock on the exit. He attempted sideburns showed up. miserable paddling had me thinking that several times to exit but was sucked back this section of the run might be the biggest toward the drop several times. Finally, he Upper “Peach” was a great run that ripoff since the Neverending Gobstopper! yelled at me to do something so I grabbed featured some world-class whitewater and However, cutting Upper “Rasberry” a my rope. Before I needed to toss him the covered some very challenging terrain. break, it is quite a lot to ask a run to be rope he was able to climb out of the eddy I am proud to have accomplished a run perfect for 12 miles. and get downstream. I’m sure that all the down this creek and will certainly come park ‘n play sessions in Colorado helped back to run it again. The difficult test of We finally entered a narrow gorge and with the stamina to hang in there and carrying a fully-loaded boat for 11 miles the water appeared to be staying a little escape that evil snare. I opted to walk the was definitely worth it. Upper Cherry more floatable. We mostly boat-scouted drop and seal launch in below. Creek is as fine of a specimen of steep the drops, which allowed us to make good whitewater as I’ve ever seen! You might progress. We came to a questionable drop The last mile of the creek contained a lot want to run it soon; when word gets out and Jeremy decided to just go for it. The of steep boogy water, with several slides that a famous celebrity like the Dogg has and a 15-foot falls. Once within sight been here, they’ll probably start charging of the lake the run kicks it up a notch admission! for one last steep section. Though not outrageously difficult, these drops can Unfortunately for us, Upper “Pear” is a late pack a wallop to the paddler who has gone season run and we couldn’t find much to to sleep and placed the kayak on autopilot run after that. The rest of the California (The trip’s not over until the boat is tied trip featured lots of hanging out in to the car, complete with bow and stern parking lots while the Chasing Rain van lines!). Below the falls, there is a 10-foot underwent repairs and driving around, angled drop into a nasty hole backed by looking at unrunnable (too low) creeks. an ugly boulder. A good right boof was But that is another story…. required to get through this, which we both aced. Right above the lake there is a narrow slide that funnels into a powerful hole. Jeremy went deep into the hole and was gone off the surface, disappearing like a beer fart in a whirlwind. I got up some speed and plowed into the hole, hitting it hard like Dick Butkis. The hole slammed back and stood me up on my tail before depositing me upside down in the pool. The final drop is a 12-foot double drop run down the middle onto a clapper shelf and then falling into the pool. We were able to celebrate after that since we were out of the wilderness area and thus wouldn’t be ruining anyone’s “wilderness experience.” Once in the parking lot, Jeremy and I were keeping it real, homie, by blaring some fresh hip hop from the subwoofer in the back of the Rain Van

58 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 59 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 58 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 59 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 As Amended in September 2006 also appoint up to 10 Honorary Board for nominations. To the extent possible, the Members. Board should be generally representative 1. Name of the geographical diversity of the The name of this organization is American Honorary Board Members shall membership of the organization. Whitewater. be individuals who, by reason of special expertise, experience, or other The President shall be Chairperson of 2. Purpose qualifications, are especially qualified to the organizational meeting of each new The purpose of American Whitewater is advise and assist the Board. Honorary Board. to: Board Members shall be nonvoting. 7. Officers a. Encourage the exploration, enjoyment, Meetings of the Board may be conducted The Board of Directors shall elect the and preservation of American recreational in person or by telephone, including following officers of the organization from waterways for human powered craft; conference calls. Voting and other Board the members of the Board: a President, actions may be taken at a meeting, by Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. b. Protect the wilderness character of telephone or e-mail polling, or by mail. The Board shall likewise hire an Executive waterways through conservation of Director and such other officers and water, forests, parks, wildlife, and related The Board of Directors shall be assisted agents of the organization as the Board resources; by a seven-member Executive Committee deems advisable. composed of the President, Vice- c. Promote safety and proficiency in all President, Secretary, Treasurer and two (2) The Executive Director shall be the aspects of white-water activities such as at large members nominated by the full administrative head of the organization. the navigation of moving water, teaching, Board. The President shall be chairman of He or she shall serve as general manager teamwork, leadership, and equipment the Executive Committee. The Executive of the business of the organization. The design, by publishing and demonstrating Committee shall be in session at all Board may delegate additional authorities developments in these and related fields; times, and shall exercise all powers of the and functions to the Executive Director Board of Directors, subject only to such and, notwithstanding any other provision d. Promote appreciation for the restrictions as the full Board may from of this constitution, authorize the recreational value of wilderness cruising time to time impose. Treasurer to approve compensation to the and of white-water sports. Executive Director. The Board, as a full Board or through 3. Membership its Executive Committee, shall have the The Executive Director shall receive all Membership in this affiliation is open power to manage all of the business affairs funds and manage all finances of the to all individuals interested in the of the organization; to elect or appoint organization and shall be responsible recreational use and conservation of officers or committee chairpersons; to for keeping the books and records of American waterways who will subscribe to fill all vacancies on the Board, or any accounts, in accordance with generally the above purposes. committee, or in any office if any when accepted accounting procedures. the same occur; to remove from office 4. Affiliated Clubs any officer, Director, or committee All other officers or committees shall All clubs or organizations which share the member for good cause shown; to hire the have such powers and obligations as the above purpose are invited to affiliate as Executive Director of the organization; Board may delegate to them. Any member member clubs. and to do any act reasonably necessary may be both a director and an appointed to the attainment of the purposes of the officer of the organization, so long as he is 5. Board of Directors organization. a due-paying member in good standing. The powers, duties and responsibilities of proper management of the affairs of this 6. Nominating New Board Member 8. Vacancies organization shall be vested in a Board of Before an election the Board of Directors Any vacancy in any office, or on any Directors, to be elected to staggered terms shall prepare and publish in an official committee, or on the Board, whether by the individual dues-paying members of communication (journal, website, e- it be occasioned by the inability, the organization. The Board of Directors mail, direct mail, etc.) a list of nominees disqualification, removal, resignation or shall consist of not less than 9 nor more to fill vacancies on the Board, together death of any officer, Director, or committee than 30 individuals who are each members with their names, a brief summary of member shall be filled for the remainder in good standing of the organization. their background and qualifications, of the un-expired term by appointment by The Board of Directors shall specify the and a voting mechanism to be used for the Board of Directors, the replacement to number of members to serve on the Board the election. The Board may accept be selected from the dues-paying members before each election. The Board may suggestions from any member or affiliate of the organization.

60 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 61 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 9. Terms of Office from any source whatever shall be used ballot must state on its face the date by Directors shall hold office for a term of for membership services, for conservation which it must be received in order to be three (3) years. and education purposes, or for specific counted. Ballots received after that date contributions toward whitewater sport will be rejected. The Board, at its option, Terms of office will begin on January 1 and river conservation. The Treasurer may provide in the By-Laws for special and end on December 31. All other officers may approve salaries and expenses of the or junior classes of affiliates, paying lesser and committee members shall be deemed Executive Director and other employees dues, with restricted voting privileges. re-appointed by the incoming Board of of the organization and the Treasurer may Directors to serve until the next Board is also reimburse officers or members for 13. Qualification for Office elected, unless sooner removed. ordinary expenses incurred in furthering No person shall hold any office or be the purposes of the organization, upon nominated, appointed or elected to any Any Director, officer, or committee presentation of records of the expenses. office unless he is a bona fide due-paying member may be elected or appointed to member of the American Whitewater. successive terms in different offices. The Board may authorize special items of Failure to keep dues current shall be a expense if it believes that the purposes of mandatory ground for removal of any 10. Removal the organization will thereby be furthered, officer or director. Any Director may be removed from office without penalizing the regular programs by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of of the organization. 14. Continuity of Government the remaining Directors. Any officer, In the event that no elections are held, or appointee or committee member may Upon the winding up and dissolution of that final tabulation of ballots is incomplete be removed from office by the Board of this corporation, after paying or adequately on January 1, or if for any reason the new Directors on the affirmative vote of two- providing for the debts and obligations members of the Board of Directors are thirds of the members then compromising of the corporation, the remaining assets not ready to assume office on January 1, the Board of Directors. shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, or in the event that any office, appointed foundation or corporation, which is position, or committee assignment is not In all cases of removal from any office, the organized and operated, exclusively for properly filled by the time the incumbent’s party to be removed shall receive fifteen charitable, educational, and/or scientific term expires, then the incumbent shall days notice in writing of the pending purposes related to whitewater or to river hold over in office and be fully empowered motion to remove and of the specific conservation and which has established its to act and discharge the duties of the office reasons why removal is being considered. tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) until a successor has been duly elected, A written letter from the President, or of the Internal Revenue Code. If this appointed, or qualified. Vice-President of the Board, properly corporation holds any assets in trust, such stamped and addressed to the last known assets shall be disposed of in such manner 15. Amendments address of the party in question, shall as may be directed by decree of the Amendments to this Constitution must be sufficient notice, provided that it is superior court of the county in which this first be approved by a majority of the mailed at least 18 days in advance of the corporation’s principal office is located, Board of Directors, and published in final action of the Board. Within that upon petition therefor by the Attorney an official communication along with 15-day period the party whose removal General or by any person concerned in the the Board’s explanation of the same. is being considered may mail to the liquidation. In the same communication, a voting Board of Directors a written statement in mechanism should be provided for use opposition or explanation. 12. Voting by the members. Amendments shall pass Each individual who is a dues-paying if two-thirds of the votes actually received At any time after the expiration of the member for the current year, in good back from the members are in favor of fifteen-day period the Board may act standing, shall be entitled to one vote the amendments proposed. The ballots on the motion to remove, and shall for each of the Directors to be elected shall state the date by which they must be immediately notify the party in question at the election, and shall be entitled to received in order to be counted. in writing of the decision of the Board one vote in any election to amend the Constitution. 11. Finance This organization shall at all times be a Votes may not be cumulated. The Board non-profit organization dedicated to the of Directors shall make fair and reasonable purposes set forth in this Constitution provisions for the receipt and counting of and no person or organization shall ever ballots in all election so as to guarantee profit by or through this organization. that all votes cast are properly counted All money received by the organization and the election duly certified. Each

60 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 61 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 As Amended in 2006 organize itself, elect its officers, and decide the dues shall be sent to the organization’s whether to adopt, in whole or in part, mailing address. The Executive Director 1. Membership the appointments made by the previous shall see that (1) the name and address of Membership for one year will be granted board or to make new appointments in the new member or affiliate is promptly upon written application and the payment all or any positions. The President shall be placed on the list of new members and of dues in the amount established by the Chairman for the organizational meeting affiliates, (2) the next issue of the journal Board. of each new Board of Directors. is sent to the new member or affiliate, and (3) the new member of affiliate receives 2. Affiliation New members of the Board of Directors any new membership materials which Bona fide boating clubs, conservation will take office on January 1 following may be available. organizations, and organized groups who their election. subscribe to the purposes set forth in the All enrollments shall be for a one-year Constitution of this organization may Any officer, committee members, or period beginning on the date of the affiliate with American Whitewater by director who is removed from office or enrollment unless the Executive Director paying annual affiliate dues in the amount replaced by a duly elected or appointed establishes other membership periods, established by the Board. successor, shall immediately forward approved by the Board and deliver to their successor all of the files, equipment, and property of the 9. Amendments 3. Elections organization in their possession or Amendments to these by-laws may The Board shall have its slate of candidates control. be made by a two-thirds vote of the for the new members of the board of Board of Directors. The changes made Directors for the upcoming year completed 5. Voting by the Board shall be published for the so that the ballot, the list of nominees, a All nominations shall be submitted benefit of the membership in an official brief summary concerning each nominee, by members in good standing. Where communication. and the instructions concerning voting ballots are used, as in voting for directors, procedures can be published in an official voting instructions shall be plainly communication. communicated on the ballot. All voting in elections for directors or to amend the Each member may cast one vote for Constitution must be done through official each of the directors to be elected. The communications to the membership. candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall constitute the incoming new Voting within the Board of Directors may members of the Board of Directors. be informal, and letters, phone, or e-mails will suffice. The President of the Board of In the event of a tie vote between any Directors may receive and count informal two or more candidates, the President of ballots, or the members may decide on any the Board of Directors then in office will other reasonable manner of procedure. immediately cast one vote, or such votes as may be necessary, in order to break All official ballots shall have the date by the tie without advancing any candidate which they must be communicated plainly receiving his/her vote ahead of any other on each ballot. candidate who received more votes but was not involved in a tie vote. In the event 6. Departments & Committees that the President is required to exercise The Board may at any time establish such this power, an official communication Committee or Departments as it deems shall, in addition to the usual election necessary to conduct the business of the results and notices of appointed by the organization. board, carry a brief explanation of the status of the candidates at the time the 7. Fiscal and Electorial Years deciding votes were cast by the President The books shall be maintained on a to break the tie. calendar year basis and audited at least annually. 4. Procedure Upon Election As soon as possible after the balloting 8. Procedure on New Membership ends, the incoming Board of Directors will When a new member of affiliate is enrolled,

62 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 63 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 Board Members 2007

Each year American Whitewater membership elects board members to serve three year terms. The following candidates are volunteering to serve three-year terms on the American Whitewater Board of Directors. Candidate biographies can be read on page 63-64.

Evie Locke Please vote for five American Charlemont, MA Whitewater Board of Directors:

My love for water began as early as I q Evie Locke can remember at the local lake club, Jennie Goldberg spending all my summer days swimming, q Jennie Goldberg fishing and messing about in boats. I Seattle, WA came to understand how murky the q Adam Cramer water in that little man-made lake was Like you, I want to be one of the when I went to summer camp on pristine people who helps ensure that flows q Tim Kelley Sebago Lake in Maine. There I learned to are guaranteed, free-flowing rivers are canoe as a teenager and then returned as protected and that the public has access to q Eric Nies a college student to direct the canoeing its whitewater resources. That’s why, after program for a couple of summers. I six years on the AW Board, I’m running Approve American Whitewater was introduced to whitewater in high for re-election again. Quite frankly, I bylaws as amended by the American school, which was only 10 minutes from don’t know what I’d do without access Whitewater Board of Directors, Tariffville Gorge on the Farmington to clean, boatable, wilderness rivers. September 2006. Amended bylaws River, and where we were lucky enough Over 25 years of paddling has me hooked can be read on page 62 to have a slalom team. We were involved and committed to making sure I can in organizing races there and one year we continue my whitewater habit for another q Yes q No hosted the national team trials, so I was 50-plus years. exposed to and inspired by the best slalom Please write your name: paddlers of the time. After a hiatus of I’m proud to say I’m an active member of some years on the west coast, I moved this organization. I will continue to bring back to New England and, not too much my personal perspectives to help shape Please provide your American later, discovered Zoar Outdoor and the AW’s decisions on river issues and on what Whitewater membership number: Deerfield River in Massachusetts. I worked it takes to keep an organization happy, at Zoar for 11 years, first as a raft guide and efficient and effective. I live in Seattle and then as Office Manager and occasional plan on continuing the organization’s Please return ballot to: kayak instructor. I left Zoar in 2004 to equal focus on AW’s stewardship of American Whitewater raise my twins who are currently two years whitewater treasures all across the United PO Box 1540 old. I am looking forward to introducing States. I want to ensure that AW involves Cullowhee, NC 28723 them to whitewater soon! and learns from our members. I want to work on projects that will keep the Deadline for submitting ballots is organization financially stable. January 15, 2007.

So, talk to your deadbeat boater buddies Thank you for your participation in who aren’t members into joining AW, this important election process. increase your annual contribution, and vote for Jennie. It’s good river karma. 62 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 63 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 Board Members 2007

Canyon, the Cal-Salmon, the Bio-Bio and access to detailed reports in a few weeks Futaleufu, the Pacuare and Reventazon in instead of months or years; helping Adam Cramer Costa Rica, and the Motu and Rangitata bring a comprehensive approach to risk in New Zealand. For an old dog, I still get management for flow studies and other Washington DC out a lot. And I think I have an unusually on-water events; writing numerous safety broad take on whitewater sport. I’ve been articles for the AW Journal; and giving I am just about to finish my first tour pegged (correctly) as the safety geek with safety presentations and clinics to paddling on the AW Board of Directors. I have the big helmet, but I’ve also gone solo on clubs and other groups in return for had a great time, learned quite a bit and Bald Rock and Decker’s Creek. These days donations to AW. Accident investigation would be honored to serve one more I make my living as an ER doc in New remains a passion and an area I plan to term. I am a DC local from a boating and York, and I paddle for fun. Raft, canoe, continue working to improve. professional standpoint. I pay my bills by kayak, East coast or West coast, old-school being an attorney and policy dork, like or new-school, it’s all about getting on I’ve served five years on the Stewardship many others in the Washington area. I the water, connecting with friends, and Committee, having focused on Colorado am also a Potomac local, and this summer having a good time. And I believe that access issues and FERC licensing I helped form the Great Falls Kayak one of the reasons we all can do just that is settlements in New York. Cheesman Coalition (GFKC) to help maintain the because American Whitewater has worked Canyon on the South Platte in CO was great relationship between the boating so tirelessly and successfully on issues of my first experience. I had not planned on community and the web of land managers safety, access, education, and conservation. starting negotiations by getting hauled into that has jurisdiction over our local huck- I’ve supported AW as a member for a long court, but after a year of negotiating, the spot, Great Falls. In addition, I have done time, and this year I’ve increased my issue was resolved with an understanding my best to help AW play a supporting role commitment to AW as Chairman of the that benefited all parties. It was a time to the committed locals on other great Safety Committee. consuming, but a rewarding experience. In runs in the Mid-Atlantic, such as the New York I’ve been able to support Kevin Upper Yough and the Upper Blackwater. If Colburn on FERC settlements for Ausable I am granted another term on the board, I Chasm and High Falls on the Saranac and will continue these efforts. also take the lead for AW on the execution of the FERC settlement for the Stone Valley section of the Raquette River, just 10 miles from my home.

I’ve also served a year on the Executive Committee. I will not pretend that reading budget spreadsheets or doing monthly (at times weekly) conference calls was enjoyable, but it gave me a true picture of how AW really works. Tim Kelley The last two years have been especially rewarding for me. I have been a catalyst for Eric Nies Potsdam, NY many of the changes that have helped AW return to solid financial footing. When I I still remember my first day in a The past six years have flown by. I’ve return from Afghanistan in February ’07, kayak, thirty years ago: full-length been on the Safety Committee all six, just in time for spring runoff, with your boat, horse-collar life jacket, flipping and the chairman four years (I stepped vote, I look forward to serving AW for a and swimming 10 minutes from the down while deployed to Afghanistan). third term. Be safe and God bless. put-in. A decade later I was guiding and My major contributions to AW’s Safety teaching kayaking full-time, making my Program include: helping improve living on the rivers that I still love today: the accident database by streamlining the Chattooga, the Gauley, the Grand accident reporting, which gives online

64 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 65 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 A Creek By Any Other Name

By Ambrose Tuscano

So there you have it, our annual creekin’ mountain and road—then running, sea almost any outdoor activity can produce issue. Seventy-four pages devoted to those kayaking and hiking. Before I knew it, the kind of satisfying feeling that helps get of you pushing the limits of your group, my kayak was spending five months a me through my week. Learning that it is yourself, or even your sport. You may year on the sidelines while I skied my challenge that I enjoy, not just adrenaline, notice that my previous sentence tiptoes heart out. Then in the warm months I creekin’ has given me a better perspective. delicately around defining creeks or creek would think long and hard about driving I don’t have to be doing something that’s boating. That’s because I’m not really ridiculous distances to boat if there were as dangerous or manky as I possibly can in sure it matters whether creekin’ refers to other outdoor opportunities right out my my kayak in order to enjoy it. streams with flows under 500 cfs, or those back door. Hopefully you don’t need any with gradients above 100 feet per mile. It reminders about global climate change Challenges come in many shapes and sizes. isn’t really important whether a creek is (see page 13 of this issue) to understand Leaving my ego aside, the definition of a Class I or Class VI, whether it’s remote why this is important. creek seems more arbitrary, less important. or roadside, raging brown or crystalline I realize that whatever challenges me on a blue. A few years ago, I may have gone in What does any of this have to do with given day is creekin’ for me. Tomorrow for one or more of these strict definitions. creekin’, you ask. This: When I branched I may not feel comfortable on the same I might have felt like excluding from the out into other outdoor pursuits I realized run that I did today, but I’ll be creekin’ all creekin’ club anyone who wasn’t paddling that I could achieve similar happiness over again! tight, technical Class IV or harder. I might on a 40-mile road bike ride, a 10-mile have said the bare minimum cutoff was hike or a five-mile creek run. Nothing the Big Sandy or the Watagua or Fordyce I’ve ever experienced provides the same rush as challenging whitewater. But I’ve Creek. I might have suggested that you The author hiking the headwaters of the Merced. can’t be creekin’ on the Gauley, Tuolumne also learned that challenging myself in or Payette, the Yough, Nantahala or Photo by Megan Seifert South American.

Today, the older (definitely), wiser (maybe) me is starting to think about the logic behind defining creekin’, behind artificially classifying some kind of exclusive tribe of creekers who travel the globe doing something qualitatively different than us weekend warriors. My shift in opinion started right about the time I began to diversify my interests. One year I was a Kayaker, that rare creature intent only on hunting down and navigating challenging whitewater. I thought nothing of driving six or eight hours so long as I got to spend two hours of that day in my boat, banging down a creek.

But after spending a winter in snow country, I picked up some nasty habits. First it was skiing—both cross country and downhill—then biking—both

64 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 65 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 Each day American Whitewater faces new challenges that threaten our whitewater rivers. To Immersion Research is a kayaking gear are ultimately our common cause. We also aid us in this fight, we rely company based in Confluence, PA. Our work with AW as individuals to promote business was founded in 1997 by two and ensure proper access and egress to on support from members, career kayakers, and since that day we and from our favorite places. Currently, donors, foundations and have had one focus: to make the best, most co-owner and co-founder of Immersion innovative kayaking gear on the planet. Research, John Weld, is volunteering a partners in the industry. Our company is also staffed by kayakers significant amount of time and effort to who love the sport as much as you do, reach an agreement concerning the rights and every day we work to make sure of paddlers in the Blackwater Canyon, Companies throughout the that you get the best gear and customer a world class steep creeking destination service possible. in the Canaan Valley of West Virginia. whitewater and outdoor Roger Loughney, our Sales and Service Immersion Research is proud to be an Guru, has been working locally to increase industries are stepping AW Corporate Partner. As the first such boater access to the Ohiopyle Falls, a clean partner in the industry, we realized the and (mostly) friendly 18-20 footer just forward to support AW’s value that AW has in all of our lives. If not upstream of the put-in for the Lower River Stewardship work. for the tireless work and contributions Youghiogheny. Currently, access is limited of the fine AW employees, members and to three weekends per year. stewards, we may not even be in business. If we don’t have access to the places we Our corporate and personal contributions American Whitewater urges love to paddle, then there wouldn’t be a are a small part of a much larger whole need for great, innovative gear. that we are proud to be a part of. We you not to make purchase thank you, the members of the boating decisions blindly. When We, as a company, have worked closely with community and American Whitewater, AW to promote the value in membership for your support of AW and IR. you buy your next piece and active participation in its causes, which of outdoor gear there are many factors to consider: IR Founders, Kara and John Weld right at home. quality, dependability, comfort, safety and fashion. American Whitewater hopes you will add one more consideration to this list: corporate responsibility.

Support companies that support your rivers.

66 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 67 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 In 2005, and again in 2006, NRS will show their commitment to river stewardship In 2006 Keen’s contributions will aid Clif Bar’s annual Flowing Rivers campaign, through encouraging AW membership at American Whitewater in its quest to that provides funding to AW’s affi liate river festivals nationwide. restore ecological health and recreational clubs for river stewardship projects, is now opportunities to the Catawba River in its fourth year. watershed in North and South Carolina.

Fortess Internationl Watches is new to the In turning the pages of North Carolina scene and new to supporting American Rivers & Creeks, it’s easy to see how many Whitewater. Through creative fundraising As part of Jackson Kayak’s focus on fantastic rivers AW has had a hand in strategies Fortress will help AW seek environmental responsibility, they are opening up to paddling. We support AW the funds needed to advocate for all supporting AW’s work by encouraging in hopes that there will be more great whitewater rivers. membership growth in the organization. rivers to tell about in future editions, and more river lovers out there working with AW to preserve the rivers we all love!

Kayak Session helps American Whitewater Chaco helps set the standard for industry increase membership, fund river responsibility by supporting causes near to stewardship work, and get our message out their hearts with 3% of after-tax profi ts. to readers here and abroad. KS is proud We love donating to river conservation to provide AW members a discounted organizations like AW. Being partners with American Whitewater allows each of us to subscription rate. do what we do best; AW is a leader in river conservation and Werner Paddles can focus on being the leading kayak paddle manufacturer. Girls at Play donates $.50 to AW for each Girls at Play DVD sold and actively promotes AW membership to participants Stahlsac helps AW make sure our lifetime of the Girls at Play Summer Tour. Anna members are satisfi ed by providing all of Levesque, the founder of Girls at Play, is our lifetime members with their paddler proud to be an AW Athlete Ambassador. duffl e.

Kokatat remains one of AW’s strongest allies by continuing support of AW’s Throughout the history of the natural membership and river stewardship world, water sources have been the programs. Wavesport donations help AW have the centers of life, providing habitat and resources it needs to conserve and restore sustenance for animals and plants alike. our whitewater resources. Patagonia is proud to support groups like American Whitewater that work to reverse the destructive effects of damming, development and pollution. Outdoorplay is proud to support American Whitewater’s river stewardship In 2004 Teva named American Whitewater work and has done so for three years now. as their river stewardship partner and has Outdoorplay.com, along with many other been one of our strongest supporters of In 2006 Smith Optics continues its retailers nationwide, provides discounts river access and conservation since. support of American Whitewater’s river for American Whitewater members on stewardship work and membership. their website. 66 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 67 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 Join

Today! s s s s s s American Whitewater has been extraordinarily fortunate in our ability to leverage a strong grassroots Over the years, American Whitewater be sure that everyone you paddle with volunteers have participated in numerous understands the work AW does, and how base—members hydropower meetings as well as you, as an AW member, value that work. instream and recreational flow studies; and other filed comments and assisted with an Membership support is what will volunteers—to uncountable number of filings; appeared determine our ability to continue our river as expert witnesses; lobbied; worked to stewardship work in the years to come. assist our limited fight new dams, remove existing dams, Individual Annual Memberships are only deny licenses, and improve public access $35. If you are a member of your local staff with many to rivers and streams. In nearly every river paddling club and your club is an Affiliate stewardship issue AW has been involved Club member of AW, join as a Club whitewater river with, the outcome has been favorable Affiliate Individual for $25. This is a tank to paddlers. Not only has AW secured of gas or an inexpensive night out. This is conservation and favorable decisions for the paddling certainly not too much to pay to have a community, but we are the only national national organization representing your restoration efforts. organization representing paddlers as paddling interests all across the country. these decisions are being made. Join on-line today at http://www.america A growing membership base is crucial nwhitewater.org/membership, call 1-866- to our ability to continue with our work. BOAT4AW (866-262-8429), or fill out the Some studies show that there are currently form on the back of this page and mail over 100,000 whitewater paddlers in the it to: U.S. American Whitewater currently has 6,300 active members. When considering Membership the amount of whitewater river miles P.O. Box 1540 that AW has had a direct impact on, this Cullowhee, NC 28723 membership number is unimpressive. We need all paddlers to join American Whitewater. If you are a member, please

68 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 69 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 P.O. Box 1540, Cullowhee, NC 28723 • 866-BOAT-4AW

68 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 69 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 The Affiliate Club Program lies at the very Florida Nevada heart of AW’s existence. AW’s original North Florida Wihtewater Assoc., Ocala Sierra Nevada Whitewater Club, Reno purpose since 1957 has been to distribute New Hampshire information among its Affiliate Clubs. Georgia Ledyard Canoe Club, Hanover AW’s relationships with local clubs Atlanta Whitewater Club, Atlanta Mt. Washington Valley Paddlers, Franconia have provided the backbone for the Georgia Canoeing Association, Atlanta Merrimack Valley Paddlers, Merrimack river conservation and access work it Georgia Tech Outdoor Recreation, Atlanta accomplishes. Over 100 clubs are now Paddlers4Christ, Ellijay New Jersey AW Club Affiliates and they are all The Paddling Bares, Milltown doing great work on your behalf. If Idaho you don’t belong to a club consider Idaho Whitewater Assoc., Boise New Mexico joining one. Adobe Whitewater Club, Albuquerque Illnois This is the fourth year that Clif Bar makes possible the AW / Clif Bar Flowing Rivers Chicago Whitewater Assoc., Chicago New York grants. Paddling clubs must be current ADK Schenectady, Schenectady AW Affiliate Clubs to be eligible for these Indiana FLOW Paddlers Club, Rochester $500 grants. Clubs across the country have Ohio Valley Whitewater Club, Evansville Housatonic Canoe & Kayak Squad, Ossining embarked on many wonderful programs Hoosier Canoe Club, Indianapolis Town Tinker Tube Rentals, Phoenicia as a result of this program (See Nov/Dec Zoar Valley Paddling Club, Dunkirk 2005 AW Journal). Make sure your club is Iowa KCCNY, New York an AW Affiliate Club and encourage them Iowa Whitewater Coalition, Des Moines to apply for this grant for a local project N. Carolina important to paddlers in your area. Kansas Appalachain State University, Boone Kansas Whitewater Association, Mission Carolina Canoe Club, Raleigh AFFILIATE CLUBS, we want to know Mecklenburg Regional Paddlers, Indian Trail what you are doing. Send your events to Kentucky Warren Wilson College, Asheville us at [email protected] and we will Bluegrass Wildwater Association, Lexington Western Carolina Paddlers, Asheville include them in the Journal. Viking Canoe Club, Louisvillle Watauga Paddlers, Boone Bardstown Boaters, Frankfort The AW Journal Club Affiliates by State: Ohio Maine Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, Columbus Alaska AMC/Maine Chapter, Portland Keel Haulers Canoe Club, Westlake Fairbanks Paddlers, Fairbanks Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society, Outdoor Adventure Club, Dayton Topsham Toledo River Gang, Waterville Alabama Outward Bound, Newry Birmingham Canoe Club, Birmingham Oregon Coosa Paddling Club, Montgomery Maryland Oregon Kayak and Canoe Club, Portland Huntsville Canoe Club, Huntsville Greater Baltimore Canoe Club, Kingsville Oregon Whitewater Association, Beaverton Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club, Corvallis Arkansas Massachusetts Lower Columbia Canoe Club, Portland Arkansas Canoe Club, Little Rock Zoar Outdoor, Charlemont North West Rafters Asso, Portland AMC - New Hampshire Paddlers, California Honover Pennsylvania Central CA Canoe Club (C4), Nevada City AMC Delaware Valley Chapter, Sugarloaf Chico Paddle Heads, Chico Minnesota Bens Creek Canoe Club, Johnstown Gold Country Paddlers, Lotus Boat Busters Anonymous, Stillwater Canoe Club of Greater Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg River Touring Section, Angleles Chapter Charlie Sawyer, Maple Plain Conewago Canoe Club, York Shasta Paddlers, Redding Holtwood Hooligans, Lititz Missouri Lehigh Valley Canoe Club, Lehigh Valley Colorado Missouri Whitewater Association, St. Louis Philadelphia Canoe Club, Philadelphia Avid4Adventure Inc., Boulder Ozark Mountain Paddlers, Springfield Three Rivers Paddling Club, Pittsburgh Colorado White Water Association, Englewood Ozark Wilderness Waterways, Kansas City Pine Creek Valley Wilswater Association, Jersey Shore Grand Canyon Priv. Boat. Assn, Englewood Kansas City Whitewater Club, Kansas City Lehigh Valley Whitewater Club, Lehigh Pikes Peak Whitewater Club, Colorado Springs Valley Rocky Mountain Canoe Club, Englewood Montana University of Colorado Kayak Club, Boulder Beartooth Paddlers Society, Billings S. Carolina Foothills Paddling Club, Greenville Palmetto Paddlers, Columbia

70 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 71 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 Join American Whitewater as a Club Affiliate! Tennessee 10 Reasons to Join AW Appalachain Paddling Enthusiasts, Gray Eastman Hiking and Canoeing, Kingsport Discounted AW as an Affiliate Club E. Tennessee Whitewater Club, Oak Ridge Memphis Whitewater, Memphis Memberships for Tennessee Scenic River Assoc., Nashville Affiliate Club Members Tennessee Valley Canoe Club, Chattanooga by Carla Miner 1. Receive the American University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville Whitewater Journal, the Chota Canoe Club, Knoxville Membership Coordinator oldest continually published Texas AW offers discounted AW whitewater magazine. Bayou Whitewater Club, Houston memberships to whitewater paddletexas.com, San Antonia enthusiasts who are also 2. Join the list of Affiliate Clubs Houston Canoe Club, Houston noted in each bi-monthly Kayak 4 a Kure, Amarillo members of one of our Affiliate Clubs. AW Journal. Utah 3. List club events in the AW Journal. University of Utah, Salt Lake City We supply a unique code USU Kayak Club, Logan Utah Whitewater Club, Salt Lake City that will automatically offer 4. Your Club’s members can the disounted membership become AW members for $25. Vermont specific to your club allowing A $10 savings! Vermont Paddlers Club, Jericho individuals to receive the discount on the normal AW Virginia 5. Have technical expertise for Blue Ridge Voyageurs, Reston membership renewal form or your Club conservation and Blue Ridge River Runners, Lynch Station online at www.americanwhite access committees ‘on tap.’ Canoe Cruisers Association, Arlington water.org/membership. Coastal Canoeists, Richmond 6. Have access to technical and FORVA, Roanoke Both options work equally well onsite assistance for your Club’s Washington and help make life easier for event planning. NW Whitewater Assoc., Spokane members of your club. Outdoor Adventure Club, Redmond 7. Enjoy VIP benefits for “Joint Paddle Trails Canoe Club, Seattle Members” at AW events. Spokane Canoe & Kayak Club, Spokane Discount codes are in place University Kayak Club, Seattle for all AW Affiliate Clubs and 8. Participate in exclusive AW Washington Kayak Club, Seattle many members are enjoying Affiliate Club promotions. Washington Recreation River Runners, Renton the benefits of joining or Whitman College Whitewater Club, Walla Walla Venturing Crew 360, Snohomish renewing their inidividual AW 9. Post Club information on the The Mountaineers, Seattle membership for only $25. AW Website to help paddlers find you. West Virginia If you are interested in taking West VA Wildwater Assoc., S. Charleston 10. Eligible to apply for a spot in the Friends of the Cheat, Kingwood advantage of the Affiliate Club discount, please contact me AW 2006 River Stewardship Wisconsin and I will be happy to let you Institute. Hoofers Outing Club, Madison know your Club’s unique code. NE Wisconsin Paddlers Inc. Appleton I can be reached at: Pure Water Paddlers, Eau Claire 866-BOAT-4AW or membershi Sierra Club / John Muir Chapter, LaCrosse For more information, [email protected]. contact Carla Miner at Canada, British Columbia [email protected] Vancouver Kayak Club, Vancouver or sign-up on-line at: www.americanwhitewater.org/membership Canada, Ontario Madawaska Kanu Camp Inc., Ottawa

70 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 71 November/December 2006 November/December 2006 Please read this carefully before send ing us your American Whitewater feature ar ti cles should relate to and dis tanc es are cor rect ly cal cu lat ed. articles and photos! This is a vol un teer pub li ca tion, some aspect of whitewater boat ing. Please do not sub mit please cooperate and help us out. Do not send us your articles per tain ing to sea kayaking or fl at water. Articles will be edited at the dis cre tion of the edi- ma te ri al without a release – signed by all au thors tors to fi t our format, length, and style. Expect to see and pho tog ra phers (attached). If you are writing about a commonly pad dled river, changes in your ar ti cle. If you don’t want us to edit your story should be told from a unique perspective. your ar ti cle, please don’t send it in! Be cause of our If possible, articles should be sub mit ted on a Articles about dif fi cult, infrequently paddled, or exotic dead lines you will not be able to review the editorial 3-1/2-inch computer disk. (Microsoft Word if rivers are given special con sid er ation. But we are also chang es made prior to pub li ca tion. pos si ble – oth ers accepted.) Please do not alter the interested in well writ ten, un usu al articles pertaining margins or spac ing pa ram e ters; use the stan dard to Class II, III & IV rivers as well. Feature sto ries do American Whitewater is a nonprofi t; the ed i tors default set tings. Send a printed copy of the article not have to be about a specifi c river. Articles about and con trib u tors to Amer i can White wa ter are not as well. paddling tech niques, the river en vi ron ment and river re im bursed. On rare oc ca sions, by pre ar range ment, per son al i ties are also ac cept ed. Pieces that in cor po rate pro fes sion al writ ers receive a small hon o rar i um Those without access to a word pro ces sor humor are es pe cial ly wel come. Open boating and raft ing when they submit sto ries at our re quest. Gen er al ly, may sub mit their articles typed. Please sto ries are wel come. our con trib u tors do not expect pay ment, since most dou ble space. are mem bers of AW, which is a vol un teer con ser va tion Profanity should be used only when it is ab so lute ly and safe ty or ga ni za tion. Photos may be submitted as slides, black or white necessary to effectively tell a sto ry; it is not our intent prints, or color prints or electronic, digital photos, 300 to offend our more sen si tive mem bers and readers. dpi tiffs, Photoshop or high res jpegs minimum 3”x5.” Send your material to: Keep your orig i nals and send us du pli cates if pos si ble; Please check all facts carefully, par tic u lar ly those regard- Journal Editor we cannot guar an tee the safe re turn of your pic tures. If ing individuals, gov ern ment agen cies, and cor po ra tions P.O. Box 1540 you want us to return your pic tures, include a self-ad- in volved in river access and en vi ron men tal mat ters. You Cullowhee, NC 28723 dressed stamped en ve lope with your sub mis sion. The are legally re spon si ble for the accuracy of such material. E-mail: [email protected] bet ter the pho tos the better the re pro duc tion. Make sure names are spelled correctly and riv er gra di ents

72 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org November/December 2006 72 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org November/December 2006