BY BOATERS FOR BOATERS March/April 2006

Inf latables Pocket-Sized Rafts Make Wilderness Adventure a Breeze

Father, Son Trip Turns Wet and Cold

Call a . . . Rafter!

Paddling as Therapy: Instruction Helps Injured Vets’ Rehab page 18 Camp for Kids with Cancer page 30

A VOLUNTEER PUBLICATION PROMOTING CONSERVATION, ACCESS AND SAFETY American Journal March/April 2006

DEPARTMENTS

3 The Journey Ahead by Mark Singleton 4 Book Review: Northwood Whitewater by Steve Corsi 5 AW News & Notes 7 History: Whitewater Canoes: Twists and Turns by Sue Taft 8 Field Notes: Call Me a Rafter by Clay Wright 60 Corporate Sponsors 62 Locals Favorite: Spencer’s by Dan Rubado 64 Accident Report by Charlie Walbridge 66 The Last Word by Ambrose Tuscano 68 Donor Profi le by Nancy Gilbert

RIVER STORIES

12 Rio Sirupa by James “Rocky” Contos

FEATURE - Infl atables & Canoes - as Therapy Infl atables & Canoes 10 My Cat’s Meow by George Brown 26 Packrafts: Simple Adventure by Jim Jager 52 My Adventure by Michael Moran 66 The Last Word by Ambrose Tuscano Paddling as Therapy 18 Yellow Ribbons and White Water byby PhilPhil SayreSayre and AdamAdam CampbellCampbell 30 First Descents: Kayaking Camp for Cancer Survivors 56 Kayaking: My Cure for Kayaking by Brock Royer

EVENTS

40 Cheoah River Celebration by Kevin Colburn

STEWARDSHIP 42 Cheoah River Revival Party 43 Dam Owner Goes After the Clean Water Act by Thomas O’Keefe 46 Sultan River Releases for Three Days in December by Thomas O’Keefe 48 Colorado Water Rights Battle by Kevin Natapow

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Publication Title: American Whitewater Granite Rapid on the Grand Issue Date: March/April 2006 of the Colorado. Statement of Frequency: Published bimonthly Authorized Organization’s Name and Ad dress: American Whitewater P.O. Box 1540 Photo by Bell Canoe Cullowhee, NC 28723 Printed on Recycled Paper River Stewardship, an processes, grassroots advocacy, coalition building, EDUCATION: AW shares information with the Integrated Approach empowerment of volunteers, public outreach and general public and the paddling community education, and, when necessary, legal action. regarding whitewater , 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 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 Board of Directors & Staff Journal Staff TOLL FREE NUMBER Editor Ambrose Tuscano Sutton Bacon AW STAFF P.O.Box 1540, Cullowhee, NC 28723 866-BOAT4AW e-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Laura Blalock Atlanta, GA Book Keeper Assitant Editors Tim Catalano and Mike Hoffman Cullowhee, NC Graphic Design/Production/Photo Editor Christie Dobson Chris Bell [email protected] Tim Kelley [email protected] Artwork Editor Chris Conlin Asheville, NC [email protected] Contributing Writers Potsdam, NY Kevin Colburn Ambrose Tuscano, Mark Singleton, Steve Corsi, Sera Janson, Rich Bowers National Stewardship Director Sue Taft, Clay Wright, George Brown, James Contos, [email protected] Don Kinser Phil Sayre, Adam Campbell, Jim Jager, Tom O’Keefe, Moscow, ID Brock Royer, Elizabeth Brooks, The McKenna Family, Bellingham, WA [email protected] Thatcher Bean, Lindsey Harwell, Kevin Natapow, Kevin Colburn, Marietta, GA [email protected] Dave Steindorf, Michael Moran, Dan Rubado, Charlie Walbridge, Carla Miner, Nacy Gilbert Dave Cernicek [email protected] Mark LaCroix Carla Miner Photo Contributors Jackson, WY [email protected] Membership Manager Jim Hubshman, James Contos, , Jim Jager, Thorton, NH Katey Royer, Dunbar Hardy, Ben Edson, Steve Moran, West City, UT Brandon Royer, Marlow Long, Brock Royer, Adam Cramer [email protected] Andy and Rebecca Graham, Bell Canoe [email protected] Evie Locke Events / Advertising Coordinator Ben VanCamp Washington D.C. [email protected] P.O. Box 1540, Cullowhee, NC 28723 Charlemont, MA Thomas O’Keefe phone 828-713-5825 Pacific NW Stewardship Director e-mail: [email protected] David Ennis [email protected] Eric Nies Seattle, WA Safety Editor Charlie Walbridge Bryson City, NC [email protected] [email protected] Route 1, Box 329F, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525 Morgantown, WV e-mail: [email protected] Steve Exe Stewarship Reports Editor [email protected] Aaron Pruzan Craig Plocica Jason Robertson, [email protected] Development Director Kevin Colburn, [email protected] Mercer Island, WA [email protected] Jackson Hole, WY Cullowhee, NC American Whitewater Magazine Task Force Liz Ferrin Jeff Espy, Dunbar Hardy, Dale-Marie Herring, John Mason, [email protected] Tanya Shuman, Ambrose Tuscano [email protected] Norwood Scott Santa Barbara, CA [email protected] Missing Copies and Address Changes San Francisco, CA Mark Singleton [email protected] Jennie Goldberg Executive Director American Whitewater is printed by [email protected] Patricia Supanich Cullowhee, NC Spencer-Walker Press, Inc., Newark OH. Seattle, WA [email protected] [email protected] All rights reserved. Vail, CO Joe Greiner Dave Steindorf [email protected] Charlie Walbridge EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER Raleigh, NC [email protected] Stewardship Director The opinions expressed in the features and Bruceton Mills, WV Paradise, CA editorials of American Whitewater are those of Kristine Jackson [email protected] the individual authors. They do not necessarily [email protected] BOARD OFFICERS represent those of the Directors of American Rock Island, TN President: Sutton Bacon Ben VanCamp Whitewater or the editors of this publication. Vice President: Don Kinser Outreach Manager Andrew Jillings On occasion, American Whitewater publishes Secretary: Norwood Scott Cullowhee, NC official organizational policy statements drafted [email protected] Treasurer: Chris Bell and approved by the Board of Directors. These Clinton, NY [email protected] policy statements will be clearly identified.

2 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 3 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Giving Back

By Mark Singleton

You may have noticed last fall’s appeal for that are near and dear to the hearts of donations was a bit different than others boaters and friends of wild rivers. It also you’ve received in the past. Instead of the places some additional responsibility one-size-fi ts-all approach, we chose to on AW to demonstrate leadership in the divide the country up by our traditional coming year on key stewardship issues and work regions and send out our year-end to adequately report on developments in appeals based on the projects that were those areas and how funds are being used. taking place in backyards of members around the country. This was a new As we move forward, we will continue to approach for us, yet it mirrors what we refi ne our approach to member appeals have been doing with regional stewardship and communication. Due to feedback projects across the country and the we received from a number of members, shift in our mission work to be more we are reducing the membership renewal regionally relevant and focused at the and donation appeals, mailing schedule community level. in 2006. We will reach out to you more via targeted e-mails with membership I’m happy to report that our new renewal information, news and appeals. stewardship approach seems to have Be sure to read our monthly e-newsletter, resonated with our membership during AW Beta, and open your AW e-mails for year-end giving. It is very encouraging to exciting news in river stewardship and see the level of support members provided opportunities to save paper and postage American Whitewater at the end of 2005, via on-line renewals and donations. a very important time of the year for non-profi t fundraising. Any notion that You should have recently received a paddlers are cheap was blown away by this appeal from us with information on show of generosity. upcoming challenges to the Energy Policy Act and Clean Water Act. The success of These contributions are extremely the Grand Canyon Management Plan is important to AW and help to support also a key piece of the spring appeal and our core river stewardship work. While demonstrates the success we achieved membership dues are critically necessary, through partnership and compromise with member donations (along with grant other organizations. These achievements funding) enable our staff to be active and are made possible by your support. engaged in the process of stewardship. These donations don’t have to be large; Again, thanks very much to all of you each person doing a small part makes a who contributed to make AW’s December noticeable difference. And that’s exactly surprise very pleasant. Remember that what I observed as I went through the AW donations don’t have to wait for the end mail late in the year. Sure, there were some of the year; we are happy to accept them nice checks from foundations and major anytime. The demands of our stewardship donors, but there were also donations program are ongoing year-round. from students (some as young as 11), new participants in the Platinum Paddler / Enjoy the spring water! Ender Clubs and even from non-paddlers who chose to support our stewardship efforts because they enjoy the aesthetic value of whitewater.

This giving demonstrates confi dence in the mission of AW and our ability to achieve successful outcomes on projects

2 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 3 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Northwoods Whitewater: A Paddlers Guide to Whitewater of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario and Michigan by Jim Rada

Review by Steve Corsi

The news of a new book on whitewater in the upper Midwest has been fl ying around boater’s e-mail lists for months now. A more like an unpublished, hand-typed easily done on the AW River Tools’ web book called Northwoods Whitewater will be manuscript than a book. Here was a page). Not only does this book provide the fi rst to cover the primest of the prime volume of information on all of the rivers I information on whitewater, there are a whitewater on Lake Superior’s North had seen in this area, plus the North Shore number of wildly entertaining stories of Shore (Minnesota and ), on Lake and much more. My fellow boater gave local paddling folklore. That was really Superior’s South Shore (Michigan’s Upper me the telephone number of the author, the main reason that I could not put the Peninsula and Wisconsin), along with a Jim Rada, who lived in Minnesota. When book down. Jim included his experiences few other classic rivers of the Mississippi I returned home, I promptly called Jim to on many of the rivers as well as river River drainage, Lake Michigan watershed, order the guide book. For $20 he sent me guide information. and Minnesota’s pristine boundary waters. a xeroxed copy of Northwoods Whitewater Well, in reality, a number of us Midwest complete with a hand-drawn picture of a One unique aspect to the book, as it will paddlers who have been explorers of the curious boater peaking through the trees be published, is that boaters from all frigid spring frothy water of these areas at a river fi lled with . I took the 150 over the Midwest and beyond submitted for years now have had this book in its pages of loose-leaf paper and secured photos and provided editorial assistance original form since the mid 90s. them in a blue binder I had leftover from to make it happen. A heart attack in spring one of my college physics courses and that of 2003 while paddling the Presque Isle I remember that fateful day at the Silver book came to be known in my paddling River brought Jim an untimely death. His River Falls picnic area (i.e., the boaters’ circle as “The Blue Bible”. friends and paddling partners, especially “campground”) near L’anse Michigan Steve Stratman, banded together to get this in spring of 1995 when I spied a fellow I devoured this book from cover to cover book into print with Jim’s unique writing boater reading through the pages of with great interest and a spirit of adventure. style as the base, photos from countless what looked to be a guidebook. This was Jim did such a great job with this book boaters as the accent, and a whole lot of perplexing since I had always been told by that I could not put it down. It’s fi lled with persistence from Steve Stratman and Jim’s my fi rst paddling mentor and noted old loads of information on every signifi cant brotherhood of paddlers. What was once a timer from the U. of Wisconsin Hoofers, run in the area, from spring paddling xerox manuscript is now a beautiful work Harry House, that the only comprehensive classics like the Silver and Presque Isle of art with full color and dramatic photos database of information on the whitewater Rivers on the South Shore to the Baptism on every page. Jim may not be around rivers draining to Lake Superior was inside and the Devils Track on the North Shore, to see it offi cially in print, but his spirit his head. I had always suspected that he and summer strongholds like the Wolf, lives on with this book and the extensive told us this only for his own safety—we the Peshtigo, and the St. Louis Rivers; in cooperative effort that it took to get would always give fi rst priority to saving all it has over 60 river descriptions. This it published. Harry on the river so he would graciously book is a comprehensive compilation of agree to reveal directions to the put-in the intermediate to advanced-level rivers The book is scheduled for an April 1 for the next run. Well, now it appeared of the Upper Midwest. It will get you to release; ask for Northwoods Whitewater that there was another source (and don’t the put-in and the take-out of all of the in your favorite book store or paddling think that Harry didn’t look threatened). included runs with general descriptions supply retailer, or contact the publisher at I sauntered over to this fellow paddler of most of the rivers, and elaborate www.sangfroidpress.com/northwoods.htm wielding the magic book and expressed descriptions of the most popular runs. or 952-474-6220. casual interest trying not to look too The only place that I found lacking in fascinated for fear that he would not let this book was water level information. For me have a gander. I paged through this most of the runs, the reader is left to fi nd manuscript with amazement; it did look runnable water levels (which, of course, is

4 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 5 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 AW’s Accident Database To Report an Accident:

and Safety Code Accident reporting is vital to American at [email protected] or by phone at Now Online! Whitewater’s mission. But more 304-379-9002. importantly, it’s a sure antidote to the rumor, gossip, and innuendo that always 3) You can post e-mails, message board Cullowhee, NC – Safety has been at the follows a serious accident. AW’s Accident and chat room postings, and newspaper core of American Whitewater’s mission Database works with individuals who were articles here. In addition to providing a since 1954. “We’ve been reporting and on the scene and is thus able to provide an link, please cut and paste the text from analyzing accidents since our earliest days authoritative record. the article. The links may be dead by the and today we are leaders in whitewater time a Safety Committee member follows safety education based on that research. The Accident Database contains reports it up. Always be sure that the SOURCE and Our Accident Database is the most of fatal accidents, serious injuries, and DATE are clearly indicated. comprehensive collection and analysis near-misses. A serious injury is one of whitewater accidents and close calls requiring hospitalization; a near miss 4) If you want to pass on information anywhere,” explains Charlie Walbridge, is an event that easily could have been that you DON’T want the public to see, American Whitewater’s Safety Editor. fatal. The Safety Committee examines all please specify on the report form that the Now, after a tremendous effort by the submissions prior to the fi nal posting and material is private. If so designated, it will volunteers of the AW safety committee, decides which incidents will be added to not be released without your consent. the Accident Database is online, available the database. for your viewing; you can fi nd it at: http: If you have corrections, questions //www.americanwhitewater.org/accidents/. There are several ways to report an accident: or comments about any accident please e-mail Charlie Walbridge at Accident analysis is the foundation for 1) Each witness can post her or his own [email protected]. the AW Safety Code, which outlines account to the AW web site and the Safety whitewater safety guidelines applicable Committee will create a report. The recent improvements and updates to all skill levels. First written in 1957 and of the AW Accident Database were made regularly updated, it is the most complete 2) Groups or individuals can create their possible by the Andy Banach Memorial set of guidelines in existence for whitewater own report and post it. If you would Safety Fund. AW thanks the family and paddlers. It also contains the International like help in crafting your report, contact friends of Andy Banach for this support. Scale of River Diffi culty, which is used Charlie Walbridge, AW Safety Editor, throughout and the world. AW’s listing of Standard Rated Rapids helps make river classifi cation more consistent across the country. The Standard Rated Rapids List was developed by former AW Safety Chair Lee Belknap, who scientifi cally analyzed questionnaires submitted by hundreds of paddlers across the country. Paddlers across the nation can now know what to expect when traveling to an unfamiliar river.

Safety is a commonly raised issue in river stewardship work, AW’s key programmatic focus. The challenge is often explaining whitewater paddling to the non-paddling public. Frequently asked questions are: “How safe is whitewater paddling? Where does AW stand on riverbed modifi cation or boat registration? What are the most important issues for legislators, river managers, and emergency responders?” All of these questions and more are answered online, in the Safety Section of AW’s Stewardship Toolkit.

4 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 5 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Partnership Between BLM and AW Bears Fruit Sue Taft to Head BLM/AW partnership serves to facilitate By Sera Janson, Bureau of Land Management specifi c national river management Whitewater Hall projects and provides an example of of Fame cooperative conservation working on a The Bureau of Land Management, national scale. Washington Offi ce (BLM) and Ameri- The Adventure Sports Center can Whitewater (AW) have partnered to International (ASCI) has announced The database is hosted on the River make more river data readily accessible the appointment of Susan Taft Management Society (RMS) website. To via a web-enabled National BLM River as the Executive Director of the reduce time and costs associated with Database. This database houses informa- International Whitewater Hall of printing an up-to-date publication, RSM tion about the Bureau’s fl oatable/boatable Fames (IWHoF). Susan is the author began hosting relevant river information sections of rivers, supplementing AW’s of The River Chasers, A History of on their website in partnership with the existing data. American Whitewater and BLM. The BLM partnered with AW during Kayaking, and brings 20 years of recent updates, utilizing the database The new National BLM River Database business development experience design skills of AW’s IT contractor, to can be viewed at: to the position. “This is a great create a cost-effective and user-friendly http://rivers.river-management.org opportunity to not only help with interface for BLM’s river data. This the on-going development of the database streamlines efforts to disseminate In 2004, the BLM entered into a formal Hall of Fame, but also the strategic river data and creates opportunities for partnership with AW. Through a fi ve- development of the museum itself, other agencies to incorporate their data. year national assistance agreement, this a subject I have been interested Each BLM river section is linked to AW’s partnership allows for coordination on in since its earliest inception,” comprehensive web database of boatable mutual goals and leveraging of funds. The says Taft. river sections in the US. IWHoF inducted its fi rst class of Honorees into the Hall of Fame in October 2005. The nomination process for the 2006 Class of Inductees has begun with fi nal nominations expected from the 15 affi liate organizations in early May. The paddling public is encouraged to contact their affi liates to participate in the nomination process. A listing of the affi liates can be found on the IWHoF website through a link on www.adventuresportscenter.com along with the nomination criteria for the inductee categories: pioneer, explorer, champion, and advocate.

6 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 7 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Whitewater Canoes: Twists and Turns By Sue Taft

Although whitewater canoes can be removable canvas deck held tight around ern and Canada in the early traced to native North American designs the gunwales with elastic. The canoe also 1990s with Dagger, Mad River, and Mo- originating many hundreds of years ago, had knee straps for better control—a hawk dominating the market with shorter modern whitewater canoes in the U.S. can simple , yet one that had not occurred canoe designs. However, the planing hull be traced through a circuitous route from to American paddlers. revolution for that began in the France in the 1950s from their origins in mid-1990s helped to erode the popular- New France 300 years before. It began Two years later, another revolutionary ity of whitewater canoes to the point that with the French trappers and traders in canoe was brought to the races. The canoe within the last few years, Mohawk and the late 1600s who readily adopted the was an all-fi berglass decked canoe with Mad River stopped listing whitewater birch bark canoe for exploration and trade one long middle cockpit designed with an canoes in annual buyer’s guides. Other in the watersheds of the Great Lakes and integral deck. It was the fi rst closed canoe factors (including sea and rec kayaking) Hudson Bay. As trade grew, so did the seen in North America. Described as an further contributed to Dagger’s decision need for increasing numbers of canoes, oval-shaped tube pinched together at the to cease production of canoes altogether, and manufacturing centers—canoe pro- ends, the canoe had very little upsweep at let alone whitewater canoes. It seemed duction yards—were established along the sheer from the midsection to the bow that, like the canoe production yards of the St. Lawrence from Montreal to Quebec and stern, which made it very different old, whitewater canoe manufacturing was City to meet this need. Ultimately, though, from traditional open canoe shapes. destined for extinction. these canoe production yards were des- tined for extinction as trade shifted fur- These innovations in design clearly dem- But maybe not. A relative newcomer has ther west, canoes were replaced by other onstrated advancements in whitewater come to the forefront of the whitewater means of transportation and New France canoeing far beyond what American canoe market introducing new designs for was eventually lost to the British. paddlers had even contemplated. This a full line of OC-1s—including a planing helped to catalyze American thinking to hull OC 16 feet in length with blunt ends However, a Frenchman familiar with birch new possibilities in design and materials that more closely resembles a kayak. This bark canoes took materials for building which ultimately led to two signifi cant newcomer is Esquif, a French-, canoes back to France. Although his in- innovations for over Quebec-based (New France) manufac- terest and passion for canoes may have 20 years later. The fi rst was the use of ther- turer. And so, it seems that whitewater been partially due to an appreciation for moplastic (/ABS) for whitewater canoes may live on through yet another the practicality and craftsmanship of the canoes in the early 1970s (although its fi rst twist and turn. boat itself, it may also have been due to use for canoes was an aborted attempt the lasting memory of and nostalgia for in 1959). The second was the revolution Copyright © 2006 Susan L. Taft New France in North America. For what- in design and technique brought about All rights reserved. ever reason, canoeing became a part of the by the Jon Lugbill/Davey Hearn reign in French psyche. The French domination of slalom closed canoes (C-1) of the 1980s. With permission for use by American Whitewater. canoeing events, particularly in the early The domain of whitewater canoeing was years of slalom competition, was due to now fi rmly established back on the North their long-standing association with ca- American continent. noes and canoeing. It was this domination and competitiveness that brought French Although considerably smaller than the racers back to North America to the Fi- growing market, BArk races on the Arkansas River at Salida open whitewater canoeing was probably in the early 1950s. as popular as it had ever been in the east-

In 1953, two racers from France brought with them a canoe specifi cally designed Sue Taft is the author of The River Chasers, for whitewater. No American had seen anything like it. The hull was fl at-bot- The History of American Whitewater Canoeing and tomed with considerably more rocker Kayaking. If you have a topic or question you would than any canoe built in America at that like answered, e-mail it to [email protected] time. It was built of cedar strips and cov- ered with fi berglass inside and out with a and look for its answer in an upcoming issue.

6 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 7 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Call me a Rafter … tackling difficult whitewater as the skills results. This natural albatross of the and equipment have developed: from whitewater boating world actually strikes By Clay Wright the “into the meat” style of commercial me as the one with the most potential. outfitters on the Zambezi and White Nile Duckies are that next step for people who American Whitewater is the premier to the recent video-proven successes of like but want a more personal organization representing kayaking in rafts on California’s South Silver, Chile’s involvement in whitewater, and thus are the US, right? Not exactly. Who ever said Rio Gol-gol, and even North Carolina’s another important part of introducing whitewater was limited to just kayaks? No Narrows of the Green. Next time someone people to whitewater rivers. Sure, some matter how many kayaks you’ve got on the calls you a rafter, remember how much of those swimming Nantahala Falls may roof—or even when you’ve got a plastic rafting contributes to the efforts of AW— never come back, but I also see duckies boat in one hand and a two-bladed and also that rafters can style 40-foot being used to tackle more challenging in the other—the question is always: “You —before you answer. whitewater and also in learning going rafting?” While some kayakers take environments that involve water-reading, this as an insult, it’s not meant to be. While Canoes training, and progressing skills. On the some may think of whitewater kayaks as Ocoee, Ace Funyaks starts its entry-level kayakers out in ducks—allowing them to the superior river-running craft, the Here in Tennessee, open canoeing was the experience Class II and III whitewater on participation numbers (and sometimes choice whitewater craft for years. While their very first day. even the daring) of open canoes, duckies there were skilled deck boaters, for sure, all and rafts greatly overshadows our own. my early paddling trips were with canoers “To me, Funyaks are the best way to Thus, to Joe Public, that guy and the sport itself—no matter what your introduce folks to kayaking,” says Ace (Tao Berman) is just as much a rafter as craft looked like—was called “canoeing.” Funyaks owner Jeff West. “The most the Wheaties man (Jon Lugbill). Rather The clubs formed by these open boating discouraging aspects of learning [edge than scoff at their ignorance, we should whitewater pioneers helped protect many control and rolling] are eliminated so remember that any craft that allows people of our waterways through their support of paddlers can focus on the reason we all do to enjoy whitewater pursuits is an asset to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. our own quest for recognition, access, and this: river running and .” recreational uses of this nation’s great Canoeing provides an easy transition In West Virginia, Ace Whitewater waterways. If calling me a rafter allows for people who paddled about on lakes offers Summer Gauley trips in which Joetta Citizen to identify with what I do to make the switch to moving water. experienced rafters can paddle a duckie more easily, then “Yes Maam, I’m going The sport took giant leaps with the down the Gauley at low flows. The crucial rafting on the Horsepasture today,” is innovation of Royalex hulls, thigh straps, combination of experienced staff, skills my answer. and flotation and it was often said, training, and lots of safety allows novices “anything that can be run in a kayak can to tackle Lost Paddle, Iron Ring, and even be run in an open canoe.” Folks like Nolan Rafting Sweets Falls! Ducks are great for learning Whitesell, Dave “Psycho” Simpson, and because not only do you get to skip the Jeff Richards showed up in videos proving Rafting is the link between what I do roll, but you also get to climb back in that point. Today, Eli Helbert continues as to what my co-workers, inlaws, and instead of chasing equipment. But IKs torchbearer for the hair-boating openers, neighbors have experienced. That, in and are more than just entry-level kayaks. styling the hardest rapids in the sport with of itself, is a valuable connection. But there Classic creeks such as Washington’s Little amazing regularity. Though the visibility is much more to rafting than a church White Salmon and West Virginia’s Deckers of this sport has decreased, it remains group outing on the Ocoee or South Creek were pioneered in IKs and there are a great, natural transition for people American … some rafters get hooked, plenty of skilled IKers regularly boating brought up canoeing on lakes but longing just like me, and move on to the Gauley or Class IV and V whitewater with style. With to tackle the thrills of rivers. In much of Cherry Creek, while some travel the globe kayak-like outfitting, numerous levels of Tennessee and Canada, rafters are called in search of wilder waters and limited performance and many models to choose canoers even when they ride in teams of liability laws. from, perhaps duckies are becoming more eight. Go figure. and more like (inflatable) kayaks. Out West, especially, many of these enthusiasts purchase their own equipment Duckies And then there is the next use for and become whitewater addicts in their duckies—allowing older boaters to own right. Rafting allows a multi-day While aficionados may prefer the term continue to enjoy the whitewater rivers experience to include good eating, cold “IK” (for inflatable kayak), the Duckie is they love long after they can roll 100% beer, and camping equipment. It also most often seen going sideways over entry- or empty a boat full of water on a steep allows almost limitless potential for level whitewater, usually with comical riverbank. On a recent trip down the

8 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 9 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Selway with 70-year-old Frank Hensley of Knoxville, I was impressed by how much work the infl atable took out of a day on the river. With no skirt to fool with, he could scout and re-launch from anywhere—even just by standing up. I don’t think he got his head wet the whole trip. Jeff West summarizes:

“Funyaks are great for both ends of the kayaking spectrum. Beginners can learn river running with confi dence and older paddlers can continue to paddle without concern of missing a roll”

Etc.

There are more modes of whitewater transportation on rivers all over the world than I will ever see. From Tom Love’s Shredders sliding down Tallulah and Russel Fork each year to the Russian pontoon-boats that just tackled Itunda on the White Nile, to Dories and J-rigs on the Grand Canyon, to … who knows what.

Let people distinguish themselves and their crafts as they will. Just remember, for the purposes of American Whitewater, there are only three classes of river enthusiasts: participants, members and everyone else.

In 2006 American Whitewater launched its volunteer based Athlete Ambassador Team, a core of professional whitewater paddlers “Are ya going who will publicly represent American Whitewater and reinforce its mission Nope, not here. Clay Wright of preserving and restoring America’s droppin’ in on Rock Island, whitewater resources. Look for our his home base and local turf. Athlete Ambassadors on the rivers, at rafting?” the putins and takeouts, and on the Photo by Eric Jackson banks promoting the effective work of American Whitewater.

8 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 9 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 My Cat’s

By George Brown

As the summer of 2003 approached discovered a tube design that maximized bow and stern rise. And that’s exactly without any western river trips on my the performance characteristics of his what I got. The question that I couldn’t agenda, I decided to tempt fate on some cataraft. Ted had made more than 25 runs wait to answer, of course, was how would eastern rivers. Having heard about record from the top on the notorious North Fork it perform? rainfall in the East, this was an appealing of the Payette to test this design. I was idea. I was not disappointed! After boating intrigued to say the least. However, when That answer came the next day on the six different rivers in three states, however, he e-mailed me a picture of Ron McLay’s Staircase section of the South Fork of the it was memories of West Virginia’s New frame design, it was a done deal! Ron’s Payette, just a short drive outside of Boise. River, through the New River Gorge in frames clearly demonstrate that sound While the technical features of the South particular, that I brought home with me. engineering principles can create a frame Fork in mid July did not resemble the Confronted with the enormous size and that is both light and strong. high volume whitewater of the New River steepness of the waves, many of which I Gorge the previous summer, it did provide had real difficulty cresting, I realized that An offhand comment by Ted made me a delightful opportunity to dance through I was boating on the edge. Compounding decide to pick up this package personally a Class IV minefield of boulders and holes this problem was the realization that a rather than have it shipped. He said, “I on one of its major rapids, which was flip—a distinct possibility on waves and have learned how to transform rodeo several hundred yards long. holes of this magnitude—would have put skills into improved navigational ability.” me in serious trouble—especially since With at least one first descent to his credit, Beginning with my first run, I felt there were no other private boaters on I had no reason to doubt him. Inspired by completely in control. So much so that the river with me. There were commercial the opportunity to learn something new, I I found myself almost teasing the edges boats, though, and their whistles were left for Idaho in mid July. of some of the holes I wanted to avoid sounding with unnerving frequency. while plunging with abandon into others. The tubes and frame were exactly what In the midst of all this, I saw something I came back home to Texas believing that I wanted. It was the cat’s meow for my I had never seen before. Ted was “staying I needed to make changes in both my cataraft! What made this tube and frame and playing,” backing into holes and then equipment and self-rescue skills. After purchase particularly exciting was the becoming increasingly vertical before he considerable thought, I called Ted Day, a opportunity to influence the tube and spun out and continued downstream. well-known Class V boater in Boise, Idaho frame configuration instead of having to When I attempted to do the same, I who, in partnership with Ron McLay, accept someone else’s prepackaged ideas. imagine I looked like a chipmunk on also a Class V boater, runs Payette River Starting with a standard 14-foot cataraft an out-of-control seesaw: a humbling Equipment in Boise. design, I requested an additional six inches experience indeed. What I didn’t really in main tube length and an extra inch in realize or fully appreciate at the time is that Preliminary dialogue with Ted indicated tube diameter to compensate for the loss Ted was giving me a glimpse of how he has that, in conjunction with Sotar, he had of waterline created by the aggressive learned to survive high intensity Class V 10 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 11 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 on the Payette River in Idaho

whitewater by elevating playboating skills woman volunteering to help me that all I him on a private run before his workday to an art form. could say was “Who are you?” began. I ran out well ahead of him in order to enjoy the sense of solitude that The following day, Ron McLay and I “I’m Ted’s wife, let’s get this thing being the only boater on the river can headed for the South Fork. Much like Ted, unloaded,” was her straightforward give you. My next opportunity occurred Ron also “stayed and played” in many of response. almost immediately after fi nishing that the holes, except he went in face forward. run when Jerry, a Discovery Network One of the more amusing episodes of this As the day wore on it became clear photojournalist, volunteered to be my run occurred after Ron demonstrated that Debby probably had as many shuttle driver for a second run. He said how he re-fl ips an overturned cat. We years of boating experience as Ted—a he had just completed the North Fork had no sooner fl ipped my cat over when well-matched pair. The mellow quality and was headed home to Sun Valley. After he pushed it over the eddy line, into the of the Main Payette allowed for telling me that he had over 200 runs on current and said, “It’s all yours!” I watched personal dialogue that made the fl oat the North Fork—from top to bottom—I in silent horror as my new baby fl oated particularly enjoyable. silently wished he had been able to downstream upside down and without join me, if only to hear the stories he me! I scrambled and, with more tenacity That trip created an invitation to join could tell. than technique, got it fl ipped back over several people on the Cabarton section of and under control. Throughout the the North Payette the following day. From I awoke Monday morning and walked rest of the run I watched Ron executing Smith’s Ferry to the Cabarton put-in is, outside my motel room in an introspective maneuvers, at times within tightly in my opinion, one of the most beautiful mood with coffee in hand. As I looked constricted boulder fi elds, I couldn’t begin areas of Idaho and the river canyon we at my new cat and refl ected on the to adequately describe, nor was I willing traversed was equally stunning. accumulated experiences of the previous to imitate. Suffi ce it to say, that he isa fi ve days, I realized that I really had gotten consummate boatman with far more to The following day I arrived in Banks more than I bargained for. With more than teach than I had the time to learn; another intending to do some solo runs on the a little nostalgia, I de-rigged a boat that humbling experience. Staircase Section of the South Fork only months earlier had been a vision in Payette. While I had driven past this my head and called Ted and Ron to thank The following day was a fun fl oat down section on numerous other trips to them for their contribution to a great trip. the Main Payette with Ted, his wife Debby Idaho, I never stopped to realize what an Back home to Texas, whitewater capital of and their friends. My introduction to absolutely exquisite stretch of whitewater the world (in my dreams)! Debby came as I was off-loading my cat this really is. and an authoritative female voice behind me asked “Need some help?” I was so My fi rst opportunity to launch came when shocked and amused at an unfamiliar a commercial boatman invited me to join

10 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 11 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 We regret to announce that in our January/February 2006 issue, we made a last minute decision to hold a story, then neglected to remove a reference to it from the cover. Anyone who’s been wondering where they might fi nd a story about “A 330-mile Solo Above: A easy Class III Descent in Mexico” can now satisfy rapid on Rio Sirupa I dubbed “Brownie” their curiosity by reading the following story from James Contos. Left: The Tomochic Gorge was fi lled with Class We received this story as part of III rapids (the fi nal “c” in these names not last year’s AW River Story Contest pronounced, thus this is pronounced “toe- and regret that it’s taken this moe-chee”) long to reach print. Thanks for All photos for this story by James Contos your patience!

Ineluctable Defi les on The setting was Northwest Mexico, in one since two 100 meter high dams block the Rio Sirupa of the largest river systems in the country. fl ows in its lower 350 kilometers. Most of the 10-40 inches of annual rainfall in this region come in the summertime, Only minimal information was available and I suspected its 20,000 square miles about fl oating this river system. A 112 mile By James “Rocky” Contos of drainage area in the states of Sonora stretch between the two reservoirs was Steep walls rose vertically from the river. and Chihuahua would make this river described by Tom Robey in his guidebook About 3000 cfs of muddy water was voluminous. Rio Yaqui is at the northern A Gringo’s Guide to Mexican Whitewater. slowly through the canyon. A deep Class II- end of the Sierra Madre Occidental Also, an intriguing raft picture and laconic III rapid made it a spot from which return (SMO), the mountain range extending description of a Rio Aros trip in the 1980s upstream would be impossible. I had just from Arizona to Guadalajara. I suspected was present in one of Richard Fisher’s passed through a similar section upstream the Upper Yaqui would be one of the books on the region. containing a Class V rapid that was nearly crown jewel rivers in the range, since it unportageable. I climbed up the side and had contiguous river trip lengths up to My intent was to fl oat through the upper tried to scout the gorge around the bend 350 miles, nearly no human habitation, on the longest journey possible, but it was impossible to see into. This close proximity to the US, and moderate starting at Tomochic and taking out at was the fourth day of my planned 10-day, gradients (or so the topo maps showed). Presa Novillo (337 river miles with a drop 337-mile trip down the headwaters of Rio In fact, the Upper Yaqui in the Guaynopa of 5400 ft). Looking for more information, Yaqui. If I made it through this section, Canyon, with a maximum depth of more I called Richard Fisher and asked him if he the remaining 227 miles were bound to be than 4000 ft, is on par with the deepest knew anything about the upper canyons. much easier. Racing through my mind was canyons in North America––including He said the canyons of Rio Aros contained the question, “shall I continue?” Hiking the Grand Canyon, Hell’s Canyon, and fi ne Class III-IV whitewater. Additionally, out was a possibility, but not with a kayak. the Copper and Sinforosa Canyons. in a solicitous tone, he warned me against Unfortunately, the Yaqui cannot be boating through the main gorges of Rio followed all the way to the Sea of Cortez, Sirupa, saying they were not passable 12 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 13 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 and extremely dangerous, even for least a month. Alas, exploratory temerity and I camped in open ranchlands 40 km expert kayakers at low fl ows. Although I overwhelmed me, and I resolved to into the trip. respected him greatly for his fi rst descents undertake the journey alone. in the region, I took his admonition with On my second day, I passed the confl uence a grain of salt, realizing from my maps I found the gorges of Rio Tomochic to be with Rio Papagochic, thus starting Rio that the maximum average gradient in spectacular, and all the rapids runnable Sirupa (pronounced: Seer-oo-pah). The those sections (and indeed, on the whole and fun. I noted three Class IVs and over next 91 kilometers to Puente Huapoca had trip) was 45 fpm. At the time of our a dozen Class IIIs. At such high elevations, a big river feel, with numerous Class III- conversation, I had already paddled a even in Mexico, the nights were very cool IV rapids and one V (the Cascada Sirupa, dozen other rivers in the SMO, some with (about 60 degrees) and the days only near Sirupa village). The canyons in this gradients up to 150 fpm. On the other warm (about 75 degrees). Coniferous fi rst section of Rio Sirupa were not of the hand, the maps I was using only had 100 trees abounded along the banks and up on same ilk as the vertiginous gorges found meter contour intervals, so more steeply the hills imparting a redolence of Sierra both upstream and down. Instead, slopes sloped sections between such contours Nevada or Pacifi c Northwest canyons. rose more gradually from the water. The were possible. Also, the drainage area Vertical and overhanging walls rose hillsides still supported a few conifers, but of the Rio Sirupa section in question directly from the river in places, and large were primarily dominated by scrub-oak. (3500 square miles) suggested it would caves in cliffs slightly removed from the Summer rains a month earlier had imbued have an average fl ow of about 3000 cfs river invited exploration. An undeveloped the canyon with a particularly enchanting in summer––pretty high for tight gorges, warm spring in the gorge watered verdant even if they only dropped at a rate of 45 growth, and just downstream, fl uted fpm. I contemplated waiting for a partner granite at the “Tomochic Constricción” to join me, but the few competent and squeezed the entire 1200 cfs of the river A Lone Spire is prominent on Rio Sirupa about 19 km willing to come were unavailable for at into a gap six feet wide. The gorges ended, below the confl uence with Rio Papagochic.

12 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 13 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Map of rivers in the Sierra Madre Occidental (left) and vistas of the surrounds before continuing nearly 3000 cfs. After nine kilometers of higher detail of the Rio Yaqui system (right). Like most through the Class III-IV brownwater. enjoyable Class III whitewater, the canyon rivers in Mexico, Rio Yaqui is named differently at walls started closing in. In the next one different points from its headwaters—the two main After running the glissading Cascada and a half kilometers I paddled through branches at the headwaters are Rio Papagochic and Sirupa, I soon arrived at Sirupa Hot five more Class IV-V rapids. Just past the Tomochic, which join to form Rio Sirupa. After the Springs, where two large concrete pools last one, Reconnoiter Rapid, I stopped and of Rio Tutuaca, it is called Rio Aros, and then after the confluence with Rio Bavispe, it is called were built to hold the thermal water tried to scout the downstream vertical- Rio Yaqui. streaming out of the rock. I relished walled gorge. I saw that after running soaking in the warm (about 95 degree) the next Class II Committing Rapid there water and was rejuvenated enough to would be no way to get back upstream nor pale emerald iridescence, in the form face the intimidating gorges downstream. stop and climb out. Fearful of mandatory of thick stands of nopales (prickly-pear A long Class III rapid led to the gorge Class V and/or VI rapids around the bend, cacti). Red poppies along the banks entrance, where I floated under the scenic I made an attempt to climb up on river contrasted with the tawny water. Piles Huapoca Suspension Bridge. right to glimpse the gorge, but soon was of driftwood accumulated 15 feet above walled out in a shallow cave. I returned the river. Large sand beaches provided Here began the most trying part of the to my kayak and ferried across to the fine campspots. Clear blue skies in the journey. Downstream were the gorges of left side of the river to again attempt a morning gave way to cumulus clouds which Richard Fisher spoke. Rapids came reconnaissance. Here I had more luck, at noon and then crepuscular nimbus in quick succession. I passed through finding ranchers’ trails about 300 meters thunderheads on this and nearly every day three Class III-IV rapids before the gorge up. As I passed through the thorny scrub, of the trip. Rolling thunder crackled and opened up briefly for a Class IV-V six- though, I realized I wasn’t able to see down refulgent lightning scintillated the evening foot drop. I dropped back into the gorge into the gorge. However, the only audible sky for hours after dusk. Heavy rain and passed five more Class IV-V rapids, rapid sounded like it was just downstream fell that night. Although my tent leaked portaging the second (which I refer to as of the gorge. I could see that the opening profusely through the seams, dampening Terror Wave) and part of the fourth in lasted about half of a kilometer before the my bedsheets, a complete internal the next four kilometers before stopping river seemed to pass into an even more was prevented by the circumscribed to camp. foreboding chasm. I returned to my kayak trenches I had excavated. The river level and decided to enter the first gorge. rose more than three feet by the morning, By morning, the water had risen six inches and I strolled up the canyon for glorious and I guessed the river to be running at I easily passed through Committing Rapid

14 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org November/December 2005 Above: “Shall I Continue?” was the question on my “Commiting Rapid #1” prompted me to make a mind looking into the second unscoutable gorge and serious attempt at scouting out the gorge below the Commiting Rapid #2

The “Terror Wave”, a Class V rapid below Sirupa Hot #1 and was treated to the vertical-walled Springs that I portaged grandeur for nearly a kilometer. As I predicted, there was only one minor rapid around the bend until a spot downstream where I could see the gorge opened up. Unfortunately, the audible rapid I had heard from above was located 50 meters before the end of the vertical walls! From my vantage in the kayak, it did not appear to be portageable, and possibly not even scoutable! All the worse, I was alone with nobody to help (or even know!) if something went afoul. It seemed I might be forced to run this drop blind. Luckily, 100 meters upstream of the rapid on river right there was a place where I could stop and maybe get a glimpse. I climbed up but could only tell that the river apparently dropped four meters in the falls, and there were some nasty rocks in places that could easily pin or broach me. It did not look good on either far side in the rapid—a sneak would not be possible….

There was some hope. On the far left side, just after the first waves, there was an eddy where it looked like it might be possible to stop and . It didn’t look promising

www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 15 November/December 2005 since the water was swirling and surging A Class V+ rapid and moving over the drop quickly. Also, (Pesadilla) in the the dropoff just past the sloping granite Guaynopa Canyon that might be too slippery to get back down on I portaged. the other side. After a pensive 15 minute review of all the options, I decided to go for the eddy. I was pleasantly surprised to fi nd the stopping there fairly easy. Although the bedrock was slippery, I found that I could portage the kayak with rope support down into the water below. The rapid, a solid Class V, was not something I would have wanted to undertake solo (even if I could have scouted). With higher water, the portage would be more perilous. I was having doubts about continuing in such gorges, so I dubbed this rapid Call It Quits.

Relieved to have made it though the fi rst gorge and into the short Shangri-La open area, I passed through another IV-V rapid and looked for a place to stop and camp, but found nothing ideal. The best spot was a fl at rock about one meter above the river level, just before the river entered an even more imposing gorge. Even though it was a restless night wondering what would from water running over mountainside early in the day, I was so psychologically happen the following day. chunks. But it was plausible; fl oodwaters exhausted that I decided to stop for the rising high in the narrows could lift and night. Passing through the next gorge A bright morning dawned on the fi fth move such boulders downstream to irenic might take a long time, and there weren’t day of my trip. Checking the water level, places where they might lie in peace. likely to be camping spots within it. This I was elated to fi nd that it had dropped gorge also had a Committing Rapid (#2), slightly below the level of the previous day. Downstream, in the next 6 km, I beyond which retreat upstream was out Since “the gods were willing,” I packed up encountered one more Class VI and fi ve of the question. While I had gotten lucky and fl oated through Committing Rapid more Class Vs, two of which I ran. One of with Call It Quits in the upstream gorge, #2, fi nding it more challenging than the these rapids, Warp 3, was very similar in this one might not be so accommodating; view upstream suggested. The water then nature to the Warp 2 rapid in California’s I needed to reconsider continuing. I spent placidly fl owed down and around a bend Kings Canyon, with a steep, smooth three- the rest of the day poking around the area, to the left into the heretofore-inscrutable meter sloping falls. In the following Class perusing the book or two I had brought, abyss. Around the bend I encountered V-VI rapid (portaged), High Log, there and scrutinizing my maps for signs of a stout Class IV+ rapid, Chasm Falls, were amazing diluvial logs wedged 15 other tight gorges downstream. I decided which, fortunately, was both scoutable and meters above the river level. What a fl ood that if the water rose by the morning, I portageable. Had the river been one meter it must have been to jam logs up so high! would either wait longer or abandon the higher, this would have been complicated It was hard and a bit scary to imagine expedition. If the water dropped, I would or impossible. It seemed to justify my such narrow gorges channelling fl ows of attempt passage. I knew from my previous former stipulations for progress. As I 50,000 cfs. reconnaissance that this gorge could not passed through the narrows, I was awed be scouted from above. Although still by the marvelous splendor of the place. The previous section had been slow going. present, the customary thunderstorms Continuing with both trepidation and I had covered less than eight kilometers did not build as strongly that day, and it euphoria, I could see the opening of the in about six hours. As if to make up for looked like only a minor rain was falling gorge downstream, where behemoth it, the next 21 km of river were one of the in the distance. However, before dusk boulders clogged the riverbed. There, fi nest stretches of felicitous whitewater the water rose several inches—nearly to the river dropped betwixt house-sized I could have imagined. Running four my tent—causing me to abandon the boulders in Class V-VI water. I did fi nd Class V-, 15 Class IV, and nearly as many Flat Rock Camp for a less commodious it odd, but not unlike other SMO gorges, Class III rapids, I was so ecstatic that I but higher spot in some bamboo. I spent that the hearts of the gorges didn’t thump wanted to scream for joy. The geology was

16 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 17 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 also fascinating, as I watched the gorge Over the next several days I passed through I arrived at Puente Sahuaripa, the most metamorphose from gray to red and then several more canyons with fun rapids, logical take-out, but continued on, down to black. though nothing harder than Class IV. The the last free-fl owing stretch of Rio Yaqui. trip continued to be full of stimulating Fifteen kilometers downstream of the After passing through an unmistakable places. At one coppice of fan palms that I bridge I found a Class III silt-moiled knife-cut in a 50-meter high black- stopped to explore I also found abundant rapid, resurrected by the below-capacity stained narrows with a sloping Class V cultivated mota (marijuana), prompting reservoir downstream. The low reservoir falls, I caught views of an El Capitan-like me to leave immediately. The ensconced level also gave me swift water for another massif on river-left downstream. There Los Alisos was a paradisiacal 30 kilometers before the river hit the I expected more tight gorges as the river side canyon, rife with hanging plants, warm lake. I imagined what whitewater went through the Guaynopa Canyon. fi ve-striped sparrows, and deep pellucid might lie drowned under this reservoir in When I arrived, it appeared it would water—a perfect spot for lunch, a swim, the tight canyons of Rio Yaqui. I suppose take a long time to traverse this section, and water purifi cation. A small village, I will never know. I hope, at least, that so I camped at the fi rst suitable sandspot Nátora, with a dwindling population of the majestic beauty of the upstream free- just after the rapids began. The following 50 provided some conversation, but few fl owing Yaqui system will eventually be three kilometers were intense. With the provisions from their understocked store. appreciated by kayakers, rafters, fi shermen, Magnifi cente Massif rising on the left, the The Paso Nacori Chico Gauging Station and eventually, the Mexican government. river plunged down and down, through in Cañon La Bocana was an interesting Only then might it be preserved for future numerous Class IV-VI rapids, including stop, where I spoke with the attendant, generations to enjoy. one I called Pesadilla. Portaging many and and learned that the fl ow was actually running a few, I spent nearly three hours 11000 cfs (I was estimating it at 15000 traversing this canyon. Near the end of cfs), and fairly typical for this time of year. this section, I ran what I correctly thought The cajon (box canyon) after this gauging would be the last Class V on the trip, Just station provided a long series of extremely When You Thought It Was Getting Easy. fun roller coaster-type Class III waves. This was a fi tting conclusion to an amazing stretch of whitewater-fi lled canyons. One of the fun Class IV rapids I called Oh Mama! in the fun stretch after the terrifying gorges.

16 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 17 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Yellow Ribbons & White Water

By Phil Sayre and Adam Campbell

Regardless of your political stripe or views out of place—are walked through the are reasonably comfortable at the pool on the war, support for the troops who hospital and stuffed into elevators to sessions is on the Potomac River near come from our own neighborhoods and reach the 2nd floor where they flow to the Angler’s Inn. It’s a sunny day and the who serve in Iraq and Afghanistan runs physical therapy pool each Tuesday night Potomac is at a typical low summer water high. People indicate their feelings by between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. This evening level. Things start with the set-up just displaying the classic yellow ribbon stickers we have one or two new soldiers who before lunch: kayaks, some inflatables (for that proclaim their support for our troops. come to check out the scene. Boats, TRR troops’ family members), lots of cookies, Many people also provide funds, volunteer volunteers, and troops perfecting their watermelon, PB&Js, homemade treats, to help out troops, and/or support those rolls and strokes surround and fill the and blocks of foam are arrayed over the who have returned from the conflicts, and tiny pool. Walter Reed physical therapists rocks and tables at the end of the Angler’s for very good reasons. Many service men and lifeguards keep a watchful eye on Inn parking lot. Shortly after set-up, the and women have sacrificed in Afghanistan participants. Tonight, Christopher Bain WRAMC boaters arrive in a bus. After and Iraq: since the March 2003 invasion of comes to the pool. I talk to Chris a while. lunch there is the foam-cutting ritual Iraq, over 2,000 US troops have died, and He served as a chemical reconnaissance (some soldiers need lots of outfitting to over 15,477 have been wounded. specialist in the Army, and has wounds adapt for missing limbs). Afterwards there in both arms that do not allow him to is a stampede of about 10 soldiers and As boaters, our thoughts naturally try close his hands well, as he demonstrates the same number of TRR volunteers that to find some crossover between boating poolside (it appears he has partial use of pushes down the 1/8-mile path from the and the troops. How can we connect the three fingers on one hand, and maybe two parking lot to the put-in. Soon crutches, feelings we have for supporting these on the other): Chris got hit with a mortar prosthetics, shoes, and wheelchairs litter individuals who have sacrificed and our round and small arms fire. He used to the put-in area, and we’re off—only we love of the sport of whitewater boating? skateboard and board surf (getting up at don’t go very far. Everyone with a roll Is there a way to connect injured troops 4 a.m. to surf before classes), and several practices a few times close to shore, while with the river? Would such an effort help years ago he started boating—gaining the wet exit pointers and practice ensues casualties of the war find meaning and beginnings of a roll and boating a section for those without a roll. Then we spend challenge in life? Questions like these of the Colorado on a dare from friends. some time practicing strokes, angles, and brought about the beginnings of Team He has experienced and appreciates the leans as we progress—often in less-than- River Runner (TRR), a Washington D.C. similarities and reinforcements between straight lines—up-river 1/4-mile toward area all-volunteer apolitical nonprofit the sports, the way you shift your weight the Maryland Chute. The current gains a founded by two local boaters (Joe on a skateboard to carve a turn or on a bit more strength as we paddle upstream. Mornini and Mike McCormick). While surfboard to carve a wave is like carving Brandon Huff from the Tahoe area has his the beginnings of TRR were briefly in a whitewater boat. However, we worry first serious whitewater kayak run through explained in the September/October that his handgrip strength might pose the Class III Maryland Chute, with the issue of American Whitewater, we would some insurmountable problems. NBC Today Show cameras recording his like to take this opportunity to tell you a successful descent. He smiles, climbs up bit more about the nonprofit group and Chris hopped into borrowed swim trunks over the rocks, and does it again. Karim about some of the troops who have been and then into the pool under the watchful Salaman, another TRR veteran, gets more involved in it. eye of Tracey Bowman (“Bo”), a TRR comfortable with her skills in moving paddler who mainly instructs sea kayaking water. This has been a good day. Step 1: Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Virginia. Bo had him rolling within the (WRAMC), Washington, DC near the hour. Chris was more than motivated to Step 3: Lower Youghiogheny River, D.C./MD border, Pool Session: The troops realize that paddling was within his grasp. Ohiopyle, PA: The Lower Yough at Walter Reed get their first experience Even with the broad range of injuries constitutes the graduation ceremony for with boating by coming a short distance, found among Walter Reed veterans, a few of the more accomplished TRR vets. often from the Malone House on campus to most learn to roll within one or two Sergeant Antonio Hamm has a combat- the main hospital building at Walter Reed. pool sessions. grade look of intense concentration in It’s a bit of an odd site as TRR volunteers his eyes as he runs Cucumber Rapid. He pull up in front of the massive hospital Step 2: Angler’s Inn on the Potomac regularly bench-presses 410 pounds at building with roof racks full of whitewater River, near Potomac, MD: Often the first Walter Reed after arriving there from Iraq kayaks. Boats—seeming somewhat taste of river experience for those who with injuries, and is a bit big for the Wave

18 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 19 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Derrick Harden and Dan Gade at the Potomac River

Photo by Jim Hubshman

Sport Y he’s in. He has also previously the movies—blood, bullets, violence—it’s Walter Reed in late October to grow his tried an RPM Max, but he is too heavy real.” Antonio worked closely with Iraqis hair, be with his wife and son, and resume for it and he winds up tail squirting who were training to take over the job of his job at O’Reilly’s Auto Parts. Each in anything resembling bigger water. protecting their country once US troops evening he follows up the workday with a He comes through Cucumber in great begin their pullout. He wrestled with a grueling 4-hour workout at the gym. His shape, and is incident-free all the way lot of them on the base during off-hours favorite cartoon character: the Incredible through Dimple, the marquee rapid of (“They respect strength,” he says). Hulk. Look for him next in an NFL game the run, then has issues in a nothing spot in 2006 or 2007, if all goes well. just below. I asked how the Iraqi soldiers-in-training were doing and how much they could Occasionally we get TRR graduates who Antonio’s experiences on the Lower Yough be trusted. He said some were good, but matriculate early. Both Derrick Harden were definitely different than his time in others were questionable. There was a lot and Sarah Werner had kayaked Class II- Iraq. Antonio trained as a stinger missile of sniper fire coming into the base at night, III sections of the Potomac. The main operator, but was sent to Camp Carwell, often from unusually close locations. goal of any outing with Derrick is to try Iraq where he did security work, often Antonio and some other troops found out to (a) find as many wild blackberries as accompanying convoys transporting that some of the trainees during the day possible and (b) soak or lose his smokes troops and weapons between Kuwait morphed into snipers at night. “You have which he guards nicely until he flips (then, and Iraq. Generally troops are flown into to be almost paranoid the whole time you all bets are off, since he doesn’t have a roll or out of Kuwait, and then driven back are over there. If you relax, you may be just yet). Sarah is a TRR volunteer who and forth from Kuwait to Iraq. The first dead.” He came to Walter Reed to recover is learning to boat (along with her sister two weeks were the most unsettling, as from injuries last summer, and wound Julie) in spite of a very limited ability to Antonio had to get used to waking up to up pool boating. Antonio described his see (she is technically blind). Both Sarah nearby explosions, gunfire, and shaking first river experiences as having spiritual and Derrick have gotten pretty gutsy on ground. “You know all that stuff you see in healing properties. He went home from the Potomac in their kayaks; they have

18 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 19 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Above: Antonia Hamm about to engage the Maryland Chute Hole on the Potomac River

Photos by Jim Hubshman

Below: Casey Owens accepts the Grand Prize for winning Blood, Sweat, Toil and Triumph Biathlalon

20 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 21 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 even danced close to the flame of the avoid the full frontal impact of the ensuing Maryland Chute a number of times, and explosion caused by the detonation of the have very quick and effective wet exit bomb inside the taxi. The sergeant did not techniques. Even though Sarah has some survive the blast, but Derrick was more challenging vision problems and Derrick fortunate. He spat out most of the five has a number of war-related injuries, they teeth that were dislodged by one of the both show great capacity for whitewater shrapnel fragments and yelled for help. boating. Derrick had no prior boating He had lost his right leg and sustained experience except an occasional canoe numerous additional shrapnel wounds trip on the Great Lakes, and he is not in from the explosion (some of which also the same bench-press class as Antonio. reduced his hand and arm functions). His Yet he can move a kayak at a very fast left leg also had a piece of bone missing as clip—sometimes leaving other paddlers a result of the gunshot wound. wondering where he’s gone. He used this paddling ability nicely in a two-person As we hovered above Dimple Rock, duckie with Sarah on the Lower Yough, Bob Alexander (another TRR volunteer running Entrance Rapid, Cucumber, and boater) and I talked them through the line a few others without a hitch. Next up was that would avoid the foam pile on Dimple Dimple Rock, a spot where a good portion Rock. Then Bob ran the rapid to show of the river piles up on a rock on the left them the line. I ran it next, with Derrick shore. The object is to avoid running up and Sarah following closely behind me. All on the Dimple pillow, because this often went fine until the need arose to maneuver leads straight into a pretty spectacular flip the two-person boat just above the rapid. and swim down toward the aptly-named The large duckie proved to be a difficult Swimmer’s Rapid. However, there is a vessel to maneuver; the turns were not sneak route that avoids the whole Dimple quite tight enough, and the duckie went move. The sneak line requires some quick off course just above Dimple. The foam maneuvering of a two-person duckie to be pile was avoided, but right downriver of successful. Now, Derrick is not unfamiliar that the boat flipped and tossed Sarah and with pressure situations such as this, Derrick out into the rapids. Sarah floated particularly given his recent experiences. past a rock in the middle of the river and climbed up on it. Derrick swam for the Derrick left his Michigan job as a stone left-hand shore where he climbed out in worker on January 5, 2005, trained for five fine shape. Unfortunately, the duckie was months to be a designated marksman, and now well below Swimmer’s Rapid, a good then joined the Army’s Charlie Company distance downstream. Joe, Derrick and I in the 1st-503rd Second Infantry Division. were on the shore debating how to proceed: He arrived in the combat outpost near it would be difficult for Derrick to walk Ramadi, Iraq, and served for five months. the boolder-strewn shore all the way past On January 17 Derrick and his squad Swimmer’s without his prosthetic leg and leader stepped out of their covered crutches. While Swimmer’s is a nice long position to investigate a taxi that pulled and shallow hole, it is easy to punch at off the road near their outpost. As they low summertime levels, and the approach approached the car two Iraqis emerged rapids above the hole are straightforward. and tried to run. The sergeant spun, after So we decided that Derrick should boat the being hit by one of the Iraqis, and as he stretch in Joe’s kayak. Derrick and I went went down his finger was still on the down through the rapids, successfully trigger, spraying bullets. One of the bullets punching the hole, without incident. As is hit Derrick, which in an indirect way saved typical with Derrick, he went so fast it was his life. The impacts caused Derrick to hard to keep up with him. Derrick had run shift his position, which allowed him to his first major rapid. He swiped Joe’s boat

20 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 21 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 several more times that day en route to the had a nice day kayaking the course, and this point on the Lower Yough. Bruner’s Run take-out. remarked that he was particularly happy not to have swum. Fittingly, the second In Iraq I was a 3rd group weapons sergeant Additional Steps on Land (Beyond Boof) finisher, Kirk Bauer, a disabled Vietnam attached to the 1st infantry division 26th -- Veterans Day Weekend, the Washington War veteran and Executive Director of brigade Headquarters Company. I trained Canoe Club, Washington D.C. The DSUSA, paddled across the finish line basic infantry to do CQC (Close Quarters Washington Canoe Club, founded in right behind Bill, smiled, flipped and swam Combat) efficiently and safely. While in 1904, has placed athletes on almost every out of his boat—just for fun. The grand Iraq, I also participated in missions ranging canoe/kayak Olympic team since 1924, prize of the race, a new Diesel donated from basic shows of force to night clearing when flat-water sprint canoeing was by Wave Sport, went to Marine Corporal operations, in which we look for insurgents introduced as a demonstration sport. So it Casey Owens from WRAMC, who took and supplies of possible harmful ordnance, seemed a fitting venue for the first Blood, overall first place in the both the running/ like rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), Sweat, Toil and Triumph biathlon—a wheelchair and boating events in the rockets, or improvised explosive-making Veteran’s day event focused on injured adaptive athlete class. Numerous adaptive material. During these clearing operations, US veterans. The fall colors lined the and non-adaptive winners got cash and I was in charge of 14 men. This takes away Potomac, as WRAMC / TRR veterans, drytops. Many, such as “Team Springriver” any shyness and puts reality right in front of other veterans, and athletes from the (Joe Stumpfel and Peter Gracyalny) gave your eyes. I can’t count how many times I D.C. area gathered for an enjoyable event their cash and prizes back to TRR for its thought to myself, “hold it together—if you that recognized the contributions of all use. Peter overcame a number of injuries break, so do your men.” US veterans. The biathlon consisted of a in the run, and honored his cousin one-mile kayak course on the Potomac involved in Iraq and his dad who served It is one thing to lose a leg; it is another to and a four-mile run/wheelchair event on in the Korean War. Later that night, long have both of them still attached and not be the paved Crescent Trail that parallels the after all had gone home, TRR was still at able to feel or move them no matter how C&O ’s towpath. Forty competitors work: Joe Mornini was attaining one-way hard you sweat from just concentrating. We showed for the event, including 17 troops streets in downtown DC in a large truck were tasked with checking and clearing a from WRAMC and some of their family to return event tents. Other cornerstone house in the town of Sammarra (southeast members, and a number of able-bodied volunteers, without whom many of of Baghdad); intelligence reports indicated Vietnam War veterans who came to TRR’s activities would be impossible, it was a likely insurgent base of operations. honor those from the recent wars. All include Bob Alexander, Risa Shimoda, and We approached the house by walking up participants received t-shirts, personalized Sarah Anderson. the middle of a dirt road, accompanied dogtags, and an excellent lunch following by several Humvees. Unknown to us, an the morning event. Lee Ann Doerflinger The entire TRR experience, described by improvised explosive device (IED), which is ran in her son’s honor, wearing a dogtag our most senior TRR veteran, in his own often a mortar round buried in a container with the name of her son Thomas, who words: One of our veteran kayakers is like a garbage can, was also in the road with was killed in combat in Iraq. The four-mile Sergeant Adam Campbell, a Green Beret us. The Humvee between me and the blast run was tough for her, but she finished. whose experiences have spanned the sheltered me from the shower of shrapnel Sarah Werner kayaked the course in a K-1, whole program: that was produced. However, I saw a wave of led by Monique Hubshman. Bill Johnston pressurized air (similar to what you see with from the Pittsburgh area won 3rd prize On the October Lower Youghiogheny trip, an intense fire) come toward me—quickly. for adaptive team, and came in right in I got rolled right into a whirlpool behind a It knocked me about 25 feet through the air front of Kirk Bauer from Disabled Sports rock toward the bottom of Entrance Rapid. into a wall. After about a minute I came to, USA (DSUSA). Bill is the only Vietnam Since these are sometimes pretty hard to and couldn’t feel anything below my belly War veteran in TRR, and has been at get out of, three TRR volunteers suddenly button. I got my people together and into WRAMC on and off to be fitted with surrounded me to help. However, I hit my shooting position. Then, a rocket-propelled prosthetics for his two missing legs. Bill roll and was up and ready to go. Eric Moss grenade (RPG) was shot from the rooftop has often remarked about how different (one of the TRR volunteers) says “Wow, behind me, landing 15 feet away and hitting things are from when he came home from we don’t need to worry about you,” and I me with shrapnel. The upshot of this was Vietnam: his generation of soldiers never reply very quickly, with a sharp tongue, “no, two fractured disks, two shattered disks, a had the opportunities available to current please worry about me—I swear it was just dislocated disk, and three major shrapnel WRAMC veterans such as basketball, luck.” It had been a long journey from my wounds. I also had an injured spinal cord, skiing, and now whitewater kayaking. He home in Lakewood New Jersey, to Iraq, to and some circulatory dysfunctions. Both of

22 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 23 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 these last two injuries can easily result in kayaking motions help to build not only the even has a no-paddle/no-hands roll. He death if not diagnosed and treated. core muscles of the spinal column, but also went through his last round of surgery all the muscles in the midframe of the body. on November 29, and completed his tour I was in good shape, having been through I had to rebuild all the muscles in my back of duty on December 6. He has taught rigorous Special Forces training. But, that and relearn how to use them. In a kayak, I a number of other WRAMC veterans was before my injury. I just wasn’t sure of look like everyone else and, even though I kayaking, both in the pool and on the river what I was capable of when I got back to may not yet have the skills, I have the drive. over the past six months. the US. In April, I went to the WRAMC I found kayaking to be a great workout, and, pool for the first time, not quite sure of like the best workouts, it is fun. A kayaker The Future: D.C. Area … and Beyond? As what to expect. I rolled into the pool area in doesn’t realize how many muscles he or she is of Christmas, TRR has taken 53 amputees, my wheelchair hoping for a challenge and using on the river while having fun, relaxing and about 100 total WRAMC veterans something or someone to put a smile on my or training. I walk today with no crutches, and their family members to the water. face—I got that and so much more. With Joe no cane, and no limp. I know I would never Our website (www.teamriverrunner.org) Mornini’s and others’ instruction, I hit my have gotten to this point without kayaking. has lots of TRR information and photos first roll that night. But kayaking helped with more than just the thanks to the support of boaters Jim muscles. The river, the air, the people, the and Monique Hubshman, who run Kayaking with TRR did something for me conversations, the trips, the falls, the mess- that I could never repay. The amount of ups, the fear, the excitement, and the skill injury to my spinal cord resulted in a lot of create an atmosphere that is similar to no muscles atrophying to a point where they other. I will be kayaking until the day after I Karim Salaman, one of the Walter Reed lady soldiers, weren’t much use. If it weren’t for the army die—with a smile on my face. saddles up for a run on the Lower Youghigheny River in Pennsylvania keeping me in such good shape I would not

have survived the whole experience. The Adam now rolls better than me—he Photo by Jim Hubshman

continued on page 67 22 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 23 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 www.potomacpaddlers.com. We have During the winter, we transitioned off the participation to all those in WRAMC formed a Board of Directors with 17 river to the Navy’s David Taylor model who are waiting to enter the program boating members—including Adam basin in Potomac, Maryland. The model (currently, we can’t quite handle the and Derrick. By the time this article is basin provides the vets a chance to work demand). In 2006, TRR may start a similar published, TRR should also be a bona out in a huge, somewhat spooky pool, program at Brooke Army Medical Center fi de 501(c)(3) nonprofi t organization enclosed in a giant quonset hut-style in San Antonio. This hospital is home to that offers tax-deductible status for all building. The pool is usually used to test many service men and women returning contributions. TRR is still supported by out large models of new navy ships, but from the war with injuries that are similar Liquid Adventures, Springriver, and others also works well for kayakers who want to to those of the vets at WRAMC. Any San locally, and by Wilderness Voyagers on practice strokes, boat control, and other Antonio-area boaters interested? the Lower Yough. Another organization skills in something larger than the PT pool. that has been very helpful to TRR in We hope to get enough funding over the Support your paddling troops! accommodating the soldiers on Lower winter to purchase transportation (a used Yough trips is the Ohiopyle State Park, van), a trailer (which is currently on loan represented by Ranger Matt Green and from Tom McEwan’s Liquid Adventures), others. Wave Sport has also recently begun and some cold-weather paddling gear. to sponsor TRR by providing boats for This winter we would like to continue the the program, and is considering creating program we have described, broadening specialized outfi tting for amputee boaters.

24 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org March/April 2006 24 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org March/April 2006 Simple Adventure About 71 percent of Earth is covered with water, so there are plenty great paddling destinations out there. Unfortunately, many of the coolest ones are tucked away in remote or hard-to-reach places, so that getting to and from your dream river can turn into more of an adventure than the actual paddling. And the cost of shipping a boat for a remote river trip can easily exceed the boat’s value.

Craig Medred works his way through a river-wide wave train on ANWR’s Hulahula River

Photo by Jim Jager 26 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org November/December 2005 New Generation of Packrafts Make Paddle Trips Practical and Affordable

Jim Renkert and other packrafters prepare to start another By Jim Jager day of paddling on ANWR’s Hulahula River

Fortunately, these problems are fading Photo by Jim Jager as adventure paddlers discover that they can eliminate the logistical and financial problems of getting their traditional kayaks and rafts to put-ins by slipping a frigid glacial-melt rivers and to rendezvous cross impossible-to-ford rivers and float packraft into their backpacks. with floatplanes. By 1983 the sport had through miles of trackless wilderness. evolved to the point that Sevylor, Sherpa And anglers, hunters and mountain bikers Packrafts are single person inflatable boats and other companies were manufacturing are using packrafts to access secluded, that can weigh less than five pounds and specialized packrafts that racers were alpine fishing holes, float game out from roll down to the size of a lightweight tent. using as their “secret weapons” to skip remote hunting areas and stitch together Most packrafts are intended for use on miles of trekking and bushwhacking in unconnected road and trail networks. moving water with double-bladed kayak- the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic, style ; everything from lazy Class I one of the world’s original adventure Simplicity and versatility are the key floats to technical Class IV drops and wave races. The race (still) features few rules attributes of a good packraft. The boats trains. The best packrafts are dependable beyond a designated mass start, finish line should be extremely light and portable and versatile enough that they are being and the requirement that competitors be so they can easily be carried in a backpack used for everything from hour-long completely self sufficient. or duffle bag, along with a paddle, PFD whitewater play sessions to weeks-long and other necessary gear. They should be trips through remote wilderness areas. Recent design, material and construction durable enough to be relied upon during innovations have drastically improved remote wilderness trips. They should be The sport of packrafting can be traced packraft capabilities so the boats are being easy to repair in the field, because any back to small life rafts first used by military used all around the world. Paddlers are inflatable boat can be cut, punctured or pilots and commandos around the time of using them to hike into remote rivers torn, either on or on the way to the river. the Korean conflict. During the late 1960s that would be too difficult or expensive a few intrepid Alaskans picked these boats to reach with traditional kayaks or rafts. Packrafts should also be relatively easy to up at Army surplus stores and started Trekkers are using them to open up inflate without a heavy pump. They should experimenting with using them to cross exciting new routes by enabling them to handle a variety of flat and moving river conditions. They should be capable of carrying all sorts of cargo, from daypacks to expedition duffels and mountain bikes. And they should double as ground pads or shelters for alpine-style paddlers and trekkers who want to travel with as little gear as possible.

Top-of-the-line packrafts are made from specially designed polyurethane-coated nylon fabrics and are welded or glued, so that the boats are a lot tougher than their

Craig Medred, Richard Murphy & co. get ready to paddle the upper reaches of the Hulahula River

Photo by Jim Jager

www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 27 November/December 2005 weight would indicate. These packrafts don’t have several feet of boat extending All packrafts track best when their paddler perform surprisingly well in relatively big behind the cockpit to help center the and cargo weight is evenly distributed from water. Paddlers sit lower in their boats paddler’s weight in the boat. Consequently, bow to stern. Loading a packraft that is than kayakers so rapids often appear more if paddlers lean back into a haystack or too long can cause it to undulate or snake difficult than their rating. However, once hole, their boat will immediately start to through the water so that it is slower and a packraft enters a hydraulic, it feels very tip over backward. The only way to prevent harder to handle. Smaller boats also weigh stable and tends to plane over heavily a full flip is for the paddler to immediately less, pack down smaller and inflate faster. aerated water and bumper car off of move their body weight forward by doing Consequently, unless paddlers plan to obstacles. Consequently, the learning curve a quick sit-up, thus bringing the bow back carry a lot of gear or haul out game from for paddling a packraft in whitewater or down. Paddlers who have learned to keep a hunt, they should select a boat that fits surf is relatively easy. their weight forward say packrafts are more them tightly. stable and forgiving than kayaks. Also, boat Experienced boaters say packrafts don’t handling improves significantly if packs Packrafters who paddle in moving, splashy, carve like kayaks. But they can surf waves, and other “freight” are kept in the front of technical or cold water find that spray decks especially if a sleeping pad is used to the boat. improve boat performance and comfort stiffen the floor. Packrafting in whitewater by keeping most of the water out of the without the is a lot like using an Packrafts will perform better if they are boat. Experienced boaters carry their gear open canoe. Paddlers will stay significantly sized to fit the paddler. High-end packrafts strapped to the bow of the boat, on top of drier if they match the wave speed when have relatively large air chambers that the spray deck. This technique leaves room negotiating haystacks and other hydraulics. provide plenty of flotation for almost any for their feet, helps keep the bow down and The boats tend to ride very high in the water paddler who can physically fit into them. significantly reduces the danger of getting because of their tube size. Consequently, Most people find that the boats handle tangled in gear in event of a swim. they don’t cut through hydraulics, but best when they fit snugly, especially in rather plane over them. And they won’t whitewater. Shorter boats are easier to Most technical and cold-water paddlers punch through holes or eddy fences; they maneuver around obstacles and they hold also use an inflatable 3/4-length sleeping just ride up and over their faces. their shapes better and stay more rigid so pad on their packraft floors to improve that they better plane over the tops of waves boat handling and comfort. Sleeping pads Wildwater packrafters must read rivers and hydraulics. Longer boats are more stiffen floors to improve responsiveness in just like kayakers, but they must refine susceptible to getting pushed and pulled moving water. They also provide insulation their boat handling to account for packraft into places where paddlers typically don’t to keep paddlers warmer in cold water. And characteristics. The most important thing want to go. Snug-fitting boats also tend to they provide extra padding when boats go to remember is that most of a packrafter’s perform better on flatwater. over rocks or other obstacles just below weight sits in the stern of the boat. Packrafts the surface.

Richard Murphy and other packrafters prepare to start a blue- sky day of paddling on ANWR’s Hulahula River

Photo by Jim Jager

28 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 29 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 The Hulahula: An Endangered River Packrafters need several other pieces of equipment to round out their kit. First they by Tom O’Keefe need some sort of kayak paddle. Four-piece taking offi ce, George W. Bush made carbon fi ber paddles are a favorite because Efforts to preserve arctic lands for development of ANWR a cornerstone they are durable, light and break down their wilderness value date back to of national energy policy. In 2005, into small enough pieces to fi t inside of a the 1920s and 1930s when Olaus and Alaska’s Congressional delegation fi rst backpack or duffl e. Some trekkers opt to Mardy Murie conducted the fi rst attempted to attach a drilling provision use aluminum or titanium paddle shafts surveys of the fl ora and fauna in the to a budget bill but this effort failed in that can be fi tted with rubber end plugs Brooks Range. In 1960, President the House. Then, at the 11th hour, as and used as walking sticks during hikes. Eisenhower protected the Arctic Range Congress prepared to pack up and Most paddlers fi nd that high-angle paddle through executive proclamation, then head home, an attempt was made to strokes work best with packrafts and paddles generally vary in length between in 1980, the Alaska National Interest place a drilling provision in a “must- about 205 cm and 215 cm. Most people Lands Conservation Act formally pass” defense bill. This effort worked in fi nd that shorter paddles are hard to use designated the Arctic National Wildlife the House but Senator Cantwell (WA) over the large tubes of a packraft, and Refuge, protecting most of the area as led a successful fi ght to keep it out of longer paddles don’t pack well and hinder wilderness. In a compromise with the the Senate version of the bill. boat control. Senate, however, the area now known as the 1002, which comprises the The debate continues over both the Paddlers are also advised to carry patch kits, coastal plain, was reserved for further amount of oil contained within the infl ation bags for blowing up the boat and study of its oil potential. The Hulahula refuge and the potential impacts of safety equipment including PFDs, throw fl ows right through the center of drilling on wildlife, but there is no bags and helmets. Infl atable and hybrid the 1002. question that development of the PFDs are popular for packrafting because they are lighter than traditional whitewater coastal plain would have a dramatic vests and they are easier to pack. In 1987 the Reagan Administration impact on the opportunity to recommended full leasing of the experience one of the most remote Paddle clothing varies from shorts and coastal plain, an idea that was wilderness rivers in the nation. Few sandals to dry suits, gloves and hats, reintroduced by the fi rst President free-fl owing rivers that pass through depending upon the climate and the river Bush in 1991. In 1995, Congress undeveloped landscapes remain conditions. As with the boats and other passed budget legislation with an in the US, and the Hulahula is a gear, versatile clothing is preferable, so that Arctic drilling provision but the bill precious resource worth preserving for it can be used for both hiking and paddling. was vetoed by President Clinton. Upon future generations. Lightweight dry bags and tie-down straps or ropes round out most paddling kits.

28 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 29 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 First Descents: Kayaking intense focus and ability to forget some It was a very powerful moment when I of the headaches of day-to-day life and realized what was happening. Camp for Cancer Survivors giving it to someone with all too many pains and struggles: that is exactly what Paddling was definitely my personal cure By Brock Royer First Descents Kayak Camp does. for cancer (read my story on page 56). Even when I couldn’t be on the water, the What do you think about when you hear Three years ago I saw , First memories, videos, magazines and Internet the words “first descent?” Paddling into Descents’ founder, talking about the camp. whitewater community helped the hard uncharted territory, hucking yourself It sounded like a great idea. Cancer has times pass by easier. Below are some of into or off of something that has never affected my life ever since I was young. the things that campers and their families been done in a hard-shell kayak? Yup, me My grandmother and brother had both have to say about First Descents and how too! At least I used to, up until a few years had battles with cancer before I was even it helped them deal with cancer. ago when I learned about this great little in high school. So, once I learned what the camp with not so ordinary campers: First camp was all about, I was hooked! After Descents, a kayak camp for young adults writing a few articles about First Descents with cancer. and doing some fundraising for the camp, First Person Perspectives I set up a trip to Vail, Colorado to check it on First Descents It has always amazed me to see how people out for myself. It didn’t take long for me react when they first try kayaking. I’ll bet to see the effects whitewater kayaking had By Elizabeth “2-Tall” Brooks paddlers—from the average Ocoee boater on the campers. I am constantly amazed to those seeking out and running first and impressed at how jumping in a I was very excited to meet and talk to the descents—will tell you they feel the most kayak can change someone’s outlook on other campers at First Descents because I alive and furthest from their daily worries life—even if it’s just for one week. Water had never had much contact with cancer when they’re out on the river. Whether it is is powerful not only in the flood altering, survivors that are close to my age. There is the Nantahala, Youghiogheny, American, rock eroding, landscaping changing kind an instant bonding between the campers or some other river, it doesn’t matter; we of way, but also in the way it affects human because we can all understand exactly use paddling as an escape, as something to experience. We had a terminally ill camper what it is like to go through treatment look forward to. Reading river descriptions this year. She was in constant pain and for cancer. That is something that even on the American Whitewater webpage, always tired. But she never said she was our closest friends and family members chatting on Boatertalk, constantly hurting when she was on the water. The cannot completely comprehend, no researching and figuring out what gear we concentration, the view and the heartbeat matter how hard they try. want to try; some days you wonder what of the river somehow set her free. Her you did with your time before you got into illness stayed on dry land, at the put-in, The atmosphere at First Descents is very paddling! Now imagine taking that same while she paddled away downstream. laid back. The counselors aren’t there

30 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 31 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 The whole crew from camp Satori (each camp gets a unique name), July of 2004

Photo by Katey Royer

to enforce rules; they’re just there to learned, through the force of the river, that have fun with the campers and help us you can’t control everything. accomplish our goals. The campers and staff are one big, happy family. Everyone The First Descent staff and the experience supports and encourages each other, and of the camp (especially the kayaking) gave no one is allowed to give up. This support Bryan and our family a chance to step system extends beyond the week of camp. back from the cancer. We came away with When I relapsed after camp last year, every wonderful friendships and a longing to e-mail and phone call I received from give back. Bryan’s dream was to become my First Descents family helped me get a volunteer for First Descents—to work through the tough days of chemotherapy side by side with the people who had and radiation. helped him and to guide new campers on the river. As cancer survivors, campers at First Descents bear the mental and physical Bryan’s journey on earth ended before scars of battle. Some of us may not be able he could fulfill his dream. As a family we to run or even walk without assistance, but have tried to carry on Bryan’s dream. For in our kayaks we can experience the same the past couple of years we have raised mobility as anybody else. Kayaking allows money and volunteered our time for First us to take responsibility for ourselves and Descents so others could experience the make our own decisions, and it raises our river as Bryan did. self-confidence. We learn to face our fears and focus on our goals by “taking it one First Descents has become a part of our paddle at a time.” By the last day on the family. We love and support them as they river, we know that we can do anything we loved and supported Bryan. set our minds to. As Bryan would say, “Rock On.” The new mind-set and perspective that I took away from First Descents helped me face the fear that had been in the back of By Thatcher “Thachamo” Bean my mind since I was first diagnosed: What if it won’t go away and keeps coming One of the First Descents campers was once back? It would have been much harder asked whether camp was Christian-based. for me to get through treatment again The somewhat flustered camper thought without my new experiences. Step by step for a second and then answered, “Camp I made it through more chemotherapy, isn’t based on Catholicism, Buddhism or radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. Judaism—it’s more about Camp-ism.” I beat cancer again. With that mission The camper’s nickname was Checkers accomplished, I could plan for the summer because of her checkered prosthetic leg. days ahead, when I would be back on the She was one of the first campers I met river, at First Descents, where everything when I attended First Descents for the first feels right. time, two years ago. Like Checkers and all of the other campers at First Descents, I am a cancer survivor. By: The McKenna Family (Judy, Matthew, Shannon, Cullen, Darien & Bryan) When my mom told me about a kayak camp for young adults with cancer, I Bryan was 18 years old when he had the pictured leisurely paddling around a lake privilege of going to First Descents. At or pond, talking and fishing. Once I arrived the time he was new to all of this cancer at First Descents, I quickly realized that I stuff. The camp gave Bryan a chance to was in for an extraordinary week. As soon hang out with young adults with whom as I stepped out of the car, I heard Brad he had things in common. Bryan was not Ludden, the founder of First Descents, fond of the water, but learned to kayak yell, “CAAMMPPPERRSSS!!!” That was and appreciate the beauty in the river. He followed with a big enthusiastic high five.

30 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 31 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Brad and Corey started First Descents other campers possessed when challenged In between all of the boating, the campers and are both insanely talented kayakers with a physically trying experience. and I would swap stories and pour our who carry aspects of their hearts out about our disease. The best into most parts of their daily lives. “Camp We had a blast playing water polo in our support you can receive when going wouldn’t be camp without campers!!” was boats the next day. This not only improved through a disease like cancer comes from one of Brad and Corey’s many mottoes our paddling skills, but also strengthened someone who has gone through the same that the campers would join in yelling at the bond that was forming between the thing. When a friend would say, “I am random times. campers. The third day of camp was our really scared about a surgery I have to have first river day. Encouraged by all of the in a month,” a wave of encouragement After the other 15 campers and I got fitted counselors and confident in our skills, would flood out from other kids who into our kayaks and received our gear, we we embarked on our first descent. This could relate to the exact feelings this friend spent the rest of the day playing volleyball was one of the scariest most intense was having. One of the most comforting and kicking around a soccer ball to get to experiences of my life. After exiting the things said was, “If you could take on that know each other. That night we had our first rapid my heart sank into my stomach river yesterday you can take on whatever first campfire. This was a time to outline and forced a howl out of my mouth. It was cancer throws your way.” the coming day, but more importantly it INCREDIBLE! The other campers and was a time to joke around and have some I were blown away. The only things you Before the last river day Brad and Corey laughs. The next day we learned various could hear around the campfire that night both shared their own stories that not only paddling strokes but most importantly was, “You whooped that rapid!” or “Soup- gave all of us courage but also pumped us how to wet exit, a skill that I mastered a-Loop, you paddled so well you make up for the river ahead of us. The river was from tons of experience. This was when I Brad look like a little girl in a ducky!” (or, not only intense but was therapeutic. The first started to notice the extreme tenacity, in my case, “Thatchmo, you swim like feeling you get after navigating a rapid bravery, and positive attitude that all of the a champ!!”). gives you a positive rush. It was a reminder

32 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 33 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 to all of us that we can beat anything; we may have not known were there. Upon arrival at First Descents, everyone felt on top of the world. was given a nickname. I was famously I will never be able to show my called Ms. Ippi, because of my strong One of the most unique and incredible appreciation to the kids and counselors southern accent. We called each other things that First Descents does is leave of First Descents’ and I can only hope that by nicknames throughout the week at behind the permanent legacy of every everyone may be able to experience some camp. When we finally got to camp after camper that fought bravely, but did not part of the First Descents experience. being picked up at the Denver airport, I win their fight with cancer. That night, Whether it’s through volunteering, could not believe how beautiful it was. after our final campfire, we all shared a donations or attending camp, everyone It just completely took my breath away. ceremony that is very close to my heart should try to get their hands on some The camp itself is at an elevation of 9,000 that I can’t describe in words. It reminds “Camp-ism.” ft., so you can see the Rocky Mountains us of those who fought against cancer, and for miles. To me, Vail Colorado is one of conquered a week of kayaking, so bravely. the most beautiful places on earth. The By: Lindsay Harwell (“Ms. Ippi”) camp director described the place as the After camp was over, I realized that I epitome of peace and serenity; I think he had just experienced one of the most My experience at First Descents was was right. extremely challenging, fun, and emotional unlike any other. I made some amazing adventures of my entire life. Camp showed friendships, learned how to kayak, got to To me, the best thing about First Descents me that there are so many parallels that can experience white-water rafting, and rock is just meeting other teens who can be drawn between cancer and kayaking. and, above all, I made memories relate to you. It’s very comforting to have Both can be scary, trying, and challenging, that I will cherish forever. Never in my someone know where you’re coming from, while at the same time they both can bring wildest dreams did I imagine how one and what you have been through, because out incredible things in a person that they week could change my life. they have been in the same boat. Although

32 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 33 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 the majority of campers are in remission, because it fi t my girly personality. I have to awesome experience for me. We did a including myself, it’s amazing to see how admit, that fi rst time on the water I was a pretty gnarly run called Shoshone. It had strong and positive the people are who are little bit scared of my kayak. “If it fl ips over, Class III rapids, which are really big for still battling the horrible disease. Having will I be able to get out,” I wondered. Brad fi rst timers like me. I can still remember cancer gives you a whole new outlook Ludden, professional kayaker and founder the names of the rapids like Man-eater, on life. of First Descents, reassured me that I Tombstone, and The Wall. My heart would would be underwater for no more than start pounding in my chest when I would Independence is key at First Descents. 10 seconds. With that said, I sucked in my see an upcoming rapid, but as soon as we They don’t baby you, or tell you what to fears and successfully completed my fi rst dropped in, the anxiety left and adrenaline do. They let you decide your own limits, wet exit. Each day on the water I got more kicked in. I completely loved it! It was and encourage you along the way. This is confi dent. As we went out on the Colorado unlike anything I have ever done before. one thing that was different about First River, I remember wanting bigger rapids Descents than any other camp I have been and longer routes. We also got to experience . to. They treat you like adults, which is very I never knew this sport required so much important to me. Every night there was a huge campfi re. teamwork. Belay on! We learned all of the This was also a favorite time of mine. We commands, and strapped on our climbing On the fi rst day, everyone got fi tted for had people playing guitar, singing, and gear. Of course, I took the hardest route their kayaking gear and got to pick out even dancing. Everyone just hung out and because I like a challenge. I never thought I their own kayak. I picked a purple one, talked about their experiences that day, would make it to the top, but when I fi nally and the plans for tomorrow. got there it was all worth it: the view was amazing! I was so proud of myself because The third day at camp we got to go I had accomplished something great. A First Descents group water shot whitewater rafting. This was such an

Photo by Katey Royer

34 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org March/April 2006 34 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org March/April 2006

Cheoah River Celebration that American Whitewater is currently on these rivers that before were only working on in the Southeast and beyond. guaranteed on “a good word.” As well, By Kevin Colburn The dinner will feature Leland Davis, recreational releases on the West Fork of southeastern boating legend and author of the Tuck and Upper Nantahala are slated In the fall of 2005, paddlers from North Carolina Rivers & Creeks, as the key to begin in 2007. around the Southeast converged on the note speaker. small North Carolina mountain town • Appealing the Chattooga Headwaters of Robbinsville to paddle the very first Somebody once said, “Freedom is Boating Ban - After reviewing the boating releases on the Cheoah River. American never free!” and for the Cheoah River ban on the Headwaters of the Chattooga, Whitewater began its work on the Cheoah this certainly holds true. American the National Chief of the USFS determined in 2000 and now, six years later, we will Whitewater has invested over $28,000 the ban was unwarranted. While the have a full release schedule of 18 days for on Cheoah Project in staff time alone; river remains temporarily closed, AW is the river. this doesn’t even take into account the working hard to open the river to boating work of Canoe Clubs, AW volunteers or based on the Chief’s decision. American Whitewater invites you to support from outfitters. The goal of the come celebrate the rebirth of a future Cheoah River Revival Fundraising Dinner • Releases on the Catawba River - Thanks southeastern whitewater classic, the is to repay AW some of this $28,000 so to extensive negotiations with Duke Power Cheoah River. To celebrate the revival we can continue our work on projects and a number of flow studies, paddlers of this Class III-IV big water run, AW is throughout the country including these will hopefully soon have recreational hosting a fundraising dinner and party southeastern projects: releases in the Great Falls section of the at Tapoco Lodge on the banks of the Catawba River. Cheoah on April 8th, 2006. The event • Guaranteed Releases on the Tuckaseegee will celebrate AW’s work on the Cheoah and Nantahala, and improved access • Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic and help raise funds for the other projects - AW has negotiated guaranteed releases Designation - AW has worked with the

40 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 41 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 USFS to protect and mange the newest Wild and Scenic River in the South, Wilson Creek. As a result, Wilson Creek will always be a paddling destination of the highest quality.

Cheoah River Revival Fundraising Dinner The event will be held at Tapoco Lodge on April 8th, 2006, cocktail hour will begin at 6:00 and dinner will be served at 7:00. Tapoco Lodge is limited to approx. 80 people so please RSVP early to ensure that you and your friends are part of this memorable night. Tickets for this fundraising event are $100 and can be purchased by calling AW’s offi ce in Cullowhee, NC at (828) 293-9791. All reservations must be made by March 20th; no tickets will be sold the day of the event. The evening includes a full dinner and dessert and admission to the after- dinner party.

40 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 41 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Who is Leland Davis? Cheoah River Revival Party

When choosing a speaker for this event, of years, except for summer breaks which Following the fundraising dinner, an it didn’t take us long to think of the he still spent running the high adventure after party will take place at Tapoco best person for the job. Leland Davis is and paddling programs back at Camp Lodge featuring live music from Big City southeastern boating—in fact, he wrote Arrowhead. In 1999 he found work in the Sunrise. Tickets can be purchased for the book on it. We are very excited to have paddling industry, working as a graphic this at the event for $5 per person. Stay Leland honor us with his presence. designer, computer nerd, warranty guy, tuned for more information about the tech rep, or anything else that was needed Revival Party. Leland Davis fi rst paddled in a tandem by a variety of companies over the next canoe on North Carolina’s Lower Green few years. Most recently, Leland and his River at Camp Arrowhead in 1982. He girlfriend Andria Baldovin have started got into canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, their own publishing company, Brushy rock climbing, and skiing more through Mountain Publishing, which makes and the Outdoor Education Program at his distributes their products, including high school, traveling to paddle and play Andria’s Yoga for Paddlers DVDs and on weekends and school holidays. After a Leland’s new paddling guidebook, North short stint as a rock climber in Colorado, he Carolina Rivers & Creeks. This spring, they moved to Asheville in 1993 and enrolled in are continuing their love for teaching and UNC-Asheville, where he co-founded the paddling by offering their second series of paddling club with AW’s Kevin Colburn. creek boating clinics. Check out Leland’s After graduating from UNCA in 1997 website at www.nccreeks.com! Leland Davis running Sunshine on the with a degree in environmental science, Green River, NC

Leland hit the rivers full time for a couple Photo by Ben Edson / downstreamphoto.com

42 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 43 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Dam Owner Goes After the Clean Water Act

By Thomas O’Keefe

In most states a utility must obtain state This spring, however, the Supreme Court water quality certifi cation to operate will hear a new challenge to the rights a hydro project. This state authority of states to impose conditions on hydro is recognized through section 401 of projects that impact rivers. The case was the Clean Water Act. State certifi cation brought before the Court by SD Warren, a through section 401 has obviously had South African Paper Company that owns a signifi cant benefi t for AW’s successful fi ve dams on Maine’s Presumpscot River. hydro program by formally recognizing A state derives its authority to regulate the legal basis for restoring rivers and water quality at hydro projects because necessary fl ows for the benefi t of fi sh and courts have widely interpreted water recreational users. A previous case from released from a project to be a “” the Dosewallips River, a great whitewater under the Clean Water Act. This specifi c run in Washington State, was heard before question—“Is water released from a the Supreme Court in 1994, which set this dam a discharge?”—has not been ruled important precedent. on by the US Supreme Court. American Whitewater took a leadership role in In that case, known as the Tacoma developing the NGO brief with members Decision, Justice O’Connor wrote in the of the Hydropower Reform Coalition majority opinion: “In many cases, water that clearly describes the impacts of quantity is closely related to water quality; dams on water quality and the benefi ts a suffi cient lowering of the water quantity that can be gained by modernizing in a could destroy all of its hydro operations to restore elements of designated uses, be it for drinking water, a natural fl ow regime. Additional briefs recreation, navigation or, as here, as a in support of our position were fi led by fi shery. In any event, there is recognition the Bush Administration, state attorney in the Clean Water Act itself that reduced generals from 35 states, scientists, tribes, fl ow, i.e., diminishment of water fi sh conservation and sport fi shing quantity, can constitute water pollution.” organizations, and others. Oral arguments took place on February 21st and we expect a ruling later this year.

42 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 43 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 ������������������������������������������

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46 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 47 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 By Thomas O’Keefe

Paddlers have had their eyes on relicensing the hydro project on the Sultan River, a major of the Skykomish, for more than a decade. Just an hour from downtown Seattle, the project bypass reach runs through a dozen miles of scenic gorge with majestic old-growth forest and a great mix of Class III and IV whitewater. Shortly after American Whitewater launched a national hydro program in the early 1990s Rich Bowers paid a visit to the project to discuss opportunities for whitewater recreation. While the project received its original license in 1961 it was not constructed until 1982. The Sultan thus represents one of those rare projects with documented usage prior to project construction by whitewater paddlers who pioneered the run in the 1970s. Rich’s request for an evaluation of whitewater resources at the project was denied as the utility embarked on an ambitious effort to promote recreation on the project reservoir and chose to ignore the opportunities that once existed in the remote wilderness gorge downstream.

In December of 2005, the Snohomish PUD filed their Notice of Intent to relicense the Jackson Hydro Project, and with it comes a new opportunity to formally evaluate whitewater recreation. While formal studies of whitewater resources and all other aspects of the project will take place over the next couple years, AW was informed of an opportunity for boating the river the week of December 12th as part of equipment testing that was scheduled. While the testing took place, the PUD initiated a rare release from Culmback Dam restoring 650 cfs to the bypass reach, which proved to be a level adequate for navigation (optimal flows remain to be determined). Paddlers had to hike in over a washed-out road and down an informal miner’s trail into the gorge and faced the challenge of safely navigating the 12 miles of whitewater on a short winter day. Despite these challenges and the fact that the release was scheduled on short notice over the work week, there were 38 recorded runs of the gorge.

A big thanks to Andy Bridge and Werner Paddlers for their commitment to this project, and also to the PUD for notifying paddlers of the opportunity to get out on the water.

46 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 47 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Colorado Water the County’s economy from commercial recognizes the legitimacy of RICD water Rights Battle rafting and fishing, private boaters and rights but places limitations on who can kayakers. To keep these whitewater parks apply for an RICD and how much water By Kevin Natapow alive, the majority of these towns sought can be allocated for a given park. court decreed water rights for their parks. Since the late 1990s, several Colorado These water rights, known as Recreational Even though Senate Bill 216 sought to towns have developed whitewater kayak In-channel Diversions (RICD’s), act to clarify the law regarding recreational parks along their stretches of local rivers guarantee adequate flows in the river and water rights, legislators, ranchers, for recreational purposes. The success many of these towns have won subsequent environmentalists, recreationists, farmers, of these parks has contributed greatly to court cases demonstrating that their water and many others are still fighting over the state’s fast-growing tourism industry rights were within the bounds of Colorado how to appropriate Colorado’s precious and the economic prosperity of many water law and that the water was being water resources for recreational purposes. communities. With out-of-state tourism put to “beneficial” use as required under The underlying fear is that in-stream now a $7 billion-a-year economic pillar state law. diversions are going to stop future growth of Colorado’s economy, whitewater parks and development as rivers flow out of state continue to contribute significantly to Although these parks have been hugely and that these recreational water rights Colorado’s economy and quality of life. successful and within the bounds of could hurt existing users. The reality is For example, the city of Golden estimates Colorado water law, the Colorado General that there is little threat of Colorado losing that its recreational water park brings Assembly in 2001 passed Senate Bill 216 in its irrigation and drinking water because in $1.4 million to $2 million annually, an attempt to clarify the laws and processes of recreational water use. Furthermore, and according to Jerry Mallett, Chaffee as to who could apply for the rights and for during times of drought, recreational County Commissioner, the Arkansas River how much water could be appropriated water decrees would be among the last to contributes over $80 million annually to for an RICD water right. Senate Bill 216 get water, because their water rights are

48 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 49 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 the newest in Colorado’s priority system. This year Senator Jim Isgar (D-Hesperus) and Representative Kathleen Curry (D- Last year, Colorado legislators tried to pass Gunnison) have co-sponsored Senate Bill an even more restrictive bill than Senate 37. The new bill is an improvement over Bill 216, but a coalition of over 75 local last year’s version but still has some major governments, businesses, and recreational issues that need to be worked out if the and conservation organizations opposed broader community is to endorse it. The the bill. Senate Bill 62 sought to put conservation community and its many severe and unnecessary limitations on allies from the senate Bill 62 fi ght are recreational water rights and would have gearing up for another statewide campaign had serious implications for whitewater to get the necessary amendments into recreation throughout Colorado. The this bill that will allow for the continued restrictions that were proposed in development of whitewater parks and the bill would have eliminated local the necessary water rights to make jobs dependent on the river, and rural them viable. communities and Colorado’s tourism would have suffered the consequences. Stay tuned for updates and information on Fortunately, the broad coalition was able how you can get involved in the campaign to defeat Senate Bill 62 but that victory to protect recreational water rights and the only set the stage for another legislative future of Colorado’s whitewater parks. battle in 2006.

The Golden Park in Colorado

Photo by Dunbar Hardy

48 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 49 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 AW Works to Secure Access October 2005. Participants of the study flow schedule for the Upper North Fork On Bald Rock Canyon stated that the Golden Trout run was Feather River in 2004 after three years of considered to be one of the prettiest Class intense negotiation. This flow schedule By Dave Steindorf III runs in the state. The Forbes Town included releases one weekend per reach was a challenging Class V run which month from July through October on the As part of the Lake Oroville Project culminates in several bedrock rapids, Class III Belden Reach and one release relicensing, American Whitewater is including a 20-footer dubbed “Pineapple per year on the Class V Seneca reach. working to secure access for the Bald Train Wreck” by the participants of this In November, FERC issued their final Rock Canyon run of the Middle Fork of first ascent. AW volunteer Eric Petlock will environmental impact statement for the the Feather River, and the Big Bend run of be leading the charge on the South Fork Upper North Fork Feather; unfortunately, the North Fork of the Feather. Bald Rock Feather. Look for an upcoming article in this document delays the schedule for Canyon is a world-class run that has been the AW Journal. Your support can help six years. Signatories to the agreement, visited by paddlers from all over the world. make this great run a reality. including AW, Plumas County, the US Over the past two decades most paddlers Forest Service and PG&E, all responded on Bald Rock have taken out on a friendly to FERC that the flow schedule should landowner’s property, known as Wayne’s Access on Piru Creek be implemented as per the settlement Place. A potential sale of this property agreement. FERC should take notice would likely eliminate this access; the By Dave Steindorf of this impressive show of unity. The other take-out option requires a 13-mile settlement process is where the sides AW volunteer Kris Schmidt, along with paddle out on Lake Oroville. The Big Bend work out differences and come up with an AW staff, filed comments with FERC to run is a dry-year classic that is uncovered agreement that everyone can all live with; provide access to this Class II/III reach. when Lake Oroville drops below 730 feet. it is detrimental to this process for FERC Less than two hours from Los Angeles, The major drawback to this Class III+ run to substantially change these agreements Piru Creek can provide a significant is the two-hour paddle out at the end of after the fact. We would like to thank the opportunity for Southern California the day. AW is in the process of negotiating many AW members who filed comments paddlers. a shuttle service on the lake that would along with AW to let FERC know that they provide access to both of these runs. have made a huge mistake. Maintaining access to classic runs such Supporting Fish and Flows as these has been a critical part of AW’s work here. We are also continuing to work on the San Joaquin toward the development of a whitewater Merrimack (NH) and NF park on the Oroville Project. A feasibility By Dave Steindorf Feather (CA) Could Set study will be conducted after reaching settlement early in 2006. AW needs your AW continues to work with sate and National River Policy help to make our negotiating goals a federal agencies to restore a more natural reality on the Oroville Project. flow regime on the San Joaquin River. It By Kevin Colburn is our goal on the San Joaquin to create new flow conditions for these projects that The new Energy Policy Act limits the New Pearl in the will benefit both the aquatic ecosystem ability of resource agencies like the Forest Lost Sierra and paddlers. AW staff and key volunteer Service and Fish and Wildlife Service to Paul Martzen continue to push Southern require dam owners to restore flows and By Dave Steindorf California Edison to accept a flow regime fish passage at their dams. The agencies that will balance the needs of hydro have decided to let the first few cases AW staff and volunteers participated power, ecosystem protection, as well as decide how the Act will be implemented, in three whitewater flow studies on the whitewater recreation. and AW is formally involved in over half South Fork Feather River, the newest gem of these test cases. Working closely with of California whitewater. The Little Grass the Natural Heritage Institute, American Valley reach flow study was conducted FERC Attempts to Delay Rivers, and other members of the in September 2005. This reach is eight Hydropower Reform Coalition, we used miles long and is a spectacular Class IV/V Flows on the Upper North our formal status to participate in several run. Best of all, this reach runs every fall Fork Feather of these important cases. We focused from September through November. Two our efforts on two projects: California’s North Fork Feather and New Hampshire’s other reaches, including the Class III By Dave Steindorf Golden Trout run and the Class V Forbes Merrimack River. We expect that these Town run, had flow studies conducted in projects will set the national policy AW reached settlement on a whitewater for how the Energy Policy Act will be

50 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 51 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 implemented. Hopefully our participation stakeholders regarding the operation willing to spend a day cleaning up one of will ensure that the Act is implemented of several dams on the Catawba River. their favorite runs. Check the AW website in a responsible manner that maintains Sometime this summer we hope to sign for more information. agency authority to protect rivers. a settlement agreement on the Catawba. Preliminary drafts offer signifi cant new recreational opportunities on over 50 miles of the Catawba River ranging from Upper Yough Negotiations Nanty and Tuck Dam fl atwater fl oats to low country Class III+. Look Promising Licenses Delayed Flowing near major metropolitan areas in North Carolina and South Carolina, By Kevin Colburn By Kevin Colburn the Catawba has the chance to become a protected and accessible paddling resource Maryland’s Upper Yough is a classic by In the fall of 2003, AW signed a settlement for many people. AW staff will continue to any standard. A diverse group of local agreement with Duke Power and dozens assist Andrew and Maurice, and together and regional paddlers have been working of other stakeholders regarding multiple we hope to close the deal this year! to improve the operation of the dam dams on the Nantahala and Tuckasegee that provides releases on the Upper Rivers (NC). Typically, FERC accepts Yough. As part of a state dam relicensing such agreements, with minor changes process, the team has been advocating when justifi ed, and issues new 30-50 Whitewater Rivers Need for enhanced whitewater opportunities year licenses for the dams. We expected More Cleanup Crews through additional releases and better these licenses by February, but it now fl ow information. At the same time, we appears the licenses will be delayed for By Kevin Colburn are working with other stakeholders to an undetermined amount of time. The improve fi shing access, water temperature, culprits behind the delay are several River cleanups are the perfect way for and even power generation revenues. AW local counties, municipalities, and land boaters to give something back to the rivers has been working closely with this team owners who have sought to torpedo the they paddle. AW has a goal of signifi cantly and we are excited about the potential for settlement agreement with legal threats increasing the number of whitewater rivers improved river management that benefi ts and outlandish requests for cash, land, that are the target of formal river cleanups everyone involved. and even a dam. While their requests have in 2006. River cleanups are a great way no merit whatsoever, FERC has apparently to show local communities that we are decided to analyze their proposal. willing to work hard to protect rivers and Unfortunately, this means that releases can make a huge difference in the scenic on the West Fork of the Tuckasegee and and ecological values of a whitewater run. the Upper Nantahala will be delayed until Please consider making 2006 the year you 2007, or possibly even longer. We remain organize or participate in a river cleanup! committed to our settlement agreement, AW is working the National River Cleanup and along with our many friends in the Week® to track the role of paddlers in region will be advocating for its full cleanups this year, and to extend the acceptance by FERC throughout 2006. offer of great prizes and perks to paddlers

Catawba Grand Finale on the Way

By Kevin Colburn

There are two people that should never have to run their own shuttle on the Catawba River: Andrew Lazenby and Maurice Blackburn. Andrew (AW volunteer) and Maurice (Carolina Canoe Club) have been working tirelessly for more than three years to work out an agreement with Duke Power and other

50 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 51 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 My Lapland Adventure abounded. However, due to the high water nylon tarp and bid Allen farewell. As we levels, the fishing would not be tops during paddled into the middle of the river the By Michael Moran our visit. As for the river itself, only several current carried us quickly downstream. weeks earlier it had been choked with ice Allen’s words spoken earlier in the day From the time I was a boy, I have listened flows. The fine weather we now enjoyed echoed in my head: “What doesn’t kill you to my dad recount his youthful exploits hastened the snow melt in the highland will make you stronger!” of fishing and canoeing in the Yukon areas to the north. The river was now high Territory of Canada, and I have always and fast! We spent the remainder of the Our first challenge was to pass the wanted to experience the same. My dad day preparing for our week on the river. Kurakallinka Rapids, which lay about four agreed that this year, after completion of kilometers downstream. Normally it was my 1st year of university, we would go on The following morning we tested the rated Class III, but due to the high water a wilderness adventure. As we are now canoes. We decided that the best choice level it was now given a higher rating. living in Greece, the Yukon was too far, so would be a 17’ fiberglass canoe that was We first heard it as we paddled along a we decided on northern instead. strong and stable. Later in the day we deceptively calm and flat section of river After doing our homework, we decided headed for the Taanikurkkio Canyon, a where waterfowl fished in the quiet, swift that the Lainio River, 300 km north of the Class IV rapid where the river ran through current. It was about a quarter of an hour Arctic Circle, would be our destination. a narrow defile. As we approached the later when we caught our first glimpse canyon on foot we heard a roar which of the rapids. As they came into view We arrived in Stockholm and spent the became louder and louder. The reason we pulled over to the shore to check the night in town with friends. We departed was soon clear. There was whitewater up map. My dad called out the rapid classes early the next morning for , a and downstream as far as the eye could following the Kurakallinka; a Class II mining town an hour and a half flight see. The water boiled furiously where rapid, then a Class I, II, I, II and a Class III north of the capital. Allen, our guide from rocks on the riverbed blocked its progress. rapid all in quick succession. We decided Camp Tystnaden, was there to take us to We stopped and stared from the safety that the left bank of the river would be the the camp some 150 km northeast. “Steve of the high river bank. Huge, churning best side to pull ourselves to shore should and Michael,” he called out in his friendly waves and deep holes in the water made an upset occur. The next village, Soppero, manner, “are you ready to begin your the section look impossible to pass in a was located 40 km downstream on that Lapland adventure?” We were. canoe. I wondered if we would encounter side. Before setting off, we surveyed the anything similar upstream! river and agreed that the path down During the trip to Camp Tystnaden, the middle of the river looked the most which means “silence” in Swedish, we Around noon the next day, Allen, my dad favorable with whitewater churning all passed through low mountain country and I set off for the starting point of our around for more than 200 meters ahead. surrounding the town of Kiruna. The canoe journey, 150 km northwest of the trip went through spruce and birch taiga camp. On the way there, Allen answered Without further hesitation we paddled forests punctuated by streams and lakes. our remaining questions about the river. into the middle of the river, feeling the While driving, Allen told us about the As we drove north, the conifer forest force of the current take us like a charging wildlife, fishing and the river. The area gave way to tundra—a barren, treeless locomotive. Here, even the strongest was teeming with reindeer and moose land occasionally interspersed with paddling caused only a slight change in and bears were not uncommon sights. At scrub birch and punctuated by ancient, direction. I was enjoying the excitement Vittangi we crossed the wide and slow- weathered hills. of the rolling river. About 50 meters into moving River; our appetite to be on the rapids I looked ahead and noticed a the river grew! After about half an hour on a dirt road that bulge in the water. “Dad,” I yelled, “Look seemed to run across the top of the world, out! A huge boulder!” Before I could finish A short time later we arrived at the camp. we crossed the Lainio River at Jarkaståkka speaking we were pushed over the boulder We were the first visitors of the summer Bridge, where the water seemed a lot and then descended down a steep slope season and we had a small log cabin to livelier than it had at the camp! It was of water into a deep churning sink hole, ourselves on the bank of the swollen narrow, but navigable. A good place to previously blocked from our sight by the Lainio River. The fishing was normally start, I thought. We loaded our gear into bulge created by the submerged boulder. A superb at this time of year; pike, perch, the canoe, tied everything down with a wall of freezing whitewater hit me with its trout, salmon, arctic char and grayling

52 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 53 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 full force straight on, swamping the front to the right. The current showed no signs of the canoe and stopping its forward of abating and waves of ice cold water motion. The stern of the canoe, however, Taanikurkkio Canyon, high water makes this a very crashed over me and down my throat. challenging rapid to navigate in a canoe kept moving ahead and we were now The canoe was now nearly completely

perpendicular to the current, traveling Photos by Steve Moran flooded and very heavy. The left shore sideways down the river. The next was approaching and I knew that this was massive wave struck the canoe broadside, our last chance to reach safety before the it and sending us flying into the river straightened and turned again. “To ice-cold torrent! the left! To the left shore!” I shouted. My dad was showing little sign of movement, I grabbed onto the canoe, still clutching my numbed by the near-freezing river. It paddle in one hand. I looked downstream would take our combined effort, however, and saw my dad bobbing like a cork to reach shore. “Kick!” I howled, “KICK!!!” through the rapids. He turned, waving an Suddenly revived, my dad started to focus arm to indicate that he was uninjured. As I every last bit of his energy on reaching charged ahead, still attached to the racing the shore and kicked anew. Soon we were canoe and trying to catch up with my dad, touching the river bed, but the water was a submerged rock slammed against my still too deep and fast for solid footing. lower body. I adjusted my position so that Eventually we pushed and pulled our my feet and legs could buffet my body from The best part about canoeing the Laminio River is battered bodies and inundated canoe boulders sitting just below the water level. the fishing, which is absolutely superb. We had fish closer to shore. Finally we could stand up. for breakfast every day. Doing this, however, meant temporarily We had reached safety at last. letting go of the canoe, and it was soon out of reach, rushing downstream. “Dad,” Relieved, we pulled into a back eddy. I screamed as loud as I could, trying to be We safely secured the canoe to a scrub heard above the roar of the thundering willow growing on the river bank and waves, “get to the canoe!” immediately set about our work, for the ordeal wasn’t over yet. With the exception My dad inched his way through the of the tent and sleeping bags, which unrelenting current to intercept the canoe. had been packed in a watertight barrel, With not a moment to spare he lunged everything we had in the canoe had been and reached the stern of our now-flooded completely soaked. There were, however, craft. Driven by the current, I somehow a number of things to feel grateful for: managed to meet up with him and the the sun was shining brightly, none of canoe. By this time we had been in the our belongings had been washed away water for at least 5 minutes. The cold was Relieved to be back in civilization after our river and most importantly, we had come to starting to numb my legs and arms. We advenuture, we relaxed by fishing on the banks of the shore next to an ideal campsite—a sunny, held on to the canoe for a few moments, Lainio about 3 km downstream of the camp. low bluff overlooking the river. While I exhausted by our exertions and relieved unloaded the grounded canoe, my dad that we were able to retrieve it and be quickly started a fire from the ample scrub supported by its buoyancy. I realized, birch surrounding our camp. We pitched however, that we would not survive much our tent, stretched the lines to dry our gear longer in the freezing water. The river was and prepared supper: reindeer steaks and turning to the left, propelling us closer tortellini with tomato sauce. I think it was to the right shore. “We have to get to the the best meal of my life! right bank!” I shouted. As we kicked and pulled desperately to bring the canoe to That evening around the campfire my shore, the river straightened, bringing us dad and I discussed the day’s events. We once again to the middle. The river was This photo was taken aroun midnight. At this time of planned how we would continue without changing course again, this time turning year, the sun never goes below the h orizon.

52 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 53 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 the maps that were torn from inside my out to secure the canoe, the current took again. We loaded the gear into his jeep dad’s shirt during our ordeal in the river. the stern, carrying it out toward the middle and returned to camp. When we had We agreed that it was better to walk along of the river. The canoe was now going requested that the river maps be faxed to the shore, even in waist-deep water and downstream backward toward the next set us, he suspected that we had upset on the roping the canoe past diffi cult rapids, than of rapids! “Paddle right, paddle right!” my river. He was relieved that everything had to risk another upset in which we might dad shouted as he furiously back paddled turned out as well as it had. not be so lucky. on the left. Slowly, the canoe turned sideways before eventually straightening For the remainder of our time in Lapland It was well after midnight when we hit out, allowing us to pull successfully into we chose a lake-stream-river course that the sleeping bags and the sun was still shore only moments before entering the was mainly devoid of turbulent whitewater, shining brightly. In northern Lapland, next set of rapids. allowing us to navigate quietly through the sun doesn’t set between the end of unspoiled wilderness for several days. We May and the end of July. Instead it circles That afternoon we arrived in Soppero. sighted a moose and its calf grazing at the around the sky and dips down around the There, we telephoned the camp and water’s edge. We observed reindeer and northern horizon at midnight where it requested that the maps for the remainder waterfowl and had ample time to catch all hovers for several hours before beginning of the river be faxed to us. We examined the pike and perch needed for breakfast, its ascent again. In full daylight we fell into them closely. Of the remaining 40km to lunch and dinner! The rest of the trip was a deep sleep. When we awoke we dug into camp, 20km of Class III, II and even IV spent in near perfect weather. We were a hearty breakfast of fried potatoes and rapids remained to be navigated. sad to say goodbye to the friendly people, onions with salt pork and hefty portions beautiful landscape and ruggedly peaceful of Swedish pancakes smothered in lingon My dad and I decided to end our trip at way of life that we had experienced over berry jam, all prepared over the campfi re. Nedre Soppero, 8 km downstream, just the week that we spent there. We broke camp, packed our dry gear and before the next set of violent rapids. We paddled downstream to the village of left town in the early evening, and after a I learned a lot about canoeing and Soppero. The country changed abruptly short paddle found an excellent campsite mastered my fi shing technique. Most from only scrub birch to spruce and on a high sandy bluff overlooking a fi ne importantly I had experienced a wilderness fi r interspersed with much taller birch river panorama to the north and south. adventure that few people have the chance trees. We started to see a few unoccupied After setting up camp, my dad and I tried to experience. And I now understand why primitive cabins along the river, built by our hand at fi shing. My dad caught a pike my dad so fondly recalls his youthful days the local Sami people for hunting, reindeer and I hooked a perch, which did nicely for in the Yukon. herding and fi shing. breakfast the next morning!

As we continued downstream the weather The following afternoon we met Allen remained fi ne, clear and warm. We avoided the worst of the rapids by roping the canoe through the water, along the riverbank, where my dad led while I held the line secure to the back of the canoe. We passed safely in this manner although one incident did give us a scare. In fast- fl owing sections of the river just before the beginning of rapids it is best to approach the riverbank parallel to the shore so that we could both secure the canoe as it approaches land. However, on one occasion we came into shore at a bad angle just ahead of the rapid. Before I could get

54 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 55 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 54 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 55 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Kayaking: My Cure For Cancer

by Brock Royer

I laughed when I got the call. But there I I had a sudden case of cottonmouth as I River’s journey to empty itself into was, the day after I felt the lump last March, looked at what lay ahead. Lake Superior. and I was sitting in the radiologist’s office. Mark is one of my best paddling buddies Each time Mark and I successfully run a I am 25 years old. At the time, I weighed on the planet and we were on the first creek that dumps directly into the lake, we around 185 pounds and was in the best trip of the season. Dubbed the 12 Circles do a roll in our kayaks to pay our respect shape of my life, thanks to my trainer, Ray, Expedition (a spoof of the TDUB’s Seven to the lake. It is a tradition that was taught at the local gym. The water was just about Rivers Expedition), the trip would be my to me by Mike Dziobak after a sobering ready to break free from winter’s ice hold attempt to run a dozen first descents in a paddle down the mighty Presque Isle in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and I was single weekend. On three topographical River, just a day before we lost Midwest geared up for adventure. maps I had circled each of the runs I paddling legend Jim Rada to the river intended to do, and had attached pictures just a few miles upstream (Rada, 52, died Before I had a chance to leave, the and penciled in GPS coordinates. I was of an apparent heart attack after getting radiologist’s phone rang. Dr. Kay, my determined, but in retrospect the idea was caught in a Class V hole). I have passed fiancé Katey’s boss, an oncologist, was on more than a little foolish. the tradition on to new paddlers of these the other end. All I really needed to hear creeks and I hope it continues. was him sigh before he began talking. We were standing at the lip of 75-foot That sigh told me everything and started Superior Falls on the Montreal River. It me laughing. was running somewhere around 3,000 cfs which is way beyond flood stage for What was it that prompted this reaction? that run (sane levels are between 500-800 Top Cabin section on the Upper Silver River. Did my body somehow already know cfs). The falls are the end of the Montreal the answer? Was it that my brother had Photo by Brock Royer already been diagnosed with the same type of non-genetic cancer? Maybe I saw humor in the fact that I had been raising money and volunteering for First Descents, a kayak camp for young adults with cancer.

But I think what got me laughing at that particular moment was the sigh itself. It told me that a man I knew and respected had to give me news he really would rather not. It was just too much for me to sanely grasp all at once.

The author Robert A. Heinlein wrote, “The supreme irony of life is that nobody gets out alive.” My life was now in the hands of God and my doctor. But it was on the river that I found my quest to live ….

“So, are you going to run it?” Montana Mark asked me as I took a drink of water.

56 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 57 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Brock Royer running Gorge Falls on the Black River in The north and south shores of Lake The pucker factor of this drop was just a Michigan’s Upper Penninsula Superior are unique in that there are little too big for either of us on this day. No Photo by Brandon Royer countless creeks, rivers and waterfalls that matter, though, because I was just happy dump into the lake, which were carved to be there, breathing, living and boating. out by glaciers so many years ago. If you want to hit untapped whitewater in the Two weeks had passed since my first would be standing behind 4-foot steel Lower-48, believe it or not, this is the area surgery on March 7th. I now had odd doors as they zapped me with rays and to do it. shapes drawn on my belly with a purple poked me with needles every day. I marker showing where the laser pointer wouldn’t likely feel as good as I did on the The problem with paddling in the lines up to blast me with huge amounts bank of that river for quite some time. I Superior region is the short window of of radiation. It was Friday morning and promised myself to keep smiling through time you have to catch these rivers in I was to start the first of my treatments it all as I replayed trips like this one in between suicidal and low water levels. In on Monday. my mind. a good year we have maybe five weeks, which amounts to only 10 days or so Some people breeze right through I thanked God before we shouldered our for the committed weekend warrior. We treatments without too many problems, I boats and walked around the goliath usually start with the smaller creeks, since was told. But I was also informed I could waterfall. We pledged to come back they lose their water first, and work our expect to get pretty sick. another day to be the first to run it. But I way to the bigger rivers. suddenly asked myself, “Where is God in So, as I looked upon Superior Falls, I felt all of this?” The Montreal is a middle-sized creek fortunate and cherished the moment. swollen to the flows of a decent-sized river. For the next four weeks or more, doctors Boaters in general tend not to be a very

56 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 57 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 religious bunch. Maybe it’s because we becomes totally clear; even the sound this type of water, you need to accept the deem our river trips to be soulful, even of the whitewater ceases to exist. You consequences of a missed line or a badly religious experiences, in and of themselves. are calm, collected and focused on your timed surge of water. In most cases, you I know I do. I have always had my own line. If you cannot mentally prepare are the only one that can help yourself. relationship with God that I’ve felt good yourself for running rapids of this The choices you make are yours alone and about. And throughout my cancer magnitude then you shouldn’t be there. the wrong choice can mean the difference experiences, at a time when many other between life and death. people turn to religion, I kept my same It is tough to explain to people how faith. Paddling seemed to be my cure when much kayaking spills over into my day- My first week of treatment left me sick as I was feeling down. I believe kayaking was to-day life; it was never as evident as a dog. For three days I couldn’t keep any God’s gift to help me through my trials. when I was fighting cancer. Each doctor’s food down and my weight had dropped appointment, each surgical procedure, to 170. I would lose another 15 pounds Whether I was kayaking on flat water, every checkup, I tapped into the same before rebounding. play boating or steep —it didn’t calmness and focus as when I faced a matter—the pain just seemed to subside serious rapid. That week we ran the entire upper section and I could somehow mentally prepare of Silver Creek just outside of L’Anse, myself for whatever lay ahead. When you I had more than one doctor and multiple Michigan. It had been a great weekend are running a Class V drop, your head nurses, including Katey, ask me how I spent on creeks and rivers such as the could handle everything so well. People Black, Presque Isle, and what turned out react to situations in different ways. Some to be the only run of the year on the Slate. people fight their fate and get depressed My muscles were sore, I hadn’t showered and out of sorts while other people get for a couple of days, but I felt great. angry and ask, “why me?” Others just accept the hand they’re dealt and get on What an amazing run we had on the with their lives. Silver. The water was running at a juicy flow with a constant gradient producing For whatever reason, I embraced my Class Vs, multiple Class IVs and some of misfortune. I didn’t welcome going the best scenery in the Midwest. At the through it all, but I figured the pain of crux of the run and the end of the upper this life-threatening experience would section, another piece of irony hit me. Jim make all the other times in life just that Rada was with the group that first ran much sweeter. the Upper Silver. They did it accidentally, thinking it was the Lower Silver. They Lance Armstrong said, “Surviving cancer disbelieved rumors that every rapid had teaches you the magnitude that you been run because they walked around depend on other people, not for just self two particularly dangerous looking drops. definition, but for mere existence. Cancer They weren’t about to try the section we robs you of your independence and makes found ourselves standing before. you rely on friends, family, complete strangers, doctors and nurses.” This part of the river is called The Cabin Section, after the beautiful log cabin In some ways, kayaking gave me back perched just above the first big drop. that sense of independence. Difficult The creek drops a hefty 300-plus feet per whitewater is unrelenting and unforgiving. mile here, not leaving much time to think It punishes and pushes people to their between drops. limits. It is also beautiful, awe inspiring, spiritual and alive. When choosing to run “I’m going to have to pass on this one,”

58 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 59 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Superior Falls on the Montreal River

Photo by Brock Royer

Brian, another great paddling friend For the next few minutes I was cured of of mine, yelled over the roar of the all worries, all the doctor visits and the water. Turning, he asked “What about pain that came with it all. I snapped on you, Mark?” my spray skirt and sat alone at the top of the rapid and looked down. The sound of “Nope. I’m just not feelin’ her today.” the whitewater disappeared. Calm, and focused once again, I felt alive. I knew I was ready, though, because my mind was clear. I had gone over all the lines Brock Royer, 25, of Hinckley, Illinois, taught himself in my head. My incision no longer hurt, how to kayak nine years ago with friends Brett Wiskur and Matt Winckler. He was diagnosed with testicular nor did I feel the pain from the radiation seminoma on March 5, completed his fi rst round of blasts. This is why I love kayaking; why I treatment April 27 and underwent another surgery needed kayaking at that point in my life. May 11. As of August 23rd 2005 he is offi cially in The river doesn’t care if I have cancer. It remission. Throughout all of his treatment … he never doesn’t care if you are large or small, if you stopped kayaking. are black, white, blue or green.

58 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 59 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Each day American Whitewater faces new challenges that threaten our whitewater rivers. To aid us in this fight, we rely on support from members, donors, foundations, and partners in the industry.

For the past three years, Wave Sport has a grassroots organization and have a Companies throughout the been the largest philanthropic industry significant, positive impact on the future whitewater and outdoor supporter of American Whitewater. What of paddlesports. does that mean? It means we help them industries are stepping pay the bills, allowing them to focus on Our hope is that more and more forward to support AW’s doing their invaluable work protecting companies will see the importance of our whitewater resources. Some people supporting American Whitewater and River Stewardship work. see Wave Sport as a ‘corporate’ kayaking its mission. We’re very proud of our company. While we are part of a much support for AW. They offer all of us a bigger company these days, the reality voice that, when amplified by the support American Whitewater urges is that real kayakers who care about the of thousands of whitewater enthusiasts, is you not to make purchase sport and it’s future are the ones making hard to ignore. If you are a member, thank important decisions about the brand and you. If not, we hope you join on as a decisions blindly. When where its resources go. Our support of member and add to the growing collective you buy your next piece American Whitewater is a great example voice that is American Whitewater. of how a larger company can help fuel of outdoor gear there are many factors to consider: 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!

Tanya Shuman testing the new Wavesport playboat the PROJECT

Photo by Marlow Long

60 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 61 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Clif ’s annual Flowing Rivers’ campaign, Kokatat remains one of AW’s strongest As part of ’s focus on that provides funding to AW’s affiliate allies by continuing support of AW’s environmental responsibility, the Jackson’s clubs for river stewardship projects, is now membership and river stewardship have long supported AW through in its fourth year, Clif Bar’s funding of programs. By providing American promotional efforts. In 2006 as part of the Flowing Rivers campaign has made a Whitewater with valuable membership their commitment to 1% for the planet, direct impact on rivers nationwide. and donation incentives, Kokatat will Jackson Kayaks will be supporting AW’s create the support we need to continue our river stewardship work financially as well. stewardship of North American rivers.

Chaco helps set the standard for industry responsibility by supporting causes near to their hearts with 3% of after-tax profits. Kayak Session helps American Whitewater Fortess Internationl watches is new to the scene and new to supporting American Chaco has been one of AW’s strong but increase membership, fund river silent partners for 5 years. stewardship work, and get our message out Whitewater. Through creative fundraising to readers here and abroad. KS is proud strategies Fortress will help AW seek to provide AW members a discounted the funds needed to advocate for all subscrtiption rate and allows AW to use whitewater rivers. the high quality international magazine to tell the AW story world wide.

Throughout the history of the natural world, water sources have been the We love donating to river conservation centers of life, providing habitat and organizations like AW. Being partners with Coming on board with AW’s river sustenance for animals and plants alike. American Whitewater allows each of us to stewardship program in 2005, Stahlsac Patagonia is proud to support groups do what we do best; AW is a leader in river helps AW make sure our lifetime members like American Whitewater that work to conservation and Werner Paddles can are satisfied. Stahlsac provides all of our reverse the destructive effects of damming, focus on being the leading kayak paddle lifetime members with their paddler development and pollution. manufacturer. duffle complete with both wet and dry compartments.

In 2004 Teva named American Whitewater In 2006, Smith Optics continues its In 2006 Keen’s contributions will aid as their river stewardship partner and has support of American Whitewater’s river American Whitewater in its quest to been one of our strongest partners since. stewardship work and membership. By restore ecological health and recreational Teva has partner with AW on numerous providing membership incentives Smith opportunities to the Catawba River efforts including hosting AW’s 50th ensures we have the resources needed to watershed in North and South Carolina. anniversary in 2004. fight for whitewater rivers.

Immersion Research led the whitewater industry in corporate responsibility. Outdoorplay is proud to support NRS is excited to come on board as a IR was American Whitewater’s first American Whitewater’s river stewardship partner of American Whitewater. In 2005, industry supporter of river stewardship work and has done so for three years now. and again in 2006, NRS will show their and remains a friend and ally today. Outdoorplay.com, along with many other commitment to river stewardship through Through their cobraned equipment retailers nationwide, provides discounts encouraging AW membership at river and prodeal donations, they help river for American Whitewater members on festivals nationwide. stewardship happen. their website. 60 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 61 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Local’s Favorite Dan Rubado doing an air loop at Spencer’s last July

Photo by Andy and Rebecca Graham

Spencer’s Hole, North Santiam River (OR)

By Dan Rubado as the river rises. At I just realized about ten minutes lower flows this involves ago that it was fall when a cold an aerobic attainment from breeze blew in and caught me the bottom eddy to a large mid- unawares in my Chacos and stream boulder, then a micro ferry t-shirt. The end of summer in across a small jet of water into the top Oregon is typically a tragic low- eddy. At levels above 1200 cfs it becomes point in the life of a kayaker. By this necessary to set up a throw line along the time, nearly every drop of moisture river left bank to haul yourself up the short has been pulled out of the mountains, distance from the bottom eddy to the top. washed down the rivers and deposited In Sleepy Gates, in the Pacific Ocean. Thanks to the water Oregon, just 1/8 So what’s to love? It’s a high quality play cycle, we’ll be getting it all back come mid- of a mile off Highway spot that is often overlooked and sadly November, but for now it’s pretty much a 22, awaits Spencer’s underrated. Spencer’s is one of the most wasteland of trickling streams … with a few Hole. Spencer’s is a fast, dynamic hole that accessible and consistent play spots in important exceptions. spans most of the constricted riverbed. It Oregon. Even so, a crowd here is rare and features a narrow and powerful pocket, quite often there are no other boaters at The North Santiam River, located inland which is plenty retentive at most levels. all. If empty play spots aren’t your thing, from Salem, has reliable recreational The surfer’s right shoulder is less retentive on many a hot summer’s day you can flows all year. An upstream dam releases and friendlier for casual surfing. A long expect to witness some good carnage water from a reservoir throughout the dry pool with eddies on both sides lies as tubers and duckies occasionally bob season, bringing to life One of Oregon’s downstream to soften any blows dealt by through the hole. best low-water play spots. the hole. The eddy access is easier at low levels and becomes increasingly difficult If you have to be a naysayer, here are a few

62 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 63 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 reasons to stay away. You have to catch the Northwest to learn how to loop or dial in while the upper extreme generates a very top eddy very quickly or you will be forced your cartwheels. fast hole and challenging eddy. Above 1200 to attain back up behind the big boulder cfs, a rope is required to attain along the or use a rope. The good news is that the For advanced play boaters Spencer’s is a river-left bank. Much above 1500 and you mid-stream boulder creates a reaction no-holds-barred rodeo machine. There are forced to make the short river-right wave that you can surf back into the top is plenty of power and depth to loft hike back to a boily feeder eddy. eddy. The bad news is that the boulder is spud boats into the sky. The amount of strategically located directly behind the air you get underneath your loops and hole. It has never caused any problems for space godzillas will be the chief concern Directions: Go to Gates, Oregon, near Mill City. From me (and I’ve had plenty of encounters); of your session. But don’t limit yourself; Salem, head east on Highway 22 for about simply be aware of its presence. it’s a challenging spot to work on more 40 miles. Once you pass through Mill City, advanced moves like the clean cartwheel, Gates is just a couple miles down the road. As mentioned before, the eddy service tricky-wu, back loop, and McNasty. All of Directly after the sign for the city of Gates, deteriorates at higher levels until you are the new school hole moves can be done take a right onto the small side street. fi nally forced to hike-‘n-play. Spencer’s at Spencer’s. And the potential for big air At the stop sign, take an immediate left might not be overrun by kayakers, but it makes it all the more exciting. onto Central Street. Drive about 1/8 of a is a popular spot for fi shermen, who often mile until you see some narrow pullouts congregate around the pool below the This is certainly one of my favorite play on the right and a telephone pole. If you rapid. So don’t tick them off by swallowing spots, especially for the low-water season. start to go up a small hill, you’ve gone too one of their lures as you roll up. In general, It’s fun and challenging, which makes it far. A small trail leads down to the river you may want to keep an eye on all non- a great training ground and an excellent behind a jumble of large rocks. There are boaters who come down to Spencer’s. spot to teach your kayak to fl y. several trails, so you might fi nd yourself Unwatched belongings have been known somewhere below the rapid. Just follow to disappear from the river-right shore. If you’re more interested in a fun play the sounds of whitewater to locate the run, you can drive up the road to hole. The rapid is characterized by large It is a good idea to avoid the river-right Packsaddle County Park and paddle rock outcrops that form a narrow channel, wall after you fl ush out of the hole, because down to Spencer’s, or continue on to the so you will need to walk along the bank water exiting the hole shoots between the take-out in Mill City. This run is mellow and out onto the outcrop in order to see center boulder and right bank. Although Class II and III with lots of little surf Spencer’s Hole. not dangerous, it is possible to unwittingly spots and some fun holes, depending on slam your head against it while attempting the level. The higher the water, the more a roll. Using a rope to attain up the eddy is exciting and playful the run becomes. It is not recommended for boaters who haven’t awesome for beginners and intermediates practiced this skill. I have watched many developing their freestyle skills. There are kayakers entangle themselves in the rope, tons of eddy lines for stern squirts and big roll over, then get pushed into the river left mossy rocks for splatting. Spencer’s Hole wall, which is slightly undercut. Needless is the most challenging rapid on the run. to say, wrapping a rope around your neck It can be very popular on hot summer in an already low-oxygen environment can weekends. be unpleasant. If you want some more challenging water, While you’re surfi ng in the hole, don’t be head upstream to the Big Cliff Dam put- afraid to try something new. All of the in. From here you can paddle down to hole moves, from old-school rippin’ to Packsaddle County Park. This is a more lunar orbitals are possible at Spencer’s. eventful Class III and IV run. Look out for The best moves to go for are right-handed the Narrows and Niagra as you may need cartwheels and loops. In fact, Spencer’s is to scout and/or portage. There is also a one of the most consistent looping holes mandatory portage around the Packsaddle around and, when levels are on the high Dam (just above the park) which creates side, huge aerials are a common sight. If a very dangerous hydraulic. Although the you want to work on technique, gaining portage route is fenced, there’s no need control of your moves in a fast spot like to bring your bolt cutters along. Dam this is great practice. employees allow polite paddlers to hop over the fence. For the beginning freestyle boater, the retentive pocket can be an intimidating sight, but it is a good place to practice side- Vitals: The premium levels for Spencer’s Hole are surfi ng and work on fl at spins. A couple of 950-1350 cfs on the N. Santiam at Niagra quick window shades will get you edging gauge (realtime fl ow information available properly in no time. at www.americanwhitewater.org). It’s good from around 800-1500 cfs; the lower If you’re an intermediate freestyle extreme creates a shallow, retentive hole paddler this is one of the best spots in the

62 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 63 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Whitewater Kayaking rock. His feet got caught in a pothole Gauley. Events like this remind us that a and the current quickly pushed his body few extra bucks for a quality helmet is a Fatalities Decline Sharply under. Park rangers, who had successfully good investment. rescued a 13-year-old Florida boy from the By Charlie Walbridge, AW Safety Editor same site a few hours earlier, tried to help Gauley Fest weekend also saw a number but were not successful. Swiftwater Rescue of serious injuries involving kayakers. On The last four months of 2005 were teams recovered the body 16 hours later. Friday a competitor in the Wave Sport remarkably quiet on the river safety front. Open broke his back after launching Only four fatal whitewater accidents were The Chauga’s geology clearly lends himself down a wooden ramp into the meat reported during this time—five if you itself to foot entrapment; rescuing foot of Pillow Rock Rapid. I think I have always count one occurring back in June that entrapment victims is not easy. A Google been too old for that much excitement! we were only recently alerted to. The total search revealed several similar deaths and Park Service personnel also evacuated for the year is 39, which is about average. a number of near misses at Chau-Ram injured people from Pillow Rock (injured That number breaks down as 10 kayak, six Park over the past few years, but these neck), Mash (head laceration), Diagonal canoe, and 20 raft fatalities. For kayaks, involved swimmers and waders rather Ledges (possible concussion), and Pure this is the lowest number reported in a than paddlers. The scenario is always the Screaming Hell (concussion). Their work decade and the second consecutive year of same: an attempt to stand in fast-moving kept bad situations from getting worse. reduced fatalities. The average number of water is followed by a foot or leg getting In addition, shuttle drivers at Mason’s kayaking deaths during the past ten years stock in a pothole or in a crack. This is Branch assisted several paddlers with is 16.5, reaching a peak of 21 in 1998 one accident that’s easier to prevent than broken ankles and saw at least one person rectify, and I strongly recommend using with a shoulder separation. The other numbers were not as positive. a well-designed poster to publicize this Canoeing deaths were roughly average, danger to park visitors. The above “injured neck” incident deserves and it was very rough year for rafts. further explanation. According to the There were 20 rafting fatalities, eight in On August 20th an unidentified teenaged National Park Service Morning Report, it commercial boats (including two river boy drowned while tubing on the Class occurred on Saturday, September 26th. guides) and 12 involving non-commercial III Little River near Townsend, TN. A Penny Kephart, 41, flipped and hit her paddlers. This spike is linked to unusually story on the AP newswire said that he head extremely hard in the upper part of high water in Colorado and California, suffered some serious head injuries, which Pillow Rock Rapid. According to extensive states with lots of whitewater and a were the ultimate cause of death. Tubing posts on the Viking Canoe Club Message significant urban population. We also whitewater rivers is serious business and Board, Ms. Kephart found that she was logged in three “miscellaneous” accidents. the people who really know how to do it unable to use her arms to exit her boat. It’s worth noting that none of the victims wear a life vest and helmet. Those who She floated the rest of the rapid upside- in this category (a drift boater, an inner don’t have the proper safety gear should down and was extracted from her kayak tuber, and an air mattress rider) were stick to the mildest sort of rapids. by fellow paddlers in the run-out. Ms. wearing PFDs. In fact, failing to wear a Kephart complained of serious neck life vest was the primary cause of river There were two commercial rafting pain, burning sensations in her arms, and fatalities this year, with nine instances; accidents this past fall. The first occurred weakness in her legs, all signs of a spinal this was followed by flush-drowning with on September 26th during Gauley Fest injury. A rescuer, attempting to help, seven, pinning on strainers with five, and Weekend and was covered in Splashes, the flipped and swam. He ended up protecting recirculating in holes with four. newsletter of the West Virginia Wildwater her neck and floating her gently into a Association. Rogers, 50, fell out of downstream eddy Chau-Ram Park is a beautiful county- his raft during a run through Class V Iron owned facility near Westminster, SC. Ring Falls on West Virginia’s Upper Gauley. As her friends stabilized her in the water, There are some nice Class II-III rapids on Although he was pulled from the water Park Service Rangers who witnessed the a section of the Chauga River that flows promptly, he soon became unresponsive. accident located a backboard stashed through it. According to the Seneca, SC Guides started CPR, radioed for help, for just these emergencies and brought Daily Sentinel Aaron Roche, 30, had run then rafted him downriver one mile to an it to her. Rangers quickly realized the this section with friends several times access road where an ambulance waited. seriousness of her injuries and summoned during the season. On June 29th, he Mr. Rogers was taken to Summersville a Medevac helicopter. The chopper arrived, arrived after a hard day of construction Hospital where he died that evening. The but the pilot was reluctant to land until all work to paddle this stretch with some medical examiner found that the cause of river traffic was stopped. This is no easy friends. Right above a rapid called Can his death was “blunt force trauma to the task on Gauley Fest Saturday! Finally, after Opener, he jumped out of his raft to head,” an unusual scenario for rafters, her friends managed to stop the crowds, recover a tube perched on a mid-stream even on a slam-bang run like the Upper the craft landed on a mid-river boulder.

64 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 65 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Ms. Kephart was rafted to the rock, looks fl at, powerful currents may be at body so that it could be picked up by local loaded aboard, and taken to Charlestown work. Although a trained whitewater rafters and carried to the takeout. General Hospital where she was diagnosed paddler might not have problems sensing with two dislocated vertebrae. She faced this, those unfamiliar with moving water Most of the material in these accounts surgery and three months recovery in a might not. The site of the rescue attempt came from the Internet bulletin boards neck brace but it could have been much, was a fl ooded Class IV creek, more than and chat rooms serving the whitewater much worse. Both her group and the many paddlers, much less non-paddling community. These postings often include Park Service deserve a commendation for fi refi ghters, can manage. The incident links to articles in local newspapers. their prompt and intelligent response to was originally reported statewide as “a Various other people sent this material to this emergency. whitewater kayaker who got himself into me directly. Since I can’t check all of these trouble.” The truth is more complicated resources regularly I depend on individual The fi rst weekend in October brings and, in this case, a lot more tragic. AW members to forward useful material stunning fall colors and booming 6500 as they see it. Without their help there cfs releases to Maine’s Dead River. At this On November 3, the Cheat River Canyon would be much less information available level, the 13.5 miles to West Forks is big, in Albright, WV was running at moderate to publish. Once again I ask my readers continuous Class III-IV whitewater with levels following recent rains. Robert to forward these accounts in the coming big waves and deep holes. According to the Forney, 42, was making his sixth trip down year. If you’re involved in an accident or Kennebec Journal Online Ralph Jolin, 27, the river with fi ve other boaters from the near-miss, remember that a good write-up a commercial rafting guest, was running Washington D.C. area. The Albright Bridge has many positive effects. In addition to the river when his boat fl ipped in a large gauge was at a perfect 3-foot level and the the potential for learning, a solid narrative hole in Long Rapids. The other people in group had a great day until they arrived at from those who were there reduces the the raft were thrown free, but Mr. Jolin Pete Morgan Rapid, the last Class IV on gossip and speculation from those who was recirculated in the hole several times the river. According to Lee Thonus, who were not. before washing out. He was not breathing remained for the entire rescue and wrote when he was recovered downstream. an excellent accident report, the fi rst three Please forward any accident descriptions, Rescuers tried CPR without success. boaters ran the drop without incident. Mr. newspaper articles, personal accounts, and Forney, paddling a sporty OC-1 playboat, other material to [email protected] (Rt. In mid-October, southern New Hampshire entered the rapid too far right and fl ipped 1, Box A43B, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525). saw one of the heaviest rain events in on a deep brace in a small hydraulic. He Please cut and paste write-ups rather than recent memory. Towns were devastated was not in his boat when it washed out providing links, as these may become by fl ash fl ooding and rescue squads at the bottom of the drop. The group outdated by the time I try to follow them worked overtime to pluck people from the searched the area until dusk without up. American Whitewater’s new accident rushing water. Tom Mangieri, a respected fi nding any sign of him. They noted that a database and on-line reporting system, local businessman, lived on Liberty Farm large tree was lodged in the far right side of made possible by the Andy Banach Road near Antrim. The Class IV+ North the drop. They suspected that Mr. Forney Memorial Fund, is now complete (see Branch of the Contoocook River runs might be trapped there, but a local rafter story on page 5 of this issue). You can along that road. On Oct 9th Mr. Mangieri, paddled out, examined it closely, and saw also report accidents on line or check to 67, was inspecting his fl ooded home in no sign of him. They fi nished the run and see what information AW has received an open-hole poke boat. Strong currents contacted authorities early that evening. on a specifi c incident. This info will be in the backwater grabbed him and pulled forwarded to all other members of the him into the rapids. According to the The next day the river had dropped 6 Safety Committee and made available on Contoocook Valley Villager Mr. Mangieri inches when Mr. Thonus and Masontown line. You can also forward confi dential fl ipped and swam. He managed to grab a Volunteer Firefi ghters returned to search information to the Safety Committee tree limb and although partly submerged the rapid. They spotted Mr. Forney’s that will not be made public without he held on for some time. Firefi ghters body pinned against the tree, but despite your approval. from nearby Hillsboro, NH arrived at the help from a few local paddlers who were scene and attempted to reach him without on the river that day they were unable to success. Eventually he was overcome by retrieve him. That night a group of area the relentless current and let go. He passed boaters consulted with rescue teams and under a road bridge and was never seen mobilized for a larger effort. The next day alive again. the water dropped another 6 inches. JB Seay, Eric Hendricson, and Bob Spangler This perilous situation is often found Mr. Forney pinned between the log encountered when operating a boat in and an underwater rock. They managed fl ood backwaters. Even when the water to move the log and release Mr. Forney’s

64 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 65 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 The author’s paddle staying high and dry.

Photo by Cathy Howard

than jumping back into the river minutes after it’s viciously separated you from your boat—especially when you’re using a flimsy breakdown paddle with a different blade angle than you’re used to.

Sadly, when I got to where Andrew was patrolling the eddy below Toadstool, I knew it was probably hopeless. I had diligently checked each eddy I could catch on my way through the rapid and the paddle was nowhere to be seen. The odds of me finding the paddle downstream My Paddle Gets Around were exceedingly small. In all likelihood, it was pinned beneath the surface within By Ambrose Tuscano spitting distance of where I swam. I knew that if I was ever going to get my paddle back again, it would require a lot of luck I have this paddle. It’s not the fanciest on plug. As the water spouted from my boat, and a tremendous amount of altruism on the market and certainly not the lightest, so too the adrenaline started to drain from the part of some kindly boaters. The only but I depend upon it all the same. It’s been my bloodstream and oxygen began to thing working in my favor was the timing there for thousands of strokes, hundreds of return to my brain. As a matter of habit, of my swim. It happened to be the day of rolls and dozens of . Yet, there was I took stock of my situation. My boat was the annual Cherry Creek Race, an extreme a time, not too long ago, when I took this there, leaning against me, none the worse downriver race on par with the Animal particular paddle for granted. Mind you, I for the drubbing. A quick pad down of my Upper Gauley Race in length, and with the wasn’t intentionally cruel, but occasionally body reassured me that all of my clothes Green Narrows Race in difficulty. There it would be hurt by my carelessness. A and gear were still attached. That’s when would be more paddlers on Cherry Creek lazy pry off some shallow rocks to save I realized: my paddle was nowhere to that day than any other all year. my hands from the cold water; a brutal be seen. toss onto a granite slab before exiting I was kicking myself all the rest of the way the boat; an ill conceived lean against I quickly leaned my boat against a larger down the run. Why had I been so stupid the car, becoming a slow motion freefall rock to finish draining and jogged to let go of my paddle? Why didn’t I look onto pavement the moment my back downstream a few feet to gain a better for it sooner when I swam to shore? How was turned. view. Unfortunately, I didn’t find my did I end up in the hole in the first place? paddle floating expectantly in a nearby To make matters worse, I knew I was in for It pains me now to think how little I eddy. Worse yet, I realized that there was further humiliation. noticed these slings and arrows before this virtually no chance of an errant paddle summer, before I learned to appreciate my being held up anywhere before the entrance When we got to the bottom of Lewis’ paddle as a thing of beauty. I remember to Toadstool, the rapid immediately Leap, one of the last rapids of the day, we the exact moment that I made this downstream. I was already impatiently stopped to wait for the crowds of racers. realization. I was standing, doubled over see-sawing my boat back and forth on my One by one, they appeared in long plastic on the shores of the Tuolumne, one hand thigh, emptying the last of the water, when boats, straight out of the 1980s. As racers clutching my sinking boat and the other Andrew, my paddling partner, eddied out and spectators climbed the left shore to arm around a sun-baked boulder. I was beside me. He was a bit confused at first congregate, I approached like a door-to- trying not to think too hard about the (Why were you swimming at Mushroom, door salesman and made my pitch: “You beating I had been taking in the hole at the his face asked). After a quick explanation, didn’t happen to see a paddle floating in bottom of Mushroom moments earlier, Andrew took off downstream to see if the river upstream, did you? I, uhhh … trying not to second-guess my decision my paddle was still floating in the pool lost it at Mushroom.” to bail out after a short but violent ride. below. Meanwhile, I hurriedly assembled With a heave, I managed to pull my kayak my breakdown paddle and tried to get my Each time, I watched their faces turn to completely out of the water, prop it up head straight for what lay below. There suppressed amusement, like kids trying against my body and remove the drain are few things in kayaking more daunting 66 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 67 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 not to laugh out loud in church. No on Saturday and that they couldn’t wait where Cathy collected it. Sure enough, the one had seen it. When all the racers had around because they needed to check on following weekend, Cathy and Andrew fi nished, I admitted defeat and headed their kids who were vacationing at her returned to Truckee with my paddle in for the take-out. On the way, I ran into brother’s in the Bay Area—a three hour tow. They live right down the street, but Cherry Creek regular, Tim Hagan. I told drive to the coast. On my way back home, I even if they had lived 100 miles away him my predicament and asked him, with started to get the idea that I’d dropped the I would have met them at their door. I little optimism, to post something to the ball again. I began to visualize the irony of was so happy to see my paddle again, I local online whitewater message board if losing a paddle in a boulder-jumble of a almost cried. the paddle was recovered by anyone later rapid, having it miraculously found (by that day or the next. With what I took to someone who doesn’t believe in “fi nders My paddle wasn’t so emotional. And after be a feigned sense of hope, he assured me keepers”), only to lose it by laziness and all it had been through, who could blame he would ask around for it at the after-race poor planning. it? Frankly it was more than a little ticked party and take care of it if it turned up. at having been abandoned in the fi rst place, Again, I berated myself: Why hadn’t I let alone the stress of traveling more than And so I left the river one paddle poorer driven down to South Lake when I fi rst 800 miles to get back home. Yes, it was a than when I had arrived. I think it was heard it was found? Heck, why hadn’t I long, convoluted road to reconciliation, at this time that I fi rst began to really picked it up and then thanked Tim on but I think we’re both better off for the appreciate my paddle. I refl ected on all the my knees instead of asking him to drag experience. My paddle realizes that if it good times we’d been through together it hundreds of miles away? At this point, had provided a better boof stroke, we may and all the cool places I still wanted us could I blame him if he chose to auction never have ended up surfi ng Mushroom in to go. Plus I realized that a good paddle it off to the highest bidder on the banks of the fi rst place, and this whole saga could is hard to replace (especially when you’re the North Feather? have been avoided. And I’ve also spent unemployed). So imagine my amazement, my share of time saying “I’m sorry.” These several days later, when I read a posting So imagine my further amazement when days I don’t use my paddle to pry off the from Tim saying he had my paddle. I got home and logged onto boof.com bottom of a shallow riverbed—unless I’m Moreover, he had brought it safely to to fi nd the following post directed really in trouble—and I’m much more South Lake Tahoe, a 45-minute drive from to me by my friend, c1-er stud and careful about where I set it. my home in Truckee, California. American Whitewater board member, Norwood Scott: More importantly, though, I’m amazed I was so excited to discover that my by the altruism of paddlers everywhere, paddle had re-emerged from the depths, Hey Ambrose, who go out of their way (sometimes WAY that I didn’t really feel any urgency to go out of the way) to help paddlers they’ve retrieve it. It was late August and most Your paddle is well traveled; Cherry never met before. In my case, I still don’t of the water in the region had dried up. Creek to SL Tahoe to NF Feather to SF. know who I have to thank for fi nding my I didn’t really need the paddle right away, Your friend, Cathy, should be picking it paddle and carrying it off the river in the so I decided to see if Tim could hand it off up on Wednesday. I wonder where it will fi rst place, but that kind of selfl essness to me somewhere convenient for us both. go next. and integrity deserves my whole-hearted We exchanged a couple of e-mails, and gratitude and makes the paddling he told me he would take it to the North - Norwood community that much stronger. Maybe Fork Feather release that coming weekend. someday I’ll be able to pull that person The North Feather is a few hours from P.S. I watered it for you. to shore after a swim, or stop them before Truckee, but I was considering going. At they pull out of the parking lot without the last minute, I bailed on the trip but my It turned out that when they were looking tying their boat on the car. At the very least friends, Cathy and Andrew (the last person for Tim at the Feather, Cathy and Andrew I hope to sit down with them over a few to have seen me and my paddle together) had met Norwood, told him why they drinks (I’m buying) so we can re-create were planning to go. I asked them to try to were looking for Tim, and also realized the whole tale, beginning with: “So there I make the handoff with Tim. that Norwood lives right down the street was, surfi ng for dear life ….” from Cathy’s brother in San Francisco. As it turned out, I was away all weekend, So on Sunday, Norwood ran into Tim, but at one point I got a voice mail from took possession of the paddle, brought Cathy explaining that they hadn’t see Tim it back home to San Francisco with him,

66 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 67 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Cucumber Falls on the Lower Yough in 2000

By Nancy Gilbert

As I stood proudly at the Later on, when time allowed, I reminisced First jealousy reared its head: I couldn’t about what brought me to West Virginia imagine a better way to spend my time. entrance gate to the 2005 each year for the Gauley Festival. Then realistic thinking set in. I was already Gauley Festival in my official in my early 50s and not a prime candidate It all began in the early ‘90s, as I walked for such a sport. I firmly explained this American Whitewater past a co-worker’s office one day. A crowd to her as she encouraged me to give it a Volunteer T-shirt and ticket had gathered and I thought there might try. My life, up until that time, had never apron, I peered over the be chocolate involved; I stopped to see. included a sport or pastime that involved My co-worker was showing the group a any real physical challenge. When I wasn’t approaching and seemingly number of boating photos taken of her working, I was either hiking or singing endless line of boating from her weekend river trip. There she with a female choral group. was, in a kayak on a sparkling stream with enthusiasts, wondering how I a huge smile. She paid absolutely no attention to my came to find myself there. protests and somehow I found myself

68 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 69 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 on a lake the following weekend getting So I challenge you Coordinators for Gauley Fest … AW’s my introduction to the sport (and art) biggest event! of kayaking. I might add that winter was to increase your coming on, but the folks involved seemed support of American I still look forward to the Gauley Fest to have no concept of what I considered each fall, but have recently handed the to be appropriate weather. So there I was Whitewater. If you volunteer coordination on to the next running my very fi rst river trip on New are unsure how, generation. However, I found other ways Year’s Day in 1993 in the rain and cold. I to support what is a very important asked several people a question I thought you can contact me organization to me. I had, from the was fairly intelligent: Why didn’t everyone through AW and I’ll beginning, been an American Whitewater wait for nicer weather to run the rivers? I member and after a few years I joined guess the question wasn’t as intelligent as be happy to explain. at the Ender Club level. Now I’ve made I thought judging by the looks I got. What American Whitewater an even bigger part I was told was that there usually wasn’t of my charitable giving. And still, I spend enough water in the rivers in summer. wanted it or not) and in-house tutoring some time calling American Whitewater My next question: Where did the water on the role that American Whitewater members and volunteers to thank them go? That began my lessons on 1) trees played in the sport I was now hooked on. for donations of time and/or money and drinking in nicer weather and 2) dam One of the topics my husband would talk attend local paddling events to represent controlled rivers. My education continued about was the leading role that American the organization. Staying in touch with at indoor roll sessions, which eventually Whitewater played in negotiating AW members is very rewarding to me. made up a large part of my social life. hydropower re-licensing contracts. I was stunned to fi nd out that many of the When I “run into” fellow boaters in an I met my current husband at one of contracts could be up to 40 years long. I eddy somewhere, I challenge them to these roll sessions and he introduced me was impressed that AW was (and of course extend themselves as far as American to the Gauley Festival in West Virginia still is) leading efforts across the country Whitewater is concerned. No matter your that fall. He was a member of American to re-water rivers previously dewatered age, the time you have to spend or your Whitewater and a major volunteer at by hydropower projects; not just for fi nancial circumstances, you can fi nda the festival. So, of course, I offered to recreation but for the environment and way to increase your support and be an volunteer right along with him. By this the critters that live there. effective part of the mission of American time, I felt that people who boated were Whitewater. You and I can help leave the some of the luckiest people alive. To be I soon started taking a more active role in world—and especially its whitewater able to use rivers as my hiking path into supporting American Whitewater. When rivers—better than we found them. It is places where most non-boaters probably I found out how many volunteers were always easy to trumpet the work of AW would never set foot was incredible. To be needed to run the Gauley Festival, I began when taking a rest in an eddy on a river able to see remarkable scenery, marvelous to increase the amount of volunteer time whose water is fl owing due to the work creatures, eye-catching plants and fl owers and effort I put into it. I was more than AW does with incredible support from its and all this while paddling with a group a little surprised when I realized what an members, volunteers, local paddling clubs of friends who very shortly seemed like “age challenged” female like me could and other organizations. family was an unbelievable pleasure. And accomplish. I began using e-mail to solicit the challenge and success of running a other volunteers to help out at the event. So I challenge you to increase your support rapid while paddling my own boat built This turned out to be rewarding in several of American Whitewater. If you are unsure my confi dence both on and off the river. ways. It was much easier for the staff to how, you can contact me through AW and run the festival with a full complement of I’ll be happy to explain. Due to a fortunate coincidence, my volunteers, I got to meet over a hundred husband had an incredible need to share great people every year and, from what his knowledge, both on and off the river. So they told me, the volunteers really enjoyed I got on-the-river tutoring on the elements what they were doing. My husband of river running (sometimes whether I and I soon ended up as the Volunteer

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

70 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 71 March/April 2006 March/April 2006 Join American Whitewater as a Club Affiliate! Eastman Hiking and Canoeing, Kingsport “10” Reasons to Join AW E. Tennessee Whitewater Club, Oak Ridge Memphis Whitewater, Memphis Discounted AW as an Affiliate Club Tennessee Valley Canoe Club, Chattanooga University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville Memberships for Affiliate Club Members Texas by Carla Miner 1. Receive the American Whitewater Club, Houston Membership Coordinator Whitewater Journal, the paddletexas.com, San Antonia oldest continually published whitewater magazine. Utah In the recent past, AW has University of Utah, Salt Lake City been offering discounted AW 2. Join the list of Affiliate Clubs USU Kayak Club, Logan memberships to whitewater Utah Whitewater Club, Salt Lake City noted in each bi-monthly enthusiasts who are also AW Journal. Vermont members of one of AW’s Vermont Paddlers Club, Jericho Affiliate Clubs. 3. List club events in the AW Journal.

Virginia We now have the ability to offer 4. Your Club’s members can Blue Ridge Voyageurs, Reston become AW members for $25. Blue Ridge River Runners, Lynch Station this discounted membership A $10 savings! Canoe Cruisers Association, Arlington online! For each club, AW Coastal Canoeists, Richmond will create a unique URL that Float Fishermen of Virginia, Roanoke 5. Have technical expertise for FORVA, Roanoke will automatically offer the your Club conservation and Richmond Whitewater Club, Mechanicsville discounted membership and/or access committees ‘on tap.’ we will provide a coupon code Washington that is specific to your club that 6. Have access to technical and Outdoor Adventure Club, Redmond onsite assistance for your Club’s Paddle Trails Canoe Club, Seattle will allow individuals to receive event planning. Spokane Canoe & Kayak Club, Spokane the discount on the normal AW University Kayak Club, Seattle Membership Page. Washington Kayak Club, Seattle 7. Enjoy VIP benefits for “Joint Washington Recreation River Runners, Renton Members” at AW events. Whitman College Whitewater Club, Walla Walla Both options work equally well and help make life easier for 8. Participate in exclusive AW West Virginia Affiliate Club promotions. West VA Wildwater Assoc., S. Charleston members of your club. Friends of the Cheat, Kingwood 9. Post Club information on the Several clubs have already set up AW Website to help paddlers Wisconsin the program and their members Badger State Boating Society, Waukesha find you. Hoofers Outing Club, Madison are enjoying the benefits of Pure Water Paddlers, Eau Claire joining AW for only $25! 10. Eligible to apply for a spot in the River Alliance of Wisconsin, Madison AW 2005 River Stewardship Sierra Club / John Muir Chapter, LaCrosse If you are interested in learning Institute. Wyoming more about this program, Jackson Hole Kayak Club, Jackson Hole please contact me and I would be happy to help your club For more information, Canada, British Columbia set up this program. I can be contact Carla Miner at Vancouver Kayak Club, Vancouver [email protected] reached at: 866-BOAT-4AW or or sign-up on-line at: Canada, Ontario [email protected]. www.americanwhitewater.org/membership Madawaska Kanu Camp Inc., Ottawa

70 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 71 March/April 2006 March/April 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

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