On Injuries, Boredom and Pain

Hey Ya'll-

It's that season in Oregon where its dry. Dry dry dry. So we here, are largely bored. Local playspots and the odd dam release are all we have to go to till the rain is back. And though I'm injured, which is lame, at least I know I'm not missing much though I do miss the water. Till then, enjoy some photos!

-EJ

Northwest Video Scrapbook

Check out the latest addition to the Northwest Kayaker Blogdom-
Ryan Scott of Columbia River Gorge Blog has recently started his new video blog.
Check it out at http://www.gorgehits.blogspot.com/

August on the Upper Upper

I first ran the Upper Upper Cispus last year and it quickly became the destination creek for the mid-summer low water runs. It typically comes in just as the Ohane drops out and holds pretty well for a while. This year, I've tried to get on it twice already but have been turned back by higher water than we were up for each time. BUT finally I made it up.

Rare and Random shot of me on Behemoth. By Rick Cooley

The last minute assembled crew was made up of Mike Long, James Bagley, Kris Litz, Rick Cooley, JD Gaffney, Charlie and myself. We had heard about a couple spots of new wood. The boulder garden right below the First Ledge and in the third drop in the boulder garden below Behemoth.

The lower water we had made the first spot of wood runnable, though a bit scary. Most of us portaged it. The second spot of wood is really not a hazard. The lines through the boulder garden is still right all the way down. The wood is easily avoidable. HOWEVER, in the class III runnout, be on the look out for a mank drop leading into a river wide downed alder. With the dropping water levels its a serious strainer and Charlie had some trouble, swam above it and, for a few scary moments was caught in the branches under the water. Everything came out ok but keep an eye out for this log!

Otherwise, check out some photos below and HERE

~Cheers!

JD on the First Ledge

Charlie finishing up Island Drop

JD at Behemoth

WKCC Safety Weekend

This past weekend the Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club had their annual Safety Weekend where a the Willamette valley kayakers get together to share techinques, tips and practice throwing ropes and what not. I spent my time wandering around listening in, helping out and taking photos. Check it out here.

So It Goes

Ever have one of those ideas...

"Everybody's gonna love this!" and you get excited and see it through enuncumbered by the thought process. Yea thats me. I did that.

I was trying to let everybody know that I think Riot does a great job taking care of their customers unlike some other companies out there and to show how much I trust their boats. The Magnum is the best creek boat I've been in and there's nothing out there I'd rather paddle. Since I got my Astro 54, I've been getting more bounce and more pop than anything I've paddled before. No bull.

So, sorry guys.

~EJ

Youngest-ever descent of the Green Truss

WonderMidget Strikes again

As far as anyone knows, WonderMidget, Devin Morton, is the youngest person to ever run the Truss at 12 years old.

Devin at Bobs

I had been planning a trip get get a couple Truss newbies down in Late July when Devin's Dad, Corey asked if they could tag along. "Of COURSE," I replied, hoping for a huge group. We quickly enlisted a bunch of people to put in with us: Nate Herbeck, James Bagley, Kyle Kovalik, Will Robens, Will's friend Will, Brett Barton, Kris Litz, Devin, Corey, Myself, Michael Williams, Rick Cooley, and Jason Schroeder. Interestingly, we started with 13 and ended with 10... The world may never know.

Anyway, back to the little dude... and the rest of the crew. I love bashing down the Truss with a huge group, low water especially. If I can't have water, I might as well sucker a bunch other others with me so I am not the only idiot out there right? Well as all the rest of the idiots would agree, it was a great run. No where near the expected carnage, only one swimmer; only two people didn't run Big Brother. (not bad for a trip where out of 13 only 5 had done the run before! After a quick scout at Bobs, and a huck session at Big Brother, we all fired off Double without scouting, even the Midget, who flipped and rolled between the drops and gutted #2.

Everybody had great lines in Upper Zig Zag, especially Devin, who floated calmly behind his dad, watching him get worked!

Nobody in the newbies group fired off BZ, but it will be there for a long time.
Check out Devin's blog for a short vid and some more about the little dude.

Devin at Double, by Rick Cooley

Kris Litz fires up Big Brother on her first time down


Kyle Kovalik on his first time over Bobs

Rick Cooley, another first timer on Big Brother

Know what I did this summer?

Neither do I really..
Its been a while since I've had time to sit down and tell ya'll what I've been up to and though everytime I run something I think, "Oh man I've got to write something up for this one..." its just not happening. SO, basically since I left Idaho, spent a week in Montana, headed to Washington and met up with some Seattle friends for a good run down the Fall In The Wall, then over to the Cooper and headed home. Next couple weeks were work, trips to Spencer's Hole and Ohanepecsh, Clear Fork and a Hike in to the UU Cispus. Below are a handfull of shots from the last few weeks. Keep an eye out for more including the Youngest Ever Truss Descent!

More Photos

Cheers~

Jesse Coombs at Spencer's Hole, Gates Or

Sera Jansen at Spencers

Kris at Gold Hole

Missoula Crew on Kootenei Cr

Me on the last drop above Franklin Falls on Fall In The Wall

Rob on Monkey Cage, Top Tye