Collawash into Killer Fang

I have been wanting to get on the NF Clack for quite some time now.  After hiking to the mouth of the NF it was obvious that it was too low.  Thankfully we live in the PNW and there are amazing runs all over the place.  So we drove up the road another half hour to the Collawash, annd the rest is history.

Couldn't ask for an easier put in than this

Chute To Kill

Willy bracing after flying  of the sieve drop

Killer Fang from the portage

Joel and I had a great line through this drop on the far, far right

Willy is taking it all in... King of the rock

One day this wood will be gone...  I hope

Robe Race 2012

The Gnomes are very kind to us this year and have blessed us in more ways than one.  An amazing crew of friends, with blue sky and perfect flows, today Robe was a slice of heaven on earth.  Nine teams, two Robes, and one garden gnome, church is in session!   Not a shortage of competition this year including Fred Norquist, Darren Albright, Lane Jacobs, Isaac Levinson, and many more.  Also some hometown favorites that devote themselves to spend more time in this spectacular canyon than in the "real world".  Big thanks to Todd Gillman for being such a rad dude.

Racers gather below at the starting line to begin there adventure into the canyon

hometown favorite Darren Albright

Darren enjoying the glory of last years victory

The peoples champ Rob Mckibbin

Rob can't help but show off for the crowd

This years champions Ben Hawthorne and Scott Waidelich

Way to go guys well deserved victory

Fred Norquist

Fred shows us how to draft your partner

Leif Embertson

Brenden Wells

William Griffith represents for BDP

Billy's Thinking where is this shuttle car with my dry clothes

Joe getting the feel of the infamous robe

No race is complete without a little boat demolishon

good race partners / awesome friends 

Results


1st place - Scott Waidelich & Ben Hawthorne   27:43


2nd place - Darren Albright & Lane Jacobs   28:13


3rd place - Rob Mckibbin & Andrew McEwan   30:39 

4th place - Fred Norquist & Isaac Levinson: 31:14

5th place - Jon Prentice & Christian Knight: 33:25

6th place - Nick Hinds & Alex Podolak: 34:08

7th place - Eric Parker / Brendan Wells & Will Griffith: 34:34

8th place - Leif Embertson & Jon Dufay: 40:34 (broken boat)

9th place - Mike Nash / Joe: DNF (broken boat / hike-out)

Easter egg hunt

Big Props to John Hart for making such a fun day on the river possible.  Everyone is so happy to be spending a beautiful day on the river with friends.  Plus the fact that we get to Easter egg hunt our way down the river made the day extra special.  My favorite part of the day was at the take out, good people and good BBQ action made for an awesome day.  You don't always have to run the brownstout's to have fun on the river.  To me the people on the river with you make the memories.  

Peeling off to the next egg island for some yummy treats

Lil' Meat

Tailgate party, oh yeah

Eagle Creek


As  I began my hike I was not expecting such a long one.  But I was determained to make my way up to the top no matter how often I had to rest.   When I finally got to the top My under layers were soaked.  I hiked down and paddled too the pool below Punchbowl.  watching a variety of lines that all looked clean, but still people coming up with a bloody nose, and one face slam short of bloody nose.  I was happy with my decision to skip the first drop.  We made our way down to the pool above Metlako.  Once I was in the pool I wasn't motavated to scout, due to my mindset that I was going to react the same way regardless of the outcome of breaking away.  Chase went first, I next, then followed by Logan, then John. Chase, Logan, and I all chucked our paddles. John held onto his and it broke on impact.  Everyone ear to ear with smiles at the bottom established the fact that we were all stoked as could be with the Winning that had just occurred.

Great line

Chris Leach

OW, my nose

                                                      John Edwards 

                              Seamus photo

Myself on Metlako

Chase Nobles was kind enough to throw together some footage of the last few days of our mission.  Here is a link to the  Video

grays

My Second time back to the Grays river, and it doesn't disappoint.  The first time I was here the level was much higher and I was in my playboat.  This time I came prepared with a Burn, needless to say it was a totally different experience. 

Most, and probably the best shots were taken by Logan Seamus Farrell.   

 Jenn Peterson

peanut gallery watches from above

                                                                                                 Susan Holingsworth 

Michael McWhirter

So above was all Superbowl

the next class V rapid "Picnic" is just around the corner.

You can choose to portage this one but its not the best seal launch though

                                                                        Susan Hollingsworth

Susan's seal launch went fine... but others were not so lucky                                                                     

And this is what happens when you portage... Seal launch right into a hole that doesn't let you go. now your swimming.

table rock fork gorge

  Every once in a while certain runs get a bad reputation.  This has been the fifth decent I've done of this gorge, and so far only one of those have had carnage.  I'm not telling everyone to go charge this section with no worries, but more trying to salvage it's name.  A previous write up by Oregon Kayaking dubbed this run above  600 cfs  to be a solid class V undertaking with vicious hydrolics.  Well I've done this section at 1200cfs to 2600cfs, and found it to be very managable by most class V kayakers.  Not to discard the fact that the Boiler room is a very backed up hole that will require a rope to swim out of.  Setting safety is a must, as well as a perfectly timed right boof.  After dropping through the Boiler room you are left with one more drop split by a rock.  It is ran on the left at most flows, and can be ran on the right at higher flows.

                       John Edwards

after a five minute paddle through class 2-3 you reach the enterence known as Dan's den.  A five foot ledge with a busy run out.

Just around the corner you reach the crux of the section.   Catch the eddy on the right just above the horizon line. This marks the Boiler Room, scout this drop before running.  If you don't want to run it then you should hike to the road and call it a day, because by the time you reach the top of the gorge you are closer to the road than you are to the seal launch.  afterwards you are rewarded with amazing scenery for the next half mile.

John scouts the Boiler room

After  running this drop I like to get out on the left to set safety.  

                     John Edwards

For more Info on this section check out pdxriverexplorers