This spring has been a whirlwind of driving and paddling, camping in the snow, and teaching Swiftwater Rescue classes in frozen drysuits. Since leaving the balmy northwest in mid May, I have been on the road constantly. Most of the drives have been to and from rescue courses on various rivers around Montana, with one common theme, floods and snow.
I have been working with WRI (Whitewater Rescue Institute) to help put on these courses for raft companies, search and rescue teams, local agencies such as fire and police, and private boaters. WRI started up a few years back, headed up by Cody Harris, formerly my manager at Montana River Guides, and Mike Johnston, the owner of MRG. Since forming the company, it has become quite successful, with course offerings across Montana, the Northwest, and even Costa Rica. For information on classes and scheduling please visit www.whitewaterrescue.com.
The flows across the state have been the highest in years, and the snow just keeps lingering, clinging onto the last threads of its frozen life. Finally, on the official first day of summer, we had our nice weather delivered. Hopefully soon, the snow will recede and the glistening creeks of western Montana will be in their prime. With flows being so high, the rivers of the area have been surging beyond their banks and creating some of the best big water paddling I have seen. We were able to run the Alberton Gorge section of the Clark Fork River at 50,000 cfs, and the Lochsa in northern Idaho at a sweet 10 feet.
This one's for you Parham... I learned everything I know about blunts from you, the master. Maybe next time I will actually be looking at the camera, or showing a nipple...
Possible side effects of surfing Lochsa's Pipeline wave may include uncontrollable giggling, and wetting your pants.
Running some big water Lochsa. Grim Reaper rapid.
Clark Fork River, just upstream of the gorge at around 40,000 cfs. Definitely some of the hardest to read water I have ever been in. Some of the eddy lines in the gorge were 5-6 feet tall, and at one point a 10 foot wave surged out of a seemingly calm area and munched me and my Jefe in one swoop.
Feeling very, very small...
Sunshine and Big Water, one of the worlds most glorious offerings.
Drew Hossel finding his mojo on the Lochsa.
Rosalynn and Martin. Lochsa River, 9 feet. As you might have noticed by this point, we have logged many a day in Northern Idaho. Absolutely one of my favorite stretches of river.
Getting buried somewhere on the Lower Lochsa.
Evening surf session at Brennan's Wave in Downtown Missoula.
Brennan's Wave cartwheels.
And some more surfing. I really love the lighting in these shots.
Wrangler dog likes surfing too... It's unfortunate that he is a little big to sit on my sprayskirt.
Running the put-in falls on the E.F. Lewis.
Rosalynn running her first waterfall! Sick line.
our Cali Trip. The North Trinity and Salmon drainages were beautiful and as fun as ever.
Soon, I think, I will be returning to the land of endless boating, and rid myself of this silly
snowy bs.
Stay posted for more updates from the now sunny northern latitudes, and good lines!!
