Truss Tales: Show me your O-Face!

Due to the lack of water, and steadily dropping temperatures in the beautiful state of Montana, I made my way over to the kayaker's mecca of Hood River this past weekend with my good friend Rosalynn West to meet up with the famous, and rougishly handsome, Orion Meredith. I don't know if Orion really is famous, but I think he's a good candidate for star studded glory. And besides, anyone who can muster the confidence to sport the nickname O-Face, deserves an applause, even if he had no choice in the matter. Haha, Thanks Crissler. You are sorely missed out here on the left coast.

Orion Stompin Big Brother

After leaving Missoula around 9:30, we drove staight through to the outskirts of Hood, rolling into a rest area 10 miles out of town around 5 in the a.m. Luckily, I got to ride shotty the entire way as Rosalynn made the marathon drive. Friday dawned bright and sunny, and the water running under the Green Truss bridge was sparkly, and suprisingly low. Fortunately, the run downstream was still of the highest quality, and Big Bro was boof-alicious. Also, with the lower water came the opportunity for some Little Brother freewheelin, with partial success. This was Rosalynn's first trip down the Truss, and she styled her way down, portaging only the biggest bits, and making some highly amusing seal-launches, one of which was right in the middle of Upper Zig-Zag. Orion's first run off Big Brother was an amazing boof-to-melt-to-almost flip in the cave-and finish with a nice eddy catch in the pocket. Trying to stop the fits of giggles that overtook me at that point, I hopped in my boat and fired away. Good lines all the way through, and saweeet boofs over BZ was the name of the game for Friday and Saturday, and a quick hike up Eagle Creek on Sunday to drool over Metlako, which was too low to run, rounded out a great weekend in the partially sunny Northwest.

Rosalynn and Orion scoutin it up. Is Rosie throwin a shocker?!

Rosalynn running a drop somewhere in the gorge.


Big Bro self portrait.

Martin hittin the boof-o-matic flake.

Cali-Rally: Burn Fest 2010

4 a.m. pacific standard time, and the dilapidated red subaru rolls into Arcata, fully loaded with creek boats and enough caffeine to kill a horse. Out of the doors roll two stinky, and redbull powered souls, buzzing with excitement.

Now rewind 16 hours.

It is just after noon, in Coeur d'Alene Idaho, I'm done pounding nails for the weekend, and its off to Portland to pick up Orion and rally down to Trinity county for the Cali-Burn Fest! Upon nearing Portland, I get a call from Orion that went something like this:

"Hello"

"Yee haw BRG baby!!"

"F*ck ya dude, I'm almost to Portland, where you at?"

"Dude, I backed a f*ckin bus into my car at the Green Truss put-in!"

"......."

"Wanna meet us in Hood River? I think I blew my radiator."

So, I stopped in Hood, waited for the limping Nissan to show up, and after deciding that it was just the AC crushed, and thankfully not the radiator, we made it to Portland.

After leaving Portland, I semi blacked-out into a caffeine and ecstasy induced haze. (Ecstasy here meaning the feeling of euphoria due to huge amounts of excitement, not the drug.) Next thing i knew, we rolled into Arcata.

Friday: Big Air Comp, Camel Rock.

Well, just as was to be expected from past expereince, the surf at high noon, day of the surf comp, was dismal at best when viewed from the road. However, not to be deterred after so much driving, we geared up and grabbed out creekers for some surfing. As the afternoon wore on, the surf started to build and we made the move south to Moonstone in search of better rides. As usual, Mr. Will Parham was throwing down mad tricks, and Dan Menten caught some nice barrels as Orion and I proceeded to get trounced by the growing waves. In a unanimous vote, Will was named king of the surf.

Hennessy Free-wheel

Burnt Ranch Race:

Saturday dawned sunny and warm, with ample servings of shit-talking for all. I believe I told Orion I was going to boof on his head, which is ironic considering that I ended up being the one getting landed. Rolling into the finish line, I was stoked to be in third place out of the creek boats, and got a little trigger happy when boofing the flake at number 2. I flipped into the right wall, was landed on a few times, rolled up off the wall with no paddle, and after clinging desperately to the light and fresh air, was sucked stern first into the hole.

Thanks to Daniel Brasuel for capturing this moment.

During the next few moments, I had some profoundly clear thought on the topic of Karma, such as, "huh, the kid talking the most shit, is now the one entering that wonderful playland of rodeo swimming". Funny how life works sometimes. But out of it I learned a good lesson, the swim was totally worth it. Out bodies are made up mostly of water, and sometimes that full immersion is just plain good for the soul. As always, the after party was ragin, and the hangover lap the next morning sealed a great weekend on the water.

Big Thanks to Paul Gamache for all his hard work in making this event happen!! And remember, second weekend of October, Burnt Ranch Gorge. Bring your race face, and a cup. You're gonna need it for the kegs at the finish.

Orion Comin' in hot. Notice how the bow is angled for maximum stompage of Martin's face.

(Wes Shrek photo)

Martin about to f it all up. (Wes Shrek photo)

The Crew, post beer slalom, at Hennessy Rapid.

2009-2010 Creeking Compilation

South Branch Kayaking

Here is a short video, real short, I put together from this spring on the South Branch of the Middle Feather. Unfortunately the audio track did not pan out once uploaded, but I have been too busy, or maybe just too lazy to fix the issue. Anyways, hope you enjoy.

North Fork Trinity IV-V

The North Trin, as it is fondly referred to by North coast locals, is a spectacular 14 miles of whitewater in a secluded wilderness setting. The rapids are mostly class 3 and 4 with the occasional spicier section to keep things entertaining. We had a flow of around 750 cfs with sunny skies and temperatures near the 80s. Not bad for Northern Cali in April. Unfortunately, after a devastating computer crash, I was left with only two photos from the trip, both of myself. I know, completely narcissistic, but good pics anyways by the always oh so crisp, Ben York.

Typical boogie mank on the North Fork.

This is what the N.F. is all about! Good rocks, and Great Boofs!

Hood River Huxtables

Melissa DeMarie styling Celestial Falls


If Mother Nature hooked up with Disneyland, their love child would most likely resemble the Columbia River Gorge, with its slick views, and ample fodder for lusting huckers. That said, the Little White, a.k.a. L-Dub, and the Green Truss section of the White Salmon, are two outstanding sections of whitewater to be found in this area, and due to dismal water flows this spring, were also the only creeks running for the week we were there. Along with a quick lap on Sweet Creek (near Eugene), some carnage at the Money Drop, and one sweet line on Celestial, we managed to round out a week of paddling, partying, and escaping arrest.

A note on this last bit:

Money Drop on Rock creek is apparently illegal to run, as it lays on designated no trespassing property. We found this out the hard way... next time I think we'll dress as ninjas.

Trip Stats:

-5 People, 5 Swimmers

-2 Broken Boats

-1 person jumped on outside the Pub

-25+ Carbombs consumed on St. Patty's night

-5 pounds of Gummy bears consumed

-1 Spelunking adventure at Big Brother

Enjoy the Photos By Ben York

Martin Belden boofing Spirit falls on the Little White.

Famous Leif.

Peter running left at S-Turn on the Little White.


Orion Meredith stomping the line at Wishbone.


"Big Brother" on the Green Truss, White Salmon.


Ben York running Big Brother. (the notorious cave is visible on river right)


Melissa DeMarie at Little Brother after battling out of the cave at Big Bro.


Orion Blasting into Boulder Sluice, L Dub.


Martin running the center of Stovepipe, L Dub.


Double Drop, Green Truss.

This trip was made possible by the support of Adventure's Edge, the best place to find all your outdoor supplies in Arcata, and the new Adventure's Edge store opening in Eureka on April 15. Also, we wanna give a big thanks to the boys at the Beaver Lodge, for letting us crash their couches and drying lines for the week.

For Photo Information contact Ben York at benyorkovich@gmail.com

Sweet Creek, OR Video

Clear Creek (IV-V, P)

Clear Creek flows into the Klamath River just downstream from the town of Happy Camp on Hwy. 96. This is maybe the best class 4-5 creek in the area, and certainly one of my favorites. The entire run is chock full of high quality rapids consisting of good boofs, bedrock, and tight gorges.

The first mile of the run is the most difficult and continuous, and the first big rapid, although visible from the trail on the hike in, has a tendency to sneak up on groups, causing its fair share of carnage. Downstream from the bridge over Clear Creek is the one mandatory portage of the run. Portage on the right. Also, note that the eddy for the portage is right at the lip of the drop, and at higher flows (over 900 cfs on the Indian Creek guage) it may be necessary to eddy out up higher to avoid rolling backwards into the portage. Below the portage are a few small rapids, and then the final gorge of the run. The final rapid is a must run and one of the best on the creek.

Will Parham stoked to be hiking in the sunshine.

Peter Malkin boofing the right side of the first large rapid.

Will about to boof, and get chundered, in the entrance of the first big one.

Will with a nice rock slide.

Melissa DeMarie lining up the boof in the second rapid.

Martin Belden boofing away...

Will making the move through the curler, which feeds to the left into less friendly waters.

Martin in another classic Clear Creek rapid.

Melissa running right in the same drop.

Peter boofing big in the entrance of one of the larger rapids on the creek.

Take-out:

From Hwy. 96, turn west onto Clear Creek road, about 10 miles south of the town of Happy

Camp, just north of the Clear Creek bridge. Follow signs that lead to the Clear Creek trailhead.

After driving 5-6 miles, look for a Forest Service river access sign on the left side of the road.

Park here, and make sure to scout the take-out, as the trail leading back to the road can be easy

to miss.

Put-in:

Continue driving up the road until it ends at the trailhead. Hike about one mile upstream and

put in where the trail meets the creek.

New River Gorge Photo Update

Here are some photos from a trip last weekend (2/6) on the lower New. We had flows of around 1000 cfs... nice and fluffy.

Dan Menten running the first rapid of the Gorge.

Peter Malkin a.k.a "The Russian" with a stylie boof in the numero uno.

Martin Belden running the top double drop of the second gorge rapid.

The final move in the second rapid... move right! The spray in the background is the surging mass we like to call the Penalty Box, a nasty backed up hole on river left.

Dan boofing the first 6 foot ledge in the third big rapid.

Dan about to go deep into the throat of Crack in the Rock.

Tombstone rapid, with another good drop in the background. This run has a consistently steep gradient for the length of the gorge.

The tombstone pillow dishing out a nice pirouette stern squirt combo.

Looking downstream from below Tombstone. The final half mile of the gorge is some of the best.... enjoy!

Thanks to Ben York for the Photos.

Upper New River (IV)

The Upper New River flows through a beautiful canyon upstream of the small town of Denny. During the late 1970s, Denny earned its notoriety during a standoff between the townsfolk and the National Guard, who had been sent with orders to disperse the small mining town that had cropped up on government land. The people of Denny asserted their claim to the land, and although it is nearly a ghost town these days, there are still many small ranches and homes set in this pristine valley.

This section of the New is full of bedrock mini gorges, good boofs, and fun boulder gardens. The largest two rapids come in the final mile before the take-out. The first of these, dubbed "Hand of God", contains a hole that can pack some punch at higher flows, and would be moderately difficult to portage.

Dan Menten running one of the first good rapids on the Upper New.

Melissa DeMarie lining up a nice boof.

Martin Belden running the first hole in "Hand of God".

Melissa in the run out from H.o.G.

Dan Menten coming up from the melt.

Matt Porter running the bottom of H.o.G.

A nice rainbow, and leprechaun crossing sign finish out the day...

Take-Out: From Hwy. 101, head west on Hwy. 299 about 40 miles to the town of Hawkin's Bar.

Turn North on the signed road to Denny, and drive about 18 miles to Denny. On the far side of

Town, there is a small dirt road on the right that leads to small grassy flat visible from the road.

Follow this road until it ends at the old dump.

Put-In: Continue driving upstream on the main road until a bridge crosses the New River. Put-

in just above the bridge for maximum fun rating.

Thanks to Ben York for taking Photos.

Burnt Ranch Gorge Video

Fordyce Creek Video (With Sound)

South Silver Video

Cherries: the Upper and the West

Upper Cherry and West Cherry are two of the greatest overnight trips on the face of planet earth. The glacial gutters carved into the solid granite bedrock of the Sierra Nevada range provide more than enough stimulation for the eyes and adrenal glands during the time spent careening down mother nature's handmade waterslides. Since there are already numerous descriptions of the runs, and the hikes, I will spare you the details, and get right down to the porn. Enjoy the pics.

Martin enjoying some sunshine on Upper Cherry.

Josh on the put-in slide. Upper Cherry.

World Class scenery. 

The famous Cherry Bomb Gorge.

Looking upstream at the confluence of Upper and West Cherry.

West Cherry.

Kiwi Nick. West Cherry.

Martin in the goods.