The last of the summertime goods...the Cispus

At a time of the year when the majority of the creeks in the country are drying up its exciting to know that there is still plenty of creek boating to be had out here in the Northwest. The Upper Upper Cispus has been our saving grace for that rush of class 5 adrenaline. The White Salmon is still great for everyday commuting, sprint laps and work of course, but knowing that there is still water in the Cispus is awesome.
I first got on the Cispus towards the end of July with good water flows (around 750 cfs). It was BROWN and awesome. Even at lower flows (approx. 450 cfs) the upper upper Cispus still provides tons o' fun. It helps having been down it a few times so you know where the rocks are and aren't.

The run starts off with a bang: A sweet double tiered 15' er into a small pool, then immediately duck the trees. The upper section is a bit bony even at good flows, then Adam's creek generally doubles the flow about a mile and a half into the run. Its a great east meets west style run: East coast boulder gardens and rock banging and some big West coast style drops, namely Bohemith. This is one awesome rapid. There is a fun lead in rapid that you dont want to mess up then a small pool above the big one. At this point you are committed, its unscoutable and unportagable from the pool above. Its one heck of a horizon line because you are looking way down past the next rapid. The rapid just following Bohemith, Righty Tighty is awesome as well. Enough talkin' check out the goods:

Andy styling the first drop

Drew ducking the trees immediately following the first drop. Oh yea, there's lots of interesting wood on the Cispus!

Andy running left at Island around 750 cfs (its a sweet slide to boof!)

Trevor on BOHEMITH!

Looking down from Bohemith into Righty Tighty...awesome section of river!

After running all the good class 5 there is an awesome little side hike up a very narrow and remote gorge that can only be accessed from paddling down the upper upper Cispus and swimming into this gorge that gets you to this beautiful waterfall. Its a nice treat after some good quality kaykaing.

Stay tuned east coast updates are coming soon. Im in Highlands NC today having great runs on the Green, Russell Fork and today the Chattooga. Yeeehaw!

A True Classic: The North Fork of the Payette

Staying in the flow, heading downstream and keeping it upright: the best NF beta

Photo: Brian "BReal" Ward

Ever since reading the description of the North Fork of the Payette in the Western States Whitewater guidebook a friend gave me last year I was instantly drawn to the mystique of this run. HUGE waves, HUGE holes and HUGE RAPIDS was pretty much what I got out of it. Last month I got the chance to check it out for myself. It sure enough lived up to its reputation. On the ride up we looked at Jacob's Ladder and Nutcracker. Its hard to appreciate the size and complexity of any of the rapids from anywhere but in a kayak. Not long after putting on Drew's friend, how was our guide, felt really squirrely and said "I'm gonna die out here if I dont get out now." So he took out and we continued on, following very limited info that Drew remembered from his last visit. We had a healthy flow of about 2,300 cfs. Some of the rapids felt like they went on forever, it was awesome!!! Having a guide is helpful in places, but more often than not you are just cruising down the middle wavetop scouting for massive holes. Its so big and fast that you can punch a lot of stuff you wouldn't expect to be able to punch. We did all 15 miles top to bottom the first day and the upper 10 miles the second day then headed on back to the Gorge. It was a nice change from lots and lots of creekboating. One more of the 50 Classic runs in North America down. Big Water is a much different and really rad animal!

Me feeling small in the massive North Fork whitewater

Photo: Brian "BReal" Ward

Me launching a boof towards the bottom of Nutcracker

Photo: Brian "BReal" Ward

Boby (Zee German) styling the famous "rock drop" boof  in Jacob's Ladder

Drew Austell and the North Fork making the Green Boat look small in Jacob's Ladder