The trip started off with us figuring out a roof rack for our spiffy rental car. We figured our car was shiny so our rack should be too...Twenty six dollars later we had a rack of PVC and hose clamps. Bling Bling!
El Escape in Leavenworth, Washington (Photo by: Kim Russell)
After the traditional stop for energy drinks, we were on the road to Yakima, where we we made a slight detour to the Tieton River to catch the annual release and the super epic, super awesome... BRIDGE WAVE. Turns out it wasn't really in, but we made it in! It's amazing how much fun you can have at a not so in feature with good company!
Jesse rockin' the plaid on the Bridge Wave, Tieton River Washington (Photo by: Kim Russell)
The rest of the Tieton is a beautiful continuous class III river with some sweet play features. After attempting to wavewheel every wave on the river (not really), we made it to the takeout just in time to catch a shuttle from a not so sober construction worker. At least the roads weren't too curvy...
Now off to Spokane and Leavenworth!
We decided Leavenworth was pretty badass... not only is it a mountain biking, skiing, and kayaking mecca, it has a full on "putt putt" golf course downtown with two goats for lawnmowers. Oh and the entire town is like a little Germany (think Bavarian theme). I've never seen a gas station look so cool.
While we were in the area we hit up a super sweet mountain bike trail of a 4 mile climb to the top of the valley, followed by two miles or so of DH to the car. SICK! Afterward, we made a quick stop to check out Icicle Creek and Tumwater Canyon... even at low water, things looked gnarly.
Icicle Creek (Photo by: Kim Russell)
Jesse at "Exit Rapid" of Tumwater Canyon (Photo by: Kim Russell)
The next morning we set out for a quick loop to Seattle cursing our phone of a GPS as it proceeded to cut out everytime we reached a major city. Thanks Sprint. We made it home from Seattle just in time to see this...
Hood River Sunset (Photo by: Jesse Becker)
The next morning, we loaded the creek boats on the car with the playboats, stuffed the bikes in the back, and took off down I5 to Cali. After 14 hours of driving and 500 songs later, we made it to Southern Cali! Yea!
Sunset in Santa Barbara (Photo by: Jesse Becker)
After a couple days of cruising around the coast, we were ready to get out of suburbia and back to the hills. Even though we hit rush hour traffic right on time in Sacramento, we managed to make it to the River Store in Coloma just in time for their Friday night pre-dinner for the American River Festival. Thanks for all your hard work Robin and crew! You all are awesome!
Saturday morning dawned and we rallied to the put-in with our amigo, Paul Gamache, breakfast burritos in hand! Minutes later we were on the river headed toward the site of the rodeo: First Threat. First Threat is a good-sized wave/hole with a pretty deep trough. It's sticky enough to throw most tricks, but you have to be on it to stick them. I managed a second place in women's, while fellow WS member Taylor Calvin got 3rd in mens. YEA!
The next day, a Taylor Calvin, Justin Patt, Jesse Becker and I decided to rally to the South Fork of the Feather for a little creeking adventure. On the way there we had an adventure of our own as we stopped for Taylor to show us his dance moves and had a run in with some cows.
Taylor Calvin still in the Coloma Club groove (Photo by: Kim Russell)
Justin had to touch the cow. (Photo by: Kim Russell)
South Fork Feather (Photo by: Kim Russell)
Just looking at the river made us excited...
(Photo by: Jesse Becker)
so we went paddling.
(Photo by: Taylor Calvin)
Weeee!
Unfortunately I left my camera in the car, but we did get these sweet post-paddling pictures.
(Photo by: Taylor Calvin)
We make blurry look good... (Photo by: El Escape)
After the SF Feather we drove to Arcata, Ca to paddle Burnt Ranch Gorge, get some surfing in and see some friends. BRG was a super fun run, super fun boofs interspersed throughout, and good company on the river. Once at the coast, the waves weren't breaking very consistently, so we decided to stay dry, watch Paul and take pictures.
Camel Rock, Arcata (Photo by: Kim Russell)
Paul bluntin' in Arcata (Photo by: Jesse Becker)
I'm crushing you're head... (Photo by: Jesse Becker)
The next day we drove back to Bend, Oregon via Grants Pass, taking a break from driving to paddle the Natural Bridge and Takilma Gorge section of the NF Rogue River.
The typical put-in (Photo by: Jesse Becker)
Our put-in (Photo by: Kim Russell)
The lead in to drop 3 of the gorge (Photo by: Kim Russell)
If you paddle this section, once you enter the gorge, take your time and watch our for sieves/lava tubes/undercuts, etc, particularly in the middle of the second drop of the five. Make sure you have a your pin kin available...
The next day we made home to Hood River just in time to drop off the rental car and get some delicious tacos for dinna. What a crazy two weeks!
Hope everyone's summer is wrapping up nicely! I'm off to start my Senior year of college in four days! Wohoo!
(Photo by: Jesse Becker)
Kim Russell
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