Monday, October 30, 2006

Ravens Fork

The plan was to leave for the Russell Fork on Friday afternoon, camp at the festival grounds and then get a practice run in on Sat. morning before the race. I had just recieved my Perception Mirage from Shane, (Thanks dogg!) and had outfitted it as best as I could. Then it began to rain.

Saturday morning I woke to rain still pattering away and the Russell Fork climbing at 2800cfs. I was headed South. I met up at Chris G's house to see what was going off near Ashvegas. Ravens Fork was going to be high, and most people were headed to the Horsepasture. Again we waited to see what the gauges were doing. As soon as the Oconaluftee started dropping back down we made a dash for it. Met up with Nasty Nate Silsbee, Chancy, and Robbie and loaded up in Rob's truck and were off.


Chris and I scouting Mike Tyson's Punchout.

At the trail-head we met up with the Tdub gang and strted our hike in. One boat down the mountian, and a couple of nice falls later we were at the river with crystal clear water and blue skys. As we pulled up to Anaconda,Wilson and Drew appeared on the bank with Jim Bob. The day turned out to be perfect. As we moved down the river the rapids never let up, drop after drop, boof after boof if was like heaven on earth. We had a great group and for the most part everyone had good lines.


Drew driving it into Mike Tyson's.

We got to Big Boy just in time to see the huck session, Pat, Tommy, Jason, John, Jules, Rafel and Robbie all fired it up. It was a very unique experience to stand at the top of that drop and watch as some to the best paddlers in the world fired up one of the nastiest drops in the SE.


Tommy Tsunami stomppin' it!!!

After Big Boy we continued on down through Mike Tyson's and Caveman and some quality boogie. One more portage around the Mangaler and we were at Emanuel's taking off.

The Ravens Fork provided us with a great day of good water, good people and good times. i can't wait to get back!!!

Thanks to Nathan Silsbee for the visuals.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Russell Fork



Sock Monkeys, El Swimo, Camp Chris and a mysterious VW van are the only memories of the last trip to the Russell Fork two years ago. This year's trip north was a different story; With the Lord of the Fork only a couple weeks away it was time to get down!!!


I met up with JC superstar, Adam Herzog, at 8am and started the drive north to the Muscle Fork. Don't call Adam if you want to go kayaking and sleep in, sleeping in and Adam Herzog don't get along. Two other words you wouldn't think would be spoken together are "playboating" and "Adam Herzog." But someday you too might be lucky enough to catch Mr. Zog in his Session+ tearing it up!!!


Bryon, who lives in the sweet looking pad at the put-in of the Watauga, also met us up at the Fork. Bryon was lapping it up with us in his bluebird Crossfire. Here we find Bryon in his natural habitat, using the forward stroke to get 'er done!!! Use extreme caution while driving in the High Country these days, because Bryon recently bought a crotch-rocket and can be spotted riding in the buff round these parts, it's acually kind of disturbing.


I usually can't be spotted anywhere because of my new invisible cloak that I stole from Harry Potter. I had to take it off for the playboating runs because it got caught up in my PFD when I was throwing wheels. Here's a shot of me about to wheel off El Horrendo. Thanks to Bryon for snapping this pic and Adam's shot.

Two days, six runs, two in the playboats, great scenery, better rapids, and sweet people made this weekend special. It was the third weekend in a row I've gotten six runs on either the Green or the Fork. Thanks to John and Shaggy for the ride up for #4 on Saturday, didn't think we were going to get that one in!

And for everybody stoked about their new long boat they bought on eBay...



Peace in the Middle East.