I’ve been looking at one particular waterfall for about a year now. Part of it looks fantastic and part of it looks significantly less fantastic. Getting there involves a remote hike and rappel into a steep, narrow gorge. Loose rock abounds. Last week, on my way out of the gorge, as I was ascending a rope, I knocked a rock loose. It hit my hand and fun ensued. Read More
One the most common difficulties my students have is increasing their success rate rolling in whitewater. Nothing is more rewarding for a beginner than getting their first combat roll. And nothing is more frustrating than continuing to swim. Solidifying your combat roll of gives paddlers an unbelievable level of confidence. Here’s how to do just that. Read More
Last weekend a group of paddlers from Portland and Salem headed down to the McKenzie to indulge in a little bit of fall paddling. Chris, a student of mine, has been telling me about how awesome the McKenzie for as long as I’ve known him. He organizes a huge group camp-out every fall and I finally got around to going down there this year.
The water was low and the weather was cold. It was beautiful – there is just something magical about cool, crisp autumn air. We paddled the McKenzie and surfed some great waves. I ate well, shared many laughs and spent many nice hours by the campfire. All in the audience of changing leaves, bright reds and yellows, framed by evergreens. Is this really the off-season for kayaking?
Best Days Kayaking 2009 from Dave Hoffman on Vimeo.
Check out some of the best days I had paddling in 2009. And really, I was quite lucky this year, getting a lot of days on a lot of quality whitewater.
With this sick weather forecast for Portland, I am going to have a couple more great days before the year is up. Going to scout some waterfalls tomorrow!
-Dave
In early summer I took a trip to California for some Sierra whitewater awesomeness. This is my last trip report — just a little delayed.
High water on the South Fork of the Merced ended our last opportunity for a multiday trip in the Sierras. With the Merced spiking up uncontrollably, our friends and their friends telling us it would be terrifying. Jesse and Forrest thought the same. Read More
El Dub Headcam from Dave Hoffman on Vimeo.
The Little White Salmon River is heaven on earth for whitewater kayakers. It has it all – technical boulder garderns, fun ledge drops, an epic waterfall, the clearest and bluest water I’ve seen and complex never-ending rapids, all set in a beautiful remote gorge that tumbles down to the Columbia River. Many kayakers Read More
One of the things that I’ve found most helpful to gear up for the whtiewater season is weekly flatwater paddling. By training regularly on flatwater, both stroke technique and endurance, you can dramatically improve your paddling ability on whitewater. Read More
Pool Sessions: Tuesday 7:30 – 9:00 (Oct. 20, 2009 – Dec. 15, 2009 & Jan. 5 – Feb. 23, 2010.)
Cost: $8 for OKCC members, $12 for non-members, $6 16 and under, free when you renew your OKCC membership
Address: 7300 SE Harmony Rd, Milwaukie, OR
Website: http://www.clackamas.us/ncprd/aquatic/
Phone Number: 503.794.8080
Pool Sessions: Tuesday & Thursday 8:00 – 9:30
Cost: $8
Address: 7701 N Chautauqua Boulevard, Portland, OR 97217
Website: http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=38284&
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A Big Swell Hits the Oregon Coast
This weekend the largest swell so far this winter hit the Oregon Coast. Sidelined by an injury, I trekked to Cape Meares with my roommate Mike to check out the scene.
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