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

So steezy…Photo by Heather Herbeck, www.sheermadnessproductions.com

We drove nearly 2 hours north into the Gifford Pinchot National Forest for this waterfall. Nestled between Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams, the upper stretch of the Lewis River is a remote beauty. Prior to yesterday, I had never seen this drop in person. I didn’t expect what I encountered.

The emotional impact of this physical place is incredible. The sun shone brightly on rocks and cascading clear water. Moss, lichens and trees clung to the side of a small gorge into which the waterfall flows. A deep azure pool lay below.

After a quick scout, I decided to gear up. We talked cameras and shooting angles. I took another look from downstream. I took several more looks at the lip and studied the entrance rapid for a while. I wanted to be dialed in, to be perfect, to set myself well for the final ledge and lip.

Above the waterfall, the river is wide and slow. The water is shallow. I warmed up as best I could, stretched a little and thought. I thought about the entrance, how I would drive right towards the bottom and kick my bow up at the last instant. I thought about driving left at the ledge, stroking through the landing, then stroking at the lip of the waterfall. I thought about launching myself out, not landing flat so as to save my back. I thought about how much fun I was going to have.

I blew a long, loud blast on my whistle and began moving downstream. I looked at the relatively easy rapid in front of my bow, rather than the looming horizon line towards which I was moving. I came into the entrance, picked up speed and cruised right where I wanted to be. I drove towards the last ledge, my bow shot up but I didn’t notice. Cranked the last stroke, bow up, leaning forward and low. Bone-rattling impact. Big splash. At the bottom and full of joy. I can’t believe how cool that was.

Lower Lewis Falls is big and beautiful and amazing. I am going back on Sunday.

There is absolutely nothing better than paddling a new section of river with good friends.  Saturday we had a beautiful day and I paddled waterfalls and rapids I’d yet to see.

I’ve kayaked in the  Opal Creek Wilderness a few times over the years.  The standard run involves parking at the trailhead, hiking your boat about a mile downhill, then paddling to 3 Pools.  This section of river is the most beautiful stretch of river I’ve paddled in the Northwest.  Carving its way through an old growth forest, Opal Creek is lined by amazing rock formations and fun class IV rapids.

Saturday we hiked an extra 30 minutes, mostly uphill, to run a higher part of Opal Creek.  Walking in your drysuit, carrying 40-50 lbs of boat and gear uphill is not fun.  At best, it is a decent amount of work for a little bit of reward.  This day it was well worth it.  The upper stretches of Opal Creek were awesome.  We got to run a few new waterfalls and I stomped all of them.  Everyone had good lines all day.  Smiles abounded and it was the best day we’ve had this year.