Matt Kurle is a sick, sick boater.
He also edits some badass videos.
Showing posts with label GoPro HD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GoPro HD. Show all posts
Friday, July 13, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Robe Canyon - High Water Run
Prior to this morning I had never run Robe higher than 5.9.
There are a handful of boaters in the Seattle area that regularly boat Robe above 6 feet but I could never say I desired to be among them. At 5.8 and 5.9 the holes get much bigger, the wave trains steeper and the pucker factor magnifies by a factor of around 20.
I kept hearing it was "good to go" and "almost fun" above 6 feet, from a couple of locals, but I wasn't convinced.
Then the day finally arrived; Nothing else was in (at a reasonable level) and I HAD to get on the water. Darren had called earlier in the morning and told me that there would be a decent sized group on the river, so safety would be less of an issue. I tentatively agreed to join.
I called Joe and his response to my inquiry as to the intelligence of the undertaking at hand was: "what could go wrong?"
By the time we got to the takeout I had worked myself up to walking T1 and probably Sunshine, as well as the possibility of walking Hotel California (the longest rapid on the run). I told my rumbling gut I would give it a look.
Some Bellingham boys joined us and all in all we had close to 10 kayaks in the water at the put-in. This time last year I would say it would have been wishful thinking to get 10 people to join you on Robe at a more agreeable level of 5.5 or so. The class V community in Washington is expanding rapidly!
We put on and I was surprised to see that there is a sneak line on RL of T1. The boof at T2 is a must make and the hole at the bottom of Last Sunshine looks like the Boogie Man, Pinhead and whatever demon lived under you bed as a child all rolled into one massive mosnter. The video speaks for itself, it was an amazing day. My only out of boat experience was the portage at Landslide and I got a huge boof off the left side of Off Broadway.
The 6 foot and higher realm is actually a fun place to be... if you're on line.
Robe Canyon - 6.3' from daniel patrinellis on Vimeo.
There are a handful of boaters in the Seattle area that regularly boat Robe above 6 feet but I could never say I desired to be among them. At 5.8 and 5.9 the holes get much bigger, the wave trains steeper and the pucker factor magnifies by a factor of around 20.
I kept hearing it was "good to go" and "almost fun" above 6 feet, from a couple of locals, but I wasn't convinced.
Then the day finally arrived; Nothing else was in (at a reasonable level) and I HAD to get on the water. Darren had called earlier in the morning and told me that there would be a decent sized group on the river, so safety would be less of an issue. I tentatively agreed to join.
I called Joe and his response to my inquiry as to the intelligence of the undertaking at hand was: "what could go wrong?"
By the time we got to the takeout I had worked myself up to walking T1 and probably Sunshine, as well as the possibility of walking Hotel California (the longest rapid on the run). I told my rumbling gut I would give it a look.
Some Bellingham boys joined us and all in all we had close to 10 kayaks in the water at the put-in. This time last year I would say it would have been wishful thinking to get 10 people to join you on Robe at a more agreeable level of 5.5 or so. The class V community in Washington is expanding rapidly!
We put on and I was surprised to see that there is a sneak line on RL of T1. The boof at T2 is a must make and the hole at the bottom of Last Sunshine looks like the Boogie Man, Pinhead and whatever demon lived under you bed as a child all rolled into one massive mosnter. The video speaks for itself, it was an amazing day. My only out of boat experience was the portage at Landslide and I got a huge boof off the left side of Off Broadway.
The 6 foot and higher realm is actually a fun place to be... if you're on line.
Robe Canyon - 6.3' from daniel patrinellis on Vimeo.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Jefferson Creek
I was finally able to put on my big boy pants and get back on Jefferson Creek.
Darren Albright took me down Jefferson my first season of creeking (before I knew better) and I had some really good times in there, then I decided to put on during a high water event and had an interesting day. I hadn't been back into Jefferson Creek in almost two years (since February of 2010).
Jefferson Creek is a rarely run Olympic Peninsula gem of a river, it's not even in the Korb guide (our only guide for the OP's watersheds). To say that Jefferson is Ldub's slightly younger and sluttier cousin wouldn't be far from the truth... Its steep and technical but overall not a very difficult run. That being said, I had my closest call on this Creek in the winter of 2010. Lost a boat and paddle and probably came closer to losing something else much more intangible.
Here's a little video from the next day when the water had dropped a little bit and I hiked in to where I swam:
And here is a clip from when I went back in a couple weeks later to try and regain some pride:
Jefferson Creek is about an hour from my house and happens to be one of the closest quality runs available to us Kitsap County residents. Sadly, it probably only sees a handful of runs a year. Due to it's lack of a river gauge, it's remote location and the general tendency of the Olympic Peninsula to throw a wrench in even the most well though out plans, not many people make the pilgrimage. A typical winter or early spring phone call trying to convince a Seattlite to come out West goes something like this:
Ring, ring...
Seattle Boater: "Hello?"
Me: "Dude! Whats up? You boating today?"
Seattle Boater: "hmmm, whats in? Whats Robe at?"
Me: "Dunno, Robe's low, so is Ernie's."
Seattle Boater: "Well. What you thinkin?"
Me: "Elkhorn is in... Jefferson might be..."
Seattle Boater: "You think it'll be in?
Me: "Sure, maybe. I think so. Darren says it's good to go I think."
Seattle Boater: " I think I'm gonna hit the Sky."
Me: "ehh."
Click-
Sadly this is how the majority of Saturday, potential OP madness days, end before they even start. It's understandable though so I don't hold a grudge or withhold a throwbag. We are so spoiled here in the PNW that its hard to convince someone take a chance on a creek that may or may not have water in it (or too much...) when you can run out and get on the Skykomish or the Green. But... Jefferson has treats, I digress:
A tributary to the Hamma Hamma, access is no issue. A well manicured forest service road in the Hamma Hamma recreation area takes you right to the take out and then its a 5 mile drive up to the put in. The run is only 2.1(ish) miles long, but its continuous class IV+-V for all but a couple hundred feet of those 2.1 miles. The run is roadside-ish... easy to get into, not so easy to get out of. Once you leave the put in, the creek drops off the face of the earth and a hike out of the canyon to the road could take hours, see above video.
American Whitewater has the creek's gradient listed as 260 feet per mile. Steep, considering that there are no waterfalls or even ledges higher than 10 feet on the run. Sounds fishy right? It's riverbed is made up of big sheets of bedrock and dotted with huge smooth boulders that sometimes sport a mantle of timber from high water events. While the big boulders in the gardens are round and unassuming, the average rock in the creek bed is sharp and jagged. The pin potential on this run increases exponentially with a decrease in water level. If you can, bring a beater boat for your first couple of trips and do not forget your elbow pads!
The scenery in this drainage is out of this world! At the put in, the river is pretty level and there isn't much gradient so it just appears to be another densely forested OP run. Then you drop in and you find yourself almost locked into this gorgeous canyon. Handhold-less vertical walls limit your view of the sky and your route of escape at times. Then, around other corners, nothing but beautiful deep emerald green trees coming all the way down the banks into the water. As on most Olympic Peninsula runs, you need to be on your toes for wood. There is always wood in this run, its just a question of how involved you have to get when you find it. There are several spots on the river where you paddle under the natural lattice work created by high water events and the trees of past.
One of the coolest things about this river is the water. First off, its cold. Bone cold, so bring your pogies and a drysuit is a must. The water is this bluish green color that looks almost carbonated. I don't know if this is due to porous rock or just the turbulence of the water, but its pretty cool to see and feel non-the-less.
There are several diligent Olympic Peninsula residents that spend a lot of time in the summer and fall keeping runs like Jefferson free of wood that would require portaging and we all owe them. As of right now, there is only one portage and even that is debatable. I had heard about Rob running the portage on accident during a really high water run and now Darren and Rob regularly run the drop in question.
Describing the rapids is all but useless, its like describing Ernie's Canyon: there are just too many rapids in there to accurately describe them in any other situation or setting than the eddy above the drop in question. Or, maybe its just because it's one long rapid... I'm sure the majority of them have names and correct lines but to be totally honest, I've only scouted two drops on the run and those are pretty straight forward. This also accounts for the distinct lack of quality photos, there's no time to jump out and take shots when you're flying down the run at 90mph.
Either way, if you like incredibly dense forest scenery, bedrock slides, technical creeking and water that looks like it came out of a Disney movie make your way out to Jefferson Creek. Snap in, get a death grip on your paddle and start smiling!
y
 |
| The run out below Island Drop. Jefferson Creek, WA. |
Darren Albright took me down Jefferson my first season of creeking (before I knew better) and I had some really good times in there, then I decided to put on during a high water event and had an interesting day. I hadn't been back into Jefferson Creek in almost two years (since February of 2010).
 |
| The biggest drop on Jefferson, Below Island Drop. Jefferson Creek, WA. |
Jefferson Creek is a rarely run Olympic Peninsula gem of a river, it's not even in the Korb guide (our only guide for the OP's watersheds). To say that Jefferson is Ldub's slightly younger and sluttier cousin wouldn't be far from the truth... Its steep and technical but overall not a very difficult run. That being said, I had my closest call on this Creek in the winter of 2010. Lost a boat and paddle and probably came closer to losing something else much more intangible.
 |
| Bottom Two ledges in Island Drop. Jefferson Creek. |
Here's a little video from the next day when the water had dropped a little bit and I hiked in to where I swam:
And here is a clip from when I went back in a couple weeks later to try and regain some pride:
Jefferson Creek is about an hour from my house and happens to be one of the closest quality runs available to us Kitsap County residents. Sadly, it probably only sees a handful of runs a year. Due to it's lack of a river gauge, it's remote location and the general tendency of the Olympic Peninsula to throw a wrench in even the most well though out plans, not many people make the pilgrimage. A typical winter or early spring phone call trying to convince a Seattlite to come out West goes something like this:
Ring, ring...
Seattle Boater: "Hello?"
Me: "Dude! Whats up? You boating today?"
Seattle Boater: "hmmm, whats in? Whats Robe at?"
Me: "Dunno, Robe's low, so is Ernie's."
Seattle Boater: "Well. What you thinkin?"
Me: "Elkhorn is in... Jefferson might be..."
Seattle Boater: "You think it'll be in?
Me: "Sure, maybe. I think so. Darren says it's good to go I think."
Seattle Boater: " I think I'm gonna hit the Sky."
Me: "ehh."
Click-
Sadly this is how the majority of Saturday, potential OP madness days, end before they even start. It's understandable though so I don't hold a grudge or withhold a throwbag. We are so spoiled here in the PNW that its hard to convince someone take a chance on a creek that may or may not have water in it (or too much...) when you can run out and get on the Skykomish or the Green. But... Jefferson has treats, I digress:
 |
| One of many rapids on Jefferson Creek, WA. |
American Whitewater has the creek's gradient listed as 260 feet per mile. Steep, considering that there are no waterfalls or even ledges higher than 10 feet on the run. Sounds fishy right? It's riverbed is made up of big sheets of bedrock and dotted with huge smooth boulders that sometimes sport a mantle of timber from high water events. While the big boulders in the gardens are round and unassuming, the average rock in the creek bed is sharp and jagged. The pin potential on this run increases exponentially with a decrease in water level. If you can, bring a beater boat for your first couple of trips and do not forget your elbow pads!
The scenery in this drainage is out of this world! At the put in, the river is pretty level and there isn't much gradient so it just appears to be another densely forested OP run. Then you drop in and you find yourself almost locked into this gorgeous canyon. Handhold-less vertical walls limit your view of the sky and your route of escape at times. Then, around other corners, nothing but beautiful deep emerald green trees coming all the way down the banks into the water. As on most Olympic Peninsula runs, you need to be on your toes for wood. There is always wood in this run, its just a question of how involved you have to get when you find it. There are several spots on the river where you paddle under the natural lattice work created by high water events and the trees of past.
 | ||
| At least you don't have to duck at these levels... |
One of the coolest things about this river is the water. First off, its cold. Bone cold, so bring your pogies and a drysuit is a must. The water is this bluish green color that looks almost carbonated. I don't know if this is due to porous rock or just the turbulence of the water, but its pretty cool to see and feel non-the-less.
 |
| Ridiculous Scenery |
 | |
| Goods for days and days. |
There are several diligent Olympic Peninsula residents that spend a lot of time in the summer and fall keeping runs like Jefferson free of wood that would require portaging and we all owe them. As of right now, there is only one portage and even that is debatable. I had heard about Rob running the portage on accident during a really high water run and now Darren and Rob regularly run the drop in question.
 | |
| Darren mid portage. |
Describing the rapids is all but useless, its like describing Ernie's Canyon: there are just too many rapids in there to accurately describe them in any other situation or setting than the eddy above the drop in question. Or, maybe its just because it's one long rapid... I'm sure the majority of them have names and correct lines but to be totally honest, I've only scouted two drops on the run and those are pretty straight forward. This also accounts for the distinct lack of quality photos, there's no time to jump out and take shots when you're flying down the run at 90mph.
Either way, if you like incredibly dense forest scenery, bedrock slides, technical creeking and water that looks like it came out of a Disney movie make your way out to Jefferson Creek. Snap in, get a death grip on your paddle and start smiling!
y
 |
| If the takeout looks like this, ask yourself one question: "Am I Rob McKibbon?". If the answer is "no": Go home. |
 |
| Its hard to judge level at the takeout as the river bed changes so much here, use the island in the stream bed looking upstream from the bridge as point of reference. |
 |
| Another shot of Island Drop. Jefferson Creek, WA. |
 |
| Chillin on the bank below Island Drop. |
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Freedom Laps on the Green
I was able to spend the 4th of July weekend in Asheville. I had three days off work and my back wasn't sore so I decided to hit the road and get back down into North Carolina.
Green Narrows, NC: Freedom Laps from daniel patrinellis on Vimeo.
Hunter Davis was out of town shooting video in Canada for Canoe Movie 2, but Megan was cool enough to let me crash on the couch for another weekend. I had no contacts and no plan of attack. I just drove down to the takeout and hoped to meet people. It worked out pretty well.
Photo Dump from my summer in Asheville:
Art everywhere. Downtown Asheville
Blurry Gorilla line. Big Dog Dropzone made it easy.
Gorilla
Good nightlife. Downtown Asheville, NC
Good beer and cheap pizza, Barley's in Asheville.
Fun cave at the end of the run.
Stokes tries to run the shit.
Stokes gets Stoked!
Hunter, Megan & Timber.
Stokes: Mid-Lloyd.
Comin in Hot!
Lead in to Frankenstein, Green Narrows.
Getting busy in Frankenstein, Green Narrows.
Fun boof below Go left & Die, Green Narrows.
Bottom of Zwick's. Prolly my favorite rapid on the river.
Chief, Green Narrows.
Boof or Consequence.
Photo: Hunter Davis
Scream Machine.
Photo: Hunter Davis
Nies' Pieces.
Photo: Hunter Davis
Rapid Transit.
Photo: Hunter Davis
Groove Tube.
Photo: Hunter Davis
Groove Tube.
Photo: Hunter Davis
Groove Tube.
Photo: Hunter Davis
Stokes: along for the long haul.
Only 6.5 hours from Virginia Beach, VA...
Looking back at the right side of Nies' Pieces
Dropping into Power Slide.
Decent hole at the bottom of Power Slide.
Flying into Rapid Transit.
First boof in Rapid Transit.
Right line at Groove Tube.
Double boof on the right of Groove Tube.
Stokes likes to air dry.
He sandbags me when it comes to driving.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Big Creek in North Carolina
BIG Creek, North Crack-i-lack!
It's July 17th, 2011, and there is no water. At least not in Virginia Beach, VA.
Hunter Davis invited me back down to Asheville, NC for the weekend and of course I obliged. I thought we were just going to scrape down the Green Narrows again but mother nature had a surprise in for me.
Me @ Midnite Hole. Photo by Hunter Davis
Big Creek was in and I was going to be able to put my drytop on for the first time since March. We headed out a bit late in the morning, on account of our new ritual of drinking until the wee hours of the morning every Friday night when I roll into town. Hunter's description of Big Creek was: "You'll like it." So I had no idea what was in store.
The run starts with Midnite Hole, which is a river wide slot more than a hole. But I can see the beat-down factor involved. Hunter set up to take some photos and I ran it first. Hunter came through second and then I got a second lap in while we were there. Good times.
The goods were in store. Of all the rivers I was able to paddle over my summer in the South East, Big Creek was the most like a West Coast run. It almost felt like the NF Suak, in WA, except you could feel your hands.
Me dropping into the second ledge in Action Alley.
Photo by Hunter Davis.
Action Alley was by far the best rapid on the run. Unfortunately we opted to walk the lead in to the first ledge due to a wood hazard. It goes, but not with only two people.
Another memorable drop on the river is Baby Gorilla. Very similar to Gorilla on the Green Narrows except its about a third the size and there is no Notch above to worry about. But there is a VERY undercut rock on river left that's hard to ignore as you're boofing into the pile.
Me dropping into the first ledge in Action Alley.
Photo by Hunter Davis.
Hunter Davis in Action Alley.
You know when you're there...
The local general store.
I wanted the "much more".
White Lightning; you were a good truck, even if you were 'Merican.
I like flowers sometimes
All in all, a great little creek. Short and fun, with a good hike to the put in. Word to the wise would be to get an earlier start and get two or three laps in on this bad boy.
Cheers.
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