First runs of the year - Little White laps

The Little White Salmon - LDuB

I will be the first to say that WASHINGTON STATE IS THE GREATEST PLACE ON EARTH!

That being said; we have two portions of the year that are less than ideal for kayaking in the PNW. September and January can both be dry (a relative term for WA). The rains do not arrive until mid February, during the winter, and this can cause some problems. 

It’s true: if you don’t use it, you will lose it. So, we must seek water where it hides. This time of year it hides deep in gorges. There was one Gorge, south of Seattle, that promised water.

It also promised to be cold as hell.

The phones rang all Thursday and Friday and excuses’ started to roll though the lines. SE boaters would laugh at the excuses’ we make to not have to drive 3 or 4 hours to boat. We are so used to calling an hour in the car a “long haul” that all of a sudden those Honey-Do lists start to look more appealing than boating.

By late Friday night it was settled. We were to be Hood River bound by 730am. The drive from Seattle to the fish hatchery that serves as a takeout for the Little White Salmon is just under 4 hours, from Everett (WA) its over 5 hours.

A decently sized crew rallied. We made a plan to meet up with locals at the takeout at about noon so we split up into two rigs and started the mission.

Somehow, we made it on time. The drive from Portland towards Hood River on HWY 84 is probably the closest thing to a wind tunnel you will ever encounter outside of a turbine test facility. You could feel the Subi lifting off the ground and moving over with each gust of wind. Unnerving doesn’t really describe the sensation.

We made it, and found fresh powder at the takeout.

LDuB is one of, if not “The”, best runs in Washington state. Maybe even the Pacific Northwest.  It’s incredibly scenic, challenging and most importantly: FUN. Keep in mind, this is a run that gets sandbagged by chargers and locals. This is a tough run. You need to be in shape, you need to be in the groove and you need to be able to take some licks. So check out footage and ask around before your maiden voyage.

We met up with Hood River transplants and headed up to the putin. I’m not gonna lie, I was sweating the entire drive up to the top. I hadn’t been in Little White in a couple of years and hearing stories about new, sketchy wood in “Getting Busy” (a mile long pingpong course) was wigging me out. Then there was the snow. It was really cold. But, as the situations tend to turn out, it was a great couple of days on the river.

The was new wood in the stretch immediately above Getting Busy. A mandatory portage at this level.

We definitely had lower water levels with 3.2 on the stick gage at the put in. But it was breathtakingly beautiful on the water. I do not know why or how, but the water that rams through that old lava bed is the coolest blue/green color I’ve ever seen. Its like boating on Gatorade. Contrasting this almost glowing blue was the inch or so of snow, everywhere. Snow on the trees, snow on the rocks and bank, snow falling into the river you’re trying to paddle. It was a surreal feeling, the way the snow dampens sound and makes colors and contrast stand out more prominently. Maybe this is the hunter-gatherer instinct shinning through; you don’t feel like you’re on top of the food chain in there.

Once we got into Getting Busy all the kinks started to work themselves out.

A large group made for a couple of photo opportunities:

We had a little bit of carnage, in Getting Busy, when the trees in the river decided to boof us.

 The boat was recovered below Boulder Sluice and the paddle was found the next day. We had a scary moment when the boat recovery turned into a double boat recovery and a soul searching couple of seconds…

A little ways downstream you come to S-Turn.

Photo Credit: J. Bisson

A short but very hazardous rapid. Boof any way you want, but never go near the lower river left wall. A horizontal lava tube creates an underwater cave that is barely visible even at these lower water levels. A swim here could be your last. Know your line and have a plan.

Photo Credit: J. Bisson

Photo Credit: J. Bisson

This beauty is waiting about halfway through the run. A lot of first-timers get duped into running Wishbone Falls blind on their virgin lap.


I jumped out of my boat below the canyon section to grab some photos of people charging the right side of Stovepipe. I think this is one of the coolest drops on the run!

Maybe a quarter to a half mile below Stovepipe is the infamous Spirit Falls. Most people stop and discuss their lines before firing up this monster, but I already knew my line! Far river right son!

Jeremy Bisson, however, was not about to have any of that nonsense. After giving me his camera to grab some stills, and some words of admonishment, he walked back to his boat while I slunk away to lick my wounds and take pictures.

Jeremy Bisson, with a SICK line!

Joe and I take to longer, dryer route.


 




Sunday: Round 2.

Getting warmed up below Island Drop.



Alex took the center line at Wishbone Falls.

 

On lap number two we had two takers for Spirit Falls. Jeremy wasn't happy with his line the previous day and wanted a rematch. Mike Nash decided to give'r a go as well.

Jeremy Bisson - Spirit Falls

Mike Nash - Spirit Falls

The lead-in to Chaos has a little branch in it.

The takeout had a fine layer of snow and we all had to step back and take it all in.

When it was all said and done, we were sad to leave. The Little White in the dead of winter is an unreal experience and I'm stoked that I got to see it with some of the best people I know.

 Heres a quick little shot of some fun on Wishbone:

Stay Safe. Stay STOKED.